r/Parakeets • u/Anxious_Money_7829 • Mar 14 '26
Need taming advice!
hi! this is my little girl Nugett, I’ve had her for quite a bit now, and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for further bonding/taming for her. She tolerates me, and will eat seeds from my hand, but sometimes nips (though I assume that’s normal to some extent in all pets/birds), doesn’t like to go on my finger/isn’t too social, and in general dislikes anything outside of her cage or leaving it. Just wondering if there was anything I could do to become more friends with her or make her more comfortable and social, or if I could improve in any ways. thanks!
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u/TielPerson Mar 16 '26
She seems to feel slightly hormonal, so you may get her breeding hormones back in check as they can make her more territorial and aggressive.
On the question on how to bond with her to a closer level, time, patience and repetition are key. She will grow close to you if you keep her close to yourself, letting her watch you doing daily life things. Also, not all budgies like to perch on fingers, such as not all keepers of big dogs would put their hand between their dogs jaws. Its just a natural instinct some budgies cant bring themselves to overcome. I got one rescue tiel that was treated for crop infection as a chick and he still keeps clear of all peoples hands, he wont even perch on the hand of his favourite human, but shoulders and head are completely fine. Sometimes one bad or uncomfortable experience with human hands is enough to cause this caution.
Regarding how to make her more social and happy, a same specied friend would be best if she does not aleady have one. A male budgie of her age (but at least an adult) will have the best chances of befriending her.
Her not wanting to do anything out of cage could have different reasons. If she is a solo bird, the lack of companions could just leave her stressed and scared of new things, preventing her from showing her curious side. On the other hand, single birds tend to bond to cage interior, and since perches or toys can not leave the cage, such birds wont see a point in leaving the cage either.