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Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, style, and food. Hope you have a nice stay!
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, style, and food. Hope you have a nice stay!
Before we discuss some specifics about how we can encourage bonding we need to first make sure that we as the owner are setting ourselves up for success.
Our attitude and expectations are going to have just as much of an impact on the bonding process we have with our budgies (or lack there of) as our actions.
Please consider a few basics but important things that are often overlooked when it comes to bonding with a bird, but are still very important if you want the best outcome!
Budgies do have a wide range of calls and sounds, but like most animals most of what they convey to each other is through emotions and body language.
Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, a lot of what we are telling our budgie is not what we say, but rather how we feel and react to them, and what you do and think has a great impact on how they will in turn view you. We want to be the kind of person your budgie is drawn too, rather than pushing them away.
* Consider these questions and how you would answer them personally:
How long does it take you to feel truly comfortable and consider a new acquaintance a friend after meeting them for the first time?
Are you drawn to people who expect things from you as soon as you meet them?
Would you want to be close to someone who was regularly frustrated with you or touched for seemingly no reason soon after you met?
Of you honestly consider the questions above, we think that you would agree that it naturally takes time to develop trust in someone else and feel comfortable with them. Their actions and how they treat you has a huge impact in how you view them, and how close you choose to get to them. The same is going to be true in the relationship between you and your budgie, and so much of their reactions are based on what we do.
You need to make sure to keep a positive outlook, and realize that bonding sessions can really only work if you have a positive attitude regarding it.
Remember to only plan bonding sessions at a time of day when you are well rested, relaxed and happy in general. If you are stressed, anxious or feeling any other emotions that are not positive and motivating the odds of things working out well are slim to none at best.
Each budgie is an individual, even if they seem very similar to others. Because of this fact there simply are no clear cut rules as to when they will get comfortable enough with you to really begin to bond.
They are simply going off of their natural instincts and your reactions, so please always remember the following when it comes to bonding with any bird:
If you expect to have "X" results in "X" amount of time you are setting yourself, and your budgie, up for what is very likely going to be a rather big failure.
Both you and your little one are working together in this, and no time limit can realistically be placed until you have a period of time together and see positive results.
Please remember that your budgie does not know what you want from them, or how much time has went by since you brought them into your home..
They are also not thinking about all of the planning, hard work and money you have likely put into their new cage and the room they will be staying in before they even came into your home, even though all of these things are extremely important since their ultimate well being.
Because parrots, including budgies, live in the moment it is very important that we do as well when it comes to bonding with them.
Any real bond takes time and consistency. It is not likely that you will become good friends with a person who you see randomly here and there, and we need to see bonding with our birds the same way. Birds thrive when they have a good schedule!
Some basics to keep in mind for the best results:
Have set times you work with your little one each day if at all possible
Keep these sessions with you and other family members who live in the home
Try to have your bonding sessions in the same room of the home each time
If you are determined, disciplined, patient and stick to a good routine you will see results.
Here are some basic, but very important things that are often overlooked when it comes to our budgies point of view when it comes to bonding.
Even if you have two budgies that seem very similar as far as you can see, in reality they are still individuals and unlike any other budgie and are completely unique.
When it comes to adjusting after a move to a new home especially each budgies individual personality must be taken into account. Remember these important facts:
Some adjust almost right away, and some take a few weeks.
What works with one budgie might not work with another.
Make sure you are reasonable in what you expect from them, as well as how quickly you expect these changes to happen. Some budgies will begin bonding with you within a few days after coming home, while others can take a number of months before you see any real progress.
* If you are determined to have specific results after a certain amount of time, than it is very likely that a bird is not for you. *
A lot of the time when we have families pick up their new babies the very first thing they want to do is pet them on the back or wings. It seems like an ok thing to do if the budgie is not acting scared, right? The answer is actually no. Why not? Because of these two basic reasons:
Budgies only want physical contact from those they are comfortable with and trust. This is true of other budgies as well as us humans.
Budgies do not like even other budgies to touch them on the back, wings or tail. You will only see budgies enjoying a head/neck scratch from other budgies. These points are a fact.
When you try to pet or touch a budgie when they do not feel comfortable with you it will only cause stress and a negative reaction. If you keep trying to touch them too early in your relationship this despite their reaction you can cause a great set back in terms of bonding.
