Twigs is wild again :(

[RavensGryf]

It took considerable time to get Twigs (Budgie) tame enough to not be spastic when approaching the cage, and about a year until he was comfortable enough to learn to 'step up'.

I'm so mad at my husband I believe he broke Twigs' trust completely, and now we're at square one again. A couple days ago, I had to leave the house, so the parrots went into their cages, and Twigs was out flying around the room and REALLY didn't want to go back home at that moment, and ignored my request to go in. I really needed to leave, so I asked Don to get Twigs to go back in. What I do when Twigs is extra stubborn, is I walk back and forth and reaching my hand toward him, I get him to keep flying instead of landing to rest. When he gets tired, he'll go to his cage. I guess Don was too impatient to do that... The next day, he didn't even have to tell me what happened with Twigs. I knew. I asked him "did you literally run around and chase Twigs down until you captured and grabbed him in your hand like a predator??!!!" Poor little guy was traumatized! He was barely tame to begin with, now this. Now he doesn't even trust ME.

I can try targeting with him, but he doesn't take treats, and I'm just not sure how responsive wildish Budgies are to praise only. Whatever I do, I know it's going to take a lot of time now. He wasn't as easy to tame as most Budgies are in the first place. Before, I got him to step up and be used to being on my hand by clipping him. Though I admit my parrots are long clipped for specific reasons here, I don't want to clip Twigs.

 

[Kiwibird]

Hopefully Twigs is just more pissed he got grabbed than truly deep-down all-trust-broken traumatized The thing about it at this point, is you are not at square one exactly. Before, he didn't know how to step up or return to his cage on command. Now he DOES know HOW to do those things, you just have to bribe and baby him enough he WILL do those things again

 

[RavensGryf]

Hopefully Twigs is just more pissed he got grabbed than truly deep-down all-trust-broken traumatized The thing about it at this point, is you are not at square one exactly. Before, he didn't know how to step up or return to his cage on command. Now he DOES know HOW to do those things, you just have to bribe and baby him enough he WILL do those things again

I think you're probably right April. Just now, I tried to get him to step up (and come out), and he was spastically darting around at first, but I moved real slow, talking to him, and he was a little bit better this time. Not back to normal, but he did step on my finger finally before taking off to fly.

A few minutes later, he landed on his drawbridge style door, and started rubbing his head on it, since he has no one anymore to preen him. I told him if he was only tame I could do it for him! He's my tiny miniature parrot . Makes Griffin look giant lol.
Thanks for the encouragement! I needed that

 

[Colorguarder08]

He's probably just framed out. In a few days he will probably realize your not trying to hunt him down and you guys will be back to where you were.

 

[4dugnlee]

Maybe he is just holding a grudge. I know mine do if they don't get their way. I think (hope) he will be fine in a few days...just take it slow.

 

[Timothy]

All hope is NOT lost. I'm sure he's just holding a grudge. Just like my lovebirds, if i am really busy and let them out of their cage a few hours late, the male, Niblette, will be so mad at me he will dive bomb me and land on my shoulder and bite my ear in a fit of rage for the next day

 

[RavensGryf]

Okay . I'll see later on when I'm home what he does.

Wow Timothy, your Lovebird! I don't adhere to too tight of a schedule, so everyone is pretty go with the flow here

Hopefully it's just a grudge. Budgies can probably hold grudges haha. Meanwhile he's been attacking a toy he's never played with much before!

 

[MrsKay]

ahhhh, don't fret RavensGryf, I think he's discovering his independence. We know budgies are pretty stubborn sometimes

 

[RavensGryf]

ahhhh, don't fret RavensGryf, I think he's discovering his independence. We know budgies are pretty stubborn sometimes

This guy is super independent. I think Twigs actually prefers being wild, unlike his late buddy.

You know, I'm just getting to know Budgies. I've had parrots for years, but never a Budgie until less than 2 years ago. They're SO cute!!

 

[Allee]

I'm sorry to hear Twig's had a setback, but I'm guessing his trust in you will be deep enough to get him past his budgie grudge.

 

[Allee]

You know, I'm just getting to know Budgies. I've had parrots for years, but never a Budgie until less than 2 years ago. They're SO cute!!

They are SO cute! I've had my budgies less than a year. I got them from an awful pet store where they were getting the daylights beat out of them by the bigger budgies. They are solid white and were much smaller than the budgies they shared a flight cage with. They shared a cage until a few weeks ago, when I noticed the larger one was picking on the smaller one, Piper had been over preening little Twinkle and Twinkle's nose was scraped and peeling. Twinkle has her own cage now and she seems so much happier, she's started actively playing with toys and being far more vocal. Piper didn't appreciate the change too much, but hopefully she'll forgive me eventually. I know very little about budgie genetics, but both my budgies seem not only smaller, but weaker than all the other budgies I've been around.

