My little babies training journal!

[coka1000]

Friday, January 1st

So I got my new little girl on the 28th! She's so pretty, and so amazing! I thought it would be nice to keep a log of her progress!

So I'll just do a quick recap, then todays progress ;)

The first day there was some little issues. While trying to get her out of the box she came home in, and into her brand new cage, she managed to get out. It was pretty scary! She flapped around for a good minute before she decided to land on the top of my bookcase, which is pretty tall. I let her sit and calm down before i even tried to move. She had landed on my glasses case which I never use because I have contacts, thank goodness, turns out that worked out in my favor. She let me stroke her and slowly move the glasses case into the cage, without any more problems.

So the next two days after that I just talked, and sang, and hummed to her :) She loves to chirp and sing!

Haven't seen her sleep yet..but she eats and drinks.

Just the past few days I've slowly been putting my fingers in the cage and my hand. she never flies around or freaks out, she just sits, and watches my hand.

So now today I did the same thing, just sit with my hand in the cage for a while, then i though it might be a nice idea to show her my hand (and me) isn't scary. I put a little piece of millet (which she hasn't shown much intrest in at all) and some of her seed in my hand and just put my hand in her cage next to her. No reaction whatsoever, though. Just the same old thing. So I put the seed and piece of millet in her dish and maybe I will try again later :)

[coka1000]

Saturday, January 2nd

So today I started with more seeds in my hand, which she didn't go for, but I left my hand in for a while anyways. That was this morning, now just a few minutes ago, I put my hand in the cage again, with no seeds and just let her know I wasn't trying to hurt her. As I talked to her I slowly tried to move my hand closer to her. She just looked a little scared, but she didn't move away so i extended my finger slowly, but she didn't seem to like that and started flapping around her cage, the poor thing. Then she just started chirping and hasn't stopped! Not sure what that's about, but I'll continue more training tonight! :)

[coka1000]

Monday, January 4th.

So yesterday was kind of hectic, so I didn't get much training done.

Today I did what I usually do, just open the door and put my hand in the cage, and, as normally, she just looked at it and ignored me. So I though i would (even though it's not exactly recommended) i would open her big cage door (the cage has four doors, three small and one big one over two of the doors) and just left it open, as it is now. She hasn't tried to come out all, she's just sitting and doing nothing. If she comes out, I'm hoping she'll explore a little, otherwise I'll shut the cage door in a few minutes!

**So i've had the door open for a while and she hasn't come out, but she is all fluffed up and looks lke she's about to fall asleep, so it's great she's not stressed!**

[coka1000]

Tuesday, January 5th

So today, well, was actually a pretty good taining day!

Like yesterday, I decided to open up her cage and let her come out if she wants. But today she actually came out and had herself a little adventure! She explored a little bit, and ended up landing on top of my bookshelf. I let her there for a minute, and then i thought i should prolly get her back in her cage, so I just slowly talked to her and got her used to the fact this was entirely new.

I tried to lure her back in at first with millet and seeds, but she didn't go for that. So eventually I removed one of her smaller perches and pressed it above her legs, and to my surprise, she hoped on, looked at me and tilted her head. So I just slowly moved her into her cage and onto her favorite perch. She seems fine now, not even stressed at all. Chirping away and everything.

I'm hoping to really start building some trust with her!

Now I'm going to start "perch training", basically training her to sit on a perch im holding inside her cage, and slowly replacing the perch with my finger. Eventually when she's used to all this in the cage, I'll start moving her out on my finger :)

[coka1000]

Friday, January 8th

Okay, so I haven't reported how my most recent training has gone. But we've started perch training and she is doing SO great!

Basically it's like finger training, but with a perch they are already comfortable standing on, instead of a finger right away. Here's a website that really helps me with training if you guys wanna check it out! http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_hand.html

She did awesome the first day of training, but the next day she seemed a little nervouse when I tried again so I didn't push it, and this morning I've had her on a perch I was holding twice! She's such a smart bird, she catches on so fast!

