Steps up but still frightened?

[Junho]

So... long story short. I purchased a budgie for a high price from someone claiming he was tame. Turns out, all they did was trim his wings and got him away from his cage so that he wouldn't fly away when presented to me.

Although he does to an extent isn't shy to "step-up" in certain situations (like when he's outside of his cage and the cage is not in sight, he seems to step-up on my finger readily enough. Maybe he associates my hands with both ways to leave and enter his cage.), he is still terrified of being outside of his cage. He visibly trembles for about the first five minutes when he's out, and can be easily frightened to fly all over the place (although it's more like a really long jump, because his feathers hadn't grown back). I have to nearly force him onto my hand when he's inside his cage, and even if he comes out of his cage of his own volition, and he's sitting at the top of the cage, he is quick to scurry back inside when/if I approach him.

Can someone tell me how I should proceed from this point onward?

FYI: It has been a month since I bought him, and I take him out of his cage every other day to get him to familiarize himself with both his environment outside of his cage and me.

 

[wrench13]

What is his favorite treat?

Don't force him to do anything. The idea is to have him want to come to you. Answer the above question and complete your profile, and we can better help you.

 

[EdwardH]

As Wrench13 says, do not force him as it will only frighten him. Basically you want to build trust so start by just sitting at a distance from the cage that he is comfortable with and slowly move closer as he shows that he is comfortable with your presence. This may take minutes, days fr weeks. Move at his pace. When you get to sit close to the cage feed him treats (millet) through the bars of the cage. When he readily accepts the millet, move it around to different places so that he comes to your hand holding the millet. At this point you can open the cage door, place your hand near the door and he should readily come to your hand/millet. Gradually move your hand further away from the door and he shall come out to you.
This way he leaves the cage with no fear. Once his confidence is up, you shall find that he shall start to explore his surroundings and will quite happily come to your hand because that is where the millet is!

 

[Anansi]

Yep! Excellent advice already given. Bribery and patience are key. Budgies can be notoriously skittish. Just take the necessary time to build up that trust. Once he comes to associate you with yummy treats and such, his trust in you will grow.

Right now, you're the person who takes him out of his comfort zone every other day. But that can change readily enough. Spend time with him, sitting by his cage and talking or reading to him. Keep the tasty treats coming. (The treats should be the really good stuff. Not what he sees in his food bowl every day.)

With time, his trust in you will begin to grow.Here's a perfect example of a skittish bird whose trust grew over time: http://www.parrotforums.com/amazons/59572-new-white-fronted-amazon-owner.html