how to persuade parakeet to hop on my finger?

[Gem]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've posted on here, but I have a question about my new birdie, Olly. He was given to me a few weeks ago by a lady who found him on the street. He's very sweet and seems young - only 3 or 4 months - and in good health. I've been putting off introducing him to my other 3 parakeets (even beyond the quarantine period) as I want to make him finger tame before I do. 2 of my others are not at all tame, and I think once Olly meets them he will adopt their ways and act as if I am evil! I have been spending time with Olly every chance I get, talking to him whenever I'm in the room and putting my hand in the cage, giving him millet etc. He seems pretty comfortable with me, doesn't jump at all and lets me stroke his chest with no problem.
However, despite my best efforts, I cannot convince him to hop onto my finger. The old 'offer finger as a perch, touch gently above his legs and say up' trick doesn't seem to be working at all. He just looks down at my finger as if to say "what the hell are you doing?"! If I push a little harder he ends up moving to one side. Just a couple of times I have actually got him on my finger, but that was more by having him cornered and him not having any choice!
I have been at this stage with him for over 3 weeks, and am almost at the point of giving up and putting him with my other birds. I'm as gentle and patient as possible with him, but he just doesn't seem to get it.
Am I doing something wrong? Does anyone have any bright ideas, or experience with a bird who seems a little 'slow' (in the nicest possible way of course!).
Any input is appreciated.
Gemma

[Sivin]

Hi Gemma,

Just try, and try again and sooner or later he will get it. Here's one suggestion: instead of offering just one finger, try two together, your index and tall man. I forget the reasoning but the bird supposedly feels that's less of a threat than one. Let us know how you are doing and thanks for posting!

[Gem]

Thanks Sivin for the suggestion. I"m trying the 2 finger thing. No luck so far, but you've convinced me not to give up on him yet! I'll let you know if I have any success.

[Sivin]

Just stick with it. One of our budgies is now over nine years old, and for the first five years of her life had absolutely no use for me -- would not approach me, nothing. Liked our kids just fine. As she mellowed though, she realized I wasn't all that bad and will now hop on my finger. She's not thrilled, but she'll do it.

Another thing, budgies love drama! If your little one gives you a big nip during training, try your best not to react or the bird will just try it again and again!

[henryswife]

Hi Gemma,
Nice to hear from you. I just have'nt had time to post latly .

I agree with Sivin that it will take time to get him used to you, being found on the street! Poor baby is probably still scared, not knowing why or what happened to him.

We got ours at about 12 weeks, flight feathers clipped, and kept them clipped for the first yr. They became very tame doing step-up- hand feed etc. Now free flighted and trained to go home etc.
We took in 2 that were over a yr. old and still don't like hands. 'Will eat millet that I hand feed, but?? I don't know what their 1'st yr. was like except just being caught and put back in their cage! And no toys to play with. I put 2 play toys in with bells that I shake one on one side and they will go to the other one. Also put color beads on their swings 'one's that just go back & forth, for some reason they don't like the ones that go circles' 'ours don't either' and other toys etc.
Good luck with 'Ollie' He found a good home with you.
Alice

[Gem]

Just to update, I decided to put Olly with my other birds because I felt bad for him being by himself in the other room for so long, especially as I am sometimes gone all day. He seemed kind of sad and quiet, except when he could hear the others and would reply to them! So even though I didn't succeed in getting him to step up onto my finger, I introduced him to the gang. He seems MUCH happier and is full of energy. I've attached a couple of photos. Olly is the lighter of the 3 green ones, without the black cheek spots. The one of the other 3 'in conference' about him made me laugh - I couldn't resist grabbing the camera when I saw them huddled together like that!

[Gem]

hmm I seem to be having trouble posting the pictures. Can anyone help me with this? I'm clickling on the 4th button along, getting the thing and pasting the link to my photo between them, but when I post my message, nothing comes up. I tried pasting from kodak gallery and facebook with no luck. What's the best site to use?

Well anyway here's the direct link - maybe you can see that..

www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=cq20354.3w6um9c8&x=0&y=xze6qu&localeid=en_US

[Kathy in Montana]

Nice pictures. I love the conference pic. You can just tell that's what they are thinking LOL.

[henryswife]

'Cute & Very pretty birdies'
I love the one of all 4 are together. 'And he slept on my swing without asking'
Lol, That's soo funny!
We use 'photo bucket' to post pics. from our photo album.
Alice

[bjsmith]

I found a small bird by the glass window at my school this evening. I saw that it was still moving it's head and trying to turn itself over. I got a bag and turned it over, but it just kind of slumped forward. I put the bird in a box and have taken him home. His wings are working, he can move his head fine, and his legs seem to be okay. The only "non-working" part seems to be his hind end. It has put its beak back several times in what looks like an attempt to clean it. I've given it water from my fingertip which he has drank and some shelled sunflower seeds in the box I have him in. He has not eaten anything. I don't know how long he was lying on the concrete before I found him. I just want him to get well. Any ideas what I can do to help him?

[Sheila]

Gem your birds are cuties. I love the caption you had added.