I just got back home with Poppy. Let's just say the home I got him from... honestly, it looked like crap. When I got him, I asked if he was handfed, she said yes. I asked if he can step up, she said no. Now he is very young, so that is easy to train right? Actually, he's 7 weeks old. Is he too young for a home? I've never had a bird this young before. And how do I start training a bird to step up? I've never done that before either, but since he's young I hope it will be easier.

Yay, the baby is home at last! We want pictures and/or videos!!

It's pretty easy to teach a baby budgie to step up. Here's the traditional method: While he's sitting on a perch or other surface, put your extended finger against his body at the point where the legs join the belly, and gently push upward and slightly back. He'll try to cling to the perch at first but will eventually put one foot then the other on your finger.

If you want more of a positive reinforcement method, first put a small piece of millet spray in the cage to make sure that he recognizes it. When this spray has been eaten you're ready to work! Hold millet spray in your hand for him to eat, and gradually change the position so he has to put one foot and then the other on your hand to reach it.

If Beck will step up, you can use him to help set a good example.

If he's fully flighted, it's a good idea to have out of cage time in a small room where he can't get into too much trouble if he starts flying around and crashing into things. After he's tamer and more familiar with the house, you can start letting him out in bigger rooms.

Whoooooooo you have Poppy at last...
Congratulations!
All very good advise from Tielfan, but
take
it very slowly at Poppys pace... she is very young.
You should have a friend for life there, once
she is trained up.. Now you can teach whatever you like and she will learn well from a young age...
Good luck Waiting to see the pics of her!

I'll try to get some pictures. Maybe I'll do my training progress and if I'm doing anything wrong, you all can help me.

With the millet spray, him being such a young baby, I am sure you are not going to have any problem.
If budgies are anything like tiels he will learn very quickly. I did teach to the four babies to step on the finger without even needing the millet... it's like an automatic reflex, you push the finger on the tummy and they step up.
Please post some pics, I want to see him!!!

Where did you all teach the best, in the cage or out of the cage? I hope I can do it out of the cage, because his quarantine cage is a cheap Petco cage with a ridiculously small door. Plus he has the advantage of flying away when he's had enough. Is it possible to train to step up out of the cage? He really wants to fly and my hand is too big to fit comfortably through the door.

I did it outside the cage. I started before they could fly but they were not very receptive. Once they were out and about it seemed to come more natural to them just to step up whatever I put in front of them. And as you said, if they were bored they'd just move away.
I heard that the best room to train a young bird is the bathroom, as long as the toilet lid is down and you have no chemicals laying around.
I never tried myself but it makes perfect sense, it's a small room and there are not many places to hide.

PS with Angelina I did it inside the cage though, because she would fly away as soon as I got near her. But it's a different case from your baby, she was an aviary bird, extremely wary.

I think I want to try outside the cage. How did you manage to get them back in if they didn't pick it up?

It can be helpful to work with him in the cage for at least a little while so he has some familiarity with the idea of stepping onto your hand.

To get an untame bird back in the cage you generally have to pursue them until they get tired of trying to avoid you. Do it gently of course, don't look like a predator that's ready for lunch. Sometimes if you set the cage right in front of the bird he'll go in. If the bird has landed on the floor it can be helpful to gently herd him into a corner before you ask for the step up - he's less likely to run away if there isn't an easy escape route.

If you're working with him at night, you can always turn the light off for a while so he gets sleepy, then switch the light back on and see if you can get him before he wakes up completely.

If you're working with him at night, you can always turn the light off for a while so he gets sleepy, then switch the light back on and see if you can get him before he wakes up completely.[/quote]

LOL.... mine doesn't seem to sleep even when the lights are out! lol