IndianRingNeck.com

InTheAir

Note to the innocent: Do Not google gentle dominance! No doubt the targeted advertising is going to haunt me for a while. Imran I'm going to continue to follow proven scientific principles in training my birds. Thank you for sharing your studies of ethology, it is great to know that most adult ringn...

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I'm very pleased to hear you are evolving in your approach to bird handling and the advice you are putting out there. It is unfortunate that other sites appear to have copied your old article, and "taking" bites is still promoted on some ringneck social media groups. Even though there much more effe...

InTheAir

Hi again Imran, After reading your post on your observations of flock dynamics, I think we are not clear on the topic we are discussing. This is what myself, and several others are referring to: You have just purchased your new Indian Ringneck and all is going well. Within days or weeks after settli...

InTheAir

You're right Imran, we both strive to give the best for our birds in our own way! How could you not, they are just awesome and deserve it! I have not done a wonderful job with my birds, I strive to learn and improve every day. Anyone who can read, has the interest in learning and observing can have ...

InTheAir

Yep, Imran, we all have that in common! I did not put a lot of effort into describing body language in my first post, just an oversimplified example of some easy to spot signs. Yes, they are similar to arousal and a bad choice by myself as not so relevant to young birds. I will correct above post. H...

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To clarify: I did not say asking a bird to step up is aggressive. I also expect my birds to step up, fly to me and go to their cages. It is essential behaviour that needs to be reliable. It is perfectly possible to teach a reliable step up by using positive reinforcement without any use of coercion....

InTheAir

Hi Imran, Barbara may be a business woman and selling her product, she also has a very solid understanding of behaviour mechanics and principles. So do Dr Susan Friedman, Greg Glendell and Hillary Hanky who I have also questioned on this topic. Despite all being highly respected professionals in the...

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http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com.au/2015 ... f.html?m=1

here is link that should have been in above post

InTheAir

I don't subscribe to the "bluffing" theory at all. Nor do my 2 ringnecks. By using positive reinforcement, applied behaviour analysis and carefully reading and respecting our birds communication it is perfectly possible to develop a good working relationship with a ringneck. I recommend you read thi...

InTheAir

http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com.au/2015 ... f.html?m=1

Check out her other posts and videos too. Heaps of good stuff in there!
Parrot training is a personal challenge in how to sell your idea of what you want the parrot to do to the parrot ;)
Kia Ora btw

InTheAir

I was talking to a lady from my local parrot society, and when I told her Sanjay detests hands, she said it is because he'd been grabbed at some stage, this makes perfect sense to me, dogs become "hand shy" for exactly the same reason. It doesn't necessarily have to be being grabbed. If hands bring...

InTheAir

Hey, #1 advice is don't chase him with your hand. Hold great treats and l;et him come to you. Be patient. try as many times as need be. Thank you I have noticed he looks a bit panicked when I go to the cage now:( Just thought weird as when hes out hes happy as can pat him hold hin etc just not good...

InTheAir

Have you been rewarding him for stepping up?

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It sounds like you have a very sensible vet! Clipped doesn't equal tame, it just limits the birds ability to flee, which is not nice for a nervous bird. I used the method sanjaysmummy described to transfer my girl before we made friends and it worked well. I recommend reading this http://learningpar...

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Hi Michele,

She should lose interest in them soon... if she doesn't get bored of them on her own, she probably won't mind if they magically disappear...
best of luck to you.

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You could try to research what exactly about/part of the walnut is considered unsafe and if there is any way to minimise the risk. Personally I'd just find a different tree. There are a few ways to prepare branches. I let them dry out first and use f10 to clean them and rinse them in very hot water....

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My word that sounds like a lot of food. Does he eat it all? We give half an icecube of defrosted vegetable chop per bird in the morning. We are lucky if they eat half of that. They also have some pellets from their foraging toys in the morning. Check out this, it is quite useful for working out a ba...

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Dna tests can be wrong, it is a small percentage but that doesn't make any difference to the person who gets the hen that was meant to be male... Young hens will do the boy dance too. My hen will sometimes do it for a little to get the attention of our male and then switch to girly stuff to try to s...

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Just to put it in perspective, ringnecks have a wing span of up to 42 - 48cm and are built to fly miles every day. The Rspca recommends that a birds cage should be at least 3 times longer than its wingspan.

InTheAir

Hi and welcome. What size cage does he have? That is likely to influence his behaviour in the cage as Sanjaysmummy said. What does he have to keep him busy in the cage? Browse, foraging, toys, perches? My birds have very large cages (by the standards of pet keepers anyway) but they still need to be ...

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Hi, Goodness, youre not wrong that that is an awful clip! Your bird should moult in spring or early summer. The most obvious signs of moulthing is you tend to find a variety of different sized feathers everywhere and then the bird starts to look a bit "scruffy" because new feathers come in covered w...

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Hi and welcome. It sounds like Jazz 2 is taking over the household quite comfortably! Young parrots do tend to have messy tails, my girl had both long ones broken/bitten off when I got her. The guy we got her from loves his birds and takes great care of them! She is a pretty rough and tumble kind of...

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Ringnecks don't tend to take kindly to collars, it might not go well with trying to make friends with her. We found the only collar that worked effectively on our guy was a long plastic one but he was also incredibly depressed when wearing it. Foraging for all food (except for treats that you use fo...

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Hi Marie, I recommend ignoring Ajpeters at all times, I haven't worked out if he is a troll or just completely socially inept! What ever it is i don't think i have seen a sensible post from him. I saw your post but was hoping Missk would reply as she has more experience with older birds. I would hig...

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Reviewing Melika's post here http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=799 I'd say you're not feeding enough. Her schedule seems to have feeding every 5 hours or so. I've never fed a baby bird, but off the cuff I would say feed more often! Remember you may need to set a timer and lose som...

