lunch Time antics.

[Budgiebrain]

Yesterday we got a budgie. The first for our family, but Imy family had one when I was growing up. We picked out a nice big cage. Big enough for several birds, but for now only one bird calls it home.
Millie was picked ou by my daughter from a bin-o-budgies, at petsmart. When we got her home she jumped into her cage, and clung to the side, not moving more than a couple times all day yesterday.

My wife called and said Milley was eating and singing and jumping about her cage this morning. I was pleased to hear that, but didn't think much more about it.

Today I went home for lunch and checked in on Millie. When I got near the cage she jumped to the perch closest to the front of the cage and moved to the side. I thought that was odd, I figured she would move to the back. So I slowly moved my hand up to the side of the cage and Millie just sat there while I stroked her side a few times.

I walked away and she went back to chewing her toys. Before I left to return to work, I walked back over and again she moved to the front of the cage. Pressing my luck I opened it up and moved in slowly. While she wasn't singing or notably pleased, I managed to get her to step up. I then spent about 10 minutes trying to get her to "step down" She wouldn't get on any of her perches, her swing, toys, food or water dish. She just clung to my finger.

I finally persuaded her to get on her rope, and removed my hand and closed the door. She moved to her spot at the front of the cage. Already late for work I decided to try again. I opened the door and moved my hand in. She again didn't freak, but she watched my hand. A couple light lifts on her belly, and she stepped up. It took longer to get her off my finger than it did to get her on!

Now I think either Millie is going to be easy to train, or I scared her so bad that she couldn't do much more than step up!

I could hear her blabering away as I left to come back to work. Almost made me want to take the rest of the day off work to stay home with her

[2horse]

Congrats on your new birdie. Sounds like she will be easy to train, is there a chance she is already tame?

[kathleen]

Well, I question, who is training who? I mean, here is this poor innocent birdie take the blame for you being late for work. It sounds like Millie is doing great. Have tons of fun with her.

[Budgiebrain]

Since we got her from the big storage cage at Petsmart, if she has been handled before I'd have to give credit to the breeder, not the store. Either way, Millie has won us all over, even my wife!

[featherfanatics]

Lol, I think Millie has you trained, not the other way around! Now that your a hopeless bird addict like the rest of us I can't wait to here more Millie stories. Don't think you can fight the birdie addiction, it just grows and grows until you have a house full of birds!

[Budgiebrain]

My brother in law has a big macaw, Skittles, and my brother has a Cockatiel. I think that is why my daughter wanted a bird. I'd love to have a bigger bird, but my wife worries about the kids fingers and such.
We are happy with Millie for now, but my youngest daughter is saying she is asking Santa for a bird of her own. So we will end up with at least 2. (I might want my own when it is all said and done

[svolk]

It sounds like it's true love between Millie and your family

I agree with the others, sounds like she'll be easy to train and is already welcoming your interaction. I believe she'll be tons of fun to be around. Everyone here knows how much I adore my 2 budgies - they are just so much fun and so full of life that it's VERY hard to ever be in a bad mood around them. They are a constant source of sunshine each day.

[Allison4]

Congrats on your new baby! I, too, think you will have a pretty easy time with training her.
Are you going to post a picture of your baby? We have many picture's of ours here, join the club.

[Budgiebrain]

Here she is. (I think "she" is correct) She has the standard budgie stripes in a light grey on her wings and backs.

[Allison4]

Aww, she's a cutie and just a baby. Best of luck with her.