Hand taming birds?

[Kaya]

I bought a little grass parakeet from the market the other day. Its not hand raised and from its behaviour it seems to never have been around people much.
(I think most people keep them as aviary birds?)

Its the 2nd day I've had it now and its eating apples from my hand, and allowing me to stroke its back a little bit, but it still gets very startled from any sudden movements, or anyone coming close to the cage.

How hard will training it be? How should I go about it? Do you think It will ever be comfortable enough to sit on my shoulder without flying away?

Thanks, any advice or storys from people who have had experience with this would be appreciated.

 

[Ozzybirdie]

How my grandfather taught me to tame budgies. - Talk Budgies Forums

this link explains everything very well and is a GREAT guide.
But the bird maybe just letting you stroke it because it is terrified of you and feels that it is safer to not move rather than fly about. Just remember, your GIANT hand coming at this little tiny bird is very scary.

I hope you all the est in your training!

 

[Kaya]

Wow, thank you, he is now stepping up to my finger/ perch

 

[Kaya]

This is my little guy, by the way

 

[aliray]

beautiful little bird

 

[Kantia]

Wow he's gorgeous!

I think the main things are time and patience. It's good that he's eating from your hand already though.

Talk to him when you enter a room or when you're around him, let him know you're there, which in turn might not make him so jumpy. Keep your movements slow and fluid at first, so he can keep an eye on you. Eventually he probably will learn to trust you, but this could take months.

I bought a budgie when I was younger and he wasn't really use to humans at all. He never did learn to talk despite my best efforts, and he never really learnt to sit on my shoulder. But eventually he allowed me to stroke him all over, would step up and eat from my hand.

So take baby steps and see how you go. :]