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#1 Stop putting the hand where he will bite it. oh dear is someone snowed in and suffering from a little cabin fever? That was slightly less than your usual tact. :mrgreen: Hi Jackind, as blunt as the above reply is it is also very accurate. Don't approach your bird unless it wants you too and back...

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I realised after posting that link that it lists some plants as harmful which are listed safe elsewhere!

Here is another list which I'm pretty sure is ok to use (my birds are still alive at any rate) http://www.eclectusparrots.net/safeplants.html

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I did quite a bit of searching online about yucca a couple years ago as I wanted to grow some to havest for the birdies. I can't find the info now, it is recommended to give birds the dried wood. Some lists have yucca sp. listed as safe. The concern is the saponins in the leaves may be harmful if in...

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Hi and welcome! Congratulations on your new buddy :) S/he is lucky you came into his/her life. My hen bathes like that in her water bowl, but the bowl is slightly smaller and her tail always ends up pointing at the sky while she is doing it :lol: As far as age, is he/she moulting at the moment? I no...

InTheAir

Hi,

Bird lover wrote:I had his wings clipped so I could start taking him

What do you mean by "taking him"? Did you mean taming? If that is so I's a bit late to tell you that wings don't need to be clipped to get birds friendly... or did you mean something else?

InTheAir

Hi.
Wing feathers moult once a year in spring/early summer.

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Sorry, I completely disagree, that bat is so cute and tiny! Bird proofing is an ever present challenge! Along with enrichment. My boyfriend and I have been joking about making a meme of 8 hours enrichment for our neighbours cat (give it a new cardboard box) vs 8 hours for parrots (a few hundred doll...

InTheAir

Wow, baby bat must have been adorable! You will enjoy Echo, parrots are really interesting behaviour wise. Here is some more reading material I like, for when you have spare time: http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21956&hilit=recommended+reading http://www.iaate.org/companion-p...

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Fresh squeezed juice is fine, just in moderation. Golden syrup isn't a good idea either. I recommend ignoring ajpeters advice in most instances unless you have verified that it is a good idea by researching it throughly or asking your vet. Parrots eat unsweetened oats btw. A lot of breakfast cereals...

InTheAir

Don't give him milky porridge! Milk is not good for parrots! Did you visit an avian vet? To make pellets more attractive you can put a little fresh fruit juice (preservative free) on them. If you mix up pellets with hot water you can make a porridge with them, which many birds like. We had to squeez...

InTheAir

Hi, Congrats on your new friend. He sounds lovely. I do not subscribe to the "bluffing" theory at all. I've asked quite a few professionals for their opinions too. Here's one: http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/do-animals-bluff.html?m=1 Whenever any type of parrot bites there is a reason. I'...

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I didn't really tame my birds, Nila was hand raised and I used bribery and a good understanding of body language to get Sapphire to and trusti me. Every bird and person is different so there is no set time it takes to build up trust with them. Having flighted birds is great. You still need to resear...

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Hi again, As far as getting him a friend, your motivation for it is important. If you would like him to be a friendly pet, an already friendly male may help show him that you are cool, but won't necessarily make him tamer without great effort and understanding on your part. Male ringnecks usually ma...

InTheAir

Welcome to the noisy world of indian ringnecks :) I have a hen who was raised in an aviary and she responded incredibly well to the technique described in links below. http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/working-with-fearful-parrots/ http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/parrot-behavior-myth...

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Hi there, It is hard to know if he will respond well to being a pet, if he is an ex pet he may respond very well. Taming birds has so many variables... and I guess the main thing is assessing what you want from him if you do adopt him. If you want a super tame shoulder rider, it is possible but not ...

InTheAir

Here's a really great video on training that should help you a lot http://youtu.be/QQ2MpmxUgSA You can also check out www.goodbirdinc.com for some training tips. Does he approach you when you offer him a treat? The way to train a ringneck practically anything is to convince the ringneck that what yo...

InTheAir

I'm so sorry! I have no experience of the disease myself, I have done a little reading on the subject though. It is highly contagious, so keep him away from other birds. Also ensure you shower and change your clothes before handling other parrots. Apparently the virus is still shed by birds even if ...

InTheAir

Seasons Greetings everyone. We finally built our guys an aviary! We put it in the patio, up against the house, so the birds can step straight out the door into it. It is 4m by 3.3m and 2.2m high. It was a major pain to build, but well worth it. Surprisingly, Nila was happy to come out and play as so...

InTheAir

How are you trying to train him to step up?

InTheAir

Welcome to the forum. 1) How often should I try to go near his cage? I really recommend you start by reading these links http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/working-with-fearful-parrots/http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/parrot-behavior-myths-building-trust/ www.goodbirdinc and behaviorwo...

InTheAir

anyway, you say 'that leg' i think you assume I think theres something wrong with it? if so, there isnt like, a worry, I was just noting how his hips and legs were wider apart that any IRN or mustache I'd seen and they seemed to be sort of, almost bow-legged looking. he doesnt seem to have a gripe ...

InTheAir

A complete health check from a qualified avian vet is the place to start. They can help you go over the diet if there is no medical reason diagnosed. If they are like my vet, they will also go into cage details, amount of foraging and enrichment, environmental factors etc.

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That sounds very much like hormone related behaviour. My girl was looking for nest sites in June, which is the middle of winter here. I believe it is the change in day length that triggers the breeding cycle, when combined with the other factors. I fed a pretty low energy diet also for the past year...

InTheAir

Hi, Congrats on your new birds. I think keeping them together is more humane. A bond can be built by the birds learning that you are predictable, won't force them to do anything and bring them yummy goodies. I haven't tried it with a pair, but that's what I'd be doing. You can also use your budgies ...

