Maybe I'v been a bit overwhelming....:smile003:

[Katie.K]

alrighty...

so i'v had my little budgie for 11 days now (his name is Pj, some of you might be familiar with my past posts)

things were getting better. He warmed up to his cage started eating drinking and letting me help him up to his perch or swing inside the cage. for the past week i spent an hour with him at 4:30 everyday (i was pet sitting at another house) he would sing when i came in he got excited to see me and i was able to take him out for a little bit.

I didn't see him Sunday but Monday and today has been a flop. Maybe i'v been to pushy,

now he isn't singing, he dodges my tummy rubs, and flies away when i take him out for a little bit. Each time he flies away he hits the wall or i have to dig him out from between the wall and nightstand :02:. I DONT want him to think each time i interact with him hes going to be uncomfortable and get hurt.

I am really new to having a bird so CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS NEEDED.

So what do I do from here? be hands off for a while? continue to be hands on but more gentle and in cage? no hand to bird contact?

I want us to bond and be happy together not stressed and doubtful.

 

[itzjbean]

For the time-being and since he's so new to you still, I would keep him in his cage to get him more used to his surroundings and to keep him safe from flying into the wall.

At this time how much time do you spend with him every day? I mean being by his cage and interacting with him by talking or letting him have out of cage time? How many hours a day? An hour a day is generally not enough time to spend with a bird, to grow your trust bond they do need a couple hours a day really is ideal.

At this point, still very early, you will want to concentrate on two things -- making every single interaction with you budgie a positive one (think treats and quality time together) as well as showing him the new routine he is to get used to. Generally speaking you want to show him that sleeping time means getting covered in his cage by a towel or blanket and then is removed when its time to play again and eat.

As he gets more comfortable you can begin working with him inside his cage to get him accepting treats from you and stepping up onto your hand and allowing being scratched. But remember you cannot force this process, as dogs are not like cats and dogs and have no reason to trust humans, so you want to give them reason to. You provide tasty food and treats and cuddles.

Realize this process will take time, patience and consistency. Try to spend as much time with him every day as you can, again, a couple hours every day is ideal.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

He clearly wasn’t ready and you were moving too fast. I think you should just focus on sitting by the cage, talking to him and seeing if you can offer him a treat through the bars. He’s flying into walls because he’s panicked and not yet a good flier. It might take him a while to step up so you can bring him out of the cage without him freaking out. And also, I wouldn’t expect your budgie to ever become a cuddly, touchy feely bird. Both my budgies do not like to be petted or touched in any way, but they happily step up or sit with me. And Pearl was hand fed.

 

[Katie.K]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate y'all taking the time to respond to this. I'll restart to step 1 and slow down.

 

[Katie.K]

I was gone for a week. I usually spend two hours with him talking playing music and chatting. His cage is actually on my nightstand

 

[Carl_Power]

It was back and forth with my birdie too at first. Dont get discouraged its normal. It will happen believe me. One day you feel like a bad owner, next day your bird will suprise you and you feel like a good owner but its still bond building and in time you guyz will be so close. Keep doing what your doing x