I will start to finger train when she gets very used to the perch! I'm so exited :)

[coka1000]

Sunday, January 10th

So I'm super exited about the training that happened today! Yesterday and today I was kinda worried that she wasn't really trusting me. But on one of the first days I got her, I put a small piece of millet in the food dish and a small cup in her cage, but she didn't go for it. I don't think she ever had millet where I got her from...so she just didn't know it was so good!

But anyways, today I noticed all the millet in the cage was gone! So, i grabbed a stalk and tried to feed it to her and she went insane! She just chomped on that stuff like there's no tomorrow! After a while, I got her on her perch (that I was holding) and then waited a minute, gave her some more, took it away, waited a minute, gave her some more. She didn't like this very much tho, she flew back to her favorite perch. I gave her a few more nibbled and then took it out.

I've got a feeling she's going to start listening and training a lot better now that I have a reward system! Woohoo! :D

[coka1000]

Monday, January 11

Sooo today I realized I need to start all over again...Jazzie was doing so good, and she will still stand on a perch, but she gets kinda freaked out and backs away..she won't fly or bite but I can tell she's scared.
Poop baby!

So, I decided to start from scratch and try a new method. I feed her millet several times a day, just for a little while, and I'm going to keep doing that for a while. From there I'll just see where she's at! Today she did good eating from a millet stalk from my hand, but she didn't stay on the perch...but she will eventually :)

[coka1000]

Monday, January 11

Okay, I know I already posted today, but I made a pretty good break through right now and I couldn't wait to post it!!!!

So, I thought Jasmine might get used to me a little bit better if instead of holding an intire stalk of millet, I would just use a little clump, you know how they have little pieces? So I just peeled of one of those, and she ate it. So then half an hour later, just now, I tried it again, but this time, after a few seconds I got her perch and brought it close to her...and I didn't even need to press it to her legs at all! She jumped on the perch right away! So I let her have all the millet I was holding :D which wasn't that much, but still, I'm so exited!

I think I got myself an amazing budgie!

[Schnapperxx]

I just read the whole of Jasmine's training journal.
It sounds like you have been VERY patient and persistence.
You've been very kind and patient ( like i've mentioned ) to her.
Congratulations, if you continue on like this, you will bond with her really well.
:)Good Luck.

[riotfox]

sounds like you doing great! looking forward to some more updates. good luck with little jazz :)

and sorry a bit off topic but ^ love the siggy schnapperxx

[Charlotte126]

You've been very kind and patient

I agree, your kindness and patience will really pay off!

This is a lovely training thread - I just happened to have Bob on my finger, so I read it out to him and he seemed to like it too. (Lol, I am an educated, intelligent person honest, just crazy about budgies!)

Anyway your birdie looks and sounds adorable: good luck with the training! :)

[coka1000]

thanks guys! :) I have to say, it's so hard to be patient! I just wanna hold her already and play with her all the time! AH! haha. I cannot wait!

[Charlotte126]

thanks guys! :) I have to say, it's so hard to be patient! I just wanna hold her already and play with her all the time! AH! haha. I cannot wait!


It's so worth it when they start to really trust you!! I thought Bob would never get there but now he's just so tame and friendly ;)

[coka1000]

It's so worth it when they start to really trust you!! I thought Bob would never get there but now he's just so tame and friendly ;)

Yeah, that's what I keep telling myself haha. If I take my time, then it will be worth it...over and over haha. How long did it take for Bob?

[Charlotte126]

Honestly?

I brought Bob home in August when he was about 6 months old. He was on my finger after a few weeks, but that was about it and things seemed to stall from there. Lol we used to joke that poor Bob's life wasn't too happy :( 'cos he just seemed a bit down and didn't react to us much.

Suddenly around the end of October, things seemed to take off. I think I made some mistakes early on, by trying too much too quickly. You really have to respect their cage, which is their sanctuary, so if budgie doesn't want to come out, just leave him to it.

