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The step-up is a very satisfying interaction, and very useful to get your bird back to their cage if they need to be. It involves calling your parakeet, so choose a distinct word or whistle that you don’t use elsewhere in conversations with them. It could even be something simple as “come” or “fly”. Try not to use the birds name, as this could confuse things.
With the budgerigar perched on one finger, offer the index finger of your other hand, as you did in the “step-up” mentioned before. This time, keep a larger gap between your two fingers, so that the bird has to fly or flutter from one “perch” to the other. As you position the second finger, keep repeating your chosen word or whistle. If your bird doesn't seem to know what to do, gentl;ey push your finger against their stomach and move the finger away again, eventually your bird should get the jist of it.When they do eventually make the leap, offer a small treat to them. If millet is involved then your bird will be a keen student.
Parakeet in flight
As you progress, increase the distance between the two fingers, so that the parakeet actually has to fly rather than just flap-hop. Keep repeating your chosen word as you’re doing this. Once they’ve cracked this, try calling your bird from a perch that isn’t your other finger. Again, start of by placing your finger near the bird, and increase the distance each time.
At this point you should be able to raise your finger-perch, say the command, and your bird should come flying. Eventually they should do this without the enticement of a treat, and will happily use your head or shoulders rather than your finger.
Comments
Margaret, 6 February 2024
One of our 2 budgies is too smart! They lift the seed bin to shake the seed down. Which was great until she decided it was so clever to toss the seed bin out on the floor of the cage! This happens over & over and frustrates the other bird who is left without seed until we fill and replace the seed bin again. They seem to have some rather strong words about this too, as does my husband who is strongly considering rehoming that bird. Can you please tell me if this is a common trait and how we solve the problem.
Rebecca, 29 May 2020
Hi! We’ve had our boy two weeks and he’s great, really tame, very loving... but he’s become quite aggressive when we try to put him back in. He’s very clever and worked out how not to get back in... and when we try to catch him properly he now bites! Please help
Richard, 17 July 2019
My baby budgie liked to hang upside down and go in the bottom of cage alot. I asked the breeder i got him from and he said that young budgies do strange things for a while but they grow out of them. I'm sure he will settle down.
Rita, 16 July 2019
I have recently bought a new baby budgie a cock bird and noticed he keeps throwing his head back not like a normal budgie behaviour do u know why this is please is there something wrong he eats drinks ok
Rune, 19 March 2019
Krystin, perhaps the male is just territorial to the female and is bothering the other males because he feels threatened that they would steal the female. Not sure bout this but maybe.