Tips with getting a Budgie used to me and my hand..

[tishihara1994]

This is my new budgie "PorQue" (Yes I know it's a very odd name :\) Any ways I got this little guy/girl about 5 days ago. (8/24/10) I got him/her from a local bird shop and the people working there said it was hand tamed but it starts to run away from me when I get my hand close to it. But it's pretty chill with me near the cage and if i put my hand on the cage he doesn't do much but look at my hand and inch away from it slowly. I'm working on the clicker training thing but he is still a little bit reluctant to take food from my hand. I will offer Millet Spray to it but sometimes it'll run away and then start nibbling on it but if I get too close, it'll run away. As you can see i am a total noob with birds... Any tips from professionals?

[Kim S]

So he does take food from you, but gets scared if you move too fast or too close right?
Then dont do whatever scares him
Let Porky tell you where to go and how fast. He will get used to you soon enough if you just keep feeding him millet. Be sure to just handfeed him millet, dont put anyting in his cage. It should be his special treat for interacting with you.
It will take some time to gain his trust, but he will get there. The fact that he already eats from your hand means a great deal!

[HyperD]

As Kim said, it might take a bit of time, just keep at it and eventually (s)he will learn that your hand is a safe and fun perch to be on...

Another thing you could also remove his food at night when (s)he is sleeping, then when you wake up offer him/her the millet again. Hopefully the slight hunger will encourage him/her to come to you.

On a side note, "porque" is "because" in portuguese... So if anyone asks you why you named it that then just say "because" and nothing else! Also I hope you are not pronouncing it as Porky

[ptuga72]

On a side note, "porque" is "because" in portuguese... So if anyone asks you why you named it that then just say "because" and nothing else! Also I hope you are not pronouncing it as Porky

It means that and "why?" in Spanish!

[Kim S]

I like Porky.

[HyperD]

"por que" is why... "porque" is because That is both portuguese and spanish, the two are very similar.