10 Month Old IRN Biting

[ollie246_2009]

My name is Debbie and I am the owner of a 10 month old IRN. He has just recently started biting for no reason. He goes to work with me everyday and gets plenty of attention. He has all kinds of toys. Is this the bluffing stage? Why did it just start at 10 months? How long will it last? Do I just ignore him when he does this?

Please Help
Debbie[/b]

[kyria]

Hi Debbie

Bluffing is a normal thing for IRN's the plus is that, as its a control testing thing, you can take control back. You must not react to his lunges, sometimes its hard, but some tricks are to use distractions and be firm.

When you go to step your bird up, tell him exactly what you are doing even before you do it, approach him saying step up, move in rather quickly, almost forcing him off his feet to step up on your hand. You can also use a distraction, like a favorite treat, offer this out to him in one hand and as he goes to take it step him up with the other.

With Jordan, I use to firmly place my hand over the top of his head and push it down to the ground (or my leg) when he went to bite me, I would hold his head down saying NOOO! with a growl in my voice, and did this each time he lunged to bite me. He didn't like it of course and realised I was bigger and braver than he, basically I was the boss and would do it every time he tried to bite me, he soon stopped. I had used other discipline methods similar to this (including grabbing his beak firmly between my thumb and fingers and holding it tighly as I said no) to great effect, he now knows the word no and I can yell this at him across the room, and he will stop whatever he is doing, although he does growl and bash his beak on the ground like a spoilt child, but he does stop.

Be strong and do not back off, otherwise your bird will think he has it over you, and don't be affraid, owning a ringneck means you are probably going to be bitten some time in the 20+ years you own your bird. Even if it is by accident in fright.

The birds want to be a part of the flock, they know you look after them, they really don't want to hurt you but they will try to get one over on you and you have to make sure they remember who is boss.

Good Luck

[ollie246_2009]

Thanks for the info, but what I don't understand is why he waited until 10 months to start this? Is this normal? Is he a sweetheart and I love him dearly but when he bites, he bites. Is it also normal for him to just want me. He will hardly go to anyone else but me. He will sometimes but only for a second or so. This site is wonderful, thanks for you info so far. Look forward to hearing from you again
DEBBIE

Hi Debbie

Bluffing is a normal thing for IRN's the plus is that, as its a control testing thing, you can take control back. You must not react to his lunges, sometimes its hard, but some tricks are to use distractions and be firm.

When you go to step your bird up, tell him exactly what you are doing even before you do it, approach him saying step up, move in rather quickly, almost forcing him off his feet to step up on your hand. You can also use a distraction, like a favorite treat, offer this out to him in one hand and as he goes to take it step him up with the other.

With Jordan, I use to firmly place my hand over the top of his head and push it down to the ground (or my leg) when he went to bite me, I would hold his head down saying NOOO! with a growl in my voice, and did this each time he lunged to bite me. He didn't like it of course and realised I was bigger and braver than he, basically I was the boss and would do it every time he tried to bite me, he soon stopped. I had used other discipline methods similar to this (including grabbing his beak firmly between my thumb and fingers and holding it tighly as I said no) to great effect, he now knows the word no and I can yell this at him across the room, and he will stop whatever he is doing, although he does growl and bash his beak on the ground like a spoilt child, but he does stop.

Be strong and do not back off, otherwise your bird will think he has it over you, and don't be affraid, owning a ringneck means you are probably going to be bitten some time in the 20+ years you own your bird. Even if it is by accident in fright.

The birds want to be a part of the flock, they know you look after them, they really don't want to hurt you but they will try to get one over on you and you have to make sure they remember who is boss.

Good Luck

[kyria]

Yep its normal .. its a little the same as that lovely child of yours that gets that sudden rush of hormones and bang ! rebelious, know it all, alien teen you have no idea where they came from. But like your human child, if the base was there, they will come back to it, once they learn they can't get away with it. and there will be other stages similar to this.

Mine also have definate moods, some days, loving and snuggly, others playful and cheeky, and sometimes downright ornery/bad moody. Like any creature, stages of life and good and bad days.


Fun Huh! they would be totally boring otherwise .. gotta love em, they sure have character

They also get extremely grumpy when they go through their moult. More beans and some brocolli, and soaked milk arrowroot added to their fruit and veg diet at this time can help with the moult. And if you do give seed, cut out the sunflower seed, they really are just high in fat and not much nutrition, but it is also said they can make them aggressive.

[ollie246_2009]

Please explain to me what the stages of moult are? This is my first IRN and I am learning more everyday with him. He is 10 months old and I have had him since he was 2 months he had just started eating on his own when I brought him home. He goes to work with me everyday so he gets plenty of attention from me. The guys I work with try to mess with him but he usually won't have any of it. He runs from them when they try to pick him up. Sometimes he will let them hold him for about a second or two then he jumps to his cage. Will he ever overcome this? I want him to be sociable with others, is that possible? He also has plenty of foot toys that he loves to throw in the floor and watch me pick them up so that he can do it again.(lol) I know I have at least 20 plus years of glory with this green creature who I love with all my heart, please tell me what do I have to look forward to in the months to come remember he's still a baby. I have heard that they start to talk around a year. Sometimes it sounds like he is already trying to say things. When I cover his cage at night, I tell him goodnight Ollie, I love you, and it sounds like he tells me goodnight, I love you in a high pitch tone then he wolf whistles to me. At what age do they start to talk? He already does all kinds of sounds, he even sounds ;like me when I laugh, it is so funny. Any input would deeply be appreciated.
Thanks
Debbie

Yep its normal .. its a little the same as that lovely child of yours that gets that sudden rush of hormones and bang ! rebelious, know it all, alien teen you have no idea where they came from. But like your human child, if the base was there, they will come back to it, once they learn they can't get away with it. and there will be other stages similar to this.

