biting teenager

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Becx
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

biting teenager

Post by Becx »

about two weeks ago i found an indian ringneck in the carpark at my workplace. i've tried to find his owner but to no avail. we've decided to keep him (and are totally in love with him already!) and need a little advice. this is what i know about my little Sunshine

1. he appears about 18 months old as he is his ring is about 80% developed and he is maulting.

2. he is a green variety and is just getting his blue tail feathers.

3. he can talk a little and woof whistles and chatters to himself and anyone who comes up to the cage. he also likes to screech, particuarly in the morning.

4. has a good healthy love of fruit and vegies. he eats everything we give him!

The problem is that he is biting me like crazy when i hold him. I want to socialise him and don't want him to be trapped in a cage for his whole life. To take him out of the cage i have to wear my garedening gloves, which are red fabric and soft goat skin, so they are not all that good at protecting me, but at least stop him from breaking my skin!

He has now learnt what the red gloves mean and goes nuts in the cage when i get them out. I can get him to settle on my lap and he has let me pat his head and neck when i take one of the gloves off. i have been gently holding him on my lap for 10 minutes a day and then letting him fly around and explore the house for 30 minutes to 1 hour a day.

He will come to me if i have a small container of seed and sits on my hand while he eats it.

am i doing the right thing to get him used to me? I really would like him to be a happy and content bird and don't want to cause him more stress by handling him too often. Any advice you can give me to help tame him would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Bec
Bec
Amazonite
Posts: 390
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 3:31 pm

Post by Amazonite »

i would stop using the gloves and get him use to your hands, slowly though. putting your hands nearhim and showing them to him or holding treats in your hand for him to come near and take them.

He will take time. Good luck
Sharlene and Amazon
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Becx
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:08 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by Becx »

Hi,

Thanks for that. All is working out well and in such a short time Sunny is now freely climbing up onto my hands and onto my shoulder. No more biting and no need for the gardening gloves!

So far all is going well with him - just got to get him a big cage!

Cheers,
Bec :D
Bec
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