InTheAir

I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds very much like the behaviour that one of our moderators hen displays over breeding season. If you search for a post titled "what to do with Janey", Ellie goes into some details about triggers if I remember correctky. I believe that this is a challenging behaviour to...

InTheAir

I don't know about hybrids, but I definitely think you should take him to an avian vet for a check up and a look at that leg.

perhaps some side on photos with would be helpful. How much larger than your ringneck is he?

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Seed is really not the best base for a diet. Very high in fat and low in good stuff. I recommend switching him to pellets.

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Hi, Missk has given some good advice. I second that you forget that "bluffing" nonsense, I haven't found a qualified bird trainer or behaviourist who subscribes to the idea that ringnecks bluff. Ringnecks can take time to develop a good relationship with new people. Patience and understanding are th...

InTheAir

Hi,

Best of luck with your new birds. It takes time to build trust. Be patient. I don't recommend forcing them to do anything,
The best advice I've found:
http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... ing-trust/

InTheAir

I'm glad things are working out for you guys. I'm impressed you do more housework when spending time with your bird, in our household it is quite the opposite!

InTheAir

Hi, Congrats on your new bird. I highly recommend you make changes to the diet! Peas and corn are nice for treats, as are seeds, but nutritionally that diet is not balanced. Pellets are a good base for the diet, with a range of low energy vegetables and a small amount of fruit. Check out this table ...

InTheAir

Maybe he has found loud vocalisations get him attention? It is pretty hard to tell what is going on from a short post, please provide more details. What time does he start vocalising? Have you made any noise to indicate you are awake? What do you do when he does vocalise loudly? What does he have in...

InTheAir

Please excuse AJpeters, he sometimes forgets to write anything relevant when he replies to threads. I found following this: http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/working-with-fearful-parrots/ really helpful and effective. Watching and responding to their body language as you approach, backing off...

InTheAir

That's really cute! I'll try it tomorrow and see if his tips help me. ;)
My guys do "beak-ups" for their workout.

InTheAir

Hi,

Congrats on your new friend. I think the most important thing is to ignore the old school myths and training techniques.

Check out this http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com.au/2015 ... f.html?m=1

InTheAir

Hi, Your bird is not "bluffing". Don't ignore bites, remove yourself immediately. Better yet, remove yourself when he shows signs that he is going bite, don't wait for him to bite you. Start by reading this article http://www.behaviorworks.org/files/articles/ABCs%20of%20Behavior%202004.pdf It is als...

InTheAir

Hi Jack, I'm glad to hear your afternoons are going better. More details on the exact schedule in the mornings and what his breakfast is may help someone pinpoint a solution. Ie: when you put him in his cage and he starts screaming then or whatever. Does he make any vocalisations that you do like? P...

InTheAir

Hi, Try reading his body language earlier, when you approach the cage and he isn't in the mood to come out, back off before he has to bite you and leave him be. He can figure out how to get out on his own if he wants to. Do you reward (ie give him a small treat) him for stepping up when he does? If ...

InTheAir

Welcome to the forum. I'm in qld also, on the rather grey looking sunshine coast. Congrats on your new baby. 8weeks is a bit young to be fully weaned. Between 10 and 12 weeks is the usual age to wean as far as I know. If you search "abundance weaning parrots" I think you will find some info that may...

InTheAir

See, they always go for the most unhealthy thing! Parrots can recognise different people. My hen is perfectly friendly with me and my boyfriend, but will scream and fly away if a stranger walks up to her like we do. Ringnecks are renowned for being shy. It can take time to make friends with a bird. ...

InTheAir

Hi, It can take a lot of time to build up trust! Especially if he has had some bad experiences. Having a bad clip is unlikely to make him more confident, rather the opposite really. Does he come over to eat treats while you are still near the bowl? Personally I have found this a very useful resource...

InTheAir

You can work with the bird wherever he is comfortable. Just make sure you always give him room to get away from you if he wants to. I don't really know much about colour mutations. You could try taking some clearer photos in natural lighting and someone else might have an idea. If your bird is under...

InTheAir

Hi, Congrats on your new friend. Hopefully his little tail will grow in nicely with his moult, which should happen soon, and with a good diet. Since your bird puts up with you touching him when he has no choice, instead of biting you, I think he has a lovely temperament! But I don't recommend you co...

InTheAir

Basically, anything you do to your bird that causes him to retreat, run away or bite is going to make him trust you less. You need to earn trust from him, which means doing things he likes, playing, feeding treats, hanging out, whatever he likes. When you have a good relationship established with yo...

InTheAir

Little paper parcels are always a hit here. Also paper straws can be cut into shorter pieces and have things stuffed in them. Easy and cheap, you can make enough parcels to last the day while you watch tv in the evenings (if you watch tv). These can be hidden around the cage. It is good try try and ...

InTheAir

Sorry I can't help, got both birds fully weaned at 12 weeks. Try calling your local avian vet for advice. Personally I'd be asking the breeder or another breeder to raise him with other birds his age for me until he is fully fledged and weaned. I'm not sure being alone and not fed for the majority o...

InTheAir

I hope he is making a speedy recovery.
Check out this for some "taming" theory, it worked for me.
http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... l-parrots/

InTheAir

I'm lucky, both our monsters took to pellets immediately. We removed sunflower seeds from the seed mix while they were transitioning to pellets. Corn and apples you will find on the high energy- feed sparingly list on the links I posted above. They also have quite bad nutritional values, are high in...

InTheAir

Pity you had his wings clipped, that's an old wives tale. I'd take an other advice from that breeder with a grain of salt. Ringnecks wean a bit later than that usually also. I recommend you find a good quality pellet, I use Roudybush but I have no idea on what is available in your country. Also feed...

