First of all, I strongly recomend that you purchase a hand-raised budgie. This will make the whole taming process easier, quicker, and less stressful for both the bird and its owner.


How well you tame him/her determines the kind of pet the budgie will be. For the first week in your home, it's best just to let the bird get use to its new surroundings and to you. It also seems to help to have a cover over half of the bird's cage. This usually tends to make the bird feel safer. Put your hand into the cage only when changing the food and water containers. Make sure to move slowly when doing these tasks so the bird will not be frightened. After a few days, your bird will begin to realize that you're not about to hurt him/her. In the next week or two, you can begin to perch train your bird. To do so, use an extra perch from the bird's cage, or simply use a piece of dowling. ( If using the dowling, make sure it hasn't been treated at all with any stains, finishes, or paints which could harm the bird.) Slowly approach the bird with the perch. Press the perch gently against the bird's lower chest just enough to throw the bird slightly off balance to encourage him/her to step up onto the offered perch. Once the bird is on the offered perch, slowly move the bird onto a different perch in the cage. Once he has completed this, praise him/her in an excited, thrilled, but soft voice. Once the bird has totally mastered the moving perch and is very confident in being moved around on it, you can take him/her out of the cage for the first time. I recommend a bedroom for this where there are fewer distractions and dangers. Make sure that all windows and mirrors are covered, all doors are shut, all fans are turned off, and anything else that could possibly hurt the bird is put away. Give the bird at least 5 minutes to explore his/her surroundings; then offer the perch. Usually the bird is happy to see the familiar, harmless object, and will gladly step up onto it. If the bird seems calm outside the cage, you can begin finger- taming. Once the bird is on the perch, extend your index finger and slowly move the bird on the perch towards your finger. Gently push the bird's lower chest against your finger. If the bird steps up, then praise him/her and offer the wooden perch. Try this a few times each training session. If the bird does not step up onto your finger from the wooden perch,but flies away, try again. Keep on trying for a maximum of 3-4 minutes, or until the bird seems to be getting frantic or scared. If the bird doesn't step up onto your finger the first day, that's okay. You can try again in a few hours, or the next day. Never give up. After a while, your bird will begin to trust you a little more each day. The more time spent on taming your bird, the friendlier pet you will get.