A few Budgie (parakeet) questions?

I just got these birds yesterday and I am new to birdkeeping
1. Mine have tiny black dots near the middle of their feathers are they mites, how to get rid?
2. They preen themselves and each other and seem to pick out dry skin, is this normal? sickness?
3. They are scared of anyone who opens the cage, but i have managed to feed the male food from my hand, I don't know how old they are, but what is the best way to tame them?
Thank you!
Answers:
Budgies are friendly fellas and they can be taught to fly around the room, sit on your shoulder and take food from your hand. The males are very clever at learning to talk, but it takes time. The tiny black dots - sounds odd - maybe get a vet to check them out? Yes, the preening is quite normal behaviour. As for training, it takes patience and persistence.
Frequently talking to your budgie, using a soft voice to sooth them. Each training session should last between 10-20 minutes. Slowly put your hand in the cage and keep it in there until the bird has a chance to settle itself down. Resist the urge to grab or move your hand over to the budgie in the first few sessions. Give him some time to come used to the presence of your hand. When he stops freaking out at the sight of your hand in the cage it is time to slowly push your finger towards his belly like a perch. Say %26quot;up%26quot; when you press your finger against his belly. When you return him to his cage or perch say %26quot;down%26quot;. Continue talking to the budgie when he is on your finger. When it seems like he is comfortable sitting on your finger, you may slowly take him out of the cage on your finger. Do not be over zealous the first time you take him out of the cage. Always keep these training sessions short at first. Eventually the time out of the cage will increase and you will have a trusting budgie friend.
Don't try to handle them in the first few days in their new home. Give him some time to get used to his new home and environment. Have the cage in a room where you are alot of the time. Spend lots of time with him, talking to him and putting your hands in the cage only to change their water and give them fresh food. Make a point to show them that you are merely doing good things for him and not trying to hurt him. It may take some time before he will decide to come out to you, and you may try to bribe him to come out of his cage by leaving some budgie treats right outside the cage door, or even in your hand right inside or outside the cage. Eventually he will learn to accept you and be your friend.
Enjoy your new birds!

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You're doing fine.

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1. its probley some kind of small bug or dirt that they caught at the petstore %26gt;_%26lt;
i dont know how to rid
2.dont worry bout it,
your birds may have come from a dirty place and still havent been able to clean themselves fully
3,its normal for them to be scared for a while, heres what i recommend for taming them generally quick and easylt without any bitting:
1.continue to feed the male out of your hand and try to get the female to once or twice a day until the female feels safe enough to eat from your hand
2.once both birds are hand freindly as far as the feeding, get your finger and CAREFULLY use it to unhook the birds front claws from the perch witch will make them hold on to your finger (clever isnt it?)
3.once both birds are tame in the cage as to perching on your finger and eatting form your hand , you can make a safe area or room to let them out, make sure theres no windows or mirrors as well as pets and other beings
when you do this only let ONE out at a time,
be prepared for flying because your going to get it
:P
what i do it everytime they fly i slowly walk to them and perch them back on my finger.they then fly again and i perch them again
do that for a few days and the willl realize your not trying to hurt them and stop flying
(note: this entire process will take about 2 months or more if you do it right to dont hold your breath :P )
hope that helped!
good luck with your new parakeets!
鈾?br>X3