Budgies make for lively companions as pets. A tamed budgie is even better!
How long does it take to tame a budgie? Taming a budgie takes anywhere between three days to four weeks. Every budgie is different and how quickly it can be tamed depends on a lot of factors such as its inherent temperament, its previous experience with humans, etc. Some budgies might be too shy due to some unpleasant experience with people in the past, while some others might quickly adapt to having people around. However, it won’t happen overnight.
It requires time, lots of patience, and consistency.
The following article will make it way easier for you to tame your budgie. Have fun and remember – be patient.
Steps for Taming a Budgie
Below is a step by step process to tame your budgie.
Step 1: Let the budgie settle in
This step is especially important if your budgie is new. Before you attempt to tame it, let it get accustomed to its new surroundings.
Let the budgie be in a place where it can see the people in the house most of the time. This helps it to understand that humans aren’t dangerous and it gets comfortable having people around.
However, keep the cage near a wall so that it has a safe place to retreat if it gets uncomfortable. Also, keep the cage at eye level so that there is no frequent movement from above the cage.
Budgies get all worked up when they have things moving over their head.
Once your budgie gets used to its new surroundings, the taming process can be started. Give the budgie about two weeks to settle in.
Step 2: Start interacting with the budgie
When the budgie has settled in its new home, you can start by just holding your hand out and placing a finger on the cage. When you do this, talk to the budgie in a calm, soothing voice.
Don’t move your hand too much and keep the movements slow so as to not frighten the bird. Budgies are very social birds and they will soon start recognizing your voice and seeing your hand as a non-threatening object.
Do this for about 15 minutes several times a day. At first, the budgie might look scared and stressed when you are too near the cage.
But, soon, you will find that it is more relaxed and comfortable when you talk to it and even responds with chirping back at you! This could take about a week’s time.
When this happens, it means you are ready for the next step.
Step 3: Put your hand inside the cage
Take your taming session to the next level by putting your hand inside the cage. Keeping talking to the budgie in the same soothing voice. Just keep your hand inside the cage where the bird is, but don’t go too near if it appears frightened.
The idea is to make it comfortable to be near your hand, not to force it to get used to it. Again, don’t move your hand too much and be patient.
Even if the bird flutters around in the cage, don’t move your hand. Be patient and keep your hand as still as you can.
Do this consistently for about 15-20 minutes a few times a day until the budgie no longer appears to be scared by the presence of your hand inside the cage.
If you are afraid of getting bitten by your budgie, you should read this article.
Step 4: Offer food from your hand
Offering a treat to your budgie and letting it eat from your hand is a sure way to make your budgie trust and like your hand. Most budgies love spray millet, but if your budgie is fond of some other treat, go with it.
Put your budgie’s favorite food on your hand and place your hand inside the cage where the budgie can easily reach it, for instance near a perch.
Keep your hand very still and let the budgie eat from your hand. The budgie might want to sit on its perch and eat from your hand.
But once it gets more comfortable, you will find that it readily sits on your hand to eat. However, be patient and don’t forcefully go near the budgie or grab it at any point.
Step 5: Start finger training
Once the budgie is comfortable having your hand inside the cage, it’s time to introduce your finger as a perch to it. Put your finger out in front of the budgie and keep still.
If it does not readily step up on your finger, gently press your finger against the bird’s chest just above its feet to encourage it to perch on your finger.
Also, repeat ‘step-up’ or ‘climb’ or any similar word when you want it to step up on your finger. It will soon start associating the word with what you want it to do.
Don’t worry if the budgie initially flies away from your finger; be persistent.
Step 6: Bring it out of the cage
Once the budgie starts perching on your finger on cue, it’s time to bring it out of the cage while sitting on your finger.
Move your hand out of the cage very slowly and introduce the world outside the cage to the budgie. If it wants to immediately fly back inside the cage, that’s okay.
Give it some time and try again. If it’s exceptionally shy and is reluctant to come out of the cage, try to bribe it with a treat every time it comes and stays out of the cage for a little while.
Step 7: Offer a treat in a different room
The next level of taming is to let your budgie know that other parts of the house are safe too. So, take it to another room in the house and offer it a treat there.
However, make sure the room is clean and there are no potentially dangerous objects such as a whirring fan or an active fireplace in the room.
Once you successfully take your budgie through the above steps, you will have a pet that readily comes and perches on your hand or shoulder and eats out of your hand!
Of course, you should know what treats a budgie likes best to make it more effective. Read our article here to learn what the best treats for budgies are! (No need to spend a lot of money on treats, by the way!)
Tips for taming your budgie
Below are a few tips to make taming your budgie easier.
- Building trust with your budgie is very important. If at all during the taming process, or even after it, you forcefully grab the budgie or frighten it in any way, you have to start the trust-building process all over again.
- The budgie is a prey bird. If you directly look into its eyes, it will view you as a hunter and will resist the taming. So, even when you are talking to the budgie, avoid direct eye contact as much as possible.