InTheAir

I'm glad training is improving. I find my parrots are incredibly quick learners. Watch his body language, if he doesn't want you near him back off and change dishes when he is not nearby for now. Taking away resources can upset some animals. How much fruit do you give him? Does he fly? A bird that s...

InTheAir

3: take it to an avian vet

InTheAir

Claire is quite awesome, isn't she? :D I'm also so impressed with her video skills. Claire, thank you for taking the time to create that video. It makes a very clear demonstration and will doubtless help many people. Thanks Missk. I do hope it does. I've been meaning to make a series of "how to tra...

InTheAir

I make my finger a perch and I nudge him under the belly with the command "step up" and I reward him after 3 good ones and gradually I get my finger further away so I don't even need to touch him. Change how you are trying to train him. That explains the biting, he is learning that your hands do th...

InTheAir

To add to Missks list:
Lorikeets or other wild parrots/birds going past to their roost. That sets my girl off, but she is easy to distract into silence by trick training or other positive interactions.

InTheAir

Sorry I haven't responded earlier, I haven't had time to make a big post. To tell the truth, I make a lot of posts on this board that don't even get an acknowledgement so I get fed up with it. Go to www.goodbirdinc.com and buy the Webinar about biting and aggressive behaviour. If you can't see a sol...

InTheAir

Hmmm. Parrots already know how to step from branch to branch, so stepping up is just naturally going where they want to go. The whole concept of training them to step up is just to convince them they want to climb on you.

How are you trying to train him? Explain in detail.

InTheAir

Watch that body language, there are always subtle cues before a bite. Approach your bird slowly when you want to ask him to step up, then you can see little changes in posture, eyes and feather position which indicates how the bird is reacting to your approach. If the head pulls back, eyes pin, feat...

InTheAir

I would take the conplete opposite approach, if he wants to be on his cage I would be trying to convince him that he can still interact with me there. Attach a dish to the top of the cage near the front, then you can walk up to the cage and drop a little treat in, instead of chasing him. Get him to ...

InTheAir

Hi, have a look over these links, I found them very helpful when we got a young parent raised ringneck. http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/parrot-behavior-myths-building-trust/ http://learningparrots.com/blog/training/working-with-fearful-parrots/ I don't clip my birds wings. Obviously, this m...

InTheAir

http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... ing-trust/

InTheAir

Hi sarzam, Ringneck screams are quite painful! Can you provide more details on what happening around the house when he screams? Does he scream when you go near him or when you leave? What is happening around the house when he is talking and making noises you like. How do you respond? Also search "fo...

InTheAir

Hi,

It takes time to build trust with a ringneck. Try reading this http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... ing-trust/

InTheAir

I live in the subtropics, my problem is keeping things cool enough for half of the year!

What did you think of the links I provided?

InTheAir

I'm so sorry! I don't think pneumonia is contagious, but I'm not a vet... Considering your birds were in direct contact with each other already, a vet check is in order as a precaution. Is there an avian specialist near you? Our nearest is an hours drive, but after discovering the complete incompete...

InTheAir

Hi Nicole, Ringnecks are mostly arboreal, but will come lower if they think it is safe and attractive. Both of mine have always been flighted, so it is kind of easier to train them... if I want them to go somewhere lower than they perch for preference, I can eat apple slices in that area and they fl...

InTheAir

Here is another professional bird trainer's response to my enquiry on "bluffing": "Traditionally, the idea that bluffing body language in parrots is that it is part of a young bird’s normal developmental cycle, even, according to some sources, unique to certain species. I disagree, nor would I call ...

InTheAir

Congrats on your new friend. I hope they get on well! Please search the forum for "bluffing". I feel like I am always having to repeat myself on several different sites, so run out of energy to write about it at times... Basically bluffing is some made up idea that is basically a self fulfilling pro...

InTheAir

I recommend you find a good quality pellet, I use Roudybush but I have no idea on what is available in your country. Also feed lots of vegetables and some fruit. nuts and seeds can be used as treats. Here is some basic info http://www.brisbanebirdvet.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=U4qC8Iij8cM%3d&t...

InTheAir

Hi and congrats on your new friend. Forums and stuff tend to have a lot of very paranoid members, because there are people will buy a tiny cage and try to jam a ringneck and a cockateil or 2 into it.... Seriously, you wouldn't believe the stupidity of mankind! Flighted birds that have space get away...

InTheAir

I have 2 and they both like different stuff mostly. They both agree that foraging puzzles are awesome and soft bark on perches! I tend to give them natural browse, branches and flowers a lot as I know they will both like it. Bottlebrush flowers and nuts are popular, golden cane fronds (they chew the...

InTheAir

If Frankie is male I highly recommend you consider a male friend for him. 2 males are quite likely to get along, especially if frankie is very bonded with people. Females can be a bit bossy to shy males and a pincin when they decide they want to nest under the couch or in the cupboards..... Aah ok!...

InTheAir

Hi, Have you weighed her? We use kitchen scales to weigh ours. It does sound like she is showing signs of being in breeding mode to me, though she should still be eating enough so I'm not sure about that aspect. It is that time of year over here. My hen actually put on a bit of weight, but wasn't as...

InTheAir

If Frankie is male I highly recommend you consider a male friend for him. 2 males are quite likely to get along, especially if frankie is very bonded with people. Females can be a bit bossy to shy males and a pain when they decide they want to nest under the couch or in the cupboards.....

InTheAir

Seriously, just take the poor bird to an avian vet!

