Bringing Home Your New Ringneck
Bringing home an Indian Ringneck is exciting and there are some pitfalls that can be avoided to ensure your parrot does not become stressed during this transition. Like most parrots, ringnecks are sensitive to stressful situations and being placed into a new environment is no exception. If proper research is done a new ringneck should adjust into its new environment smoothly. This will intern set the tone for a long and happy life with you.
The Arrival of Your New Ringneck
When your ringneck has been purchased and brought into your
house for the first time you might have the temptation to hold
him and introduce him to your family. Though this is common,
there are certain things you should take into consideration
before you let your new ringneck out. The first important thing
to observe is the parrot’s health.
A healthy ringneck will react to human interaction in some way.
For example, an untamed ringneck might shows signs of fear,
while a hand-tamed ringneck will gladly step on your finger. A
parrot that sits with ruffled feathers, a runny nose, watery
eyes, and discharge from the vent should see a veterinarian
immediately. If other birds are present inside the house, your
new ringneck should not be introduced into the same room until
he has undergone some type of quarantine.
It is also important to observe the temperament of your ringneck
before any handling can begin. At this time it is usually good
to take into consideration his upbringing, weaning, and
socialization history. A properly handfed ringneck will most
likely enjoy some sort of human interaction. His curiosity
should be elevated and usually he should have no regard to who
is handling him or any environmental changes. If your bird is
playful and confident from the beginning, then it would be
acceptable to handle him upon his arrival.
If your ringneck acts erratic and thrashes around his cage in
the presence of humans or pets—most likely he was not handfed,
was aviary raised, or is scared. This is a clear and obvious
warning that your ringneck needs time to adjust and has not been
tamed. The best thing to do in this situation would be to give
the ringneck a few days to adjust before any handling can begin.
Knowing your ringneck's temperament will help eliminate a
stressful situation.
Are the Wings Clipped?
Before any handling is done ensure your ringneck’s wings are
clipped. Many new parrot owners do not realize the state of
their bird’s wings until the bird is startled and flies away. If
your ringneck can fly, having his wings clipped will reduce a
disastrous situation. There is noting more depressing then a
lost bird because the wings were not clipped.
If your ringneck is scared it is important handling is kept to a
minimum. A stressed ringneck can easily bite and hurt itself in
an effort to escape a tramatic situation. When transferring the
ringneck to its cage make sure to inspect the wings before the
transfer is done. A scared ringneck that does not have its wings
clipped can easily fly into a window or mirror and kill
itself—take caution. If the ringneck will not move from one cage
to another, gently take a small towel and wrap it around the
bird and move it form one cage (carrier) to another. Ensure to
use gentile movements and a calm voice to reasure the bird and
to make sure it is not frightened.
A Clean Bill of Health
Knowing your ringneck has a clean bill of health is important
if you’re going to introduce him into your home or aviary. An
ill bird could potentially transfer diseases or parasites to
your established flocks if left unchecked. Unfortunately, many
breeders have made the mistake of not practicing a healthy
quarantine and have learned the hard way. An outbreak can
quickly spread to healthy birds if not checked.
Always make sure to take all new ringnecks to the vet to ensure
your new bird is in optimal condition. Most breeders will offer
some sort of guarantee or vet certificate upon the purchase of
your bird. Ruling out any diseases is a key factor to ensure you
have a happy and healthy pet that can safely be integrated into
your household.
Again, if you have other parrots, the new ringneck should be
placed in a different room away from your established parrots to
avoid any air born diseases. Always wash your hands between
sessions when interacting with your established birds and new
birds. Finally, always change the new ringneck's cage last after
you have cleaned your original birds first. This one-way
interaction will reduce the chance of spreading disease from one
cage to the other.
Cage Placement
If the ringneck is not tamed the cage should be placed in a
location where it is quiet and there are no loud noises. Having
a quiet place to relax and get acquainted with his surroundings
is ideal for your new ringneck. This is especially important if
your ringneck has not been handfed and finds coping with change
to be difficult.
If a ringneck is forced into a stressful situation he could
quickly become ill or exhibit nervous behavior. A worried
ringneck will not eat and could thrash around his cage if placed
in an uncomfortable area. If possible, the cage should be placed
at eye level to create a sense of confidence in your bird.
Ringnecks were designed to stay high in the trees so placing the
cage in a higher location will give the parrot added security.
During the time the bird is adjusting to its surroundings, it
would be a good idea to keep children, pets, and excessive
noises out.
The cage should not be placed in a window without some sort of
covering or shelter. The sun can quickly overheat your parrot or
a slight draft can cause the parrot to become ill. Finding a
balance between the sunlight and a properly dressed window that
provides shade is ideal.
Observation
Once the ringneck has been moved over to its new cage take
the time to observe your new ringneck. During this observation
period make sure your ringneck is eating and drinking regularly.
Placing a few extra food and water bowls inside the cage is a
good idea. During this time, most ringnecks will not touch their
food until their owner leaves the room. You’ll know when the
ringneck eats by examining his seeds. You want to look for
cracked husks. If you can’t tell then gently blow on the seeds
and husks will fly off the top layer off seeds.
Another important thing to examine is your parrot’s stools. If
they are runny then this is a good sign your ringneck has
diarrhea and still needs more time to adjust to its environment.
If your parrot has not made any effort to pass food then he is
not eating enough--more space should be given to the ringneck.
For any reason if you believe your ringneck is ill do not
hesitate to contact an avian vet.
Interaction
Some ringnecks find human interaction terrifying and difficult--especially if you have an untamed ringneck. Knowing a few tricks to help your new ringneck get used to your presence can go a long way when trying to get the bird accustomed to you. Avoiding eye contact is essential as this intimidates them. Because ringnecks are hunted animals, they are very perceptive to our body language--this means making slow movements and speaking in a soothing voice to help calm your ringneck.
When walking into the room of the cage, whistle before you
enter to alert the bird. This will help the bird understand you
are not making an effort to hide your presence and prepare the
bird for your entrance.
These are just some basic guidelines and tips. Please feel free
to visit our forum for more creative ideas.