African or Indian. What's the diff?

[Momadonna]

Hello,
I'm the new owner of a "hand me down" bird, about 15 yrs old, male, and have been told it's an African ring neck parakeet. He looks just like the one on your home page........that beautiful green with underlying yellow; long tail feathers that turn into turquoise at the ends, black markings under his chin and a small pink ring around his neck. He does say "hello", and wolf whistles and I've managed to teach him "peekaboo" in about 2 weeks. He steps up on my hand and crawls around all over me when I'm sitting down watching TV. He flies from the cage to my computer chair and around the sunroom, which is pretty small.
Here's my questions:
1. What's the diff between African and Indian RN? I was told Babe was an African, but maybe he's an Indian? Any difference between the two in caring for/playing with them?
2. I know when he's not happy with what I want him to do because he opens his beak and sometimes pinches me. Just now, he bit my son's ears. What's the deal with that? This is the first time he's met my son, and they were getting along well. Nothing noted that would provoke him, he just seems really interested in the ears. I have short hair and he doesn't bother my ears. My 28 yr old son is now sitting here with a towel over his head like Laura Ingalls Wilder out on the prairie. What a hoot!
3 How important is it to get his wings clipped. They have been done in the past, but if he's flying they evidently need to be done again.

I know this is a lot of questions, but I just want to take good care of Babe, he's such a neat bird and brings a lot of laughs to our home.

Donna

[Mazziemom]

Not a whole lot of difference. Africans are a bit smaller, and have much darker beaks. Care is the same for either.

Ears are great toys, fun to chew on. So are any moles that happen to be found.



Enjoy, they are fun birds.

Athena

[Momadonna]

Athena,
Thanks for the answers! I'm just a real novice about the personality and needs of these little critters. Babe looks like the pic of your Buddy, but I"m still not sure exactly if he's African or Indian, not that it matters I guess. This morn he's back to his ole self. Didn't know they had such distinctive emotions and personalities! Thanks again, Momadonna

[birdman5000]

clip those wings it is the safest way to go some parrots spend their whole live with their owners and if not professionaly trained for free flight they get a wild hair where the sun dont shine and goodby birdy thats what my grandmas blue and gold macaw did but luckily he stayed in the neerby woods and was spoted a few times over the days until he finaly laned on the roof and there was my little old grandma on the roof with my mom trying to catch the bird with some penuts as bait wich very luckily worked. i dont mean to lag on like this its just a habit and a subject where i have lost birds to not cliping wings :cry: :wink:

[IMR4N]

Clipping is initially up to you my fried if you would like you bird to freely follow you around the house and be free to go to his cage when hes tired and get the he needs then I wouldn’t but if you’re thinking of his safety then I would. Some people say that clipping stunts the bird’s confidence and if not done properly then could even prove fatal. They both have there advantages and disadvantages but its up to you to make the decision that you think is best.

[Mikaela]

My girl can barely flutter and I assure you, even in this house, she finds her way around. She just waddles around like a little duck until she finds me. Silly silly birds.

Her new thing is forgetting about me and going straight for my fung shui rocks around the house. She takes them out, puts them in... rinse repeat. Seems boring to me but it is the high-light of her day.

[kyria]

hehe .. waddling around like a little duck getting into everything sounds like Jordan. Kai just climbs to the highest point and stands there watching over all birds like the KING he is.

I had Kai clipped until he was tame and use to us, but let him have a few weeks of flight after the moult. I would have adored to keep him full flighted, but nearly lost him out the back door.

Bryan eased my sadness at re-clipping him by insisting that at least every season he grows his flight feathers back, I can let him have a few weeks of flight before I clip him again. Too many kids, too much traffic, wood heater and a fan, plus his affection for us is much greater when he is clipped gives me no doubt that both he and Jordan are far better off clipped.

[Mikaela]

Amen on the 'too manys'

[Momadonna]

Thanks to all of you who gave me some insight and info on Babe. I'll have to look into having his wings clipped. I love to see him fly and get the exercise, but will be heart broken if he goes out the door. MANY years ago I lost a budgie that way and still remember how I felt. SAD!

Found a book on bird care and read that I probably need to take the sandpaper off the perches, or what little is left after Babe has torn it off. GUess it does more harm than good on his little tootsies. Probably will learn more as I read, or I hope so! Any suggestions on books, etc that will teach me more?

Momadonna

[Mazziemom]

Sandpaper perches are a no no, good reading!

Hrm, books. I have so many of them. Guide to a well behaved parrot is a good read, though not always the best when it comes to ringnecks. They have a different body language than some of the other species.

The second hand parrot is good if you adopted an older bird, and the Beak Book if you have a biter

There really are no good books in ringnecks out there that I've found. Its a pity, because so much of the info on them is outdated. Many places still say they are aviary birds... NOT!