InTheAir

You're welcome. Chillies are safe. My birds have not touched a sunflower seed in a year and they are far from starved. I have found they have got better at eating healthy food since they have had no seed too. Just keep offering healthy foods, even if the birds don't eat them. They are seasonal feede...

InTheAir

Parrots aren't tidy eaters! They take a few bites of this and a few bites of that and drop lots of it. It also takes time for them to try new foods. Keep offering a variety. Also if you chop up a whole lot of vegetables and fruit in tiny pieces or put it through a food processor and offer them some....

InTheAir

There are a lot factors that lead to a bird trusting you. Even the way you move when you are in the bird's sight can affect it's opinion of you. So can trying too hard to make it your friend. Things like reaching out to touch a scared bird can take away several layers of trust that have been built a...

InTheAir

Hi 1) Can anyone tell how old are they by looking at this picture Not really, but I'd guess your male is at least 2 years old 2) Does Jacky seems to have any skin infection ? His feather condition isn't great. A vet check is a good idea. Also, he probably needs a better diet. Ideally a good quality ...

InTheAir

Gosh that looks horrible! I would take him to an avian vet for a full health check.

InTheAir

HI. Your bird looks like a ringneck to me, but I'm not an expert. He will like to have a few different sized perches in his cage, if he doesn't already. My birds really like natural wood perches with bark on them to chew. Also toys are important. It doesn't matter what species the parrot is as long ...

InTheAir

Hi, I can't tell if your bird will get on well with another bird. I think there is a good chance with a slow introduction to another male though. He will still be friends with you. The relationship may change a bit, sometimes doing bird stuff may be more important than doing human stuff to him. Or y...

InTheAir

What Wessel said. And also ringnecks don't naturally like being petted, so for her reaching out to touch her is scarey. Don't try it until she trusts you more.

InTheAir

I'm so glad you've found useful practical applications of the abcs already :) I know it is hard not to be offended when birds bite, but the easiest way to resolve issues is exactly what you have done. You're awesome! Here is another cool video which explains how effective letting your animal make ch...

InTheAir

I'm glad you enjoyed the links. The behaviorworks online course is great too, but has a long waiting list. Here is a video of how to target train. http://youtu.be/HaOicTtwIZo Please, if you change a dish and the parrot is scared of it, provide a familiar dish for water as well so the parrot doesn't ...

InTheAir

What part of Aus are you in? We live in the sunny coast. Two website that I think should be compulsory for parrot owners are www.behaviorworks.org and www.goodbirdinc.com . Check out the written works section on the first. The parrot stuff is under the learning and behavour section, if my memory is ...

InTheAir

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm in Australia too. Your boy is very cute. He should be getting his ring soon :) A lot of ringnecks do tend to bravely retreat from new objects and people. There is a certain amount of instinctual behaviour in that, I believe. But it is possible to build positive assoc...

InTheAir

Ringnecks can take a while to get used to new things. They also recognise individual people and quite a few can be very shy of strangers until they get to know them, especially if they haven't met many new people before. My girl is super tame, she flies to me, lets me trim her nails, I can grab her ...

InTheAir

Kia ora You know what would be cool? If you pioneer co-parenting ringnecks to produce well adapted, not so over humanised birds :) I have a hen as a house pet who was handled pre-fledging, she wasn't tame when I got her but she warmed up to me really well due to the breeder handling her as a bub and...

InTheAir

I think you need to chill out a bit, parrots do squabble. It's not the end of the world! Honestly, every creature I can think of squabble occasionally. The important things are that they respond to each others body language and that they have space to get away from each other. If one bird is really ...

InTheAir

Your birds will be much happier with a much, much, much bigger cage. Also some stuff to chew on and natural wood perches.
They might like having a corner against the wall covered too, so they are not so exposed.

InTheAir

Hi again, Changing the cage is no miracle solution, if you don't address the behaviour she will probably start defending a new cage once she settles in. But, bigger cages are always better in my opinion. It takes a few seconds longer to zoom across a big cage :lol: I'm really confused by your commen...

InTheAir

Oh dear, that doesn't sound fun! Obviously I don't know your whole situation, but there are a couple things that spring to mind. Does your in bird have a regular lights out time so she gets plenty of sleep? And what is her diet? How is she fed? These could be contributing factors to look into as wel...

InTheAir

http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... l-parrots/

good luck!

InTheAir

Sorry to hear about your birds. When you get a new bird it is a very good idea to take it to an avian vet for a health check, they test for psittacosis (which we can catch) as well as do a physical and inspect the faeces for bacteria and parasites. If it dies before the vet check a necropsy is a ver...

InTheAir

That's fantastic! Congratulations on your understanding and patience with him, it really pays off! You are a great example to us all

InTheAir

I don't have time to write much, so check out the behaviour/taming section of this forum. Most stuff by me and missk is good advice ;)
Also check out my thread of recommended reading material and check out this cool video:
http://youtu.be/tcNh1yvscbg

InTheAir

Our birds seem to like acoustic guitar better than electric, but in Sapph's case it is purely because she wants to climb in the hole... Sapphire screams when I play the recorder, which is a pity because I wanted to teach her to whistle "Morning has broken" and she sounds like a recorder sometimes. H...

InTheAir

I don't know if you want my 2c, but I really think the less pressure and expectations you put on a ringneck the quicker and better they respond. We have experimented with visitors who come to our house to see what effect different approaches have on both our birds. Nila is very tame and will take a ...

InTheAir

Hi, The act of chewing is rewarding, so don't wait for her to get bored of of munching your hands! Chewing is reinfocing because of the action, not the reaction! Parrots chew toys and bark and handbags and whatever else they find without encouragement, purely because they like chewing stuff. Serious...