One member here used to fall asleep (or pretend to!) next to the cage with the door open, so budgie wouldn't feel any threat lol!

I've got loads of advice and help on this forum and I'm sure you will too.

Cuteness alert:
Bob just said "Budgie budgie" and let me scratch the side of his head ! :):budge:

[coka1000]

Honestly?

I brought Bob home in August when he was about 6 months old. He was on my finger after a few weeks, but that was about it and things seemed to stall from there. Lol we used to joke that poor Bob's life wasn't too happy :( 'cos he just seemed a bit down and didn't react to us much.

Suddenly around the end of October, things seemed to take off. I think I made some mistakes early on, by trying too much too quickly. You really have to respect their cage, which is their sanctuary, so if budgie doesn't want to come out, just leave him to it.

One member here used to fall asleep (or pretend to!) next to the cage with the door open, so budgie wouldn't feel any threat lol!

I've got loads of advice and help on this forum and I'm sure you will too.

Cuteness alert:
Bob just said "Budgie budgie" and let me scratch the side of his head ! :):budge:


well that last part is ADORABLE!!! tehe!

I'm gald he finally warmed up to you, that must have been really nice :) Did he ever fly around the cage like a crazy bird? Jazzie does sometimes haha and it's so weird. Not to often does she do this, but it's very loud haha.

[Charlotte126]

Hehe yes he has his little crazy moments. If he wants to show his disapproval he always flies to one particular hat (mine!) on a peg in the kitchen. Lol that hat is poop central now, I shan't be wearing it again:D

[coka1000]

hahaha oh no! I let Jasmine out sometimes, if she wants, and she has yet to poop but I'm just waiting until the day she discovers my curtain rod and poop all over my curtains..hahaha! But it's kinda cute how he goes to the same spot!

[coka1000]

Wednesday, January 13

So yesterday I did the normal training stuff, which is giving her some millet, getting her on her perch, and then some more millet to establish I'm nice and the perch isn't going to hurt her haha. And she is just so smart, she ate the millet, and then turned around the the perch she was standing on so she wouldn't have to step on the perch XD Little rascal!

So I she did the same thing today, and after about an hour she started doing that thing where she flies around her cage like she's crazy. Not fun! So I opened up her cage door, and she flew out right away, landed on my bookshelf, then a picturte frame where I left her for a while. Then I grabbed the millet and her perch and got her onto it, and fed her millet while I moved her back into her cage. Then we did the perch training some more and she didn't turn around :)

I don't know why, but everytime she comes out and lets me bring her back in without any problems I just feel like we're one step closer to getting her on my finger, and then eventually being able to really start bonding with her.

As of now, she is all fluffed up in her cage looking rather sleepy. So cute! :D

[riotfox]

thats great! sounds like you are doing very well

an bob is so cute :)

[Charlotte126]

thats great! sounds like you are doing very well

an bob is so cute :)

I agree, things are going well! :budgie:

Thanks fox!

[coka1000]

Friday, January 15th

So I am VERY proud to announce I am one GIANT step close to a tame budgie! She was on my finger TWICE TODAY! for more than two seconds, too :D

Of course, she was eating millet the entire time, but I am just very exited! I tried to get her to come up again, but she scooted away, so I just left it, figure I better not rush her, right?

Anyways, that's the progress for today! Ah I'm so pumped about this!!!! XD

[coka1000]

Monday, January 18th

So I haven't posted the latest progress! Haha. Well, she's now staying on my finger for a reasonable ammount of time. I'll usually start by opening the cage and feeding her millet, or some of her food out of my hand, which I think is super fun :D

And then I'll put my finger by her legs and say UP in a firm voice. I try not to push against her legs like what I did when we first started the perch training...I figure i want her to wanna come onto my finger, instead of forcing her to, you know? :)

But she's doing awesome! While she is on my finger I will pretty much usually keep feeding her, but I might take the food away sometimes. She will usually just fie to her perch again, which is fine, but I hope she starts really bonding with me soon XD

It's feels so good to be training her! I am just loving this process!

