Not Sure When to Start

[Minder]

Hi, I bought my budgie Monday. I've had him for 4 days now. I wanted to wait about a week or more before I even tried to put my hand in the cage, so that he (Kyler) would have plenty of time to get used to things. But he's a weird bird and likes to dive into his food dish and dig in it like a dog. :D So he gets seed everywhere and eariler today he completely emptied his dish. So I opened the little door to fill it back up. But right when I turned around, Kyler jumped out of the cage. I waited a couple minutes before I tried to get him back in, seeing as he was a bit freaked out. He's not finger trained, so I had a hard time. I finally managed to find a perch and try to get him to step up on it. At first he just jumped right off of it but eventually he stayed long enough for me to put him back in his cage.

So after all this, should I now wait a little longer to see if he wants to come out? Will this change anything?

[Amy]

He sounds like an excitable bird! I'd start, in 3 more days, to let him settle down. Just put your finger in the cage, and hold a bit of millet, he might come and eat it out of your hand! I'd also get him finger trained BEFORE letting him loose, in case you can't catch him, then he will have trust in you.

Keep us updated on what happens!

[Dinky]

If he gets away and you can't catch him, try tossing a light towel over him to help catch him without hurting him. Less chasing for both of you.

[rioja_pauline]

HI everyone,
I am having difficulty finger training my birds, Pumpkin is in his own cage, sometimes he will sit on my finger, othertimes he rushes around the cage demented. as soon as I withdraw my finger he goes straight to the feed box and picks up his seed and throws it outside the cage, it is quite a problem because I live in Spain and ants are a problem here, they just love the seed on the floor, I sweep it up regularly but Pumpkin keeps on throwing it out. Any ideas,
I have not clipped their wings, and I do try everyday to finger train my three budgies, you would think they were use to me by now. I have had Joey & Lulu for several months and Pumpkin for 4 weeks, where am I going wrong.
cheers.

[karma]

Minder - first of all congrats on the new budgie :D I'm not sure how long to wait becuase I was told by my breeder to not even put my new baby in the cage when i got home and to let him hang out with me for a while. it worked too, he was so tame right away becuase he thinks of me as the security, not his cage. Sounds like you did great using a perch to catch him. if that doesn't work ever, see where he is and turn the lights out and grab him with your hand. When budgies are out of the cage and it suddenly becomes dark they will not move so it is easier to catch without freaking him out with a towel. Just don't step on him when you do it :eek: haha Good luck with you new baby and I hope to see pictures soon.

[Minder]

Thanks all! He seems to be doing better now. I'm still reliuctant sometimes to let him out. Getting him out is easy. Getting him back in is hard. But i'll try all your suggestions and see what happens! I thought about putting his cage on the floor (and of course shutting the door) when he's out so it'll be easier for him to get back inside? Do you think that would be better for him? or would it throw him off?

[Minder]

Ah! I'm still having trouble. He semms to be pretty used to me when he's in the cage, but when he's out he goes crazy. I'm having a hard time finger training him. And now he's figured out how to open his door so he can get out on his own. (I fixed that problem today, though)

Getting him back in his cage is real tough. since he doesnt really trust my hand well, it usually takes forever to catch him. I don't like freaking him out. If it goes on too long I throw a light wash cloth over him to make him stop running around but I think that freaks him out and it makes me feel bad. He's okay if I put part of my hand in the cage, but still gets nervous and moves around when I reach for his food bowl.
I don't know what to do now.

[Meghanxx4]

Hmm, wel you dont really need to wait a week to stick your hand in the cage just maybe a day or two id get him use to finger and hand and stuff before you start taking him out of the cage though. Yea after that id let him settle down a aday or two it doesnt have to be 3 days but just wiat til hes ready dont push him. you dont want to stress him out so when you put your and in the cage move kinda slowly and stuff.

to stop the cage problem from opening you just add likea clip or someting or even a lock of somesort that way he cant open it.

that happend to me on the first bird i gto when she wasnt hand fed uhh it takes time just keep working on it your bird will soon get use to you!