Is my ringneck bluffing or settling?

bluepepe09 · Post by **bluepepe09** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:17 am

I have a 7 week old blue ring-neck.

Have had him almost a week.

He will sometimes step onto my finger (with a little nudge on his feet), first few days were great (no bites) and has just started to take a treat from my finger last night. (piece of chicken) lol he loved that so seems i am building trust.

However, He has bitten quite a few times, drawing blood sometimes, but I am unsure how to treat it.

I have read numerous articles on bluffing, and all say that his eyes will pin if bluffing, but his eyes have not developed the white parts yet, so is impossible to see if he is bluffing.

Have tried ignoring, and letting him bite me gently pushing into the bite (not easy sometimes), and tried a no once or twice (this actually seems to have more success sometimes but hard for me to know if I am doing the right thing

I dont want to make a mess of it if he is bluffing and end up with a carnivorous IRN.

Can someone help please.

Thanks

bec · Post by **bec** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:20 am

i think hes a bit young for bluffing but more likely hes just testing his boundries with you
as youve only had him a week hes probably strating to feel at home and comfortable
also at seven weeks old hes still only a baby & still learning the rules of life at this stage saying no in a firm voice (but not yelling) is ok but add on if he stops biting reward him & tell him hes a good boy

U.S Marine · Post by **U.S Marine** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:42 am

I think She/he is quite young for bluffing, besides..not all
Ring necks go through it. It will take time, but the best thing
to do is while you walk past his cage socialize with him, say
its name and hello, what r you doin. The more you do this, your
bird can grow to enjoy it & will bond a lot more with you.

bluepepe09 · Post by **bluepepe09** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:30 am

Thanks for the info, very useful, hopefully he wont go through bluffing then.

Progress update...

Managed to get him to walk onto my hand today for a half grape. and he also let me stroke him and put him back in his cage....no bites today.

Hopefully if I keep using the grape each time I want him to learn something ill be onto a winner. Better he bites the grape than my finger.

He is in the cage now demolishing some millet and strawberry I gave him as a treat... lol

U.S Marine · Post by **U.S Marine** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:44 pm

Ha ha, that's good but try some peanuts with
the whole shell, NOT SALTED.

When you hand him a grape keep saying grape
& he will get excited since its his favorite. I say
peanut & my bird runs to me looking at my hand.

bec · Post by **bec** » Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:50 pm

riku likes brocoli sooo much it was his first clear word! although he still pronounces it as bocli
popcorn also works they love it its healthy (no salt or butter) and its cheap

U.S Marine · Post by **U.S Marine** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:14 pm

Bec, do you have videos of your birds talking?

bec · Post by **bec** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:04 am

no the cheeky little blighters wont perform in front of cameras

U.S Marine · Post by **U.S Marine** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:42 am

Damn it Bec, you got to go covert & sneak it..

bec · Post by **bec** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:29 am