 

[RavensGryf]

You know, I'm just getting to know Budgies. I've had parrots for years, but never a Budgie until less than 2 years ago. They're SO cute!!

They are SO cute! I've had my budgies less than a year. I got them from an awful pet store where they were getting the daylights beat out of them by the bigger budgies. They are solid white and were much smaller than the budgies they shared a flight cage with. They shared a cage until a few weeks ago, when I noticed the larger one was picking on the smaller one, Piper had been over preening little Twinkle and Twinkle's nose was scraped and peeling. Twinkle has her own cage now and she seems so much happier, she's started actively playing with toys and being far more vocal. Piper didn't appreciate the change too much, but hopefully she'll forgive me eventually. I know very little about budgie genetics, but both my budgies seem not only smaller, but weaker than all the other budgies I've been around.

I'm glad that Twinkle feels so much better in her own cage, and is acting happier. Piper will get used to it .

Twigs is small too. Whenever I'm at Petsmart looking at the Budgies, they're always bigger. in fact ALL my birds are on the small side for their species! It has nothing to do with the health. Just as people or any animals vary in frame size.

I have heard from the vet that white versions of normal colored animals in general "can" have compromised genetics and shorter lifespans regardless of care. Pix was mostly white. Hopefully your little Twinkle and Piper will be ones to live full lives. in dogs, white GSD and Dobermans for example are said to have more unpredictable temperaments, and many white dogs are prone to deafness.

 

[Colorguarder08]

The only dogs I have heard of being prone to deafness are dalmations and that's due to poor genetics. As much as I hate German Shepard's (bad experiences with my dads when I was younger turned me off of them forever) the only unpredictable ones I have come across are ones with horrible genetics or bad owners. They have proven that the color (at least with dogs) is just a color.

 

[RavensGryf]

The only dogs I have heard of being prone to deafness are dalmations and that's due to poor genetics. As much as I hate German Shepard's (bad experiences with my dads when I was younger turned me off of them forever) the only unpredictable ones I have come across are ones with horrible genetics or bad owners. They have proven that the color (at least with dogs) is just a color.

Check out this link from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine... It's interesting It states that although scientists aren't sure as to the mechanism in which the 'white gene' causes deafness, it is still accepted as a definite risk factor.
http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/VetJDeaf2004.pdf

 

[Terry57]

Julie, I am so sorry that Twigs is so freaked out right now, but it does sound like you are making some progress
Did you put Don in a time out for that?


About the white animals, I had a solid white cat who was deaf, and my vet told me that it does happen more in white animals than in the other colours.

 

[Kalidasa]

Don't worry, his little snit will pass soon. Birds are some of the most forgiving creatures I've ever come across. Just act like nothing untoward happend and proceed as you've been. Budgies are much, much smarter than people give them credit for. He'll know soon enough he's safe with you. This hurdle will be overcome much sooner than you think

 

[RavensGryf]

Julie, I am so sorry that Twigs is so freaked out right now, but it does sound like you are making some progress
Did you put Don in a time out for that?


About the white animals, I had a solid white cat who was deaf, and my vet told me that it does happen more in white animals than in the other colours.

I tried to put Don in a time out, but he escaped :11: LOL I'm the only "real" bird person around here .

 

[kalypso123]

My dog Toby was white and he had lots of problems. He was partially deaf and blind, had lots of tumors, he had cancer, and he had kidney problems. We had to put Toby down last year. This is just my expierence with white dogs and animals in general.

 

[RavensGryf]

Don't worry, his little snit will pass soon. Birds are some of the most forgiving creatures I've ever come across. Just act like nothing untoward happend and proceed as you've been. Budgies are much, much smarter than people give them credit for. He'll know soon enough he's safe with you. This hurdle will be overcome much sooner than you think

Thanks, I hope so. He was still really wild with me as of today. Yes, they're smart little birds, and I keep finding out how much all the time. You've been a long-time Budgie guy so you should know. I'm still discovering the wonderful little world of Budgies

 

[Timothy]

Also, you never know, this could be good for your relationship. Once he forgives you, more forgiveness will come easier and more frequently. Just trust in yourself. You know what your doing He loves you. Like i said earlier, Birds love to hold grudges, but they usually forgive after a few days