Biting

[~*Brittany*~]

when i first got bobby, I did research and everything to figure out how to train him and handle him to create a strong bond. I got him to the point where he would sit on my shoulder and I could walk around with him when the cat was outside. He trusted me so much.
Then about a week ago, I was sleeping and I heard Bobby screaming from his cage. I rolled over to see my cat trying to get Bobby through the bars. Bobby was frantic and was flying around the cage. I jumped up and grabbed the cat (who hates me... so he got mad and bit me) then i turned on the light. I put the cat in the hallway and closed my door to go see bobby.
During his frantic flight, Bobby got one of his big flying feathers knocked out. I found it and it was a little bloody... I just gave him some extra millet and kept 3 sides of his cage coverd like when i got him so he could relax.
Now, about a week from the incident, Bobby hates my hand. Im not sure if he thinks its going to harm him like the cat almost did or what. But when bobby is in his cage, i can get him to step onto my finger so i can lift him out for flying time. I leave him alone and then when I have to leave the room, or when its time for him to go back in, I go to put my hand up for him to step up and he flys away.
A lot of the time, when he is trying to escape my hand, he ends up running into something and it worries me. I speak soft and slow, and i even move slow. But he is still scared.
And when he falls onto the ground (he had his wings clipped when i got him, im going to let them grow out) i go to get him him , and he will scream and bite me before he gets on my hand. And even then, there is no garuntee that he will stay on my hand long enough for me to put him into his cage.
I have tried treats and speaking soft and slow. I sing to him and move slow as well. Im not sure what else to do to gain his trust back. But this is really breaking my heart.
So if anyone has any suggestions, I really need them right now. Because I dont think Bobby understands what it means when I cry.

[Budgiekin]

Hi Brittany,

I am sorry to hear about Bobby's traumatic experience with the cat; it is never nice to have to deal with something like that.

I wouldn't worry that your budgie hates your hand. In fact, it probably isn't your hand per se that he dislikes, but he has lost some trust as a result of the incident with the cat. He is likely just trying to protect himself from anything unfamiliar, your hand included.

Don't lose patience though! Keep working with Bobby and show him that he can trust you by always moving your hand slowly when it is near him. You may be best off giving him some space for a little while, so rather than trying to pet him or handle him, or put your hand really close to him, just spend time next to him and talk softly to him. After a few days, then you can reintroduce your hand to him (just offer him some millet without actually touching him). When he is comfortable eating millet from your hand, then you can work on getting your hand in closer and closer to him until you are actually able to touch him without him freaking out.

If he bites you, try to ignore it as best as you can (don't flinch, don't say "ouch!", and don't react in any way). Yes, even though it can really hurt, don't let him know it!

Hang in there Brittany! Try not to get discouraged; consider looking at the situation from your budgie's point of view. He needs to feel that he can trust not only you, but also that his surroundings are safe. It is up to you to help make him feel that way. It will require a lot of patience on your part, but if you are willing to be patient, the rewards will definitely be worth it!

Good luck and let us know how things are going! I know you can do it.

[~*Brittany*~]

Thank you very much.
Its hard to do that though because he LOVES his time out of the cage. When i walk into the room, he chirps and goes crazy until i let him out. I give him his space and just talk to him, but its such a hassle to get him back in.
Should I take away the out of the cage time for awhile or what should I do

Love
Brittany

[Budgiekin]

Definitely continue letting him out of his cage, especially since he really loves it! You want to keep fostering his enthusiasm to come out! That's really great how he is showing you that he wants his out time.

After enough times coming out of his cage, it won't be such a hassle to get him back in. Eventually, he may get in the habit of knowing when it's time to go back in (particularly if he has a routine time to come out and go back in). With time, it WILL get easier! Again, it just requires patience.

Would Bobby step up on a ladder? I do that with Skyla to get her in her cage when she doesn't go in by herself. With Kiwi, he'll step up onto my finger and I'm able to bring him over to his cage door. With Aries, he hates going in his cage! If he could stay out forever, he would! I usually end up kind of chasing him around and eventually he'll get the point that I'm trying to put him in his cage. Most of the time, he will go in by himself once he sees that the other two are in their own cages.