InTheAir

Galahs are the cutest things ever! We have heaps of wild ones in our neighbourhood and I think they sound cute and quiet compared to other cockatoos, but I don't keep them in my house so the noise is not so intense. They don't have a reputation for being well adapted to captivity though. Did you kno...

InTheAir

Well, if Missk hasn't put you off ringnecks for life I'll add my 2c :wink: I totally agree with her that "bluffing" is a myth perpetuated by people who use forceful/coercive/insensitive handling. Unfortunately ringnecks are quick movers and can be hard to learn to read at first too. The worst thing ...

InTheAir

Hey,

I don't breed birds so have no experience myself, but I have read and studied a fair bit. One thing I learned from an animal behaviour course recently is that birds can learn to be good parents by practice. There is a good chance she will do better this year if left to it.

InTheAir

Hi and welcome to the forum. About the cuddly ringnecks on youtube... Ringnecks are not really known for being a very cuddly species. I've also seen a lot of other species I'd consider way more playful than ringnecks. As you said, each bird is an individual. I've never trained mine to accept scratch...

InTheAir

Hehe what a cute voice! wow ringnecks are expensive where you are! I'm in Australia! I've seen them in petshops for about $200 and on gumtree they range from $40 (aviary birds) to $100 up for a handraised baby in the common colours. Unusual mutations can get quite pricey, of course. Here's a couple ...

InTheAir

For me it was that you must spend hours every day with them to keep them from losing their tameness. Utter malarky. We should have a thread for "most ridiculous thing you ever heard about the species"....... Yep, that sounds like a fun thread! The other rubbish ones I've heard are "you need to clip...

InTheAir

Hi Maddy, When I got my hen she wasn't tame either. I would drop her favourite treats in to a dish and leave. Within a few days she would approach the dish while I was still nearby to get her treat. Then she started grabbing the treats while I was pushing them through the bars. Once she started doin...

InTheAir

Hi,

Have you taken him to your avian vet for a check up?

InTheAir

Actually meant to add my 10c about bluffing the other day to. Thanks for reminding me Missk ;) Basically, as I started learning about parrots, applied behaviour analysis and force-free training, I quickly realised that this "bluffing phase" that is so rife on forums and facebook groups does not make...

InTheAir

Yes! I'm channeling BH! I feel awesome right now! She did talk to our parrot club on the weekend, so that might be why. I very much doubt you will have to use a cup forever. Once he is secure with treat delivery again he will start taking treats from bare hands again. Behaviour is fluid. Best of luc...

InTheAir

His training treats have always been small pieces of almond, as he loves it the most out of sunflower seed/pine nuts/walnuts. Whenever he exhibits the behaviour, I give him a stern look, say "No treats until you're gentle", and turn away for about a minute. Afterwards he may or may not calm down, w...

InTheAir

Hi, Does this behaviour happen when you give him a treat outside of training time, ie not as a reward? Do you train him after or before you feed him? Does it happen if you change your training schedule? Does he react the same way when you give him treats from a plastic spoon instead of hand? What do...

InTheAir

Hi, irns are pretty sensitive. Unless they are extensively socialised with a lot of people they can be pretty shy of strangers. Even our little guy, who is pretty good with new people still won't hang around if a stranger reaches towards him, even if he has just landed on their shoulder. I had a pla...

InTheAir

Hi, I can't tell you what has happened, but I can give you a few suggestions to try. First, you could take your bird for a check up at your avian vet to ensure there is no medical reasons for this sudden change. If you live with other people, find out if they might have done anything that may upset ...

InTheAir

Hahaha our male is trying to work out that stuff too. It is dead funny to watch! He has worked out how to stand on the hens back, but he is lost for ideas after that. He has even tried feeding her while standing on her back. I don't think there is much you can do, except laugh and see if he figures ...

InTheAir

Sorry to read your story.
I'm afraid I don't have many suggestions.
Have you posted on parrot alert?

InTheAir

If your birds are hurting each other they need to be seperated.

InTheAir

Great pic! She's like a rubber ducky.

Tell us about this biting.

InTheAir

Please take your bird to an avian vet asap! He sounds very unwell and may need urgent medical attention from an expert.

The bugs might be weevils, if so they are unlikely to be the problem.

InTheAir

If no one else has personal experience with vets in your area, I did find this http://alanjonesbirdvet.yolasite.com/alternative-avian-vets.php which may be useful. I also found a clinic called Piddle Valley vets :lol: such a good name! It made me wonder if they specialise in house training issues wi...

InTheAir

In regards to forming bonds, it sounds like you both have quite a good relationship with the Charlie :) I am the unfavoured one with Nila, but I spend a lot of time training him tricks and do most of the day to day care, so we have a really good relationship anyway. In fact, he usually does as I ask...

InTheAir

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I have a parent raised ringneck I got at 12 weeks old and I followed this http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... l-parrots/ to make friends with her. I think it's the best advice ever

InTheAir

Hi again, I'm glad to hear you are so dedicated to your bird. :) Does the biting happen everywhere, or only in the cage? Are you familiar with http://www.behaviorworks.org? I think it is one of the best resources for parrot owners! This article is particularly useful to start with: http://www.behavi...

InTheAir

Well, I would say "The desirability of staying outside the cage outweighed the desirability of entering the cage".. Check out this pic, you don't need to have fb to view it https://m.facebook.com/ReisnerVetBehavior/photos/pb.136450056440896.-2207520000.1435392922./768669096552319/?type=1&source=42 I...

InTheAir

That's great! It is nice to hear some positive stories and flying birds!

Can we take it one step further, "rebellion" or ....?
Pity it is hard to post photos to this forum or I could add a really good meme...

InTheAir

Yes, and please excuse my bluntness. Your bird is not "bluffing", she is communicating with you. She is telling you that she does not want to interact in that way. You need to completely readjust how you interact with her, it is obviously not working. You need to change your behaviour so you can cha...

