Patches Journal!

[clarousel]

How did you do target training with your budgies? I assume millet is the lure, but am not actually sure what target training is.

The target is the stick so once they touch it or go towards touching it you click and reward. It's useful for things like getting them to go where you want or teaching tricks. It also builds the relationship and trust between you and your bird.

If I remember correctly, with Preeno I just held the stick infront and he bit it out of curiosity. They may not show interest at first but after a while they'll go for it you don't want them biting or attacking the stick though Preeno is always excited and too quick for me.

With Patches he's learning by watching Preeno.

 

[dollfish]

Have you ever used targeting to get them close to each other calmly? If not then that could be an ineresting experiment, for me anyway which in my case I have two birds that can't tolerate each other out of cage.

 

[clarousel]

Have you ever used targeting to get them close to each other calmly? If not then that could be an ineresting experiment, for me anyway which in my case I have two birds that can't tolerate each other out of cage.

No I haven't tried that. Whenever Preeno flies, Patches follows and then Preeno freaks if he lands too near. If Preeno lands on us then Patches freaks out cause he doesn't trust us yet, then Preeno watches like what's wrong with you

I could try it once Patches is less scared of us!

 

[Lori D Pert]

If Preeno lands on us then Patches freaks out cause he doesn't trust us yet, then Preeno watches like what's wrong with you

Yes, Scout is still like this. I have accepted that he may never have the audacity that Sam does. He will allow me to gently approach him and if I'm slow enough he will give kisses. A win. This may be all I'm allowed but it is enough.

 

[GreenThing]

Merlin fusses over my hands so much now that Percy comes over just out of jealousy (or the birdie equivalent ... "clearly this is an important resource I might need to FITE U FOR"). Then he sits on my hands and preens a little and then just sits and looks confused like, "what... what is the special thing about hand, I don't see it".

 

[clarousel]

It's so exciting and interesting to watch Patches get braver each day! I feel like a proud mama

Just a few days ago he started chattering and talking to a shiny object. Not sure if it's him feeling more comfortable or if he picked it up from Preeno, or both! He's part of the bedtime snacks routine now too, even though he'll only take millet from me if its a whole string of it so he can keep his distance

He started landing on us too but this usually requires millet bribes hehe. Wouldn't be surprised if Preeno gets a little chubbier from the free millets. I'm still so amazed at how quick and amazing learners these tiny fellas are!

 

[GreenThing]

It's so exciting and interesting to watch Patches get braver each day! I feel like a proud mama

Just a few days ago he started chattering and talking to a shiny object. Not sure if it's him feeling more comfortable or if he picked it up from Preeno, or both! He's part of the bedtime snacks routine now too, even though he'll only take millet from me if its a whole string of it so he can keep his distance

Brave little guys! For all birds, vocalizing attracts attention (predators) and silence is a response to an immediate threat, so a singing and chattering budgie is definitely a more comfortable budgie. Isn't it a wonderful feeling to watch them learn they don't need to be afraid?

 

[clarousel]

I will post photos and videos soon! Patches keeps aiming to land exactly where Preeno is so the two just keep freaking each other out

 

[clarousel]

Tonight's mini training video!

I'm not sure if Patches is too scared or unsure how to get out of his cage. I've been using Preeno to lure him out and get him back in (hehe!). Tonight he seemed scared and Preeno wasn't bothered. So I took the chance to target train him on his own! I clicked and offered millet so he'd relate the sound to yummy treats, then clicked when he didn't scurry away and then brought in my target stick. He's been targeting through the bars but I thought I'd try through the open cage door tonight!

Preeno eventually came over and I think that gave Patches confidence to follow the stick out of the cage! I thought I'd try to capture this milestone on video. You'd see Patches on the right side of the cage door as he climbed over to join Preeno eating millet from the cup he was initially on the left.

Please ignore my weird mumblings
20211026_205920.mp4

 

[Dorcas George]

Tonight's mini training video!

I'm not sure if Patches is too scared or unsure how to get out of his cage. I've been using Preeno to lure him out and get him back in (hehe!). Tonight he seemed scared and Preeno wasn't bothered. So I took the chance to target train him on his own! I clicked and offered millet so he'd relate the sound to yummy treats, then clicked when he didn't scurry away and then brought in my target stick. He's been targeting through the bars but I thought I'd try through the open cage door tonight!

Preeno eventually came over and I think that gave Patches confidence to follow the stick out of the cage! I thought I'd try to capture this milestone on video. You'd see Patches on the right side of the cage door as he climbed over to join Preeno eating millet from the cup he was initially on the left.

Please ignore my weird mumblings
20211026_205920.mp4

Hooray for small victories!

 

[clarousel]

So Patches is okay targeting through the bars. I tried inside the cage but hes too scared to receive the treat. Should I try offering millet with my hand inside the cage more often or continue targeting through the bars?

 

[clarousel]

I've put Preeno in Patches' cage for the night to see if they can tolerate each other. I've tried briefly in the day time and no issues except the foraging bowl. I've put in Preeno's sleeping perch for some familiaritt. Photo of them sharing a plate of chop and digging for seeds.



Preeno seems more dominant but Patches will tell him off if he gets too kissy so I think he'l be able to defend himself if anything does happen.

Cage is still pretty bare as I figure things out. I hope I'm doing the right things! I feel like I'm doing everything by gut feel

 

[clarousel]

Also Patches is still on a seed diet but I'm hoping he will follow Preeno on the pellets. In the mean time I guess Preeno will be having a seed buffet? Patches just lets him go at his food bowl!

 

[clarousel]

Can you find Preeno?

Patches can hop onto my arm now which is great! He does get scared sometimes. Gonna slowly work on hands.

 

[clarousel]

5 days in and they're sharing a bowl?!

There is squabbling so I wonder if I should put bowls on either ends of the cage. Currently they have their bowls side by side but Patches always wants what Preeno has

 

[clarousel]

So happy to announce Patches officially eats pellets!!!

Confirmed it by looking at his poo no more of that nasty dark green stuff. Preeno is such a great teacher, hurray!

 

[Kassiani]

So happy to announce Patches officially eats pellets!!!

Confirmed it by looking at his poo no more of that nasty dark green stuff. Preeno is such a great teacher, hurray!

That’s such great news!!

 

[clarousel]

Happily settled in!

They've really taken to this rope perch now. Both comfy and doing their one-foot such cuties!

 

[Sparkles99]

They're so cute! Is that rope perch lose or is their a wire through it? If there's no wire, how do they like landing on it? Seems like an interesting idea that might mimic landing on a twig or in a windstorm better.

 

[clarousel]

They're so cute! Is that rope perch lose or is their a wire through it? If there's no wire, how do they like landing on it? Seems like an interesting idea that might mimic landing on a twig or in a windstorm better.

That one has a wire in it but it's thin and doesn't provide much support. I made another without a wire and the knots make it stiff enough but not as stiff as ones you can get from the shop.

Patches actually lands on it a lot! I plan to make a longer one with a 2mm wire in it so I can bend it.