I just thought I would report on Sugar and Spice's progress. I followed Homebird's advice in trying to get them to come out of their cage, and put the cage on the bed. I enticed them with millet. Spice came out several times but Sugar....no way. I did that for several days. Then I just started leaving the cage open for hours at a time. I have to close the room door because of the dog. The other day I walked in and Sugar was missing from the cage. At first my heart stopped but then I saw him on top of the curtains as pleased as could be. Well since then, Sugar comes out at least once a day for a fly around the room. Spice has started doing it too. I am sooooo happy.
They are such wonderful birds. They fly around a few times and then go right back to their cage. Thank you for your help.
Now if I could just get stubborn Sugar to eat his fruits and veggies and play with all his toys things would be close to perfect around here.

Yeh!
You just made my day - i was about to log off & saw your thread. It is so wonderful when it's almost like having wild birds in your home.

Mine will dive bomb me repeatedly when i'm reading on the bed. Laker in particular will get so close i have a 'fan' effect as he touches my nose with his wing tips. Even the shyer Rio has been swooping around me lately.

It took over 10 months for Laker to try fruit & we have it every morning before breakfast, in the room with the birds. Now since we have Rio he's stopped. He hasn't tried any of my treats either since Rio arrived. But they love to explore the willow & grasses. They like to steal from one another - maybe i can use that as a trick.....

Homebird, you should see these two now. They are flying together. When I have the cage closed they start yelling at me to open it up. They have perfected their landings, both of them. Timid Sugar is having the time of his life and Spice is following right behind him. They haven't ventured into other rooms yet like Sarah's Winston but they sure are having fun in the current room. I want to teach them to go back to their cage when i tell them to, but i can tell that is going to be a challenge.LOL For now they are having too much fun.

That's wonderful! Does my heart good to hear stories like this, where they come out of their shell and discover what it is to be a bird! Yeah, teaching them to go back in the cage when you tell them might be another story!

Oh this is fantastic!! This is the start of the new beginning for Sugar and Spice, the beginning of gaining confidence. It's wonderful progress and other things will come in time, such as playing with toys and eating fruits & veggies. I definitely know that feeling of such pride when they make these big accomplishments!

Go Sugar and Spice!

That's very heartwarming. Yes going back is tricky but most will go back around dusk to eat for a full crop overnight. If a lamp is on they'll always go higher than it ...like to the curtains so at dusk you might want to put a lamp on the floor on a dimmer and slowly dim it.

It takes time yep, like even the first month they're not "right"....but they'll get in a routine and everything will be normal for them. Including going to the cage for bed...nice job and thanks for helping them.

What a nice story. It takes time for these guys to get used to all the nice things life has to offer. But before you even realize it, you'll start seeing changes. It sounds like you're doing an awesome job!

When I first brought my guy home he screamed when I showed him a piece of paper, now today he enjoys unrolling and ripping up rolls of paper! Eating the veggies....well, we're still working on that one.

Like Homebird said, just keep trying everyday.

Yep keep trying. They will eat. I finally dumped veggies mostly dark greens from the processor right on top of their seed and pellets one day. It was the last night's seed too, all picked over. I said if you guys want that junk you're going to eat your way through to it. After four months of refusing to try it they just nonchalantly ate the veggies. Dorks. I was like, are you kidding me??

Only leave it in for two hours though especially on seed or bacteria develops. I dont see budgies being interested in fruit ever really, which is wierd cuz they seem to like fruity pellets...

Yay!!!!! Nancy, congratulations!!! I'm sooo happy how much joy Sugar and Spice are bringing into your life.

Keep up the good work.

Aww, I love it! Congrats to you!

Mine don't fly yet, I clip the wings once when they are new to our house so they don't hurt themselves and then I just let them grow back in. I miss parakeets buzzing the towers. I'm jealous, I am still weaning mine off of a seed diet. Stubborn turkeys they are.