How long until a parakeet from Petco stops flying away from me!?!

swong66666

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May 25, 2022
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None yet.
How long until a recently bought parakeet from Petco stops avoiding me? Petco only has a 30 day live animal return policy. If 30 days passes I’m stuck with a loser bird! I am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my parakeet would just stay still on my lap!!!!!
 
Jul 23, 2023
50
76
Parrots
7 month old sun conure
How long until a recently bought parakeet from Petco stops avoiding me? Petco only has a 30 day live animal return policy. If 30 days passes I’m stuck with a loser bird! I am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my parakeet would just stay still on my lap!!!!!
The people at petco probably didn’t interact/handle the bird often so it might take so time to build trust with your parakeet. It could take more than 30 days… Having a bird takes patience, understanding and lots of responsibility. If that doesn’t seem something you want to do maybe having a bird is not for you. Birds are not for everyone which is okay. :)
 

saxguy64

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I'll have to agree with @MariaS.C.M. above. I think your expectations of this (or any) bird are not reasonable for them. For the best for this bird, and ultimately to save yourself the frustration, return him. He deserves the chance for happy life, and it doesn't sound like you're in a mindset to give him that.
 

Owlet

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I have to agree with the others, please return the bird and stop getting birds you clearly don't care for. They aren't toys. Get a stuffed animal or something.
 

Fluffonia

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I have to agree with the others! Birds aren’t just toys you can play with! They have their own personality, thoughts and emotions! It takes time to build trust and the bird may just not like to sit on your lap. And no bird is a loser! You clearly don’t care for the bird and just want to make it do what you want It it! It may be best for you to return the bird and get something else. Not all people is made to have pet bird.
 

Vampiric_Conure

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It can take as long as a year for a bird to fully trust a new owner. I had a larger bird, a White Capped Pionus, that took almost a year and a half before he would sit on my shoulder. He never did like my hands.

If you decide to keep the parakeet, good luck to you! Parakeets are active birds and generally aren't cuddly. Usually anyways.
 

DonnaBudgie

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I'll have to agree with @MariaS.C.M. above. I think your expectations of this (or any) bird are not reasonable for them. For the best for this bird, and ultimately to save yourself the frustration, return him. He deserves the chance for happy life, and it doesn't sound like you're in a mindset to give him that.
There are no "loser birds"- only loser people. Even the friendliest, tamest parakeets don't sit on your lap and stay still.
 

wrench13

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PLease take what our other members have said in the right light. THis forum is all about the welfare of the parrots. From the limited about of information you gave us, it would appear that your expectations of the budgie are much higher then what one can usually expect from any parrot. They hate changes and adapt very slowly to them. Owners of parrots have to understand that and adjust their expectations accordingly. It takes a lot of patience to work with and train parrots, if you are not temperamentally suited to this kind of relationship with an animal, then parrots are likely not the best match for you.

Plus, as has been said, budgies are typically not a sit on the shoulder and cuddle kind of parrot, their nervous nature makes them twitchy and very active.
 

LaurieLJT

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Aug 13, 2023
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How long until a recently bought parakeet from Petco stops avoiding me? Petco only has a 30 day live animal return policy. If 30 days passes I’m stuck with a loser bird! I am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my parakeet would just stay still on my lap!!!!!
 

LaurieLJT

New member
Aug 13, 2023
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8
Hi. I understand u want a bird to sit on your shoulder or laptop but u have to work with him/her with millet ( that is birds favorite treat). To train the bird to sit by you. Only use that for training purposes. U must have lot of patience and time. It gonna take a quite few months. Every bird has different personalities. He/she must be afraid right now being different place. We don’t know how long he/she being in petco cage. Please give a time. parakeets are amazing birds to own.
 

Featherii_Fids

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How long until a recently bought parakeet from Petco stops avoiding me? Petco only has a 30 day live animal return policy. If 30 days passes I’m stuck with a loser bird! I am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my parakeet would just stay still on my lap!!!!!
i Would say that what the other's said above is right. Taming birds takes a lot of patience and time, he/she won't just get convinced that he/she must trust you. You must do lots of research before owning a bird, or any pet. Taming may be frustrating, but in the end, the result is usually amazing and worth the struggles. My Pet parakeets Took atleast 2 months to completely trust me that they both can fly towards me as they please. But they don't trust me completely. Being skittish and scared is a budgerigar's nature. they fly speedily for a reason. I would highly recommend either returning it to petco or be patient and tame it. And if you're keeping it, please do research.
 
May 2, 2021
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Stormy(M): blue Australian budgie
Picasso(F): green Australian budgie
Apollo(F): sky blue dominant pied Australian budgie
How long until a recently bought parakeet from Petco stops avoiding me? Petco only has a 30 day live animal return policy. If 30 days passes I’m stuck with a loser bird! I am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish my parakeet would just stay still on my lap!!!!!
There are no "loser birds"!!! My youngest bird Apollo was very anxious when I first got her and a lot of times it felt like one step forward and two steps back. Now, she's been with me for 1 or 2 years (I forgot) and she's turned into the most wonderful bird I have ever had the pleasure to own. Very gentle, doesn't bite, is very expressive, and doesn't play annoying "games" where she does the opposite of what I want her to do for her personal amusement like Stormy does.

That aside, I think this person is a troll.
 

DonnaBudgie

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Jan 24, 2023
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There are no "loser birds"!!! My youngest bird Apollo was very anxious when I first got her and a lot of times it felt like one step forward and two steps back. Now, she's been with me for 1 or 2 years (I forgot) and she's turned into the most wonderful bird I have ever had the pleasure to own. Very gentle, doesn't bite, is very expressive, and doesn't play annoying "games" where she does the opposite of what I want her to do for her personal amusement like Stormy does.

That aside, I think this person is a troll.
I'm glad you bonded with Apollo. I remember you thinking of rehoming a while back so I'm glad you gave her a chance.
I hope the person is a troll. It's so upsetting when I think of someone thinking such bad things about an innocent bird.
 
May 2, 2021
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Stormy(M): blue Australian budgie
Picasso(F): green Australian budgie
Apollo(F): sky blue dominant pied Australian budgie
I remember you thinking of rehoming a while back so I'm glad you gave her a chance.
Yeah, I wasn't sure if everything was going to be ok with her, but it was. She just needed time and patience.
It's so upsetting when I think of someone thinking such bad things about an innocent bird.
Yes, the birds fear is not their fault!
 

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