Athena

[Momadonna]

Well, he's probably an older bird, since the latest owner told me he's 23 1/2 yrs old. I guess this man's grandmom had Babe from the beginning and fed him a seed diet for many years. Heard that could shorten his life span. But the last 5 yrs or so, he's had A #1 treatment, except for socialization with humans. He's pretty tame, but can use a lot more "human time" yet. We've been watching the Olympics together in the eve. Well, he's busy playing with the wrinkles in my jeans, messin with my house slipper, and trying to steal the diamonds out of my anniv ring. "Just messin" as I call it.

Too bad there isn't any specific book about ring necks. Have any of you thought of writing one?? Sounds like there are some experienced owners in this group. This current one I found is "A Simple Guide to Bird Care and Training", but Julie Rach. Lists a little about several different kinds of birds, including, "the comical Ring Neck". Thought that was appropriate!

I think what I need to know more about for sure, is their body language. I do know when he's not happy with my antics, because he just opens his beak and moves towards the offending finger/hand. Doesn't take me long to get the message!

Momadonna

[Mazziemom]

LOL, yep, they are pretty clear.

The one thing that is often mistranslated with them is the pinning eyes. Other parrots tend to pin from excitement or aggression, ringnecks pin a LOT. They will pin for just about any reason. Buddy does it to me when he wants to give me a kiss, just flashes his eyes madly and makes kissing noises.

However, that said, tightly drawn in pupils, and slick tightly drawn feathers is usually a warning. Flashing pupils (in and out) isn't as much, but when they stay pinned, someone is looking to get a bite LOL.

The male strut is also mistranslated often, because it can look aggressive. Wings cocked a bit open, head up high, and strutting around or leaning back on the perch (or finger) is a total male dance thing, just a celebration of being a boy. It can also be part of the mating ritual, depending on how its used.



Thats my Buddy boy getting ready to strut for mama

Ooh, and woodpecker kisses (as we call them). Most parrots "claim" things by rubbing their beaks along them, but male IRN's do it by bonking it with their beak, over and over. Buddy gives me them as kisses, but also does it to my shoulder, my knee, or even my pillow (if my head is on it). Its adorable as all get out, when you know that its not an aggressive thing when they do it to you. Of course if they are doing it to someone else while you are close they may be warning you "mine My person Mine!"

Athena

[Momadonna]

Well, I think maybe I've been bonked! lol Sorry, just had to say that. Now will get my mind out of the gutter, and try to be serious. I'll watch for the struttin thing and will really have to watch his eyes closer. By being pinned, I suppose you mean that he has "pinpoint pupils" as we medical people say..........like tiny little black dots?

What about the info I got that a seed diet will have shortened his life span?

Momadonna

[Mazziemom]

Yep, pinned eyes are pin point pupils

Flashing is when they go from big pupils to little over and over.

Seed can indeed shorten his lifespan if it affected his health. Have you had him to the vet and had full bloodwork run? If he lived that long on seed alone I'd be sure to get liver values. Fattly liver is rare in ringnecks, but possible with a diet like that.

My son adopted an older 'teil years ago, who had been on a seed only diet all of his life. He lived longer than the vet guessed he would after having a diet like that... but still not up to his potential lifespan. We just didnt have the time to help his body get back in shape.

You can correct it with a healthy diet given the time. We don't know what Mazzie ate before us, but I'm guessing seed because she wanted ONLY seed when she arrived. It took me about 3 months to get her to eat right. Her last vet check the vet said she's the healthiest ringneck he's ever met . So, with time, you can help heal any damage that may have been done.

Athena

[kyria]

Well, I think maybe I've been bonked! lol Sorry, just had to say that. Momadonna

omg! Jordan has bonked me too. *giggle* Wish Kai would bonk me, but he is too busy being King of the House I guess.


Thanks Athena, I was confused about that one. Wasn't real sure what he was doing.

[Momadonna]

I need to call a vet that's been recommended for birds, and see how soon I can get Babe in. The only prob is that the town is about an hour away, not breaking the speed limit tooooo much. Since it's supposed to get cold and rainy here again tomorrow, like about 5 degrees at night and in the 20's during the day; I'm concerned about Babe getting too cold going in and out of buildings. When he came to us, he traveled in a smaller cage with a big heavy blanket over him while outside. I think he's pretty hardy, but.........how do I travel with him in cold weather? Guess I could ask the vet clinic when I call, well duh! I think I just need to take time and try to read this whole web site. (Sorry, I'm a dork today!)

One more question........ I love to burn smelly candles in the winter. Will the fumes harm Babe? I'm having candle withdrawl, since I haven't burnt any in the three weeks we've had him.

What can I use to clean his cage.....like the bars and perches; that the fumes won't harm him? I'm a bleach lover, but even with a real mild solution, I"m concerned. I'd die too if I killed him by cleaning!

Momadonna

[Mazziemom]

No candles The scents can damage their lungs, and some of the wicks are dangerous too (let off bad fumes).

I use vinegar and water (50/50) for cleaning, it works well. If I'm really pushing for spotless I use Pet Focus, as it kills germs wildly.

I try to avoid vet appointments when its bitter cold, but if you must go take him in a covered carrier, (like for a cat) which you have lined inside with a towel for grip.

Athena