Scared Bird

[JoshNZ]

I was given my IRN for returning a runaway IRN to its owner. I have had him for a couple of weeks. This bird sits in the corner of his huge cage and will only move if no-ones looking. Will only eat if no-ones looking as well. What chance do I have of taming him? I've had him in a small room with me twice and he just hides in the corner and runs away from my hand, and screams when I try to take him from his cage. (I'd say he's around 3)

[Neokireina]

Ringnecks arent the tamest birds you can get, they require hard work. Keep trying to get him to eat treats from your hand, spend alot of time with him and he will come around eventually.

[natalie]

Elo josh, direct eye contact should be avoided at first , as ur new baby will see this as a threat. Try standing or sitting side on to his cage so u appear smaller and less threatning. Dont say anything at first ,just get him used to u sitting there. It will take lots of hard work and patients to tame ur baby, and u must be consistent too. Good luck anyway and keep us posted of your progress. natalie

[jen5239]

Hey Josh,
I've been in your shoes. And pretty much still am! I got Byndi as an older bird. And he sure wasn't the tamest bird on the block! And still isn't. But... With A LOT of patience and HARD WORK we've progressed. Very slowly I might add. When I first brought him home it was the same thing. He would cower in his cage and if you even put your hand near it he would SCREAM like you were killing him. And don't even think about trying to hold him. Oh good grief! He bit the living you know what out of me so many times. And he'd bite and hold on! Wouldn't let go and I'd have to pry that huge beak off of my finger! OUCH!! And I just persisted. And now he still won't have anything to do with hands! He growls if you even think about touching/petting him. But we are able to put our hands into his cage--IN A FIST MIND U, balling your hand into a fist I found out from the wonderful members of this board does not allow them to get ahold of your skin as well, therefor not biting so dang hard-and he will step up for us. But he boogies straight to our shoulders and that's where he wants to hang. There is a lot of differing opinions on shoulder time. But my theory is if that's where Byndi wants to hang and will allow us to interact with him there, then that's where he's going to hang. We may never have a completely tame bird with him. And now I'm ok with that. Talk very softly and sweetly to him. If you're in front of his cage bend down and put your arms behind your back. I've noticed Byndi responds much better if we're that way than if we're standing straight up with arms at our sides. Keep his wings CLIPPED! When they can fly they don't need you! And if you can when you progress to trying to hold him, take the bites. Don't let him know it hurts and don't pull away. If you can. And if you can't don't feel bad. It doesn't work for all of us. I can't take the dang biting anymore. That's why I'm not forcing him to do what he doesn't want to do! Well I hope this might help! Good luck and keep us posted. If you can post pictures too. We love pictures!

Hugs,
Jen

[birdies5]

I just found this board. We adopted Chipper 4 days ago, he is about 3 years old. We have the Amazon: Morris; the Cockatiel: Corky; and two budgies, Jamie and Indigo. Chipper seems to be good natured, but his behavior is that if we approach the cage to talk to him, he climbs around from side to side, or he will jump away, fall down to the bottom and seems to be very scared, yet not at all mean. The man who owned him is deceased and the son could not give me much info. I would like to know the best way to make a bond with this bird. I realize it will take time for him to settle in and he is not clipped. Should that be our first step in hoping to handle him? By what I see here, I think we have been given a wonderful breed, and I am excited to have a bird that could be alot of fun!

[julie]

i put indies cage beside the computer.he would get very curious and gradually started coming closer to investigate what we were doing,everytime i walked into the room i would say hello indie just like i was talking to a person.i noticed he would come closer if we had a packet of chips or something in a bright interesting packet.we wouldnt give him any but he would try to get friendly to get some.

[Ringneckmom]

I have also had IRNs and my first was very hand shy and still is to some point - especially with strangers.

