Hand taming unfriendly budgie

[Orgasm Hut]

I have just been given a budgie who is very unfriendly. He looks healthy though and I'd say it's just a problem of not having much social interaction.

I don't have a lot of time to spend with it but I'm sure I can find an hour or so a day. What I want to know is what would be the best way to get him to first be friendly and eventually hand tame. I quite like the idea of a pet bird as company and from what I've read, budgies are quite intelligent.

So, ideas please. And anyone know how long it would take.

As a side question. What sort of care should he have, and what sort of food/toys should I give it. Is cleaning the cage once a week enough? Not too worried about this question though as I'm sure google can answer it. But if you have time.

Oh and I need a name.

[xxombie]

We need pics!

I've found the best way to any animals heart is through food. Start off by putting the treat down really close to it, and eventually work up to him taking the treat right out of your hand. He'll eventually associate you with a yummy snack, and be running to the door when you approach.

Define unfriendly. Is he aggressive or just shy?

[Orgasm Hut]

Yeah sorry, by unfriendly I mean aggressive. If you put my hand in the cage to change food/water he'll start trying to attack my hand with his beak. He also squawks a lot quite nosily. Not very happy sounding squawks :(

I'll get some pictures soon.

I like the idea of treats. Maybe I can get it to associate my hand with tasty food (good things). I'll have a look at the pet store for some treats. Do budgies like fresh food like fruit and veges?

[Yggdrasil]

I've a cockatoo with a serious temper. After almost 8 months of care it still is absolutely vicious. Regardless of my efforts, it keeps on trying to attack me. I feel like crushing it between my palm sometimes. I think the bird's aggression is due to the fact that before I obtained it, it went through 6 owners in two years. The poor thing likely has 0 confidence in humans.

[Name's Taken]

I've a cockatoo with a serious temper. After almost 8 months of care it still is absolutely vicious. Regardless of my efforts, it keeps on trying to attack me. I feel like crushing it between my palm sometimes. I think the bird's aggression is due to the fact that before I obtained it, it went through 6 owners in two years. The poor thing likely has 0 confidence in humans.

Every cockatoo ever is a vicious cunt.

[Hyper-dimension]

Every cockatoo ever is a vicious cunt.

Wrong, my Umbrella Cockatoo was the sweetest animal in the world. What kind of Cockatoo do you have Yggdrasil? My Cockatoo went through a lot of owners in a short time too, but she took it out of herself instead of people. Her body was bald when I got her. :(

OP:

Give us a picture of the cage and everything in it, picture of the bird, close-up of the head, close-up of an eye, and a close-up of the cere(nose). These would all be useful.

I can tell you what you're missing, or what is wrong, from the picture of the cage.

If you just got the bird, the best thing you could do, starting out, is to leave it be for 2-4 weeks. Just let it be in its cage. Put the cage somewhere people frequent, and don't move it. Birds are especially on edge in a new enviroment, and trying to make it like you just compounds their frustration. Give it the time to get used to your house and to seeing you. All you want to do the first couple of weeks is feed, water, and clean, nothing more.

Trying to hand-tame a parakeet outside of the cage can be a pain without first clipping their wings. You'll want to wait until after you're able to handle the bird inside its cage, though. If you need an explanation on how to do this let me know, I've clipped hundreds of parakeets.

Cleaning once a week sounds fine given it's only one parakeet, but that could depend on how you feed and water it, what bedding you're using, and the size of the cage.

[Orgasm Hut]

Thanks heaps Friendo, I will endeavor to get those pictures asap. Had the bird for a little over a week now.

[xilikeeggs0]

If he's already aggressive, I wouldn't suggest using food to get him used to you. Him associating your hand with food will probably lead to you getting bit.

[Hyper-dimension]

Orgasm Hut....post!

[Yggdrasil]

He's just a generic cockatiel. Sulfur crested cockatoos are stunning, in my opinion.

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Name's Taken was talking about the Sulphur Crested kind. If you get in their bad books you'll be there for the next 80 years.

[Orgasm Hut]

I'm sorry about the delay. I have no idea where the camera is. Until I can find it, here's what I have in the cage

Water, Seed, A wooden perch and rope perch, a swing, a cuttlefish and grit mat on the floor.

[Hyper-dimension]

I'm sorry about the delay. I have no idea where the camera is. Until I can find it, here's what I have in the cage

Water, Seed, A wooden perch and rope perch, a swing, a cuttlefish and grit mat on the floor.

What kind of wooden perch, by chance? Is it a straight perch? If it's the same diameter all the way down its no good, it could cause the bird's feet to cramp or develope uncomfortable calluses. So, Manzanita perches tend to excersize their feet properly:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5059+5771+13383&pcatid=13383

[ibetyouvotenexttimehippy]

I had a galah cockatoo and it was easily the friendliest bird I have owned.

[kellie-marie]

Talk to it, so it gets used to your voice.
Using treats is also a good idea.
Give the bird loads of encouragement and alway speak kindly and approach it carefully.
Don't be loud or move alot near it, as It could be frightened.
IT'll take time, but It will be worth it.

[blerrh]

Be very very patient and don't try to grab him out of his cage. Keep talking to him and feeding him and just be interesting. A good sign is when he starts to come to the side of the cage to see you when you approach. Then maybe you can start getting him used to your hand being in the cage.

It's quite important not to keep grabbing him and forcing him out of his cage because this will make him fear your hands. You need to get him to want to come out of his own accord.

I've never tamed a bird that has been owned my someone else, I imagine it would be quite the mission. It's great having a friendly bird though, I have a cockatiel who thinks he owns my feet.

[SHANE14]

I really can't add much to whats already been said. Just be around it as much as possible, get it used to your presence, get as close as you can, get it used to your voice, just take baby steps and be patient. IMO attention makes all the difference unless you have a shit temperament bird

[Name's Taken]

Name's Taken was talking about the Sulphur Crested kind. If you get in their bad books you'll be there for the next 80 years.

Yes, yes I was. They look friendly enough when you first see them chatting away. But it's all just a ploy so they can bite your fingers off and try and attack you through the cage.
:mad::mad::mad:

I've also known a galah that was unfriendly to everybody but it's owner.

[T.K. Baha]

No...