I just got a budgie and I want to learn a little more about hand taming

[MertyMan]

So I have a blue budgie named Bandit, and we got him a couple days ago, he is a baby and I've been slowing introducing my hand into his cage and he recently started preening while my hand is in the cage. he was doing it while I was just in the room with him. but I was curious as to if him preening while my hand in the cage is a good sign of him getting used to it being there. and if that's kind of a next stage of taming

Thanks all

Edit: I appreciate all the responses. I have taken all the tips into account and I have made some large progress with bandit. he got a very large millet pay-out and I have attached a photo of the progress we have made

 

[clark_conure]

This is my goto...for mine..... https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/taming-and-bonding-with-budgerigars-tips-for-beginners.72068/

 

[HeatherG]

Preening is something birds do when they’re relaxed. If your bird is preening when you have your hand in the cage that shows it’s calm. That’s a good sign.

 

[wrench13]

A very good sign. See if he will take a favorite treat from your hand too.

 

[MertyMan]

A very good sign. See if he will take a favorite treat from your hand too.

I've been able to feed him millet while holding it, but he is struggling to go much further than that, he wont get on my hand for it. But he has nibbled my finger a couple times, I don't think its him trying to hurt me, maybe just exploring

 

[HeatherG]

I think you should keep doing what you are doing. Showing the bird your good intentions towards it is the first step towards gaining its trust. Also, if he’d meant to hurt you, he could have. Maybe he is grooming you or otherwise getting to know you.

 

[Percival the great]

So I have a blue budgie named Bandit, and we got him a couple days ago, he is a baby and I've been slowing introducing my hand into his cage and he recently started preening while my hand is in the cage. he was doing it while I was just in the room with him. but I was curious as to if him preening while my hand in the cage is a good sign of him getting used to it being there. and if that's kind of a next stage of taming

Thanks all

Sound like that’s a great start! I’ve done this many times now and once you think bandit has fully settled in you can start feeding him by hand I would start with I stick of millet and wait for him to come to you, once he’s fully comfortable eating from you you can make it a little more challenging so he would have to step onto your finger to reach the food, once he’s comfortable doing that you can bring him in and out of the cage while on your finger, hope this helps and depending on his personality will determine how long it will take, my first budgie was super outgoing as was fully tame in 5 days! My second was on the shy side and took longer than a week, trust your instincts and you’ll be fine!

 

[MertyMan]

Sound like that’s a great start! I’ve done this many times now and once you think bandit has fully settled in you can start feeding him by hand I would start with I stick of millet and wait for him to come to you, once he’s fully comfortable eating from you you can make it a little more challenging so he would have to step onto your finger to reach the food, once he’s comfortable doing that you can bring him in and out of the cage while on your finger, hope this helps and depending on his personality will determine how long it will take, my first budgie was super outgoing as was fully tame in 5 days! My second was on the shy side and took longer than a week, trust your instincts and you’ll be f

Preening is something birds do when they’re relaxed. If your bird is preening when you have your hand in the cage that shows it’s calm. That’s a good sign.

I think you should keep doing what you are doing. Showing the bird your good intentions towards it is the first step towards gaining its trust. Also, if he’d meant to hurt you, he could have. Maybe he is grooming you or otherwise getting to know you.

A very good sign. See if he will take a favorite treat from your hand too.

This is my goto...for mine..... https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/taming-and-bonding-with-budgerigars-tips-for-beginners.72068/

I appreciate all the tips. I encourage you to check out the progress