InTheAir

I agree with the other posts. Providing a positive experience for your bird by targeting past people is a really good way to start! Just ensure that you don't ask too much too quickly. Sapphire (who missk mentioned) is very shy with some strangers, but if I get her to do some tricks when we have vis...

InTheAir

It could be a long process, but start by holding the spray bottle as close as he feels comfortable and rewarding him for staying calm. I would probably teach him to come over and touch the bottle using targeting, if I wanted to train my birds to like misting. Then move the bottle away and do one spr...

InTheAir

Yes, it is possible to train a ringneck to wear a harness. I don't believe that every ringneck is a suitable candidate though. Putting the harness on involves a lot of handling around their body, those tiny straps are reallly fiddly! The easiest birds to train to wear one are birds that are really c...

InTheAir

That's some interesting experiences. Tomato plants and unripe fruit are toxic to mammals and birds. I believe they can affect the liver, among other things. Ripe fruit is considered safe to feed in moderation, it is not particularly valuable from a nutritional perspective. My avian vet has told me i...

InTheAir

Do you have a bird that interacts with wellibehaved visitors? Nila is brilliant at training people to behave appropriately. If they listen to us and ignore the birds, Nila quickly flies over and sits on their shoulder to reinforce their behaviour. If they ignore us and try to approach him, he does a...

InTheAir

I usually make sure the birds aren't caged if we are expecting visitors, that way the birds can zoom off to the other end of the house if they don't like them. It did backfire recently when Nila decided he would prefer to sit on the electricians shoulder while the guy fixed the oven. The poor guy wa...

InTheAir

Unfortunately it is pretty hard to create the perfect diet in captivity and get your parrot to eat it too. Seed is very much like macdonalds fries, high in fat and low most of the nutrients essential to keeping parrots healthy. It can take time to change eating habits, so keep offering vegetables ev...

InTheAir

Hehe I think all humans fall into the slow category compared to ringnecks. Anything that can fly around the house at top speed and not hit a person who walks into their path thinks faster than me anyway! I can't imagine never trying passionfruit! Are you in a very cold climate? Make sure it's wrinkl...

InTheAir

There is no reason to have naughty bits in range either :lol: :lol: :lol: Parrots and nudist camps are a no then? :mrgreen: Over summer, when it is ridiculously hot here, my boyfriend goes shirtless around the house, Sapphire likes knead his chest hair and to try to climb into his belly button. It ...

InTheAir

Good on you. It is nice to learn to trust your bird. Did you check out Kirsty's foraging channel? Although we have heaps of foraging toys, our birds still get a lot of their food hidden in simple items like paper or cardboard. I just love buying the puzzle toys so I can watch them learn to solve the...

InTheAir

You could leave both bowls in there, then he can choose which one he prefers. He will probably use the big one eventually. My birds are fairly confident about new experiences, as long as they have the choice of whether they participate or not. I don't recall either being really worried about having ...

InTheAir

We use this stuff on the door frames http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/building-hardware/timber/mouldings/pvc Regarding foraging, wrapping food and dishes in paper and cardboard is a good way to start. Go on YouTube and checkout Kirsty's foraging channel. She has so many good ideas. My birds like...

InTheAir

Do you give him rewards for stepping up or being near you? What do you do when he chews doors? Does your bird forage for his food? My girl likes chewing the frame around my wardrobe at the moment, so I ensure she isn't in that room for long, it is just where we go to sit in the sun after a shower. W...

InTheAir

Thanks for the update, it's nice to hear she's doing well. From what you have written it sounds to me that she is confident to explore new places under her own steam. When her wings recover, I bet she will explore further. You could use positive reinforcement to teach her that carrying her further a...

InTheAir

I think Nila may be the odd one! He may have developed this sleeping pose because it is almost impossible to scrape him off your chest when you want to get up.

He only does it on recumbent humans.

InTheAir

To the best of my knowledge (and dodgey memory), they have do have saliva but the outputting saliva thingies are really far back in the beak, not near the front like mammals (who don't have beaks)... I'm off to read up on whether monotreme's slobber now... I looked it up after Nila drooled on me whe...

InTheAir

What a noddy

InTheAir

If the results come back as a hen, I would contact the breeder first and let him know. Dna tests do have a very small margin of error, or it might have even been a simple accident like mixed up samples... It is funny that he charges more for a male, I've only seen difference in prices for male and f...

InTheAir

13 months is really too early to tell. Dna sexing is a good choice. My male looked like a hen until his 2 yo moult. I don't know anything about pionus, I'm not sure we even get them in this country. .. but any birds with different sized beaks can potentially be dangerous, especially if they have had...

InTheAir

Try not to see him as a feathered human, and keep in mind too, he may not want to step up. Sometimes the "excited" body language means annoyed.why not take a step back, and let him approach you when he is in a more affable frame of mind. Nicely put! My boyfriend called me out on repeating "I love y...

InTheAir

I don't think so. I'm not experienced with baby birds, but I'm sure one of my breeder friends said it's bad. Try calling a vet or member of a local bird club or breeder for advice, I would be very surprised if you get a quick response from someone knowledgeable on here.

InTheAir

I made a new Nila flying through hoops video. I love watching his focused expression on the slowed down bits! His wings go too fast for my video camera though

http://youtu.be/jg50yX_a25w

InTheAir

I've got a splitting headache so I will just post a link for you to read. Read it a few times and watch the videos.

http://learningparrots.com/blog/trainin ... l-parrots/

InTheAir

I'm having some technical trouble with posting so heres part 2: Evironmental conditions, is the cage really big enough for the amount of time the bird spends in it? Honestly, I don't think most birdcages actually are. The rspca recommends that a cage should be 3 times wider than the birds wing span ...

