Hi all,
I've had a pair of IRN's for quite a few years (6) - the first one Percy we had for a year before we got the second one Henry. In the first year Percy was really great but the following year noone was at home during the day so we got another IRN to keep her (turns out Percy was a she) company.
Utter disaster - Percy hated henry and chased Henry (who incidentally turned out to be a she as well) all over the place etc. They live outside in an avery with plenty of room for both but as time went on Percy became increasingly anxious about what Henry was doing - it was almost impossible to have her on your shoulder since she would squeal and bite until you'd take her back to Henry.....despite the fact she despises henry.
This anxiety of percy increased gradually over the years and for the last 6 months she's been picking. I don't know what to do - separate cages, collars, extra attention...nothing works.
The whole situation really sux - if we separate them both mope and percy picks, together it's constant jealously and fights, they're so anxious that you can't spend quality time with either.
I guess before the picking started we'd all just accepted that that's how it'd have to be since we'd tried everything we could think of to get them to get along. However, Percy is looking pretty shabby and it's kinda distressing to see her looking so unwell given that she was such a pretty bird.
Thanx
Longstanding issue has gotten worse
Moderator: Mods
Thats Mazzie... she wants to know where the others are but will attack them given a chance.
However, she is so bonded to me that she will forget them in order to get some cuddle time with me.
My husband however has to take both Mazzie and Buddy out at the same time, he cant just do one or they are contact calling like mad the whole time making him crazy.
We cage them side by side, take them out to play at the same time and leave Buddy (the non aggressive bird) flighted so he can get out of Mazzie's beak if she attacks. And, we work to have a strong relationship with both of them, so they love us in our own right.
It can be hard but its something you'll have to work on. And, don't have a flighted bird if you cannot protect it in every way from the dangers of flying.
Athena
However, she is so bonded to me that she will forget them in order to get some cuddle time with me.
My husband however has to take both Mazzie and Buddy out at the same time, he cant just do one or they are contact calling like mad the whole time making him crazy.
We cage them side by side, take them out to play at the same time and leave Buddy (the non aggressive bird) flighted so he can get out of Mazzie's beak if she attacks. And, we work to have a strong relationship with both of them, so they love us in our own right.
It can be hard but its something you'll have to work on. And, don't have a flighted bird if you cannot protect it in every way from the dangers of flying.
Athena
Very interesting situation!
Let me start out to say, please take Percy to a vet as soon as possible. I know you have heard this statement before, but it could be just an irritation. Do any of you smoke? Can you think of any pesticides or chemicals that were sprayed outside from the neighbors or you? Was the aviary built of wood? Did you use any paints to coat the wood? Any rusted wire? Do you feed your ringnecks onions? Does she get a bath twice a week? Any reactions to foods? The list could go on and on. Do some investigating and really think about her environment. Rule out anything and everything before you assume it’s a psychological problem.
If it is a psychological problem then let’s analyze the problem. We know she wants to be near the other ringneck, but cannot physically be near him without attacking—what’s the remedy? Place both into a cage side by side. This will allow her to see her friend but not harm him.
Next, you said that you had her first. I am assuming she is handfed? If she was handfed, she most likely is imprinted on humans—so what’s that mean? Simple, no matter how much interaction she gets from other ringnecks, she’ll always prefer your interaction. My Archimedes, my pet ringneck, will spend hours with his brother and sister, but at the end of the day he wants me and only me. Imprinting is a powerful trait that birds develop and it’s very difficult to reverse. Believe me, I have seen it time and time again with ringnecks who were handfed and choose to be around their own kind, but prefer to keep their distance from other ringnecks because they were handfed. The only remedy for this would be to start interacting with her again. Look at it from her perspective—she was once the center of attention, but now another bird is thrown in to the equation. It’s hard for her to deal with the situation.
Remember, if you do get her to stop picking, it’s going to take time to see any changes. Why? Because a ringneck molts once a year and if the feathers are not damaged at the root, then you’ll have to wait till the next molt. The body sees this damaged feather as a normal functioning feather as long as the root is intact.
Hope this helps and please keep us updated!
Best wishes,
Imran Chaudhry
Let me start out to say, please take Percy to a vet as soon as possible. I know you have heard this statement before, but it could be just an irritation. Do any of you smoke? Can you think of any pesticides or chemicals that were sprayed outside from the neighbors or you? Was the aviary built of wood? Did you use any paints to coat the wood? Any rusted wire? Do you feed your ringnecks onions? Does she get a bath twice a week? Any reactions to foods? The list could go on and on. Do some investigating and really think about her environment. Rule out anything and everything before you assume it’s a psychological problem.
If it is a psychological problem then let’s analyze the problem. We know she wants to be near the other ringneck, but cannot physically be near him without attacking—what’s the remedy? Place both into a cage side by side. This will allow her to see her friend but not harm him.
Next, you said that you had her first. I am assuming she is handfed? If she was handfed, she most likely is imprinted on humans—so what’s that mean? Simple, no matter how much interaction she gets from other ringnecks, she’ll always prefer your interaction. My Archimedes, my pet ringneck, will spend hours with his brother and sister, but at the end of the day he wants me and only me. Imprinting is a powerful trait that birds develop and it’s very difficult to reverse. Believe me, I have seen it time and time again with ringnecks who were handfed and choose to be around their own kind, but prefer to keep their distance from other ringnecks because they were handfed. The only remedy for this would be to start interacting with her again. Look at it from her perspective—she was once the center of attention, but now another bird is thrown in to the equation. It’s hard for her to deal with the situation.
Remember, if you do get her to stop picking, it’s going to take time to see any changes. Why? Because a ringneck molts once a year and if the feathers are not damaged at the root, then you’ll have to wait till the next molt. The body sees this damaged feather as a normal functioning feather as long as the root is intact.
Hope this helps and please keep us updated!
Best wishes,
Imran Chaudhry
thanx for the reply.
We did take percy to the vet when the picking started - vet thought it was psychological.
Noone smokes and there's no chemicals about - plenty of fresh air. No onions in the diet and both bathe themselves often (we have 2 dishes....as soon as one starts the other usually does too lol).
As for placing cages side by side in winter we bring them inside during the night into two small cages. This doesn't seem to solve the issue.
I think we'll just have to keep experimenting with more things - more toys and branches in the avery etc. Also more time.
Sadly there doesn't appear to be any concrete "fix"
We did take percy to the vet when the picking started - vet thought it was psychological.
Noone smokes and there's no chemicals about - plenty of fresh air. No onions in the diet and both bathe themselves often (we have 2 dishes....as soon as one starts the other usually does too lol).
As for placing cages side by side in winter we bring them inside during the night into two small cages. This doesn't seem to solve the issue.
I think we'll just have to keep experimenting with more things - more toys and branches in the avery etc. Also more time.
Sadly there doesn't appear to be any concrete "fix"
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Neokireina
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Dr. Nicholas Dodman has been treating animals will anti-anxiety medicine such as prozac. some humans have an OCD disorder called trichotillomania which is exactly like feather plucking. They will pull their hairs out one by one and inspect and chew on them. These indiv. will pluck themselves bald if untreated. Irene Pepperberg (the scientist who works with Alex the timneh grey) says that all thirteen of their birds improved with prozac. Birds that exibit chronic feather plucking often have seretonin imbalances which prozac can treat. I don't know how you feel about this option, but if you are desperate enough and have tried EVERYTHING, this might be something to research and talk to with your vet.