Budgie Eating from Hand

[WallyBirdie]

I know that it is a sign of trust for a budgie to eat from your hand. Mine are not yet comfortable with being hand-fed. They will not eat food that I am holding. But if I put the food down there is no hesitation for them to approach and eat.

They step up on my hand without food or millet- and they do not seem to have any fear of my hand in the cage. They perch on my finger or shoulders for extended periods, which is an improvement because they used to hop off.

The birds are fine with sitting on my hand while eating treats that are clipped to places around the cage.

They don't eat from my hand... but they will sit on my hand and eat.
Not the same thing but I like to think that slow progress is a step in the right direction.

 

[nchls school]

It takes a lot of patience to train a bird. It's worth it. Good luck.

 

[WallyBirdie]

It takes a lot of patience to train a bird. It's worth it. Good luck.

Thanks! I have a lot of time on my hands so this is something I really want to do.

I know that two birds will not bond with a human as well as one, but they are warning up. They play with their toys; they have finally began to try new healthy foods (before, they wouldn't eat anything fresh); and I can get them in and out of the cage without stressing them out.

They are a delightful addition to the household.

If you have any advice for taming and/or caring for budgies, I'd be happy to read.

 

[nchls school]

Do you have a mated pair? I'd love to see them if you can post a picture/s. I raised budgies, American standard and English, for many years.

 

[WallyBirdie]

Do you have a mated pair? I'd love to see them if you can post a picture/s. I raised budgies, American standard and English, for many years.

I have two males (they were sold as females, but I was told on BYC that they are young males). They are very close, near constant social grooming and sharing food (looks like kissing). I did have to add a second food dish because one likes to dig and burrow in the food dish and there isn't always room for both.

 

[nchls school]

They are quite young. Sexing budgies using a picture is difficult, but looking at these pictures the green looks to be a hen. The blue looks like a male in one picture and a female in another. If you can, take pictures of their ceres in a well-lighted area and post again. What is their age?

 

[WallyBirdie]

They are quite young. Sexing budgies using a picture is difficult, but looking at these pictures the green looks to be a hen. The blue looks like a male in one picture and a female in another. If you can, take pictures of their ceres in a well-lighted area and post again. What is their age?

I don't know the exact age or hatch date. The pet store was terrible. I asked about age and gender and their response was: "We primarily carry females, so you problem have girls. And they're less than 6 months old."
I've consulted people on BYC, and due to the baby bars on the forehead, the button eyes, and the pink ceres, it was estimated that they wers closer to 3 months old (haven't had their first molt!), and were male.
Males generally have pink/purple ceres that turn blue when they reach sexual maturity.
Both of mine have pink ceres. My camera isn't great but I can try to get more pictures later. The ones I have are a bit blurred or don't show the ceres well.

 

[nchls school]

Your cere description is better than a picture. Yes, both are males. Females would not have pink on the cere. In time the cere will turn bright blue. 2 1/2-3 months is what I would have guessed; not long out of the nest/just weaned. At that age you have a better chance of training them.

Be careful of toys in the cage. Make sure there is nothing they can get their toes stuck in and hang themselves. Once stuck they will frantically try to flee until they die. Many bird toys that are sold are not safe for the birds. Many are made to sell fast without thought to the birds the toy is supposed to entertain.

 

[That_australian_lad]

1 male 1 female

 

[That_australian_lad]

my techer is a breeder