IndianRingNeck.com

I'm so glad that I've found this site!!!

I have at home currently a short billed corella and a galah, both of which came to me as adults, and two days ago a 5wk old IRN turned up on the door step so as to speak.

I havn't got any experience with hand raising babies..( Ido know how to spoon feed , but that has been for wild birds that will be released, so you basically ignore them as much as possible so that they can't imprint)

So, although I'm capable of spoon feeding this little guy I havn't got a clue as to how much time I should be spending with him, or when to start introducing foods, (he is currently on 4-5 feeds a day) what kind?
Toys, again what kind? or just generally what to do to produce a happy pet. I've been doing a lot of guessing, and although he's been with us 3 days, I'd like to be prepaired.)

He is already becoming more comfortable with my presence...his little head pops up occasionally now insted of burrowing into my armpit (remindes me of a turtle), and he absolutely refuses to go to the toilet when I'm holding him...as soon as I put him back into his basket he squats down wiggles his butt like a duck and goes..... ...is this normal, also what can I do at his age to try to positively renforce this?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Also, he can not perch on my finger yet...his toes end up all crossed over...about when sould he be moved into a cage?

If I want him to come places with me when his older, should I be taking him with me now in his basket, or will that just scare him ?

Hello Sooty,

You should spend as much time as you can with the IRN you acquried, as they thrive on attention/ human interaction.

My advice to you would be to continue to spoon feed but you can offer him fruits & veggies as well. Just NEVER any avacado or chocolate!!! Things like grapes, mashed patatoes, peaches, tomatoes, stuff like that that are easy for him to bite through. Also offer him a bowl of seeds so that he can manipulate them and learn to crack them while he is still spoon feeding until you can see that he can crack them on his own. You will see his progress and can then give him sliced apples, broccoli, carrots; just about anything!!

Toys: Anything that is safe! In other words nothing that will chip off like paint, nothing he will get wrapped up or caught in (strings & wire, stuff like that), anything you don't think is safe probably isn't. A great cheap inexpensive "toy" my little bird loves is the paper towel or toliet paper rolls to tear up! And his favorite thing of all is the mirror toy.

As for potty training that is amazing that he does not go on you!!! To reinforce this praise him, make a big deal so he knows you are happy with his behavior. You can also offer him a treat so he associates that with going in his basket and not on you...just be consistent and he should continue to well.

I THINK that maybe you should wait till he is able to perch on your finger/shoulder before you take him around (it might help him be a little more secure around people). Unless you don't mind taking him and he doesn't seemed scared. Socializing your bird is one of the best things you can do for him...makes happier pets!

Anyway, hope this helps some