Alaska and Beau's Training Journal

[chocolatemilk]

I've had Alaska for about 6 months now after getting her from a pet store. At first she would come eat millet from my fingers, but after a vet visit about a month after getting her, she seems to have lost all trust in me.

I got my second budgie, Beau, from a breeder about two months ago or so, so he's a little more used to people. Today they moved in together in the big cage, which I realize will make it harder to tame them but I believe they'll be happier together.

Right now, Alaska flaps around like crazy if I even put my hand on the outside of the cage near her, and Beau will eat millet out of my hands when he's in the mood. Beau will nip lightly (its more cute than anything, although of course I still discourage it) and Alaska has a strong bite that she's not afraid to use.

I spend most of every day in the room with them, but at the suggestion of other users I'll now be sitting beside their cage reading to them for a little while each day.

Beau (with raspberry all over his face, I didnt quite think that treat through!)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/soimpossible6082/raspberrybeau009.jpg

Alaska sitting very regal on her favourite perch

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/soimpossible6082/newbudgiekingston021.jpg

[chocolatemilk]

Day one and they're doing great together! I opened the door and put one of Beau's toys in, which would usually send Alaska into a frenzy, but this time she just sat quietly on the back perch. I'm so proud :)

[Robin's Nest]

Awww - good for them making such good progress! Keep it up, Alaska and Beau! (And, lovely red lipstick, I might add!) :laughing:

[chocolatemilk]

Hahah thanks Robin!

Training has been kind of put on the backburner due to a death in the family (my grandmother :( ) and then a trip for a week to see my wonderful boyfriend in Atlanta, and now I'll be going away again for a week!

I was worried about how they would react to me after I was gone for a week on my vacation, but Beau was eating millet from me as usual (and let me touch him with my finger for step up, though he only put one foot on and then scuttled away a little), and Alaska came very very close to coming to eat millet too! (I use a very long spray so my hand is quite far away from them, though beau doesnt mind my hand near him as long as its holding millet haha)

They've both been very playful lately, which I love to see as well. They've also been calmer when I change their food and water, though cage cleaning is still a cloud of feathers and seed hulls : P

I'm very proud of my darlings - progress is slow but I can see it <3