The breeder did say he was the 'wildest ' of the batch.
I guess if the quarantine had gone well he's be more socialized by now. As everyone has said would happen - Rio is 100% fixated on Laker. Unfortunately he doesn't think that when Laker goes to his cage it means he goes too.

We've had a set-back. Well i think so. My husband is more optimistic but I don't know. It's the day to day that i don't want ruined. I also can't see this 'scenario' getting things better.

When i was away Rio got harder to get into his cage at night. I guess the guys ended up chasing him around the room - i don't know. When i came home - Matthew was relieved. However i wasn't thrilled at the huge time it now takes to roundup the little devil. Laker still goes to bed easily but he gets upset with all the flying back & forth. Before he'd escape a few times but eventually would comply - it really wasn't a big deal.

I have ended up clamping my thumb on his feet & grabbing him to get him into the cage. [this is after about 20 turns around the room] This has only broken down more trust. Now he'll only step-up for a short period of time before he flies off. Last night i caught him like a baseball as he flew past me. I tell you i hated to do it but i also don't like this chasing business. I had planned on tricking them both into Laker's cage but Matthew said last minute he didn't want that & that is what lead to last nights theatrics.

SOooooooooooooooooo... back to the basics.
Rio is in his cage - i'm off to spend 'quality time' with him & work on our relationship. I'll be doing some step-up & in & out of the cage in a small room for a few days until he gets a bit more 'tame' again & has forgiven me the catching etc.

I guess really i have to spend more time with him is the answer.
mumble ... mumble....

Hmmmm....I'm not sure how much help I can be except to say that I think that going back to the basics is a good thing.

Maybe 2 months ago Jerry went through a phase of not wanting to go back in his cage - he's always been really easy to get back in, most of the time he puts himself back when he's pooped. For about 2-3 weeks we struggled with him on pretty much a daily basis. I would bring him to his cage, he'd fly off either out the door or over to Lulu's cage. We had a chase going on too with him flying off, me going to retrieve and repeat that process about 20 times Sometimes it ended up with me cupping him in my hands when he landed on Lulu's cage and putting him away like that (honestly he really didn't mind the cupping all too much). And when I was away for a short trip and Dave was in charge he showed me how he would close the one bird room door, stand in the other open doorway and wave his arms so that Jerry wouldn't fly out of the room, and eventually he would exhaust himself and go back in

I really think it was a phase because now Jerry is back to being super easy to get back in his cage. I don't know what prompted the phase, but it has ended (thank god!). Maybe had to do with hormones, but he's still fairly hormonal these days, humping his boing all the time.

I know that I need to work on the basics more with Winston, but I've been lax about that - mainly because we're getting along just fine without the basics! He doesn't step up, but we hang out close to each other and he hops into his open cage when we carry it to him - every time!

I do have to say that last night, I was watching TV and had one knee propped up and Lulu was on my knee. Winston made a couple laps around the living room and then he was flying right towards me. I closed my eyes because I thought he might run into me. I opened my eyes to find that Lulu flew off and Winston was then perched on my knee - it about knocked me over with delight and I tried to contain my excitement as to not scare him away! He stayed there for at least 5 minutes and we talked and played the blinking game and he puffed up and I was very happy. When he flew away I asked Dave, "Do you think that was a fluke that he landed on me??" He said without hesitation, "YEP." I'd like to think it was progress though. He's also flying into the kitchen more when I'm preparing their snacks.

So my point is (I think I have a point ) that I can feel the pain of still trying to tame the beast LOL.

It is painful.

Laker went thru a phase early on when he's grab the door just as he was going in & climb up the cage. I had a few fly-arounds with Laker but he'd often go to his cage on his own if left & it was late.


Lets face it openly - Rio doesn't like his cage. He was raised in an aviary type space & only had 1 week or so in a cage - first with his 2 siblings & second on his own cause he was causing chaos for the breeder.

He was being really good with me before i went away. I understood that he likes to get a few more fly-ins but this has gotten really annoying. I see it as counter-productive all this flying with little real 'obedience'.

