I have had my budgie since mid May, and I love her. The only problem is that she doesn't really let anyone hold her. She actually seems to have gotten worse, not better. I looked up a method to get her to stop pecking, and it worked perfectly, but she has come up with a new tactic. Every time i pick her up and move to take her out of the cage, she flies to the back of the cage, and when she is out of her cage, she repeatedly flies back and lands on it. I don't know what to do. She is a healthy and cheerful bird, but she doesn't like to leave her cage. She won't even eat treats out of my hand. What should I do?

Hi!

I am a huge advocate for immersing the bird into your life as soon as it comes into the home for this reason. Often if we let issues like this simmer for months on end, the bird becomes comfortable how it is and doesn't want to change! Nevertheless, there is always a way to correct

Often you're going to want the cage in a common area, but for situations like this it may be best to move it into a different room (or go with the bird to a room away from the cage) for a while. This way you don't have to worry about the bird flying back to the cage, and this is the time you will want to work on the mindset of good things come from me.

Have you tried looking away when you hand her a treat? Sometimes birds have a deer-in-headlights moment unless you look away. If she is still too frightened, drop the treat in front of her. Every time you walk by, drop a treat in her bowl/hand her one.

Another great thing that I always suggest is clicker training. The clicker is a powerful tool you can use to communicate with your bird. If your bird knows that when she comes out of the cage you may train her and she will get a treat, then she will be more apt to wanting to stay out in the future.


Here's a video from my favorite parrot youtube channel Hope it can be a help to you!

Keep being patient. Have you tried setting up a play stand (don't just plop her on it--- set it in the room so she gets used to seeing it and gradually move it closer over time-- the put favorite treats on it etc). If you establish a place for her outside of her cage, that could help...but remember not to force anything, or you risk harming trust.

I do agree not to force anything - that will never help. But it definitely depends on the bird - if she isn't afraid of the perch, then its totally okay to just plop her on it! Going slow when the bird doesn't need to go slow can promote fear and comfortability. Find the line where your bird is afraid (ex standing 10ft from it, getting on it, staying on it) and start there

Putting treats on it like noodles said, or even a food bowl and toys so she has all of her "essentials" out could also help too!

One thing about budgies. I do believe they can all be trained successfully with lots of love and patience and patience -- however -- some budgies simply do Not want to be touched or handled.

Here is my absolute favorite video on training budgies. The video itself is quite short.
Perhaps you will find a tip that will help you too? If nothing else it's fun to watch.
(PS i believe the star of this video is an Actor, who i suspect was Already Tamed before the filming. )

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They are not really pets. They are small People with wings and Opinions. They pay no rent, expect you to come when they call, & like to destroy stuff.