Hi everyone, this is my first post.
My name is Lindsey, my boyfriend and I have recently adopted a 9 months old blue indian ringneck.
The parrot is not tamed, but doesn't go crazy if we stay near him and I take it as a good sign.
After two days it also took some nuts from my hand, then from my boyfriend's.
We are trying to give it some time to get used to us, we eat and sleep in front of it and I try to make it see from its cage what I do during the day when I am home.
The problem is the parrot is still visibly scared. When we go visit it it stays at the center of the cage, in a tiny ball-shaped position and doesn't move.
Normally it takes a while but eventually gets used to me and starts jumping, eating and so on.
He seems to be particularly scared of my boyfriend.
It doesn't eat anything but seeds, although we tried with banana, apple, pear, lettuce, carrots and nuts. Just seeds.
We got it a toy, but seemed scared and my boyfriend decided to take it out this morning. To make things worse, while removing the toy the bird escaped and started to fly around the room. It took us a while to get it and now it's even more scared than before. It stays at the center of the cage all the time, doesn't move or squawks anymore.
Has anyone any suggestion on how to make it less scared of us and on how to make it eat something else but the seeds?
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Cheers
My ringneck is still scared.
Moderator: Mods
Re: My ringneck is still scared.
Hi Lindsey,
It will take time for your bird to settle in, and even longer for him to trust you. Keep hanging around him, talking to him and offering treats. Spend as much time as you can where it can see you, doing your own thing. Try a search cos I don't know anything taming birds, but it is a very well discussed topic on this forum.
Our bird is a bit cautious about new toys (unless they contain food) so we put then where he can see them for a few days before introducing them to his cage. I think it's worth getting some easy foraging toys, and put them in his cage with the food available at first. Also simple natural (from bird safe wood) branches with bark go down well for chewing.
Parrots are very intelligent and like to be busy.
Improving his diet is a good idea. I read an article that said a new food should be offered at least 15 times before you decided your bird (or child) doesn't like it, so keep persevering.
We introduced pellets by mixing them with seed in the dish. We also removed all sunflower seeds from the seed mix and only used them as treats. Finely chopping veges and mixing them with the seed to get him to try them. You could also try dipping a piece of apple or banana in seeds and offering that.
Claire
It will take time for your bird to settle in, and even longer for him to trust you. Keep hanging around him, talking to him and offering treats. Spend as much time as you can where it can see you, doing your own thing. Try a search cos I don't know anything taming birds, but it is a very well discussed topic on this forum.
Our bird is a bit cautious about new toys (unless they contain food) so we put then where he can see them for a few days before introducing them to his cage. I think it's worth getting some easy foraging toys, and put them in his cage with the food available at first. Also simple natural (from bird safe wood) branches with bark go down well for chewing.
Parrots are very intelligent and like to be busy.
Improving his diet is a good idea. I read an article that said a new food should be offered at least 15 times before you decided your bird (or child) doesn't like it, so keep persevering.
We introduced pellets by mixing them with seed in the dish. We also removed all sunflower seeds from the seed mix and only used them as treats. Finely chopping veges and mixing them with the seed to get him to try them. You could also try dipping a piece of apple or banana in seeds and offering that.
Claire