- A budgie that is too young cannot be tamed. A budgie is weaned from its parents only at about six weeks after which it starts feeding and drinking on its own. You can start taming it only after this time.
- Always talk to the budgie in a soothing voice and make sure your hand movements are slow and gentle. However, avoid baby talking. The high pitched voice may sound threatening to the budgie.
- When you let the budgie out, make sure all doors, windows, vents, etc. are closed. Also, cover any mirrors and pull the curtains over windows to avoid crashing accidents. Don’t have other pets such as cats or dogs in the room.
- If you see signs that your budgie is tense or stressed during taming, don’t push it. Back away and start over after some time.
- During initial phases of taming, the budgie might bite your hand when it is too close for comfort for the budgie. Don’t shout or react very strongly. Ignore the bite and move your hand out slowly.
Conclusion
Taming a budgie is not exceedingly difficult. However, you need lots of patience and consistency.
Results of taming may vary from bird to bird.
If your feathered pet has had a pretty bad experience with people in the past, it may resist your touch and make taming tricky. Remember to enjoy the taming process and don’t get disheartened if it takes more time!
Thank you for saying not to get disheartened if it takes more time. I got a budgie about a month ago, and he’s still pretty nervous around me. Everything I keep reading says it only takes two weeks to completely tame and finger train them. I was about ready to give up and accept the fact that he’ll never be comfortable around me. So seriously, thank you so much for saying that! I needed to hear it more than you know!!!
Hey Shannon,
I am very happy to hear that this article was able to help you.
Just to encourage you a bit more: 2 weeks is definitely not enough to tame a budgie. Sure, some birds trust quicker than others, but in most cases, two weeks is just a start.
Keep up the work. You will be rewarded with a trusting budgie 🙂
All the best,
Pierre
I have two budgies. They always fly away from me when I put my hand in the cage. They are over 4 months old and I have had them about a month. What am I doing wrong. Also, I have tried introducing fruits and vegetables but they won’t eat them.
I am a new bird owner.
Very interesting. I will be trying this method. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Fran,
thank you so much for your comment.
I really hope that this method helps you. And don’t forget, be patient and never give up 🙂
Regards,
Pierre
Is it best to have just one person trying to bond with the budgie at first? Or can multiple people be doing it throughout the day?
I have two budgies. I’ve been told it’s harder to train two. Do you have any tips?
Thank you! My budgie is a very active one. While he is still uncomfortable with my hand, he’ll fly out of his cage every chance he gets. Previously one of his favorite things to do was look at his reflection and chirp affectionately. For some reason (and we’re taking him to the vet today) he’s been screaming at his reflection and getting very messy, as well as trembling and sneezing when interacting with things outside of his cage.
After he gets out he refuses to return. His cage is on a stand (we have other animals so this is a must) and this prevents him from getting him back in whenever he wants. I don’t know how to tame him! He’s very active and loud, unlike my last parakeet.
I’ve had a little blue girl for about 10 years and she has never been nice. I have been patient, kind, forgiving, loving…. She just won’t get on my finger, talk, whistle – all the things parakeets do. But, I am her preferred person and will jabber with me.
I just got a pet budgie a few days ago and was worried about it because it really wants to leave the cage but it isn’t ready to yet. Do you have any tips for making sure it will perch on your hand when out of the cage? Thanks for the article it was helpful.
Lost my super tamed budgie a few weeks ago, for me it was like loosing a family member. It was a tough week for me and couldn’t resist from buying another budgie. In fact I did, and am now trying to hand tame him. Reading this article was helpful as I was already loosing hope of succeeding. For some reason it is taking the bird quite some time to adjust. He won’t chirp much when we re around. Whenever I speak to him he goes to the far end of the cage. He seems frightened. Hope I get to tame him soon. I miss having a little boy on my shoulder pulling out my hair ?
Hi Pierre,
My husband and I are very new owners of a cute pair of budgies. We’re trying to learn as much information about budgies as possible. I read your article about mirrors and we decided to remove the mirror. I was wondering if we can put the mirror in once in a while, or do you think it would confuse them? Also, we have a new cage in our living room and we watch t.v.. Is watching t.v. ok for birds?
Ive had my budgie about 3 weeks and was getting very disheartened. Every article says different things but yours was most helpful. Seems I’m doing all the right things I just need to be patient. Thank you.
I got my budgie 2 weeks ago and has settled well into my home , I have started the training sessions and so far they are going slowly, day by day he is letting me get closer to him and is talking back to me, patience definitely is the way to go
I got my budgies January 27, and it is now March 9th. My first budgie, Sky, will sit on my hand and eat. Clover will eat off my hand from the perch. But they have made no more progress than that! I don’t know what to do, as it’s been longer than a month. Maybe they are young? I got them from a millionaire that recently passed away. I know nothing more than that, but I doubt he did anything bad to them. It seems Clover is forcing Sky to go no farther
Thank you so much for this post. Really was very helpful for me and my new “tweety”. He is starting interacting.