He is only 2 mons old - here is the problem i guess. I was thinking that all the stories Michelle & Scott were recounting meant that babies were easy to tame - gentle & willing & playful. [perhaps if kept alone] Rio is tolerant but not interested at all in humans - as was already pointed out to me by others.

Does it have to be this way? Truely i want another 'tame' & fun bird - not a tame one & his sidekick.

I didn't know that Rio was raised mainly in an aviary - I can see how he would resent the cage. I think Winston is the opposite since was caged for so long that I believe he finds comfort in his cage.

I've never had a baby budgie, but yes, I've also heard that babies tend to be easier to tame (I tell myself that when working with Winston too, trying to justify why he doesn't step up yet ). But I definitely think that it would be easier to tame Rio if he were a single bird. He doesn't really know what it's like to have a relationship with a human, he just knows BIRD and Laker's the bird.

If I were in your shoes - and our situations are alike but in different ways... - I would spend more time alone with Rio. Is he able to focus alone, or does he then just contact call to Laker the whole time? I'm trying to spend more time alone with Winston on the weekends, have just him out with me. But on the flip side, I like it when all 3 are out and he sees me interact with Jerry and Lulu - he watches intently, especially when I am playing with Jerry.

Honestly I think you're just experiencing a set back, which is making you second guess some things. I know I have those days too.

He can be quite quiet when away from Laker. I feel like i'm depriving Laker but i think for a little while i'm going to shorten their out-time (& time over all) together. Laker is happily singing away in our room. Matthew was just talking to him & he let him stroke his chest. Laker is getting more friendly & Rio is looking worse in comparison.

Laker is like Winston - although he was egger to get out of his cage - he does see his cage as a refuge. Even Rio enjoys hanging in Laker's cage.

I have had Rio in his cage most of today - he has been with Laker & on his own & with me. I took him to our second bathroom & had him step-up. He does it handily inside the cage. He even seems to know the words, but not outside the cage! He'll sit with me for along time - very relaxed. But as soon as he's out of the cage - around & around he goes. I tried step-up again but no go. So back to catching. I gave him a big rest & tried again & he was once more perfect in the cage.

I can see this will take time. I know comparisons are to be avoided here ........... Time will help. Matthew thinks Rio will learn from Laker - but i see the reverse happening. Laker now flies off if the baby does.... Definitely training has to be separate.

My husband made the unfortunate comparison - he said our new Budgie was like me - stubborn.

Sounds like you definitely have your work cut out for you. And I've been told the same thing, that their stubbornness matches mine

Does Rio ever tire out? By your descriptions I picture this little pale madman who never tires Jerry is the more rambunctious one of my guys, but eventually he even tires out and preens or goes off to play on his own or goes back to his cage - so this might be where the dorky baby comes into play?? Maybe baby budgies are like hyper little puppies?

Babies are hyper. Even hand raised babies go through a streak of independence. Peewee is tame and Sleepy is the sidekick when he is close to her. They are both flighted at the moment but have been clipped in the past. If Sleepy can't see Peewee then he is quite content to sit with us or go inside a shirt where he falls asleep, but if he sees her he needs to be with her.

Angie ~ Thanks for the heads up on baby Budgies.

I didn't think of them being like puppies! All babies are like the Energy Bunny then! - Rio is no different. He has way more energy than Laker had in the beginning & tons of stamina - but i really don't want to push him really hard. I was thinking he was more delicate than Laker - his chest & legs are so much thinner & babyish. & when he flies he works so much harder than Laker.

When would be natural for this 'streak of independence"? Is it now? Is it like the terrible 2's/4's? Does it stay until they mature? Is that why you think he's changed in so short a time?

I have had joey for about 5 months and sami for about 4 and they both have advanced seperately. i did get sami to help joey with his disposition which has helped considerably... but there is still stuff they do seperately...... joey flies.. sami doesnt yet. but is trying... he goes up and down not outward lolol.....

but teaching them its like the 4 months it may take sami longer to learn something than joey.. or may take joey longer to learn than sami..... so to each its own..