Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 11/11/2007

Question
You won't believe this. I was walking yesterday around the country by my house and along this country road that isn't used much there was a small bird cage sitting in the ditch. I couldn't believe it so I walked up to it and there were two budgies in there. Still alive! I took the cage and brought them to my house. I bought them a bigger cage. (It's sized for cockatiels but the ones "for budgies" didn't seem hardly big enough). I put some seeds and water for them, too. They seem to be fine and no external injuries. They seemed a little brighter today but still really wild. I've decided to keep them and I know it'll take them a while to get used to me. But do you think after an experience like that they will ever be able to be tamed by me? And how would I go about taming them. Or would it just be better to not tame them and just let them interact with each other? I'm not sure what to do. I hope you can help.

Answer
Hi, Jamie,

You are such a good person!  Yes, in fact, sometimes birds like this or birds that have been sick and get better are easier to tame because they are more trusting of humans and/or are "grateful" for being taken in/made well.  Give them plenty of time to settle down.  This has been a traumatic and very stressful experience for the birds.  They need time to settle down, get over their stress, get used to their new environment, get used to you, etc.  Keep an eye out for illness since they have been exposed to the outside.  Take one step at a time.  Build trust with the birds....birds need to trust you before you can work with them successfully.  In fact, these birds may have been tame birds to someone who just couldn't keep them any longer.  Once they settle down, see what their personalities are and go from there.

Come back after a while and let me know how things are going and I'll help you from there.  Visit my website for some general information:  www.angelfie.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html.  www.birdchannel.com is also a good site.

Chrys