Total newbie at taming & training

[Budgie the budgie]

Hi

I'm a new budgie owner, and I havent trained a budgie before. From reading this forum it seems many of you have no trouble training your birds to stand on your finger or simple things like that, but I can't even achieve that! I'd very much like to train my budgie but I have a few major issues right now.

Right now my budgie is very scared of me because I had to grab her a few times to medicate her. She's terrified of my finger, but will eat out of my hand if I make a bowl shape. Because she's scared of my finger, she will not stand on my finger.

About grabbing her, I'm sure I'll need to grab her from time to time for medication or if I ever want to have her wings clipped. But everytime I grab her, I'm sure she will fear me even more. Is there a way to avoid this?

Also, I'm not sure whether I should have her wings clipped. It seems almost impossible to do something like that without first making her unconscious or something because she won't stay calm. She bites very hard when I try to grab her and she won't lie still.

What should I do? My budgie is about 1.5 years old. Is she still trainable? I'm not expecting her to learn to talk (though that would be nice), but I just want to be able to let her out of the cage without her flying away.

Please help, thanks so much in advance

-Jacqui

[Dinky]

If she's afraid of your finger, try training her to step up onto a perch you're holding. As far as wing clipping, You could try wrapping her in a towel gently and just sneaking a wing out the side. I don't know why you feel she needs to be medicated??? A well taken care of budgie shouldn't need medication although theydo get sick sometimes I guess. She is definately still trainable....you need to work with her for short times (10 or 15 min) at different times throughout the day. You must stay calm and work with her gently. Never force her to do things she doesn't want to do. If she bites, try blowing in her face. This will usually make them stop...Good luck!

[Kelly27]

Dont worry Jacqui, taming + training is not as easy as it sounds! ;) Lol. At the moment im trying to tame my older budgie - Chrissie.
When she is out of her cage and sitting on top of it, move your hand really slowly towards her. Try holding your hand right up to her breast. Move really slow so she does'nt panic and jump away. Once you have your hand right up to her breast, push your hand up gently. This should encourage her to put both feet on your hand. Also you could try placing a piece of millet in between your fingers, budgies love millet and hopefully she will hop right up on to your hand! Once you have acheived this, try spending loads of quality time with her and she will get used to you and begin to trust you. Clipping her wings is a good idea. Maybe you'd be better off getting your local vet to clip her wings just as your worried that you may hurt her...?
Good Luck!!! Keep us updated!
Kelly
xXx :) ;)
P.S. Welcome to the forums, hope you like it here! :D

[Budgie the budgie]

Thanks for the replies

I was wondering how people do wing clipping here. Do you do it yourself (after the vet has shown you how the first time)? or do you bring it to a vet everytime? Also how do you stop your budgie from squirming and trying to break free?

Thanks

[Kelly27]

My budgies dont have their wings clipped but if your nervous about doing it yourself then it's always best for the vet to do it. I think some members do it themselves...anyone?
Hold your budgie firmly in your hands, get a good grip on them. If she continues to break free, then try wrapping her up in something like a teatowel. Hope this helps.
Kelly
xXx :) ;)

[abel]

I don't clip the wing, but I'd take it to the vet to observe (ask her to explain as she does it), and then you can find instructions for doing it yourself on the internet, or in a budgie book.

[Lace]

^^ this is accually quit normal dear. Budgies arnt something that takes a simple day or week to train, sometimes it differers and can take weeks sometimes even years depending on the budge. Most however, can be trianed with in about 2 or 3 weeks. What you must do, it not try to push it on her so fast. Your skipping ahead a bit, lol. first, before you even try to get her to step on your finger she must trust your hand at least a little. This means, that for about a week or so, you MUST NOT try and grab, or get your hand near her. about everday, just put your hand in the cage, do somethings in there, doesnt have to accually be anyhting, but show her you can move your hand without her having to be afraid. Generally, after a week, then you can try the step up training stage. This might take longer. make sure the room is quit and confrotable, no scary things and such like loud tvs and such. open the door of her cage slowly as not to frighten her befor you have approached her. slowly appoach her, not to fast though. Now, dont be disapointed if she flies away before you even get close to her, this is normal, just keep trying in the same fasion. This helps if you try at least once aday, and eventually she will let you come since she is aware that so far, you have not hurt her ^^ so then she begins to trust you a bit. Now, a little advise about wing clipping. To keep her still, its best to get a damp wash cloth and wrap her in it, making sure her head is free for air. This will keep her calm a little and also will prevent her from over heating during the process. Then just cut the primary feathers (NOT ALL of the feathers, she needs the secoundary feathers to be able to safly glid when she does attempt to fly, this will prevent her from injuring her self) if you have not clupped her feathers before, i do suggest you seek help from some who has, or from a vet. It can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. anyway, taming takes time dear ^^ no budgie is ever too old to be tamed, somtimes it just takes longer then others. Just try your best to do the best you can for her and such. As for grabing her, if she needs her medicine then you can grab her i spose. Just try to keep it light and non constricting as not to alarm her that you may be trying to harm her. also, i suggest that if she is a biter, that you get used to being bit XD cus training her may involve getting bit often. (my AKita wasnt much a biter, but my Luna was.... you wouldnt beleive how much she would nip me and not let go. I would just ignore it, its the best way to show them biting is not something that is really doing anyhting for them.)

[jayjay]

grabbing to me seems like that fastest way to lose a budgies trust in you. never grab a budgie unless it is an emergency. it is dangerous to try to snatch a budgie in flight or as they are gliding. if you must grab, use a soft towel or shirt and just throw it over him/her then softly pick the budgie up. this is the least stressful way i find as the cover the cloth provides gives them a sense of security.