Are some budgies considered "untrainable"?

[DrDivine]

I've had Jupiter for over a year now and he's a pretty happy bird, he lets me pet him he chirps and makes other noises alot, he even lives with a cockatiel in the same cage for a long time now and they are inseparable. My only problem is when it comes to handling Jupiter, he becomes very rebellious. There are times were he let's me hold him peacefully, and perches on my finger as well, but 90% of the time he does not like being handled and will often try to jump out of your hand whenever given the chance. I have tried about every method of training and rewarding him with millet, but he seems to resist every tactic. I don't want to push him into doing something he doesn't want to do, but is it possible that some budgies just aren't trainable?

[Johnni Gade]

In my book, yes. But only if its an old bird that has never been around people.

[Star]

Yes, I think some birds can be. I tried for the 5 years I had my baby to train her. I got to the point of petting her, but that was it. She just didn't like people too much. She only trusted me and my Dad. My other budgie, Sunny was tamed and he was from an abusive home. Star was from petco, so I have no idea what could've happened to her that made her that way or if she just didn't want to. I kept her cage open for her to go out and fly around on her own around my house but nothing worked..

[birdlover912]

With positive reinforcement and consistant training, I think pretty much anything is possible!

Barbra Heindrich has some really good parrot training books out there that you may want to take a look at--they have helped me to understand birds much better.

[jenseits]

I've heard some really amazing stories about seemingly "untrainable" birds making complete 180 degree turnarounds with the right approach and lots of patience.

I don't think budgies are in principle any different than other birds, except that people often give up on them because people don't really think of them as "real parrots" and therefore not as intelligent or in need of human interaction.

Your budgie doesn't sound like he's too far gone for training at all. But when you say he's "rebellious" and he's "resisting" your training tactics, it makes me think you aren't approaching it with an empathy for his point of view. He's not being stubborn, you just haven't convinced him that it's worth it yet. In training, the burden is on *you* to reach out to him... if you approach it from that perspective, acknowledging that it's not his responsibility to "cooperate", but that you're trying to learn a new language together, then I think you'll be able to reach a breakthrough sooner.

Have you tried target training with a clicker? I think you'll be amazed at how quickly he catches on if you use the clicker correctly.

[Johnni Gade]

I saw a video of a clickertraining. Seemed pretty consistent.

[Lori~D]

"I've had Jupiter for over a year now and he's a pretty happy bird, he lets me pet him he chirps and makes other noises alot, he even lives with a cockatiel in the same cage for a long time now and they are inseparable. My only problem is when it comes to handling Jupiter, he becomes very rebellious. There are times were he let's me hold him peacefully, and perches on my finger as well, but 90% of the time he does not like being handled and will often try to jump out of your hand whenever given the chance. I have tried about every method of training and rewarding him with millet, but he seems to resist every tactic. I don't want to push him into doing something he doesn't want to do, but is it possible that some budgies just aren't trainable?"

In re reading your post I have to ask a question. What type of handling are you asking for with this little guy? It sounds like you can touch him and he already sits on your finger. As for more than that MOST birds we own will not allow much more. It is a few rare birds that stay calm and quiet held in the hand. They feel so trapped. It takes a ton of trust building and often only comes with owners who have had birds from tiny babies. Im saying it cannot be done but it seems to me you are in fact "handling" your budgie to the extent most of us handle our birds. Correct me if Im wrong in my interpretation of your post,lol. When I was a child (and didnt know any better) I got wild budgies from the pet store. I had many. I would clip the wings and set them on my shoulder and go just about anywhere with them. If they flew off I would put them back. Some required more "putting back" than others but eventually they would stay and become a part of my life. Drinking from my glass, sharing my food,lol. Heck I didnt know any couldnt be tamed....I just did it.

[LovelySydney]

Sounds like my parrotlet!! He knows how to step up but after that, he was done with any type of training. I don't consider Oliver untrainable, but I DO consider him independent!! My conure is attached to me constantly, so I have a nice balance in the home - I dont think I could handle two velcro birdies

[Oscars Mom]

Ive had keets as pets and like them but I consider them handsoff pets .Especially if there are other birds around most dont want too close handling from people.jmo

[USAmmasChickie]

ALL birds are trainable. I have 9 budgies-all trained. Just take your time and he will get trained. If that doesn't work maybe change the way you are going about it.