Since you have just gotten your birds - I would say the first thing is to give them time to settle in and adjust. Don't try to force the issue. If you have a way to do it - have them where they can see what is going on in the house without feeling threatened by anything.
I would normally walk by and I might stop and say hi to them - using their name when I did so and tell them what a pretty and good bird they were and then go on. In the evening just sit by the cage and watch tv or read a book - something that does not force anything on them except just to get used to you. Give them treats in their bowl - don't make them try to take them from your hand - that can be worked on later.
Just give them a chance to adjust and learn to trust you without being pressured into it.
My african ringneck is not hand fed that I know of and he was also set up for breeding at one time. He has been with me for almost 2 years now and he is more comfortable with me, but still not a hands on type of bird. He may never be, but I do know that he is happy.

Just take your time and let him learn to trust you without being forced into anything. It will happen at some point - let him/her be the one to make that move.

[red192]

Josh, like everyone said, be patient with him/her. They are by no means the friendliest of birds. I have the scars to prove it. It's taken me 20 months to be able to pet, cuddle, hold and play with mine. Don't give up on your bird. Remember, birds are like foster children. Always up rooted. Give your bird his/her final home. Give him/her lots of conversation on your part, food, toys, water, and all the good things. I bribbed mine with treats. I moved my computer desk to their room so i could be with her more. I buy unsalted/unbutter pop corn and she loves it, so i would pop it, and make her come to me. But it took time to pet her. Started out with a scratch under the chin, then on the head and now, I can't beat her off me! I wouldn't have her any other way. But I made up my mind. I bought her, she is mine and I will keep her forever. If she was loveable or not. TIME IS THE KEY WORD HERE! GOOOD luck.

[Ringneckmom]

I honestly think that the birds that are raised and not given any attention and also the ones that have come from situations where they were not handled are the ones with the biggest challenges and tend to be more nippy.
I know a IRN breeder and even with her having a full time job and raising lots of babies, her birds are very sweet and some are just downright cuddly! That does not mean she does not hav any that are testy, but for the most part they are all pretty good.

I think it is all in how they are raised.

Except for my first one I have not had many problems with my others = that doesn't mean that I don't get bit though. Going through the "teen" years is another whole ball of whacks!

[*mia*]

I honestly think that the birds that are raised and not given any attention and also the ones that have come from situations where they were not handled are the ones with the biggest challenges and tend to be more nippy.
I know a IRN breeder and even with her having a full time job and raising lots of babies, her birds are very sweet and some are just downright cuddly! That does not mean she does not hav any that are testy, but for the most part they are all pretty good.

I think it is all in how they are raised.

Except for my first one I have not had many problems with my others = that doesn't mean that I don't get bit though. Going through the "teen" years is another whole ball of whacks!

My Kalle wasn´t handle until I get him, he was then 2½ years old, but he has never bitten me..

[fiona]

I work at a petstore and we had a IRN for about a month. She/he was hand fed, but obviously not handled because when we got her, she bit through a glove and was very nasty. I worked with her a lot. I believe half the battle is getting them out of the cage and at first I had to get her out with a perch. She was transfered after about a month, but I still go see her. I plan to buy her in june. We definitly still have a long way to go. She shakes when she is out for about 30 min and then starts to relax. She won't take treats from your hand, so I verbally encourage her. She tries to fly off and I catch her on my arm in mid flight(her wings are clipped) and replace her to her original position. of coarse she bites, but rarely really hard. When she does this I was taught to pull down slightly with the hand she's sitting on so she kind of has to catch herself.I go see her about once a week for about 20-30 min(I would stay longer, but the employees have things to do). I'm hoping that her seeing me often will make her transition a little easier. I have several reptile(I'm going to school for them) and they often require patience and respect to tame, so I'm kind of taking the same approach with her. Any other reccomendations to get her prepared for the change or help her settle in. She will be 15 months when I get her. She is blue and very beautiful! I'm naming her Fiona. The poor thing has been moved around A LOT in her short life. This is my first bird and I really want her to feel safe and secure. She deserves that.

[Neokireina]

Glad you found us fiona and Josh. I'm so glad you havent given up on these birds because they really can be wonderful companions. They just need patience hard work and over time they will adapt and be the bird you want them to be