New to IRNs, please assist!

BrightenStar · Post by **BrightenStar** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:02 pm

Hi! I purchased a blue indian ringneck named Sky about a month ago. I don't know very much about birds and I think I'm in a little over my head. Hopefully you guys can help. I have a couple friends who are experianced with training birds but when I ask them to many questions they get annoyed with me. I was so glad when I found this site.

My irn is female and a little over a year old. I love her very much but I'm not sure she likes me or thinks that I'm scary. She was handfed so she is trained to step up and she like to be on my shoulder most of the time. But in the mornings she always tried to bite me when I take her out of her cage. She lets me pet her back but she won't let me near her head or touch under wings. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong?

Sorry about the long post, I tend to ramble...

Post by **Lauren** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:58 pm

Hello and Welcome,

Sounds like Sky is comfortable with you if you are able to pet her back and she sits on your shoulder.
They take a little time and patience to warm up to new surroundings and new people. Being a bird owner, your likely to get a few bites. Its how they communicate. Just don't react to the bite and go ahead with picking her up just as if nothing happened. They love a reaction and when you do react you are showing it is ok to bite.
Alot of birds have there 'no go' zones. My 7 year old Jibby wont let me rub his belly. And my 8 month old still won't stay on my hand. :roll:

It all takes time, persistance and patience. :wink:

Post by **kyria** » Mon May 07, 2007 2:59 pm

Welcome to the family darlin, can't wait to see pictures (hint)

Long post ? :lol:

that wasn't long, just you wait till you see how some of us get can going :wink:

yeah! like me. sigh!

Anyway! your new fid

All sounds very normal for a new bird in a new environment.

Females can tend to be a little more nippy than males (just in my experience). She will be as tame as the attention she had with the previous owners. If they simply taught her to step up, but did not keep her use to being scratched and petted then she will not like to be touched. Even so, Most IRN are not ones for alot of petting unless you keep them use to it (everyday) from handraised babies. Of course there are exceptions to this, but to get them use to human touch at an older age takes alot!!!! of time and patience.

I also find that my IRN's prefer to be petted when they are fluffed up on my knee taking a nap, this is not a scritch you would give a cockatiel or a lorikeet (who adore to be petted) this is a one finger gentle movement of the feathers on the back of their head and neck.

Her nipping at you when you try to get her from her cage is completely normal, all our IRN's are protective of their home, their home is their space, with mine I simply push past their nip and make them step up (if they get me I never pull away, or show them it hurt) and don't ever take it personally, its not that they don't like you, they even bite their own partners sometimes, its normal, they have no real vocab. or hands, so bite is simply a way of communication. Over time they seem to be use to the fact that I am not a threat, and I can step them up anytime I want to, EXCEPT if it is nap time or bed time, when they are half alseep in their cage. Even our tamest of all birds Jordan has had a lunge at me when I tried to get him in this state.

1 month is really not long enough for her to be completely use to you and her environment.

You see with IRN's particularly older ones, it takes constant and ongoing time to gain their trust and for them to feel like you and they are one big happy flock. I would say look for real trust and calm at around 6 months. But you must be persistent and patient, and try to show her that even though you are the boss you will not hurt her.

Over time, as she learns that you are the boss but won't hurt her, she learns that she is not only safe and you are in control, but that you love her.

If you use the search at the top of the forum and search for words like bluffing, biting, etc. you should find a ton of posts on how people have used different ways to overcome this issue. Search for taming or any other topic that you need help on there is a few years of advice on this wonderful forum.

Cheers and Good Luck Darlin !

Peanut · Post by **Peanut** » Mon May 07, 2007 3:40 pm

Welcome to the forum! Don't worry, it will all come in time! Sounds like your on the right track though! :wink:

BrightenStar · Post by **BrightenStar** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:03 pm

Thanks so much! I guess I'm just being pananoid about this. I'll definately post some pictures as soon as I can.

Also, Sky doesn't seem very interested in her toys. She actually perfers ripping apart my shirts more that all the cool rope things I bought her. Any helpful hints about toys ringnecks think are fun?

Neokireina · Post by **Neokireina** » Wed May 09, 2007 4:20 pm

There are lots of fun toys that birds like you can get some good ones from your local store, online store (like mine, sorry so shameless i know), or even stuff you have laying around your house or all of the above. Your bird will get used to toys and treats when you play with them first. I actually had to *kiss* my breeding boxes and say kiss kiss before my sunnies would go anywhere near them.

You and your family are your birds flock what you eat is safe for them, what you play with is safe for them, where you are is safe for them. Well they think so anyway so stay away from chocolate, coffee and alcohol around your bird :p

When your bird is used to you and all the fun to be had outside the cage they will be pacing to get out and be with you. Set a routine so your bird knows when 'out' time is coming and they will be ready and less (or more if they dont want to come out) bitey.

catschair2 · Post by **catschair2** » Wed May 09, 2007 6:19 pm

Are you sure she is trying to bite you? IRNs use their beaks a lot; I had forgotten how it looked until I had a friend comment on how calm I was when Magellan tried to bite me -- she was just pulling herself up onto my finger. At the moment, she has a fixation with nail files and orange sticks (I don't actually do my nails that often but the stuff is near her cage) -- almost as much fun as a pen or my earrings. Sounds like you and Sky are on the right track....now hurry up with those pics

BrightenStar · Post by **BrightenStar** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:39 pm

Yeah, I'm sure she's biting. The good news is that she is doing it a lot less. I just need to make sure that she wants to come out.

Post by **kyria** » Wed May 16, 2007 6:30 pm

Glad to hear you are making progress. Takes time but you will both find your ground with each other :wink:

julie · Post by **julie** » Wed May 23, 2007 7:20 pm

BrightenStar wrote:Yeah, I'm sure she's biting. The good news is that she is doing it a lot less. I just need to make sure that she wants to come out.

Hello and welcome,my boy indie doesnt like to be up too early(like me) and he will try to strike at people when they walk past his cage, I ignore him most of the time and he gets the hint and decides to come to me. He is the sweetest boy when he doesnt want to sleep but if he wants to sleep hes a bit snappy.

conurelover2007 · Post by **conurelover2007** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:17 pm

Hi my yellow Indian Ringneck Chiquita will sometimes try to bite but I ignore it. They sure can get in moods depending on the time of day. Welcome to the group and best of luck with Sky.