Help with new IRN
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:03 pm
Hello,
I've had my young ringneck Kari for around 2 months now, she was aviary-raised so she is difficult to interact with, nonetheless she is basically comfortable with me putting my hand into her cage to rearrange toys, change food/water dishes, etc. she just watches curiously.
When I put my hand into the cage (daily) to try to touch her or teach her to step up she hisses and lunges at me, I know she probably doesn't trust me enough to let me touch her willingly yet, but is there anything I can do to help her to feel more comfortable around me? Is she just a very shy bird? I know the lack of human contact with her as a chick will affect her behavior now but I'm just wondering if there's anything I could do to improve my situation?
I already sit near her cage when I'm at home (most of the time at the moment, I rarely leave the house for longer than an hour or two these days) I talk to her when I'm sitting by her cage, I offer her treats (she loves sunflower seeds and apple chunks) but she never comes close, she seems interested but too scared to come over. She eats treats that I leave for her in her bowl though
Her cage is in a busy room, but not in the centre of the room. When I'm cleaning her cage, I still offer her treats and try to stroke her but she just hisses and lunges. I try not to 'chase' her around the cage with my finger, or distress her so when she's stopped hissing/lunging I will take my hand out for 10 minutes or so and then try again.
She also gets covered at night by me, I talk to her while doing this too.
Interestingly, when I, or any other member of my family leaves her alone in the room she will call for us to come back, I think she is slowly getting used to us, but is feeling intimidated when I try to touch her...?
She has only bitten me once (and it hurt
) it's like she's just trying to scare me off since she doesn't act like this when I'm changing her food/water dishes... I'm not sure if it's bluffing since she's only around 6 months old.
If anyone has any advice, or if I'm doing anything incorrectly please let me know!
Edit: She is full of personality and loves to 'speak' to us, she's making sweet babbling like sounds (as well as her loud calls) as she appears to be trying to make new sounds
she's so sweet ![Big Grin :D](./images/smilies/4.gif)
I've had my young ringneck Kari for around 2 months now, she was aviary-raised so she is difficult to interact with, nonetheless she is basically comfortable with me putting my hand into her cage to rearrange toys, change food/water dishes, etc. she just watches curiously.
When I put my hand into the cage (daily) to try to touch her or teach her to step up she hisses and lunges at me, I know she probably doesn't trust me enough to let me touch her willingly yet, but is there anything I can do to help her to feel more comfortable around me? Is she just a very shy bird? I know the lack of human contact with her as a chick will affect her behavior now but I'm just wondering if there's anything I could do to improve my situation?
I already sit near her cage when I'm at home (most of the time at the moment, I rarely leave the house for longer than an hour or two these days) I talk to her when I'm sitting by her cage, I offer her treats (she loves sunflower seeds and apple chunks) but she never comes close, she seems interested but too scared to come over. She eats treats that I leave for her in her bowl though
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
She also gets covered at night by me, I talk to her while doing this too.
Interestingly, when I, or any other member of my family leaves her alone in the room she will call for us to come back, I think she is slowly getting used to us, but is feeling intimidated when I try to touch her...?
She has only bitten me once (and it hurt
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
If anyone has any advice, or if I'm doing anything incorrectly please let me know!
Edit: She is full of personality and loves to 'speak' to us, she's making sweet babbling like sounds (as well as her loud calls) as she appears to be trying to make new sounds
![Big Grin :D](./images/smilies/4.gif)
![Big Grin :D](./images/smilies/4.gif)