Handling my IRN

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:08 am

Hello,
I was reading several different messages and I was wondering if someone who has a very tame IRN, if they could make any suggestions. My IRN will not let me grab him with my hand to hold him. I was looking at pictures of one of the IRN that lays on her back on her own's hand. My bird would bite very hard b/c I have already attempted that. I was trying to teach him to play dead and he wants no part of that. I can only pet him on his head and back when he is very tired and ready for bed. I guess at that point, he doesn't have the energy to bite me. But he will not let me hold or cuddle him. Does anyone have any suggestions b/c I would love to be able to better tame him and hold him when I want. Michelle

indian ringneck · Post by **indian ringneck** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:58 am

Yes, Kiki is as tame as to allow me to hold her in the palm of my hand with her laying on her back. Here's a picture for ya.
http://members.dodo.com.au/~johanp/Album%20Page%204.htm

Here's some training and taming info
http://members.dodo.com.au/~johanp/Tami ... aining.htm

All I did to teach Kiki to lay like that in my hand, was to gradually touch her feet for say..... the first week, then on the second week, i'd start touching her tummy, on the third week her wings, on the fourth week her back, then i'd start tilting her but only for a few seconds at a time, and if she persists on biting me when I tilt her on her back, I would not stop. If the bird lays happilly in the palm of your hand for about 5 seconds, then you may bring him/her back up, if not, don't react to those bites!!!! Keep doing this for about 5 weeks or more, until your bird is able to lay like that in his/her hand. I can cuddle Kiki everywhere.

I will write an article on "Acquinting your bird with touch" on Kiki's webpage soon, so i'll inform you about it, when i'm done. Many owners have actually asked me this, so seeing as it's a popular question, i'll have to write an article about it. It just is so time-consuming getting all those webpages up, so i'll have to push that one in somewhere. I'll make it about..... tommorow. Then it should be ready, but i'll have to upload it first, so you might have to check in the day after depending on your location :wink:

.

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:14 am

awwwwwwww.. kiki is just the most adorable, sweetest and cutest little birdie i've ever seen!!

I hope that I can get Sky to do that one day!
She doesnt allow me to touch her very often.. Im allowed to rub her feet.. she only ever allows me to touch her anywhere (except the tail) when we are in the shower. She sits on my forearm and I rub her head, wings, chest - she probably thinks im preening her or something.. She loves it so much that she even closes her eyes!
hehe..

I am going to keep trying with Sky. I know she trusts me somewhat because she sleeps on my finger when Im watching tv with her.. She perches on one foot and sleeps.. hehe.. I feel so bad when I have to wake her to put her to bed.. lol

Im looking forward to your article!

indian ringneck · Post by **indian ringneck** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:21 pm

Sky sounds quite tame to me. He just isn't acquinted with touch yet, and many owners never get their birds to this step. I feel it's a step every bird needs. A huge myth on the parrakeet species is that they don't "cuddle" as other birds. Kiki is so cuddly, I can touch her anywhere and she's proven this wrong. Keep it up with Sky, i'm sure he'll come round some time or another.

I'll write the article today, and please try it with Sky. It worked with Kiki :wink:

.

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:30 pm

That will be great.. Will check out Kikis page a little later to see if the new article is up yet. I always value your thoughts and advice, so will definately try out your suggestion

indian ringneck · Post by **indian ringneck** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 11:53 pm

Ok, the new article is up. You may view, it here>> | http://members.dodo.com.au/~johanp/Tami ... aining.htm |.
Along with it, i've written an article in the "Wing Tips" section, about handrearing and such stuff. Here's the main information page>> | http://members.dodo.com.au/~johanp/Parr ... mation.htm |

That's so sweet of you! Actually, there's a world of information out there in bird magazines, on the net, and in library bird books. I haven't even adressed 1/4 of that information. All I do, to learn all this, is read. Read on the net, read through bird magazines, read on other bird sites, read library bird books. I read as much as I can, especially paying interest bird owners writing articles on a subject where they've researched, and have done themselves. I really admire your thoughts, at what i've written. I do it to help other owners, on information i've read from yet other parrot owners. ~Thank You for your kind opinion!~

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:00 am

excellent article!
Tonight, I will start with this..
Sky is uaully ok with me touching her feet. usually when she stands on my finger, I touch her feet with my thumb..lol.. I do it coz I like the feel of her feet.. hehe.. If I do it too much, she gets argivated and lefts her foot - an indication that she wants me to stop..

I guess I can start the chest thing today.. hehe.. YAY!!!

Thanks again sweety!
**hugs**

indian ringneck · Post by **indian ringneck** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:42 am

Yes, it seems that Sky is allready tame, but just isn't acquainted with touch yet. And if you can touch her feet, you don't have very far to go at all!

I also added "Travelling with Your Bird" today - | http://members.dodo.com.au/~johanp/Trav ... _Birds.htm |.

Also, read the "Reccomended Reading" on her Info page, and also the other articles linked to other sites. You're sure to find more info that way. I'm glad you appreciate the article, you're too sweet (blush) !

Tweets · Post by **Tweets** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:41 am

no no no no no!! YOU're too sweet.. hehe.
Thank you for the articles. They really really help!

**more and more huggles**

indian ringneck · Post by **indian ringneck** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:08 pm

No Worries! I do it to help, the birds. It's actually info you'll find in any bird book.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:10 am

Hi,
Kiki does sound pretty amazing! Jacques', my IRN has learned very quickly to wave, shake hands, retrieve, along with a few other things. But he DOES NOT like to be touched that much. I can touch his feet a little along with the rest of his body, but he wants no part of you touching his back and when I have atttempted to turn him over, he bites so....... hard, that I can't ignore it b/c it will draw blood and then my fingers are always infected from him biting. So this is really hard to ignore, b/c he hurts when he bites. Maybe I should also tell you that he is 11 months old and I have had him for 5 months. Anymore suggestions for me. Thanks for the info. on the article, I just finished reading it. Michelle