Instructions
Accustom your budgie to your presence near its cage. Stand or sit as near to the cage as you can without upsetting the bird. If the bird seems scared or upset, back off just a couple of inches at a time until the bird calms down. Practice this several times a day until the parakeet is calm and cheerful when you are near. When feeding or cleaning the cage, move slowly and quietly so you don't frighten the bird.
Accustom the parakeet to your hand being in the cage by sitting with your hand just inside the cage door, several times a day, until the bird no longer startles when you put your hand inside the cage.
Move your hand closer to the budgie once it is routinely accepting your hand in the cage, stopping just before the bird is frightened. Repeat this several times daily until the bird doesn't mind your hand right beside it.
Stroke the budgie's chest gently with your forefinger, and then stop and leave your hand very still, close to the budgie. Repeat this several times a day until your bird seems to enjoy being petted.
Nudge your budgie's legs very lightly, as you stroke its chest. The bird's natural reaction will be to step onto your finger. Practice this many times daily until your budgie begins to hop onto your finger whenever you offer it, without having to nudge.
How to Finger Train a Budgie
Parakeets, or budgies, are charming and friendly birds that are popular as pets. They are very social and should be kept in pairs if you will not have much time to play with your budgie. A single budgie will become very attached to you if you spend time with it daily. If you suddenly stop playing with the budgie, it will become very lonely and may even begin feather picking or other destructive behaviors. Training your parakeet to sit on your finger is a way to interact with the bird and keep it unstressed. It will also make care and handling easier. Finger-training a budgie is relatively simple, but requires calm and patience from the trainer and an understanding of bird behavior.