Parakeet Behavior

Question
Hello. I have two parakeets that are not hand trained yet, named Speckles and Snow. We bought both of them at a Petco and ever since then they have refused to be hand trained at all. I'm really worry about them. Recently one became handicap, she lost a toe. Ever since then, she treated us as if we have done something horrible to her. We had them for 6 months. I don't want to see them stuffed in a cage ever again. Please can you tell us an effective way on how to hand train the parakeet? Any info will be much needed. Thank you very much.

-Michael

Answer
Dear Michael,
thank you for your question.
I recommend clicker training, it works very well with birds. Basically, you reward behaviour you want the bird to repeat with a specific sound and a small treat. Since your budgies don't eat from your hand, you can offer them the treat is a small bowl. Start by putting the bowl into the cage and filling it with a small amount of millet spray or something else they really like, but millet spray is a favourite for most budgies. If they have never eaten it before, give them a whole spray a few times to teach them how good it tastes. After putting it in the bowl, wait until at least one of them goes to the bowl and eats and make the click sound right before they eat. Repeat that a few times and on a few more days so that they learn click= treat.

Then you can start putting your hand in the cage or outside the cage near them at a distance they are still comfortable with. Leave it there for a bit and then click and give the treat. Repeat this a few times every day and when they are perfectly comfortable with it, put your hand a bit nearer to them. It takes some time, but it's the best method for really shy birds and once they understood what you want from them, they will learn faster.

You can also offer millet spray on your hand and wait until they come to your hand to eat it, either combined with the clicker or without. But that may take a bit longer than the other method. It depends a bit on your birds' personality, experiment a bit to find out what suits them and you.

This website has more info on clicker training and a very active mailing list with friendly and helpful people:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bird-Click/

I hope I was of some help to you
Jennifer