[miss_missy]

hey, cats.. they are such a bothersome. try gaining his trust back with a perch.. i am perch training right now and its coming along really well. its is gaining trust... I get him on the perch and let him down and get him back on the perch i do that a couple of times ( out of his cage) then put him back., I talk to him as well. then today he got on his perch and then got on my finger. out of his cage which is good because he wouldnt ever get on my finger outsode of the cage. and his let me pet him and he didnt bite.. i was really shocked how well the perch worked.. good luck

[Amy]

Maybe you should try perch training, more on that here:
http://www.talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=221

[~*Brittany*~]

Thank you guys for the ideas.
I was thinking, and I bet that he doesn't like my hand when he is outside his cage because he doesn't want to go back in. And since i leave him alone until he has to go back in, he must just know exactly what it means. I bet he just gets mad because he dont wanna go back in.

Maybe I will try treating him and spoil him rotten for a bit outside his cage. Do you think that will make him like me better?

*thinks* maybe...

:clap: :happy4: :twothumbs: :thumbsup:

[Amy]

How long does he usually have out?

Maybe you could extend this?

Or how about putting a millet spray or other treat in his cage and let him see it to make him want to go back in to eat it?

[Shiney_things]

My darling ozzy had the same experience with a cat... Same way too i woke up and the cat was going MAD. Whenever bobby does something good, like step up make sure you reward him, as this will encourage more of this behavior.

As for loosing a feather this happened to ozzy and his wing bled so i paniced and took him to a vet who said it will stop bleeding on its own... I understand how you feel, i love my babies TOO much... I fall to their every chirp!

This is seriously a MUCH debated topic but have you considered wing clipping whilst your taming bobby? It makes the process easier (or it did for me) because it makes you in contorll and shows they can trust you as they wont run away.
It took me ages to decide to clip. I understand others opinions though.

Try taking bobby into a cat free room with out his cage, just plenty of food and treats. This works because they have to trust you in what is seen as 'your territory'. This works for many birds. You just have to play about and see what works best for you.

If you decide not to clip his wings to get him in the cage when he runs from you, you could try and catch him in mid-flight, but you must be VERY carefull when doing this.

Very best with bobby taming...

[~*Brittany*~]

I am SOOO happy right now :D

I figured out what happend and why Bobby wasnt trusting me!!!

Okay Today I took him into the bathroom and sat with him for a little bit. He sat on my sholder and even gave me kisses like he used to. I was so happy. he even sat on my head when i walked back to my room.

Then he flew back onto his cage and wanted nothing to do with me again. I think i have it figured out. Since the cat tried to attack him in this room, he is more aware and scared i guess...

But when i move him into the bathroom, where he feels safe with me, he is all cuddly and stuff again.

Ill give him his time, but Im pretty sure he needs to gain trust in the room.

Also, when I first got him, I had this hamster ball that my brother JUST bought for his hamster... that he didnt get to use. so it was still in the packaging right? I opened it up, and bobby climbed into it. so that used to be how i would get him when I had to chase him around to put him back. Well, i've resorted to that again because he really likes the ball. He will come and sit in it when he is having his wing strech time.

So ya, anyways!!! I figured out whats going on with my beloved budgie and Im happy to report that he doesnt all of a sudden hate me like i thought. He is just still getting over what happend ;)

I even got Bobby to whistle for me again

I guess maybe I love my budgies too much too.... But idc

He is my baby!!!

[~*Brittany*~]

Sorry for the double post

But he has out from the time i get home to the time i go to bed.

and he always has a treat in there... so that wont help. Gosh darn spoiled bird!!! :budgie: :budgie: :budgie: :D :D :p

[miss_missy]

YAY FOR BOBBY AND BRITTANY:clap: :jumping: good luck....

[Amy]

I'm glad you figured it out and I hope he has a long and happy life with you!