Taming the wild bird

[vortmax]

I have a 3 year old female IRN who is a wild woman, and I'm looking for some advice on figuring her out and gaining her trust.

I got her about a year and a half ago as sort of a rescue. A breeder had talked a local bird shop into purchasing a pair of them because of their "rare" color (she's a lace wing). For whatever reason, she became a big biter..to the point that nobody could handle her. The owners knew I had an IRN that was a nice bird, so they offered (aka gave) her to me.

Since I have had her, she has shown mild improvement, but I think I'm seeing signs of improvement. She is fairly cage aggressive and will strike at anyone who puts their hand in her cage. She also doesn't appear to like my wife, as she will strike at the side of the cage when she walks by. When she's on top of her cage, however, she likes to jump over to my wife's shoulder and she is content to just ride around. I know shouldering a bird is a big no-no, but this is pretty much the only interaction we can have with her at the moment.

I have been noticing that when I walk up to the cage and talk to her, she will come close and start doing the 'ring-neck dance' and make those soft clucking noises. If I put my hand up to the bars, she will also reach through and lightly nibble my finger as well (although if she will bite if she can get a hold of me).

She is also a screamer. At any time during the day, if you walk into the room with her, she climbs to a high point in her cage and starts screaming at the top of her lungs. She'll also do the same thing in the evening when nobody is even in the room. I'm not sure if this is a fear thing or if she just doesn't understand how to use an 'inside voice'. You can tell when she is happy because she does sing and talk...and they are distinctly different sounds then her angry squawk. I do find it interesting that she doesn't mimic me or my wife. Instead, all of the words and calls she repeats are ones she learned from my other ring neck who used to share the same room with her. So I don't know if she bonded to him and was therefore ignoring the rest of us or what.

I know that was sort of long and rambling, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[bec]

there are heaps of post from people who have sucessfully "rehabilitated" a rescue bird it will be slow & hard but well worth it
a lot of female irns are very territorial about their cage (even tame ones)
so working with her outside the cage is best
food is always handy in gaining the trust of any irn and eating in front of stressed ones seems to calm them down (especialy if they think they have a chance of pilphering it!) i use pocorn as my training reward they love it!!!
to combat the screaming (its an attention thing)ignore it!!!! if she screams when your in the room turn your back when she stops turn back & give her a treat NEVER!!!! go in her room whhen shes screaming for attention (or leave the room for that matter) she is trying to get you to react if you dont the game losews its apeal for her
keep us posted