hi! newby here & newby to IRN (^_^)! aussie girl here.. xox

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

Hi!

My name is L , I'm from sunny Queensland (Australia); new to this site and very new to owning an Indian Ringneck Parrot =)

Last friday I brang home a sweet 12 week old silver Indian Ringneck.. aww he is so beautiful, I am already in love.
I am completely new to the breed, only ever owning budgies & a stint with a problemed cockatiel (lolz), so as you can imagine I am also completely overwhelemed - both with excitement and uncertainty. I am very nervous about providing optimal diet/nutrition, excersise, mental stimulation, and bonding effectively with him. I am concerned I will do the wrong things, I want to give him a happy quality life, I truly want to enjoy him and spend adequate time with him. Also, having him now almost exactly a week, I am not yet confident enough to let him out of his cage. I know it is detrimental to him, especially as he was hand-raised and spent alot of time out of the cage with the breeder, but I am worried he will injure himself or that I wont be able to get him back in the cage or that I may lose him somehow.

I am hoping someone could offer any advice they feel will help me. I've been looking over the posts (mostly the dietary ones, lolz) and realised very quickly that this is a super friendly & supportive community.. so I am happy to be apart of it!

Oh by the way, my little boys name is ASTERI. It is the greek word for star; appropriate considering his gorgeous silver colouring along with his "star-quality" personality

I look forward to learning more about him and hearing any sudgestions you have to offer me regarding his "upbringing"! I want to give him a happy quality life, I hope I do a decent job

cheers!

xox

= L =

[Shane7285]

Hi L

Welcome

If you have a handraised IRN there should be no problem letting him out of his cage. I only got mine about 2 months ago, but I could take him out and handle him, and he wanted to be out of his cage and on me from day one. Is he clipped at all? Also, if you have all your doors closed, there should be no problem with him escaping. I'm sure others will have some suggestions on how to get him back in his cage, but I have had no trouble with mine.

Also, where about are you in QLD?

Regards

Shane

[pinkdevil]

Welcome L,

I agree with Shane, get your baby out and enjoy him.

If you have any windows that he could fly into, if fully flighted, close the curtains. You could also let him out of the cage in a small room where he can't do too much damage.

If you are worried about him escaping, or injuring himself, you can have his wings clipped.

To help them go back into the cage easier, I always give treats or toys to make being back in 'their room' fun.
I find which treat is their favourite and they ONLY get that treat when being placed in the cage.

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

Hi L

Welcome

If you have a handraised IRN there should be no problem letting him out of his cage. I only got mine about 2 months ago, but I could take him out and handle him, and he wanted to be out of his cage and on me from day one. Is he clipped at all? Also, if you have all your doors closed, there should be no problem with him escaping. I'm sure others will have some suggestions on how to get him back in his cage, but I have had no trouble with mine.

Also, where about are you in QLD?

Regards

Shane

hey Shane thanks for the advice!
yeh the breeder clipped one of his wings only. so you think I should just let him out in a safe environment (ie, loungeroom with doors n windows shut) and see how he goes?? more like, see how I go..lolz. ahh its so stressful, I truly wana do the right thing by him.
Im a city girl..brisvegas all the way
thanks again.

- L

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

Welcome L,

I agree with Shane, get your baby out and enjoy him.

If you have any windows that he could fly into, if fully flighted, close the curtains. You could also let him out of the cage in a small room where he can't do too much damage.

If you are worried about him escaping, or injuring himself, you can have his wings clipped.

To help them go back into the cage easier, I always give treats or toys to make being back in 'their room' fun.
I find which treat is their favourite and they ONLY get that treat when being placed in the cage.

Hi, thanks for the reply!
Do you sudgest I get his other wing clipped also???
oh ok cool I didnt even think of coaxing him back in his cage with treats .. Having him only a week I still dont really know yet what he really likes though. any sudgestions? I need something irresistable (foolproof) to give me the confidence of knowing he will want to go back in his cage for it, lol.

cheers.
-L

[Shane7285]

Hi L

I was told only clipping one wing was not good for their flying ability. They can control their flight better with both.

My guy goes nuts for grapes, the green ones, also peanuts would be a good treat, just make sure they are unsalted.

Regards

Shane

[pinkdevil]

I would definately have his other wing clipped so not so lopsided when trying to glide down to the floor.

With treats, you could offer him heaps of different fruit and vegies and see which one he likes the best, hint- their fav always is eaten first lol.

