Q&A for How to Tame Your Budgies

If the bird seems distracted rather than fearful, then make his treats more attractive in order to get his attention. Experiment to find his 'must have' treat by offering 3 or 4 small dishes with different treats in them. Note which treat he goes to first and which he eats the fastest. Play around until you find a fruit or seed he goes nuts for...now you have a powerful training aid to help him focus on you.

He's either being territorial about your hand intruding his cage, or he is fearful. Biting is typically caused by territorial aggression or anxiety.

Handling a fearful bird is likely to reinforce any feelings of anxiety around people. Go back to basics by talking to the bird and hand feeding her (or feeding from a spoon if she pecks.) Only move onto the next stage once she is relaxed in your presence. How long this takes depends on how fearful the bird is. It might take weeks or months.

Ideally yes, because the bird needs to get used to you, her new owner. However, if the bird is already tame, your task is more about winning her trust than starting from scratch.

This is a challenge because familiarity and repetition are key to taming birds. It could help to make a recording of your voice and play it on loop when you are away, so that they recognize your voice. Also, if you can encourage the person looking after the birds to take part in taming, this will help them transfer their new skill to you.

It can be useful to have the bird accept being covered with a facecloth or towel in order to calm them. Start by making sure the bird is happy with your presence and accepts being stroked or is finger tame. Then introduce the facecloth into play time, let the bird play tug with it, and get them used to being stroked with a corner of the towel. Then, play at covering the bird for a few seconds but not restraining him, praising their bravery. Gradually extend the amount of time you leave them covered.