Only after they are showing signs of trusting you should you try to touch or pet them.
Remember too that budgies are not an overly affectionate like some other species of birds such as cockatiels and cockatoos. They do enjoy an occasional head scratch from but this is not going to be something they constantly ask for even when they are fully bonded.
After making sure that you have the right mental attitude and expectations, here are some of the most important and easy ways to encourage bonding between you and your budgie.
Food is a great way to earn your budgies trust! Even something that seems relatively simple like offering food needs to be done correctly though or you could accidentally make something that could be positive stressful and a not so good thing in their mind.
First off, make sure to choose something your budgie already loves. Bonding sessions are not the time to try new foods or switch things up on them. Whatever you choose to offer, make sure that is presented in a way that is not threatening. Here are a few examples which are often our budgies favorites:
A potentially negative way to offer spray millet: Bringing a whole, long piece of millet at them.
A better way to offer spray millet: Break off one or two little 1/2 inch pieces off and offer them one piece at a time.
Soft foods such as egg food or mash are often among our budgies favorites as well. Here are a few more examples how these should, and should not be offered for the best results:
A potentially negative way to offer soft foods:Putting soft foods in a bowl or food cup and bringing it at them.
A better way to offer soft foods: Sprinkle 1/2 tsp on the open palm of your hand and then offer it. This way your budgie can see what you are giving them easily, and they do not have to climb into something to eat it or loose sight of what is going on around them in the process.
Another important thing to consider in addition to howyou offer food is when you offer it. There is little point in offering food when you budgie has just eaten and is already full. When do you want to offer treats?
First thing in the morning: This is the best time to offer treats hands down. Your little one will be hungry after a good nights rest, and treats will be more tempting.
Right before bed: Budgies will naturally eat a larger amount right before bed to last them through the night as well. Take advantage of this time for a second bonding period if possible.
Building a bond is more than just offering food and trying to avoid doing things you know they dislike however. You need to show your little one that you are someone they can rely on in a number of ways through out their entire day.
For example, here are some things you want your budgie to see you as if you hope to build a lasting bond with him/her:
A helper
Someone who brings treats
A friend who can offer countless hours fun and entertainment with you
The person who cares for their physical needs
What are some common mistakes that can hinder bonding and trust that many make while not realizing? Here are a couple examples, and how to avoid them as well:
Grabbing them in a non-emergency situation, especially when doing so your bare hands rather than a light towel or cloth: If at all possible, let them choose to climb onto you rather than making them do so. A friend does not force you do to something, but rather they help you along the way.
When picking them up: When you pick him/her up, do you approach him from the front and from below, or from behind while cowering over them? Even a hand fed baby that is used to people will not want to be chased from behind or above, and much less a budgie that is not at all trusting yet. Try to get them to step up on their own by approaching them from the front or side, rather than chasing or scaring them.
It is extremely important for your budgie to have a safe space in your home, which is often their cage. However, when it comes to bonding and taming a level of challenge is often required for both you and your soon to be little friend.
Before a real bond is formed between you both if your budgie is within range to return to their cage at any point they choose it will be hard to make any progress with you personally as again, they are creatures of habit for their own well being in the wild. If at all possible give your budgie a different place for bonding time.
Things a good bonding space should include:
A budgie safe room
A play gym or small stand that your budgie can spend time out of their cage without actually being on you
Plenty of treats and toys to explore and have fun with
Background noise, such as a T.V or radio at a low volume
Stay calm and positive. If you feel yourself getting anxious, impatient or frustrated it is always best to stop the bonding session and continue later when you are calm and in a better frame of mind. Otherwise, you will likely diminish any progress you have made rather than move forward.
Before putting him/her back in the cage though you want to make sure that the last impression you make is a good one, even if it is just something quick and simple such as sitting by him/her and talking in a calm soothing voice until they are completely relaxed, or offering a favorite treat.
In Conclusion: Budgies like all parrots live in the moment and they require time and reasons to respect us as humans. We are the ones who choose to bring them into our homes, and by following their natural instincts and working with them patiently we can see positive results and have a close, life long bond with them.
Remember though, it is up to you to make it happen!
