u/Firm-Age-5278

Thanks to everyone in my last post who told me my parakeet Lucky looked happy!

We found him about a month ago loose in our neighborhood after a rainstorm and no one came forward for him so he’s become part of our family. He is very beautiful and chatty, not aggressive at all, but very skittish and stubborn. I have the hardest time coaxing him back into his cage. I have 2 kids with various activities in their schedule so we’re in and out half of the week. I want him to be able to freely roam/fly around but it takes me 15-20 mins to get him back in his cage, I try using a long perch, millet and other treats to convince him but he will fly off as soon as he feels elevation change or movement. I’ve been working with him on stepping up and recall and it feels like everyday I have to start again, like 50 first dates.

I want to get him a friend, but I can’t imagine trying to get 2 birds back in their cage with a time crunch to get my kids to activities.

Any advice on a sure fire way to get him home? Am I right to wait until he’s trained to add another bird? How long does this usually take? Like I said, I came into this by chance, not really by choice, though I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to have given him a safe loving home. I want him to be happy but I don’t want to drive everyone crazy with bird catching every day 🤣

I found this parakeet flying around my neighborhood approximately 3 weeks ago and looked for the owner but they never came forward. We named him Lucky because there was a double rainbow when we spotted him and we’re in NJ where the weather can be 90 degrees one day and 50 the next so he’s lucky we could keep him safe!

He’s very chill, doesn’t bite, but does seem hesitant to trust. I’ve been working with him on stepping up but he flys away pretty quickly and won’t hang out. He’s pretty chatty and I have formed an attachment to him 🤣! I haven’t had parakeets since I was a child so I’m wondering if more experienced parakeet parents can tell me whether this behavior is a sign of being content? Or is he stressed. I like to think we’re bonding and he is happy with my efforts to keep him enriched, but what do I know