Rescue Ring neck

[2crazy4Birds]

Hi I am about to get my first ringneck Hes 17 years old and has spent 2 years of that in a shelter I was warned that he might take time for him to respond to me I am willing to wait ..... Well We went to check him out .. Hes beautiful His name is Buddy ... Well Buddy owner died 2 years ago and the family was going to let him go in the wild ... in Wisconsin .. A neighbor told them she would take the bird to the Shelter Hes missing some nails on both feet and at some point was sick ... the feathers around his nostrils is not all there Well The lady that has him told me it took her a long time to get him to step up and he hasn't said a word other than to make loud sounds along with all the other birds she has .. I was talking to him and she asked me if I wanted to hold him I did he came right to me and even aloud me to pet him he was tilting his head to the side taking in everything I was saying to him I even was able to cuddle him to me .. He looks very healthy .. And has been Vet checked .. any ways I am getting him this Friday I have everything for him I just wanted to share my story with everyone here And I hope I can get help when needed ... have a good evening ...

[ellieelectrons]

It's good he responded so well off the bat. You may find he is different in new surroundings, so take it slow.

Glad to hear he is getting a new forever home. Welcome to the forum.

Ellie.

[MissK]

You're gonna LOVE him!



MissK

[2crazy4Birds]

Well hes here so far so good Going to take it slow .. He is eating I offered him a little orange and he didn't take it from me .. I put it in his bowl and he ate it. every things seems to be going well I am so in love with him hes a sweet bird I just want the best for him I am willing to wait When I picked him up he came to me and I was petting him and talking to him when we got him home he came out of the carrier He came to me I pet him for about 30 min the I put him in his cage. I left the door opened And stayed in the same room talking to him and working on my paper work .. I think we are off to a good start

[Skyes_crew]

Sounds like you have a great bird there!!! just continue doing what you're doing...things are going good. Patience on him taking food from you. He will eventually. MissK can give you advice on that as she also adopted an older IRN that she works with. Congrats to you and your new bird

[MissK]

Hi. I would give him a while (some weeks) to settle into your home before you form any firm opinions about him. I expect he will show an even better side of himself when he is more comfortable. That said, you just got him home and he was willing to cuddle. Unless you want him to do your laundry, he's probably already a dream bird!

Sit back, be kind and compassionate, be present where he is. Practice step-up, cuddle as he's willing, don't force any issues. Give him great food and a proper rest/wake cycle with good light, and plenty to do. Prepare to be dazzled. Offer a broad variety of foods by hand until you find what he wants.

He may just not be a huge orange fan - try some sunflower seeds, nuts in little bits, apple, red bell pepper, banana, carrot, kale - a variety of textures. Try offering small pieces, maybe no bigger than a dime, in case the food itself is a concern for him. Ask the rescue what his favourite foods were there. Don't forget to eat some yourself, before and during the time you offer it to him, right in front of him so he can watch you.

It is pure conjecture on my part, but I imagine if this bird was with his owner until that person died, and he was 15 then, he was probably a beloved pet for a number of years in the same home. I do make an assumption that the owner was not expecting to be in the final decade of their life when they got the bird in the first place. If this should be the case I would expect him to "remember" the skills he would have developed in the past, and display them as his familiarity with you and your home develops.

I am a huge fan of the second hand bird. I believe the act of taking in an older animal shows extra respect for the animal (and the species) as a creature of substantial life span with history, future, and innate non-monetary value. I therefore have a natural affection for those who choose them. I'm so pleased to have you with us in the Forum. If you should happen to have any trouble I'll do my best to help, though I am really most familiar with issues I have already worked through, myself.

I wish you the best with your bird.
-MissK

[Little Buttercup]

Hi, It does seem you have a very nice bird there. Congrats, and so good of you to give him a home where he would be loved.

MissK, suppose you have an affection for me as well , My Kiwi is also second hand or third maybe, who knows.

Ash

[MissK]

Ash,

Hee hee. I already did. Now I know why?

-MissK

[2crazy4Birds]

I want to thank you for your support here he seems to be settling in very well I am leaving his door opened when I am around hes been making sounds like hes trying to talk . He was owned by the man who died and that was his only owner spending 2 years in the rescue was along time but I can tell hes listening and watching everything that's going on around him. I offered strawberries this morning and he didn't take them from me I put them in his dish and he loved them as well as the orange pieces I gave him I am keeping my eyes on him and I also was eating them with him .. I am so in love with him .. I hope I have many years with him .. if only he could tell me how he lost his nails on a few of his toes One thing I do know is he will not want for anything I am going to make him a king in my home .. I have a feeling I will have him talking some day .. But even if I don't It wont change the way I feel about him ... There was many birds when I went there I felt sad for them .. But happy that I was able to take my Buddy home with me I am taking him in for a check up just to make sure he s ok also Thank so much for your help

[Little Buttercup]

Ash,

Hee hee. I already did. Now I know why?

-MissK

Thanks MissK . And poor Kiwi had to go through a 12 hour journey by car to reach me, in a cage that just managed to fit his long tail in. And with a pkt of hamster food mix he came with poor thing. Don't know if that was all he has been eating. Now he is flying around the house and is sitting on the window sill at the moment doing his practice talking, just above my head

Ash

[Little Buttercup]

Hi, No need to worry about Buddy's missing toe nails, suppose he lost it to a bigger bird before his 1st owner got him. Kiwi also has missing nails on one foot, infact the toes are shorter even, but he climbs well and it doesn't bother him.

I feel if you going to keep on putting his treats in the bowl after he refuse to take it from your hand he won't learn to take it from you, as he knows after a while you will leave it in the cage. If Kiwi doesn't want to take from me I go away with the treat for a while and then return to offer him then he takes it, understanding that he won't find it in his cage after I leave.

Ash

[MissK]

Hamster food.

-MissK

[babyboomer1001]

It sounds like your new bird deserves some time and love and is willing to love back, despite being neglected and probably abused. They need at least a month just to settle into a new home. Handle him every day, carry him on your shoulder and talk to him sweetly. It will take time but he will respond, as he has already shown he wanted to love and be loved. Bless you for having the bird and allowing it to have the life it deserves. /babyboomer1001