InTheAir

Hi, Congrats on your new bird. My 2 can be a bit fussy about eating some of their greens! I make them fresh "chop" which is a blend of vegetables that has been chopped finely and put through a food processer, they get a tiny bit of fruit mixed in with it too and then it is served with pellets first ...

InTheAir

Hi, I really think you should get a much a bigger cage. That one is made for very small birds. parrot cages should be off the ground on a stand or table, because parrots feel more comfortable when they are higher. Perches can be made from natural branches with bark on them so that the parrot can che...

InTheAir

Thanks everyone for your input. Claire, she does forage some, and loves it, but not for all her food. I will make a point of increasing her foraging time. Thank you also for checking with your friend. I guess I will not worry too much about her obsession, and try to provide something more fun for h...

InTheAir

Hi again,

I asked my friend what she has done that worked and she outlined the same things I've mentioned already.

Does your bird forage for all her food?

InTheAir

Hi Arleta, I wouldn't be giving her a mirror either. It sounds like a real challenge to limit her access to anything shiny, so teaching her to do other things might be a good idea. Does she forage for her food? What is she like with other ringnecks? How long has she been alone? I know most people on...

InTheAir

She's so cute on that ipad! 137g is on the heavy side for an irn, but it is really impossible to judge an individuals body mass from a weight really.. . Sapphire weighs about that range and is physically quite a bit larger in height (and beak) than the other ringnecks she has had play dates with... ...

InTheAir

sanjays mummi wrote:And here!, I think Sanjay must be asexual or a slow maturer, I read these posts quite nonplussed by it all!, lol!

You're so lucky! You must be providing the right conditions to discourage breeding. Any tips?

InTheAir

I was really disappointed in the babble ball, the one we got only worked if you bashed it really hard on a solid surface :( Check out this link: http://pamelaclarkonline.com/uploads/Hormonal_Behavior.pdf Here is a link about energy values of some common foods: http://www.scas.org.au/html/fresh_food_...

InTheAir

I can't tell. Sapphire does that sometimes, but when Nila starts boy dancing back she soon starts doing the female crouch postures.

InTheAir

Hi Robb, Parrots are pretty complex pets! I find it is easiest to breakdown any behaviour I am not happy with using applies behaviour analysis. First there is antecedent (what happens before the behaviour occurs), then the behaviour and then there is consequence. Have you identified his absolute fav...

InTheAir

Hi Shooni, Everyone has their personal preferences on how to make friends with birds. Personally I favour dropping treats in a dish and backing off is the way to start, rather than trying to wait for the bird to come to you for treats. As the bird begins to feel more safe around you, you will see ch...

InTheAir

That 'hand feeding yourself to make a bond' is an old wives tale, not necessary or beneficial. Here is an article which cites several studies about production techniques http://www.vetexotic.theclinics.com/article/S1094-9194%2812%2900014-X/fulltext There are a lot of benefits to the bird to grow up ...

InTheAir

Best of luck.

InTheAir

Let the vet do all the grabbing then and you can be the one that gives them treats once they are back in their cage.

Nila made a good effort of providing a sample on the vets foot once

InTheAir

I love going for healthchecks! I write down every random question I have on birds and fire them at the vet after they have examined the bird. You see the vet go pale when I pull my list of questions out ;) If your birds get on well in the cage and it fits in your car, I'd use that. Put fresh paper d...

InTheAir

That is fantastic! Awesome work! Keep it up!
Honestly, don't worry about posting absolutely any amount of raving about how brilliant Stella is, we all love it.

InTheAir

http://youtu.be/QQ2MpmxUgSA I think this video pretty much sums it up. Once Sapphire was comfortable in her travel cage she didn't seem at all fussed if that travel cage was in the car. She does try to chew seat belts if she can get to them though the bars. We always put a heap of foraging toys in t...

InTheAir

I'm sorry to tell you the first moult at around 6 months is only a partial moult which doesn't include flights. Flights are replaced on the first full moult, I think it happens between 12-15 months old (mine were both around 12 months old).

InTheAir

Welcome and congrats on your new friend. It's so refreshing to hear about the way you are going about things with your new bird! Letting the bird set the pace of your relationship with her is such an effective approach! When she feels confident she will accept your hands. Sorry to hear about the cli...

InTheAir

Hi,
I recommend a male (I kind of wish I had got one...). Male ring necks usually get on very well. A couple people on here have 2 boys, hopefully they will chip in soon.

InTheAir

Clawnz: can you provide links?

Aj, http://www.scas.org.au/html/fresh_food_nutrients.html

InTheAir

Thanks Clawnz, in Billie's cage today is a quarter of Pomegranite, some fresh sweet corn on the cob, seeded parsley, Mixed fruit bowl, apple pear, blackberries, fresh raspberries, 4 grapes red and white, a mixed veg bowl, sliced fresh carrot, Brocoli, three sweet pea pods, slice of celery, quartere...

InTheAir

Here's an article about bluffing by a highly experienced professional bird trainer: http://goodbirdinc.blogspot.com.au/2015 ... f.html?m=1
It makes perfect sense to me and I have tried it and can report that the advice given works.

InTheAir

http://youtu.be/QQ2MpmxUgSA

InTheAir

Whenever my birds show aggression towards me I try to look at the situation and what I have been doing in regards to handling them which may be eliciting that behaviour.

InTheAir

Hi Gabi, congratulations on your new bird. Is Harry very comfortable with people? If he is you could start teaching him to go into a a travel cage or crate using positive reinforcement. To take my girl to the vet the first time, before she was friendly, I put some nice stuff in a travel cage and lin...

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