IndianRingNeck.com

Right so I have an approx. 5month old (i think male) IRN who's been an absolute saint since my mother rescued him about 3months ago. ( I like in belgium where there is a wild population of IRNs and there was a pair nesting in our garden, but crows ambushed the nest and my mom found him half dead on our porch). He has never bitten anyone, he's never been afraid of people/hands/petting, and he's always been in your face and cuddly.
However two days ago he went through a drastic transformation.
And unlike the usual bluffing where they turn aggresive (at least from what I know), he still doesn't bite, but he's absolutely terrified of everything/everyone.
Just last week I could pick him up and move him without a problem, but now I can't even approach him without him freaking out and flying away like mad.
Once I eventually do catch him and put him back in his cage (when I leave home for example), he screams and tries to get away but still doesn't bite, so I don't know if he's been traumatised by something, or is just having a very strange bluffing phase.
I'd really appreciate your views on this, for I am at a total loss.

The only thing that could have triggered the fear was that we drove from Slovenia (where I live) back to Belgium (where my parents live) on monday, but I can hardly believe that's the reason, since I travel a LOT and just over the summer he has been on road trips, camping, 3 house changes, etc. and never minded at all, and actually enjoyed the changes.

And to make it wierder. He's not letting me get close during the day, but in the evening he wont get off me and is even cuddlier then before, and lets me pet and hold him without a problem...
I am tottaly confused as to what could be making him act this way... I am really hoping that he will get better in a matter of days, but I am leaving Belgium at the end of the month, and if things don't improve I may end up releasing him back into the wild where my mother rescued him.
I am really attached to him and I def. don't want to do that, plus I'm afraid how he would cope/integrate into the nearby flocks so it would pain me greatly to have to let him go. But at the same time, I don't want to be living with a wild parrot, especially since I start veterinary studies in the fall and won't have time to 're-tame' him... which would end up making both him and me miserable...

Either way, I would greatly appreciate and input or ideas as to what to do!
Thank you in advance!

Welcome.

I have never heard of this type of behavior but you need to continue to interact with him as you did. No need to upset the balance of everything and act different with him. Perhaps he is scared of something on you? Did you change the environment?

You are right on the money; this is not a bluffing stage but something else. Archimedes went through a skittish stage a few years back and I completely just ignored it—he returned back to his normal self. I tried everything I could to get him back on track and the only thing that cured it was time and normal interaction .

As far as releasing him it’s not a good idea. He has not learned the proper skills to survive in the wild. No amount of training could help him become a wild ringneck. If you believe you don’t have the time, try giving him to a friend that you know can care for him —besides, I know you’re heading off to school .

Best Wishes ,

IMRAN-C

Hey Thanks for the reply! It really helps!

As for what he could be afraid of, I didn't change anything on myself, but as I wrote I did move to belgium for the month with him while visitng my parents... but he never minded moving before so I'm surprised he'd suddenly react like that to a change of place.

Did yours also go from normal/handlable to untrusting and wild over night?
And how do you mean 'ignore it?'. I try to, but simple tasks like putting him in his cage for the night/when I leave home often requier me to either turn off the lights (if its dark ofc) or use a towel to catch him. His wings aren't clipped so he's increadiably hard to capture when he's not willing to cooperate with me... Before I'd just call him over or easily walk up to him and get him to step up and put him away, but as I said before I can't even approach him now. And I'm afraid that my ways of getting him back into his cage will further traumatise him and make him even less trusting in the long run... but then again I don't want to leave him in his cage all day... so I'm really at a loss as to what to do with him.
What would you suggest?

As for releasing him, it's more my parent's idea that since he was a wild bird (found him at around 2-3months old) that he would be fine with the local flocks... I'm not convinced of that either :/
And I am planning on taking him with me since I'll be living in an appartement during my studies and am taking all my animals with me either way... I just don't want to have a parrot who is so terribly afraid, since it would make both him and me miserable to live under the same roof...

hey if u end up not being able to tame him i will gladly take him off ur hands..i am looking for a buddy for my irn so if worst comes to worst just send me a message and well talk more...but either way good luck