[BGSB <3]

Aw your budgie is doing so good and I love reading this !! Keep up the good work! (:

[turanturk]

It is wonderful to see how much love and effort you put into this one bird. You truly are an inspiration to me because i can NEVER stay patient lol thank you and it is very fun reading your journal, please keep up the GREAT work =]]

[coka1000]

thanks guys! I'm glad you like it :D hehe

[coka1000]

Friday, January 22

So honestly, there hasn't been much advancing...She doesn't really stay on my finger haha...and I'm not taking her out of her cage on my finger yet...although there is one of those rope perches outside of her cage, so she sometimes will sit on that :)

But anyways! I'm just taking her training real slow now...But I have to try very hard to stay patient! Tehe! So that's all for now!

[coka1000]

Tuesday, January 26


So we have hit a little roadblock...the other day i had her on my finger, in her cage as normal and she just seemed so relaxd so I brought her out to the entrance of the cage, and then a few hours later I brought her out and she seemed to do amazing!

Then yesterday...she started biting me...It doesn't hurt, but it scares me! haha...I think I may have pushed her to hard, and I'm really hoping I haven't destroyed whatever trust was built up there. Basically, I'm going to start over with her training...Today she ate millet and seeds from my hand..but other than that, she bites. No fun! Poor little girl just must be to scared..:/

Well that's basically it! Here's hoping we continue to make progress :)

[coka1000]

Monday, February 1st

So I haven't really been good on updating this, because honestly there hasn't been tons of progress!

I pretty much had to return back to square one with the perch training and millet, and then I'll just have to keep going from there!
Have you guys ever had to deal with this? haha just wondering if I can get any advice ;)

So she's doing pretty good now, and I'm thinking I can try moving on to the perch and finger training :D haha. Well not much more to report! More tomorrow :)

[juliababy]

how hard is she biting? if they are just little nibbles it might just be your budgie making sure your hand is safe, they use their beaks to check that kind of stuff out.

[coka1000]

how hard is she biting? if they are just little nibbles it might just be your budgie making sure your hand is safe, they use their beaks to check that kind of stuff out.

Well she's only bitten me like twice, but I didn't wanna make it into a habit haha. But it wasn't to hard, it didn't hurt really.

[coka1000]

Thursday, February 4th

So I'm happy to report last night and all day today I've been having very sucessful traing times with Jazzie! :D No bitting has happened since I last posted about it.

She's also, very suddenly, been alot more interested in her toys, and mirrors. it's really nice :)

So I just keep getting her on my finger with some millet, and I just slowly bring her torwards the entrance of her cage. I don't think I'll actually take her out for a while, though. I want to make sure she is super comfortable, first :)

So it's all going well! Super pumped :D

[riotfox]

thats great! hopefully she keeps up the good work for you :)

[Peter Ryan]

Awesome job! I have a flock in an aviary but none of them are tame. It's much harder to train them when they are in a large area.

[coka1000]

Monday, February 8

So I've basically found out Jasmine will bite unless I'm feeding her millet while I'm holding her. Not exactly ideal! haha. So last night some friends came over, and one of them has parakeets and is pretty much not afraid of bites like I am haha, so he held her with some millet and she did great, as usual. Then after like half an hour he came in again and tried to hold her without millet and she freaked out on him..of course he didn't even flinch so she just gave up...But lucky for my friend she doesn't bite hard enough to draw blood like his birds...haha.

So have you guys been here? Any suggestions on what I can do to have her not bite my fingers? Thanks guys!

