How to Train a Parakeet That's Wild

The new parakeet you bought is not what you expected. The bird seems angry, irritated and produces a high-pitched scream instead of speaking. While most parakeets are not like this, a few wild parakeets do end up in the possession of novice parakeet owners. Parakeets are part of the parrot family. Typically, this species of bird is very domesticated, social and intelligent. A domesticated parakeet enjoys being around humans and is not intimidated or aggressive toward them. A wild parakeet is often caught off guard by humans and has not forged any sort of bond. Fortunately, wild parakeets are tamable. With daily training sessions and through building trust with every member of the family, your wild parakeet will eventually accept you and your family as its family.

Things You'll Need

  • Wooden meat skewer
  • Raisins or grapes
  • Handheld perch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine whether your bird fears humans or is aggressive toward them. Before starting any sort of training with your parakeet, you must determine what the problem is. A scared parakeet growls at approaching humans and attempt an escape from human contact. An aggressive bird is not afraid of humans and will attack without any warning. Scared parakeets do not ruffle feathers. Instead, the feathers of a scared parakeet remain slicked down. Aggressive parakeets have the opposite reaction. Aggressive parakeets raise and fan out feathers when a human approaches.

    • 2

      Feed your parakeet treats. Place raisins and grapes on the end of a wooden meat skewer. Slowly pass the skewer between the cage bars. Let the bird eat the treats. Do this three times a day at the same time, every day. Slowly shorten the length of the skewer so the bird must get closer to you to get the food. Open the cage door once the bird is comfortable with accepting treats through the cage bars. Feed the bird through the open cage door. Put the same distance between you and the bird as when you first started feeding the bird through the bars. Gradually decrease the amount of space between you and the bird in the same manner as before. Continue this training until you no longer need the skewer and the bird is eating out of your hand.

    • 3

      Start perch training. After the bird is comfortable with you feeding it treats, you must now incorporate perch training into the treat schedule. Open the cage door. Feed the bird a treat out of your hand. Speak soothingly to the bird as it eats. Pick up the handheld perch after the bird is done eating. Gently nudge the bird in the stomach with the end of the perch. Say "Up" as you nudge the bird. Reward the bird with a treat when it gets on the perch. Repeat this training until the bird gets on the perch without hesitating. Place the bird back in the cage. Put the perch with the bird back in the cage. Put the perch next to the permanent perch in the cage. Say "off" to the bird and slightly move the handheld perch.

    • 4

      Get your bird out of the cage. Open the cage door and nudge the bird with the perch. Slowly start removing the perch and bird out of the cage. Speak to the bird the entire time you are taking it out of the cage. Slowly walk away from the cage with the bird on the perch. Walk across the room. Let the bird observe its surroundings. Walk back to the cage. Put the bird back in the cage. Repeat this training several times a day for one week.

    • 5

      Walk with your bird into another room. Increase the distance between the bird and the cage. Walk into another room with the bird once it is comfortable walking around the room that houses the cage. Slowly sit down in another room with the bird still on its handheld perch. Talk softly to the bird while sitting down. Sit with the bird for 30 minutes at a time, several times a day.

    • 6

      Perch the parakeet on your hand. Place the handheld perch with the parakeet next to your free finger. Say "up" to the bird. Let the bird move from the perch to your finger. Walk to a quiet place with the bird and sit down.