Hi

[Broomy]

Hi all,

Just purchased an IRN and thought i would join this board for info and advice.
I have had brids of prey for 10 years so pretty clued up on Birds but obviosly parrots/parrakeets are completely new to me.
I purchased my IRN a week ago and he/she seems to be coming out of his/her shell. Slightly timid for the first couple of days which is to be expected but is now starting to make some noises and i have managed to get the IRN to step up on command and got it out of the habit of going straight to shoulders or head.

Previous owners have made a pretty poor job of wing clipping but hopefully will get them back during a moult.
The people I had the bird off have told me he/she is 7 months old and a male. Firstly gender doesnt particulally bother me but i would like a good idea of age. I have taken a few pics with hope someone may be able to help.
He is a pretty placid bird more so after mid afternoon.
No speech training has ever been tried with him with his/her previous owner so i have been starting with a basic hello.
Just really trying to get his/her trust at the minute. He/She is settling more everyday so i know im making progress.

cheers

[Broomy]

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/192/picture005qmj.jpg/

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/201/picture006yq.jpg/

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/99/picture001nu.jpg/

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/picture002lo.jpg/

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/picture003ha.jpg/

hxxp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/picture004of.jpg/

sorry had to change http to hxxp as the board wont let me post and when i try to attach an image it say board attachment quota is full.
sorry to mods if this is not allowed

[Broomy]

I have also spent a few months reading up on all varieties of parrots/parrakeets and have learnes quite alot about them especially from this site.
I am aware that the males and females can be easily identified after the age of 2/3 when they hit maturity but when it comes to babies or juveniles alot of the info is very conflicting.

My IRN has what seems to be dark feather tips where his ring will be under his beak however i am aware that this will darken if he is a male over the next few years, he also has dark bits above his cere which i assume will also turn darker over the next couple of molts.
On the other hand he seems to have slightly lighter feathers at the back of his neck where his ring would be.
This is all assuming he is a male.
His feathers also seem very juvenile to me what i mean by that is he seems to have unevern coulouring on his wings but that is me using bird of prey experience and these birds may be completley different.



Any advice would be appreciated.

[stefani88]

Hello, I am new too, I like this forum! I think I will make lot of friends here

[ellieelectrons]

Hi and welcome

My unexpert eye would say 7 months seems like a reasonable estimate of your bird's age. Your bird has lost it's baby fat that it has around fledging but still seems to have baby eyes (but that could be my imagination). My only experience though is with my two companion birds. Someone who is a breeder could probably tell you more.

You could get a DNA test to determine gender if you want.

I'm sure your bird of prey experience will be helpful in working with this parrot too although I am sure there will be some differences.

Welcome to the forum.

Ellie.