[Rose36]

Hmmmm... I had a budgie that used to bite. I wouldn't give her any millet after shes been biting you, she might think of it as a reward. What I did was just really short training sessions, have her get on your finger, give her millet before she bites, and then get her to hop off. If she bites you before you give her any millet then just get her to hop off without any reward. Budgies are pretty smart, after a while she'll start to see that when she bites she doesn't get any millet, and when she behaves she gets rewarded. Thats what I did with my bird, and he stopped biting after like two weeks, just stick with it. Your doing a great job, keep it up!;)

[coka1000]

Hmmmm... I had a budgie that used to bite. I wouldn't give her any millet after shes been biting you, she might think of it as a reward. What I did was just really short training sessions, have her get on your finger, give her millet before she bites, and then get her to hop off. If she bites you before you give her any millet then just get her to hop off without any reward. Budgies are pretty smart, after a while she'll start to see that when she bites she doesn't get any millet, and when she behaves she gets rewarded. Thats what I did with my bird, and he stopped biting after like two weeks, just stick with it. Your doing a great job, keep it up!;)

Thank you! I'll try it! :)

[coka1000]

Hmmmm... I had a budgie that used to bite. I wouldn't give her any millet after shes been biting you, she might think of it as a reward. What I did was just really short training sessions, have her get on your finger, give her millet before she bites, and then get her to hop off. If she bites you before you give her any millet then just get her to hop off without any reward. Budgies are pretty smart, after a while she'll start to see that when she bites she doesn't get any millet, and when she behaves she gets rewarded. Thats what I did with my bird, and he stopped biting after like two weeks, just stick with it. Your doing a great job, keep it up!;)

Thank you! I'll try it! :)

[coka1000]

February 24, Wednesday


Sorry I haven't been good at posting more up to date things! The truth is training has been pretty much at a stand still. She still bites ocassionally, but she is catching on that that is not good haha. So I'm basically just taking it veryyy slow. Figure thats best! Sadly, that's all I have...

I promise I'll be better about posting, tehe!

[coka1000]

Friday, February 26

So I went to Petsmart for dgo food today and came home with some new toys...haha! But she just loves this one thing I bought her, it's like one of those rope/bird chip things...not sure how to explain haha but she has been playing with it since I put it in there!
And I must say she has been like hardly biting me recently. ZToday she just flew onto her perch when I was holding her. Not exactly fun, but way better than her attacking my finger, right?

Well anyways, we're pressing on! It's gonna be awesome!

[coka1000]

Saturday, February 27

Soo! Today I went to go hold Jasmine, and she bit me...not fun! But basically if I feed her millet and then just keep it there for her to eat, while I say "up" she will climb on. If I try to pick her up BEFORE I give her millet, I get bitten. So then I just didn't give her any millet...Hopefully she will catch on soon! :)

So I'm going to do some more training later, but that's todays entry! :D

[coka1000]

Wednesday, March 3rd.

Alrighty! So I decided to go back to perch training, and that way I wo't flinch when she bites the stick XD
So if she doesn't bite the stick, then she gets millet, and if she does, no millet for Jaz!

So, she hasn't gotten much millet :( But I do think she's catching on! So that's where we are now, I'll post when there is some more progress :D

[winterdaze]

Saturday, January 2nd

So today I started with more seeds in my hand, which she didn't go for, but I left my hand in for a while anyways. That was this morning, now just a few minutes ago, I put my hand in the cage again, with no seeds and just let her know I wasn't trying to hurt her. As I talked to her I slowly tried to move my hand closer to her. She just looked a little scared, but she didn't move away so i extended my finger slowly, but she didn't seem to like that and started flapping around her cage, the poor thing. Then she just started chirping and hasn't stopped! Not sure what that's about, but I'll continue more training tonight! :)

That's very different from how my budgies react to my hand! They're semi-tame, and don't seem to mind me too much except when I try to get them out. The poor guys don't know the beauty of freedom. ;)

[coka1000]

Friday, April 9

I think it's pretty safe to say I'm NOT very good at updating this on a regular basis:rolleyes:

But my little girl is doing pretty good! She's still kind of scared of me, and kinda seems jumpy when I hold her, even if I have millet. And if I don't have millet, she still kind of nibbles at my hands. But I'm going to keep on truckin'! haha ;) Only a matter of time before she warms up, right? :D