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Hi. We have just brought home an IRN. He is 3 months old. When and how should we let him out of his cage for the 1st time????

And how do you get him back in once he is out???

Help much appreciated.!

He is obviously very nervous and frightened by his new surroundings so I don't want to push him. I was just thinking of leaving the cage door open for him? But how do we get him back in?

Try teaching the bird how to step up on to your finger. Once the bird is willing to step up you can just stick him back in cage while he/she is on your finger.

Teaching it to step up might be difficult in the beginning. Does the bird eat food from your hands when you try feeding it? I know when I had my quaker parrot and she was being difficult to get back in I would stick her favorite treat inside her cage and she would run in LOL.

I am no expert...im here to learn myself so lets see what the others have to say.

We brought him home yesterday so we still don't know each other. We just don't know when he shod be let out if cage for the 1st time?

I'd probably leave it a week before letting him out. Let him get settled into his new cage and his new wider environment. However, that is a rule of thumb - judge it by his behaviour. Make sure you spend plenty of time around him without him being the centre of attention. Let him see you and your family going about their daily routines. Be nice to him. Leave him lots of treats. If he won't take them from your hand, make a big show of putting it in his food bowl. Also, eat in front of him and share bits of your food that's birdy safe with him.

Your first goal will be to getting him to take treats from your hand, firstly through the bars and then through the cage door. Sometimes this can happen quickly but other times it may take a while.

The first time you get him out, just leave the cage door open, he may not be brave enough to venture out. If not, that's okay, close it again after a time and open it another time. I would probably let him out just before it starts to get dark. If you don't put any artificial lights on until after he's back in his cage, he will probably go back to his cage of his own accord just before it gets dark.

Best wishes with your little guy. Take everything slow and go at his pace.

Ellie.

Thankyou so much for your quick response. I fully appreciate your advise. I am going to listen to what you have said and leave him in the cage and try him with treats to start with. He is ever so scared when we go up to the cage, i watched him from round the corner of the door this morning (he didn't know i was there), and he just constantly walks up and down his perch continuously. Is this a sign of him being on edge? or do you think he is ok?

Pacing could be a sign of anxiety. I know that it is in other animals. Do you have your bird's cage against the wall - that can help him feel more secure.

Ellie.

Did his previous owner give you anything that he was used to in his previous environment? eg. toys, etc. These could provide some reassurance.

Ellie.

Hi Ellie. No we were given nothing other than him and a travelling cage. We have a huge and I mean huge corner cage, it's currently sticking out as a sofa [ which is up for sale] is blocking where he should be. My partner is moving the sofa tonight to put him tightly in the corner. I hate seeing him so distressed hopefully he will get slightly used to us soon. X

I only have one suggestion about the cage. Sometimes a switch from a small cage to a huge cage can be a bit frightening for them. Does he have perches that are way up high near the top of the cage? Also if you can cover just one part of the top near the perches for him to feel safe and secure, a place to retreat to when he feels nervous. As far as him coming out of the cage, maybe try putting a T-perch or play gym directly outside of the door for him to climb on to so there isn't just a gaping open space outside of the door. That can also be frightening to them. I wish you luck

Hiya, I can totally empathise with you on your current situation as this was me and my bird only a little while ago! At the time it seems hopeless and it kinda gets you depressed thinking that the poor little mites are so scared. But take heart, your birdy WILL come out of its shell, they are curious by nature and once they feel comfortable they start coming round to doing more things with you.

You've been given great advice here already and I'd love for you to read what they all suggested on my thread as its so similar.

My doodlebug is now coming out of his cage and flying to perches I am holding. It's took weeks of dogged determination and loving perserverence but I'm so pleased with how it's going.

Once birdy is taking treats from you through the bars you can start clicker and target training, they pick it up so easily and it's not hard work for us at all. Then you can open the cage and a whole world of possibilities!
Do read if you wish; just skip the parts that don't apply lol.

http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =2&t=17479

I hope it helps and do keep posting updates!

Loo