Mine also have definate moods, some days, loving and snuggly, others playful and cheeky, and sometimes downright ornery/bad moody. Like any creature, stages of life and good and bad days.


Fun Huh! they would be totally boring otherwise .. gotta love em, they sure have character

They also get extremely grumpy when they go through their moult. More beans and some brocolli, and soaked milk arrowroot added to their fruit and veg diet at this time can help with the moult. And if you do give seed, cut out the sunflower seed, they really are just high in fat and not much nutrition, but it is also said they can make them aggressive.

[kyria]

Moults are seasonal depending on where you are. You will know because you will be cleaning up feathers galore enough to make a pillow .. lol .. Mine seem to do a partial during the year and a full in summer.

He will socialise just fine to what ever situation you regularly subject him to. They are a flock bird and once they realise these people are around alot, they will become a part of the flock and the routine. But you must also educate people about your fid and how to handle it correctly, and to always watch for moods and the possibility of being nipped at or bitten.

[ollie246_2009]

Moults are seasonal depending on where you are. You will know because you will be cleaning up feathers galore enough to make a pillow .. lol .. Mine seem to do a partial during the year and a full in summer.

He will socialise just fine to what ever situation you regularly subject him to. They are a flock bird and once they realise these people are around alot, they will become a part of the flock and the routine. But you must also educate people about your fid and how to handle it correctly, and to always watch for moods and the possibility of being nipped at or bitten.

I understand, thanks he must be moulting, I do seem to p/up alot of feathers here lately. So that will happen 1-2 times a year? Anything else you could inform me about what to expect to happen, or look forward to? You sound very experienced how many birds do you have? I like this site, it is intersesting to read and learn about others experiences beforehand. It is my understanding that he can eat almost anything with the exception of chocolate and avocados, is this correct? Gotcha on the socializing with my co-workers or anyone else for that matter. You never know what Ollie may do.
Debbie

[kyria]

I have 4 indian ringnecks
2 lovebirds
1 budgie
2 cockatiels

had a kakariki and two quaker parrots

One of our Indian ringnecks was one we kept of a clutch of 4 babies our pair had and I handraised.

Just remember with these birds you are always !! learning no matter how many years you have had them.

It might be a good idea to spend some time searching the database of info from all the years of shared info on the site by using the search function at the top of the site, searching keywords, like, diet, food, behaviour, biting, bluffing, cages, taming etc.

[ollie246_2009]

I have 4 indian ringnecks
2 lovebirds
1 budgie
2 cockatiels

had a kakariki and two quaker parrots

One of our Indian ringnecks was one we kept of a clutch of 4 babies our pair had and I handraised.

Just remember with these birds you are always !! learning no matter how many years you have had them.

It might be a good idea to spend some time searching the database of info from all the years of shared info on the site by using the search function at the top of the site, searching keywords, like, diet, food, behaviour, biting, bluffing, cages, taming etc.

Yes I agree, I have already been looking on this site alone and have learned alot. I believe I even saw pictures of your birds. Thanks for the info. Will be reading and learning as much as I can.
Debbie

[Photoguy77]

My little guy just made 12 months and he is doing the same Debbie. Now I have had many parrots in the past, so this is nothing new for me...but as someone previously mentioned you cant allow yourself to withdraw from the lunges....and i dont. After 2 to 3 bites he sees his behavior doesnt affect me and he loses interest. Then in a firm voice I tell him "No biting" and I make him step up on my hand.

Hes a WONDERFUL bird, and only does this when i stick my hand in his cage is put food/water. But I dont allow him to "win" when he acts like that either. IRN can test your paitence at times..but its a give and take relationship. If you establish dominance and in a lovin way....then all the bird has left in to love you as you love it.

Hope this helps.

[ollie246_2009]

[quote="Photoguy77"]My little guy just made 12 months and he is doing the same Debbie. Now I have had many parrots in the past, so this is nothing new for me...but as someone previously mentioned you cant allow yourself to withdraw from the lunges....and i dont. After 2 to 3 bites he sees his behavior doesnt affect me and he loses interest. Then in a firm voice I tell him "No biting" and I make him step up on my hand.

Hes a WONDERFUL bird, and only does this when i stick my hand in his cage is put food/water. But I dont allow him to "win" when he acts like that either. IRN can test your paitence at times..but its a give and take relationship. If you establish dominance and in a lovin way....then all the bird has left in to love you as you love it.

Hope this helps

Thanks I have learned to do excatly what you meantioned, and I do get bit alot, but all in all it's worth it! my baby is 1 year this month and is the love of my life, I learn something new everyday and life is wonderfull with Ollie and I am sure it will only get better. He is doing alot better at my work with people, he doesn't run away as much as he used to to, but he still stands his grounds espically with his toys, the guys try and tease him but he will have none of it, his toys are his and he lets you know it. Thanks for the advise I really appreciate it

[Photoguy77]

your welcome.

It seems hes just getting upset over what is his. If the guys at work were teasing me and taking my toys, Id bite them too!