I am having trouble with my 5-month-old budgie. When I got him at 10 weeks, he tamed enough to step up willingly in only a few days.  The problem is that he hates people.  He's obedient and non-aggressive, but makes it very clear he'd prefer just sitting on top of his cage hour after hour to interacting with people.

He also is extremely inactive, playing and vocalizing for only a few minutes a day (he has had a checkup and is healthy).  Is there any hope that I can get this little guy to learn to enjoy being around people and to be a little more active?

-- Karen, Greenfield, Wis.

I HAVE SEEN this in quite a few birds over the years. I once took in a lilac-crowned Amazon that pretty much did the same thing as your budgie; he sat on his cage and watched the world go by, rarely playing and seldom vocalizing. While that might sound like the ideal parrot to many people, I realized that there was something going on with him that wasn't quite normal. After he was given the all clear by the vet, I looked at what was going on from a behavior standpoint.

Unfortunately, what happens many times when birds go through the "taming" process is that they develop something called learned helplessness. The bird is "tamed" by clipping its wings so it can't fly (which is fine when done properly), but then it is picked up and placed on the hand. If it flutters off, it is picked up and put back. (Pet stores often recommend that you do this in a small dimly lit room, such as a bathroom.) The bird tries and tries to get away but he finally gives up and sits on the hand. Next, the owner pushes the bird gently on the chest so that it steps up to avoid being pushed over. This is repeated over and over until the bird is climbing a ladder, with no end in sight. This is a very common way to "tame" a budgie as well as other small parrots. The bird learns that its actions have no real effect on its environment.

Now, this type of taming will result in a well-behaved bird that almost always steps up and seldom bites, but he may also simply no longer try much of anything, because he has learned he has no control. Your challenge now is to bring your budgie out of his shell. This was very easy with my Amazon; no matter how dull his personality, he never lost that Amazon lust for food! It was amazing how quickly he started trying new things, just to see what was going to win him a peanut. I reinforced anything in the beginning - preening, vocalizing, even climbing from the door of his cage to the top. Before long he was climbing around and attacking his toys with vigor like he never had before. It was truly an amazing metamorphosis!

Your bird may be a bit more difficult. Budgies aren't always all that motivated by goodies but most of them will get excited over a bit of spray millet. Parrots of all sizes love noise - try providing him with a safe bell to ring. (Stay away from jingle bells, which can catch beak and toes, and make sure the clappers in cowbells are secure and can't come out. It's amazing how many "parrot bells" have clappers that can be removed with fingers.) Or try a mirror and let him enjoy his new imaginary friend. Or get him a real friend. Budgies are extremely social and live in huge flocks in the wild. Being home all day, even with the TV or radio on, isn't all that exciting for most of our companion birds. The second bird doesn’t need to be of the opposite sex; your first will have fun with a "brother" as well as a female.

Finally, a word on touching. We humans are tactile - we want to put our hands on everything. Touching for birds is not as natural. Yes, a bonded pair will preen each other and yes, a parrot can enjoy receiving the same attention from a human. But it takes a tremendous amount of trust. If you think about it, the only thing that approaches a bird from above in the wild is a predator, and that instinctive fear is still in our pets. So I would hold off on petting your budgie until you have strengthened your relationship with him a bit more. Good luck with the little guy - all of your time spent building a new relationship with him will be worth it. Bugdies are wonderful creatures to share your home with!

ParrotChronicles.com

-------