My bird Echo is a trip. She's pretty easy to trick train. My only obstacle there is a lack of imagination on my part. She loves her bird crack (millet) and will do anything I ask her to so long as she understands what I'm asking.

There are two types of trick training. One is to coax the bird to do what you want it to by leading it with the millet. The other is to capture a behavior they're already doing by putting a command to it while they're doing it. A clicker is used initially in both types of training.

The first trick I taught Echo to do last year when she came to live with me was "spin." Once she got a handle on that one she uses it to signal to me that she wants a treat, even outside of training time. If I rustle a plastic bag (say, with sunflower seeds in it), she'll spin in front of me because of course all snacks have to do with her, in her world.

Every trick I've taught her bar the one she learned last night involved the first type of training, with me leading her behavior by using millet as a lure. She spins, walks through my hand as a tunnel and allows me to pick her up that way, she goes through a short tunnel made from a paper towel roll. She will fly to three different perches and the doorway of her cage when asked to. She will twirl around my finger and hang from it like a bat. She rides a tiny skateboard down a toy half pipe, and will jump "hurdles" made by my son's hand weights.

She has this habit of getting into places I can't see her and then doesn't answer me when I'm calling her. I'll be worried she's trapped somewhere then I'll turn around and she's sitting somewhere staring at me like I've lost my mind.

She slipped in between the sink and the dishpan yesterday. I was right there to rescue her, but decided I needed to do something that would help me find her. A one ounce bird can hide pretty easily, even in plain sight, especially if you're half blind like I'm going from un-ripe cataracts.

Last night I taught her "speak." She was cheeping at me so I started saying "speak," waiting for her to chirp, then hit the clicker and gave her millet. She picked it up immediately. Now she doesn't "spin" when she thinks she's about to get a reward, she "speaks."

It's such a tiny cheep that I'm not sure it will help me find her. I was hoping to get her flock calling, which is much louder and piercing, but she wants to sound like a demure little baby chicken bird and I guess that's going to have to do.

#pets #budgies #parrotsofmastodon #birdtraining

Tweetse is trying to swim... or float... or being a sponge...

I don't know. Tweetse is trying to do waterstuff. #budgies #budgie

#lovelyday #semiretired #budgies
Hope is the fediverse today? Sitting on my back verandah watching the budgies in their cage and taking in this beautiful morning
Hard to take being semi retired some days… enjoy your day people
Hooroo!

Hello and welcome to my #introduction 👋I am a mid-thirties, late diagnosed #ADHDer, with an #autistic partner. Coming up to my diagnosis 1-year anniversary 🥳 and learning lots every day, having regular “aha” moments. I work PT #burnout in a library and spend my free time trying to coral my unruly curiosity fairly unsuccessfully.

A snippet of my many waxing and waning interests include: #cacti #succulents #cats #dogs #budgies #astronomy #zoology #economics #tech #psychology #neurodiversity #spoontheory #streetart #modernart #arthistory #sculpture #crafts #museums #artgalleries #urbanspaces #heritage #architecture #snailmail #books #libraries #archives #forteana #documentaries #podcasts #zooniverse #googlecrowdsource #miscellanea

Today's the last day of meds treating Echo's avian gastric yeast. It's a hard disease to eradicate and it will be some time yet before I know if we got it or if she'll need further treatment.

The medicine, amphocetrin B, is only available from a compounding veterinary pharmacy in Arizona because it has a short shelf life. it's expensive as well. It was about $250 (with shipping) for one month's supply.

I'm hoping this is the end of it because with the teamsters going on strike in August, if she has a recurrence, we might not be able to get meds for her until the strike resolves, and it may be too late for her by then. Wish us luck.

Here is a photo of her one year ago today, when she was a baby and brand new in our home. Baby budgies have barring on their foreheads that disappears as they get their first adult molt.

#budgies #parrots #birds

Hi, this is my #introduction post. I am the servant of two spoiled pet #budgies. I enjoy #videogames of mostly the RPG, survival, and city building variety. I've been trying a go at #gardening in #Florida to attract more native wildlife, and I #sketch dumb things daily on my #art blog.

Kirby has 0 reaction to the top of his cage being open for the first time. #budgies #budgielife #parakeets #parakeet

Budgies hanging out 💙 #budgies #BirdsOfMastodon #birds

these two shat on my head right after i took the pictures
#budgies #photo

Have some cute budgies for your timeline. #Budgies #BirdsOfMastodon #Birds

Meet our new budgie Sky! (On the right) Ollie and Sky got along straight away. We chose him not only cause he is so pretty, Sky was the most active one of the bunch, and I loved that! #Budgies #MastoBirds #BirdsOfMastodon

I eschew #Budgie the DE, but adore #budgies the birdies. Seems like we're having a bit of a moment, for these wunnerful critters, as part of our #seasonal & #ClimateChange shenanigans.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-18/budgie-boom-after-rain-in-outback-central-australia/101937764

He's been under a treatment for the last two days so I have to keep an eye on him, poor sleepy little thing...
#budgies #birdsofmasodon #petsofmastodon

Lemon (Limón) and Mint (Menta), the house pets, #parakeets or #budgies.

A little gift I finished for my mum's birthday!
It's her two adorable budgies!!
If you'd like a pet portrait like this check them out here; /
https://chelriot.carrd.co/#comsinfo

#petportrait #petportraitartist #petportraitcommission #budgies #birdlovers

Aww heck, my Lego order arrived! #lego #starwars #parrots #budgies #lovebirds #yearoftherabbit

A couple of sketches of budgies in the nursing home aviary. Sketched while visiting my mother in law.

#MastoArt #ArtMastodon Sketching #Toowoomba #budgerigars #budgies #art #FediArt #PenAndWatercolour

The #budgies are smooching, the #tiels are destroying their cage. Everything is normal here. #budgie #cockatiel #cockatiels

left alone
#budgies #photo

#budgies #photo