I don’t know what to do… i have had my budgies for almost 2 months, and the most I can do is hold millet out and One budgie will jump on, only in the cage. The other will only eat millet from me by standing on the perch. I think one is encouraging the other to NOT go out of the cage.
We have 2 budgies and we have had them around 3 months. For the last 4 weeks I have been seriously trying to tame them but they cling to each other and run and fly away from me. I have tried tempting them with millet and also lemon balm which they seem to love and I have got right up to one of the bird’s beak with the millet but he just will not take it. I really feel that I am getting nowhere with this,. Any suggestions?
I found a budgie in my yard. It followed me into my lanai. I fed it and gave it water. We then got it in a cage where it went willingly. I have purchased toys, millet , food and a bath. It is very skiddish and is just starting to explore his cage. Thanks for the advice. I think my budgie was traumatized. Any advice?
It took me 3 weeks to tame my budgies! You have to practice eveyday and be very patient with them. Some days will be better then others but don’t give up, its worth it!
I’ve had my budgie for 4 months now. Have done all the things you say.
He still will not get on my finger. Acts afraid and gets away.
He will eat millet from my fingers but if I move them, he goes away.
Do you think he will ever tame?
I have 2 budgies which are about 6 months old. They are both very nervous. I have been trying for 6 weeks now to tame them but they are still very nervous and get very scared when I put my hand into the cage. I have followed all the advice from this and other websites and. I talk and sing to them and we are around them most of the time but this doesn’t seem to help. One of them seems to be more receptive but he seems to follow the other budgie And clings to the side of the cage. We can’t separate them as we haven’t got another suitable cage or room. We let them out regularly and they are comfortable and happy flying around the room. What else can I do? Any advice will be welcome as it is very difficult.
Thanks i got a budgie last sunday and we are training it to also talk so everyday we just start out with a phrase hola limonsito como estas or dame beso ( hi limonsito how are you? And give me kiss) but we talk to him everyday several times a day and the hand training…i was curious too should i leave his cage open to let him come out on his own or not yet?
Thanks i got a budgie last sunday and we are training it to also talk so everyday we just start out with a phrase hola limonsito como estas or dame beso ( hi limonsito how are you? And give me kiss) but we talk to him everyday several times a day and the hand training…i was curious too should i leave his cage open to let him come out on his own or not yet?
hello and thankyou for letting me join your site. Its the most informative site I have been on. I have tried unsuccessfully to tame my birds. I will try using your way to tame them, and let you know how I get on.
I’ve had my budgie for three years, and hes just starting to get used to me. I did get dishearted for a little while but reading your article has helped me realize I cant give up on him. Today was the first day in weeks hes stepped onto my hand. Even if he didnt stay on my hand for very long I felt accomplished! Thanks for all your help
I got 2 budgies,(one is 3 and one is 4) and they have never been out of their cage, never hand tamed or had hands in the cage and in a very secluded area previously.
We go near them ..up close and personal to say “hi” and they fly all over, we have also put them in a higher populated area and they have been fine, (we have a Jenday, they talk but don’t see each other).
My question is are they too old to be trained or do we just let them be happy as they are.
Hi Pierre,
Great read, thank you very much for the article.
I just brought my first two budgies home a couple weeks ago. I know taming them can be a little trickier with two as opposed to one. Wondering if you could provide some tips?
One of the two is clearly more comfortable than the other, but he tends to follow in his siblings manners as soon as he’s uncomfortable. I tried separating them from 1 cage to 2, not sure if this was a good idea or not? One seemed okay, they other was not, so that only lasted a couple hours.
Neither one of them seem to be enjoying any treats of any kind, I’ve tried various fruits and the millet. So far no luck.
Any help you can suggest would be greatly appreciated.
Despite them still not opening up, I’m still having a lot of fun with them!
Thank you.
Hello,
I am a single mom with a 6yro daughter and 3yro son. I read a little into the parakeet before purchasing. We just brought home 2 parakeets. They are beautiful. I bought the cage, bath, a ladder, 2 toys, parakeet food and that treat thing where all the food is stuck together… Sorry forgot what’s that’s called. I cleaned and dried everything off than set up our cage and released our birdie’s in their new home. It says give them 2 weeks to warm up , after the 1st 24hours can we start talking to them from outside the cage? Or will they need the whole 2 weeks for that? They are both under 1yro.
I JUST BOUGHT 2 BUDGIES AND ITS MY FIRST TIME IM KINDA NERVOUS ANY ADVICE
Hi. Our only advice is to make sure that you “let nature be your guide”. whatever interaction you do with them, please base it on their natural behavior in the wild. Unlike dogs and cats, budgies have been domesticated for only a few decades. Their natural instincts are very strong and if you respect them, they will make for fabulous companion birds.