How friendly can Budgies from a pet store get?

[Luke Phillips]

I've been wondering if Budgies from a pet store can get just as tame as Budgies that were raised by a breeder? Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[sourland]

They can be tamed with patience. Pick the youngest bird possible - with feather barring all the way down to the ceres. The older the bird generally the more difficult to tame.

 

[Serin]

Having had about 25 budgies I would say no, they don't get as tame as well-bred birds.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

any bird can be tamed with time and patients

 

[Serin]

Save yourself a lot of disappointment and find a bird that was raised with socialization. They're wonderful, and won't spend the first six months scared to death of you.

 

[9SpiceyChickens]

Yes, they can be easily tamed!
My pet store Budgie is a female (Females are sometimes considered hard to tame), who knows how to fly to me on cue and knows the command "kisses". She doesn't how to talk, but she is the tamest bird I know.

 

[Bug n Flock]

I've had parrots for 20 years and many, many budgies/parakeets. I breed and socialize the babies of my parakeets/budgies, and sell the babies.

My professional opinion is that yes, pet store birds can absolutely tame down and become your best friend in the world. All it takes is kindness and patience. Not everyone can/will do that, though, and for them(or homes with small children, the elderly, mobility impaired etc etc etc), a breeder bird may be a better choice. They come to you already knowing that budgies are not on the menus of peoples, and peoples bring toys, tasty things, and head scratchies.

Some of my favorite birds over the years(and my first bird) were budgie parakeet hens from big box stores, though. And just because someone has baby birds, does not make them a breeder. True budgie breeders aren't always the easiest to find.

 

[SpazzWhoElse]

Yes - it also depends on the time you give and many times the sex, sometimes just the bird. Birds are fickle and require patience and i see so much now people watch videos online and get so discouraged, mad even, that their feathered friend doesn't do the same things. What a sucky thing right? After all, our kids learn differently and we don't give up on them. My male will come for his goodies while my female refuses and waits until I'm gone lol

 

[Bug n Flock]

This is Legs. She(most likely a she anyway) was hatched in my kitchen on Jan 18 of this year. Yeah she is grooming in this pic, but yes her legs are all messed up. She can't walk well or climb or anything like that. This is environmental in cause, the mother was a first time breeder and she kicked every single speck of bedding out of the nest(to keep it clean, you see), so Legs couldn't get good traction. To make things worse, Momma bird wanted to make *extra* sure Legs was warm enough so she sat super hard on her. We tried correcting the legs with a brace, and it did help out somewhat, but it didn't fully correct. She spends most of her time clinging to my shirt, as she can get around much better on cloth.

We decided a few things when it became obvious she would never be normal: 1, we would never sell her. 2, we were going to do what it took so she could have the best life possible, up to and including surgery(we have since sort of back tracked on this. If no other options and she is suffering we will consider surgery. VERY risky on a bird so small).

But her legs don't seem to bother her. She is happy and mentally a totally normal budgie. What kills me is that since having her I have looked up SO MUCH on splay legged birds and found that most of the time these birds are euthanized. That breaks my heart... Yes, Legs requires MUCH more care than our 17 other budgies, but she is totally worth it.

Sorry to go off on a tangent, I was inspired by the poster above talking about different abilities in birds. Legs will never walk or be allowed to fly like other birds, but she is my perfect little chest pirhana. Bird from a breeder, but most likely a hen and absolutely a sweetie. :3

I've never had trouble taming down hens and until a couple of years ago when I got Fatty Dingdong from a pet store, ALL of my *pet* budgies have been hens. The males will talk easier, and will sass the heck outta you. Bolder, funnier, and more outgoing(I love my budgie roos), but the hens, once you have their trust and their heart, will sit there and preen you for hours on end. I've never had a male budgie groom me the way my hens have. <3

But, I'm probably biased. Like I said in my above post: I freaking *love* budgies!

 

[Poultrybonkers]

This is Legs. She(most likely a she anyway) was hatched in my kitchen on Jan 18 of this year. Yeah she is grooming in this pic, but yes her legs are all messed up. She can't walk well or climb or anything like that. This is environmental in cause, the mother was a first time breeder and she kicked every single speck of bedding out of the nest(to keep it clean, you see), so Legs couldn't get good traction. To make things worse, Momma bird wanted to make *extra* sure Legs was warm enough so she sat super hard on her. We tried correcting the legs with a brace, and it did help out somewhat, but it didn't fully correct. She spends most of her time clinging to my shirt, as she can get around much better on cloth.

We decided a few things when it became obvious she would never be normal: 1, we would never sell her. 2, we were going to do what it took so she could have the best life possible, up to and including surgery(we have since sort of back tracked on this. If no other options and she is suffering we will consider surgery. VERY risky on a bird so small).

But her legs don't seem to bother her. She is happy and mentally a totally normal budgie. What kills me is that since having her I have looked up SO MUCH on splay legged birds and found that most of the time these birds are euthanized. That breaks my heart... Yes, Legs requires MUCH more care than our 17 other budgies, but she is totally worth it.

Sorry to go off on a tangent, I was inspired by the poster above talking about different abilities in birds. Legs will never walk or be allowed to fly like other birds, but she is my perfect little chest pirhana. Bird from a breeder, but most likely a hen and absolutely a sweetie. :3

I've never had trouble taming down hens and until a couple of years ago when I got Fatty Dingdong from a pet store, ALL of my *pet* budgies have been hens. The males will talk easier, and will sass the heck outta you. Bolder, funnier, and more outgoing(I love my budgie roos), but the hens, once you have their trust and their heart, will sit there and preen you for hours on end. I've never had a male budgie groom me the way my hens have. <3

But, I'm probably biased. Like I said in my above post: I freaking *love* budgies!

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someone on facebook swears spray legs are caused by lack of calcium during breeding I personally think if from a lack of a concave I breed but I breed for my line I started in 2008 whatever chicks I breed I keep I have 4 chicks in a nest now Ive never had a sprayed leg chicks If I did I would be the one to put it down as thats not living if they cant walk or fly but thats my personal opinion did you clip your ones wing but not the other? heres my clutch