One of my birds favourite was red capsicum, another is apple and yet another prefers corn.

When I put my birds back into the cage, I first have them step up onto my hand, then offer a small amount of treat, (not the fav, I save that for inside the cage lol), give a few strokes on the back starting at the head and working my way down the tail, like patting a dog or cat , as I walk back the the cage. I always have the door open ready as not to prolong the process, then with their back facing the door and the bird facing me, (while still patting), I pop them back into the cage, praise, give treat and shut the door.
BUT they do wise up to oh ho, she is patting me and walking, so I do it randomly thoughout the day without putting the bird back into the cage. I do a 'dummy run' where I do the same step up, treat, pat, walk to the cage etc, except I place them ontop of the cage instead on in it. That way they never know when they are actually going back in lol. Also vary the times and your routine when you are putting your bird back into the cage. They seem to pick up on routine.
For example, if you walk into the kitchen, turn out the lights, then walk back to the bird and do the cage return routine, it wont take long before they associate your lights out routine as bed time and can be a bit dificult lol.

Pretty much the only birds I have trouble getting back into the cage are the fully flighted birds, clipped birds are no trouble.

Good luck and try not to worry about it all. I am sure it will all be fine.

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

thanks sooo much for all the info & advice pinkdevil!
i appreciate it =)
trying to soak up everyones advice, hehe, i wana be a good mama!

- L

[Bridie]

I got my first baby 2 and a half weeks ago (his/her name is comet)
He had been hand fed but when we went to pick him up it took ages for them to catch him.
we let him out in the house the next day and he had a few run ins with walls etc but nothing serious, i found the best way to catch him was constantly talking in a soft voice.
On the 3rd day he would let us put our flat hand out (slightly nudge his tummy with it) and he would step onto it.
since it started that, it has been SO easy to get him in good little thing.
Im sure he'l wise up soon enough though, but my only advice is that you should start right away.
Good Luck

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

I got my first baby 2 and a half weeks ago (his/her name is comet)
He had been hand fed but when we went to pick him up it took ages for them to catch him.
we let him out in the house the next day and he had a few run ins with walls etc but nothing serious, i found the best way to catch him was constantly talking in a soft voice.
On the 3rd day he would let us put our flat hand out (slightly nudge his tummy with it) and he would step onto it.
since it started that, it has been SO easy to get him in good little thing.
Im sure he'l wise up soon enough though, but my only advice is that you should start right away.
Good Luck

hey bridie thanks heaps for your input =)
I have actually managed to pluck up the courage, thanks to everyones great advice and tips, to let my lil asteri out! hehe, he has been out numerous times now and it was sooo easy - he came out on his own, he investigates the room, plays does his own thing, just very cute calm and independent. There is always a lil effort to get him back in his cage tho.. he isnt fond of hands or fingers unless they are carrying food lol so i get his steel food bowl and nudge it up to his stomach which makes him automatically jump on it and then i slowly but swiftly place him into his cage on his perch. as he was hand raised he has no qualms about being out he doesnt freak out or fly into things, he is fantastic, but the breeder did leave him out most of the day to roam and sit ontop of his cage which is why i think he is a little hard to get back in the cage.
i just want to say as a newby to IRN parrots i am absoluetly in love with them - well mine at the very least! hehe =) he is so special and funny and clever, everyday he does something new and the whole family is amused by him.
his is almost 5 months old now, still very baby-like, and i look forward to watching him grow!
cheers

= L =

[Lolly]

We just got a boy for our girl and he is about 3 years old and pretty wild and we still let the cage open .
Both are clipped but we still do our checks ....toilet seat down all windows closed and the stove is cold .
Even tho they are in our daughters room you never know what may happen and often they are so quiet we forget
Good luck with your new addition!
We never use any cleaning products or no-stick .....only thing we do use is bleach for cleaning ...no air fresheners either ,no candles etc ....it gets easy over time!

[**_ASTERI_BABI_**]

We just got a boy for our girl and he is about 3 years old and pretty wild and we still let the cage open .
Both are clipped but we still do our checks ....toilet seat down all windows closed and the stove is cold .
Even tho they are in our daughters room you never know what may happen and often they are so quiet we forget
Good luck with your new addition!
We never use any cleaning products or no-stick .....only thing we do use is bleach for cleaning ...no air fresheners either ,no candles etc ....it gets easy over time!

hey thanks for that extra tip lolly!
its hard to remember everything but im sure ur right..itl get easier! hehe
cheers