HELP, New Ringneck,

[Jeana]

Hello all

I am so glad there is a board available for people to post their questions and get help from people who aren't trying to sell you something , that truly just want to help

that being said let me start,

I just got Peeko from an older gentleman, he had him for around 2 years (he thinks) he bought him from petstore, So asuming one owner other then the breeder,

Peeko lived alone in a room with another budgie, they were allowed to free fly and visit each other, they bonded, (problem 1)
I don't think he was handled much, the older guy was affraid of him, so I assume he learned to be a bad boy and he would be left alone, WELL, that will not work for me,

I have had him now 3 days, he will not let me near him, i can put my hand in the cage, he freaks out, he is afraid of my hand, he only just started eating this morning!!, He ate a few bites of grape here and there, I was told grapes were his favorite, so i tried making friends with him by offering a grape, NOPE, wouldn't have it,
Peeko is on my kitchen table, so he is around all the noise and gets alot of attention, (i read this was something to do to get him used to the new home) I tried letting him perch on his cage, his cage opens up and he perches up there, (at least he did) Like i said i tried that 2 times, NOT SO FUN. Try getting a bird back in his cage that A) bites like crazy, and B) doesn't want to go, lol
It was nice and quiet in my house today so again i let him out, he stayed on top for about an hour, I talked to him, he looked at me, (like i was crazy i am sure, lol) and then he decided to fly around the house, Yup fly everywhere, so now i am trying to catch him, he is screaming his head off, and i was just concerned he not get hurt, I had to finish catching him to put him in his cage so he wouldn't think if he continued to behave that way he would get what he wanted,
Boy these guys are far more different then the canaries i raise, lol

So questions,

How do i start to train him, to at least like my hand, (at this point he freaks out when i go near the inside of the cage)
How long should i leave him along to get used to new home, am i pushing him to fast,
I believe he is 3-5 years old, he does have a band on his leg but good luck trying to read it, lol I was told he was 3-4, but i think i saw 05 on his band,
How do i get his to settle down and stop squawking, OMG, I assume he is looking for his budgie buddy, am hoping that will settle down at some point,

Please, help,
Thanks so much everyone,
I contacted a petstore, yup a petstore, she told me the bird couldn't be helped, Oh just said thanks for your help and wondered what the heck she was doing in a job like that, from what i read th ebirds are very smart and trainable at any age!!!,

I figured all you fellow larger bird owners would be able to offer better advice then the petstore owner,

Jeana

[ellieelectrons]

Hi Jeana

You have taken on a difficult job but I believe that it is possible to make progress with all birds.... however, it can be very slow.

Personally, I would probably give him at least a week to get him used to his new surroundings.

Setting him up in a high traffic area is good. It gives him time to observe you whilst you are not focussed on him.

You can try feeding him is favourite foods through the bars of his cage. This is not quite so confronting to him as taking it directly from your hand with no barrier.

Also, if you are eating near him, if the food is safe, offer him some of what you are eating, especially if he comes to watch what you are doing (through the cage bars is probably the way to go right now).

Once your bird is settled in and understands that his home is in his cage on your table, someday when you have plenty of time (perhaps a weekend or a holiday), let him out of the cage. Eventually he should go back to the cage himself.

Your job is going to be made harder if his wings remain unclipped. IRNs become very independent when they can fly wherever they want... and as you alluded to, can hurt themselves. However, I can understand why you may want to keep in flighted. I think that is very commendable. You just need to be aware that it will take longer to tame him if he remains flighted.

I'm wondering if this thread might be of help to you?
http://www.indianringneck.com/forum/vie ... =7&t=11064

Good luck & best wishes!

Ellie.

[Jeana]

Thank you so much Ellie for your reply, Its much appreciated

I moved Peeko to the living room where he can see outside, he is beside the couch so i think would be easier for me ti interact, being on the kitchen table I was having to move him at dinner time,
He is far more vocal today that he has been, screaming alot, :O/

I went to the pet store and bought some treats, will see if i can bribe him that way, lol

I really want him to come around, I don't want to have to have a gorgeous bird and not be able to interact with him,
I will try to put a treat in his treat bowl and see where that goes, at the moment, he has not left his perch, he is always on the same one , even though there are several, his food bowls were on the bottom of the cage, so i moved them up to the sides, he had a few bites today when i was out of the room, I bought him some pellets, he wants nothing to do with them, well will leave it in there, hopefully he decides to go and check them out,
Whats the easiest way to start interacting with him, I approach the cage and talk to him, Like i said letting him out i think i stressed him out to much trying to get him back into his cage, i had to throw a sweater on him to get him into the cage, Poor guy, but at least no bite for me, lol

I think i should train him a bit more before allowing him out again, at least he will trust me more,
I do have an appointment to take him to get his nails and wings clipped, and beak shaped, (if it needs it)
Any advice would be wonderful
thanks fellow bird lovers,

[ellieelectrons]

I meant to ask before, is there any chance you could get the budgie too (assuming you want the budgie)? It might make him feel more comfortable?

I think you need to let him observe you for a bit and you can try offering treats through the cage wire.

I would also recommend some sort of birdie play space for when you let him out. We have a store-bought birdie gym but if you are handy, you could make one reasonably inexpensively... however it's probably going to be at least a week before he needs it

Good luck!

Just be aware that he may be traumatised by the clipping appointment so you may need to give him some more time to readjust.

Are you also feeding him fresh fruit and veg?

Ellie.

[Jeana]

Hello Ellie

I am working on the fresh fruit, he has had some apple and grape yesterday, today he nibbled on cucumber, and more grapes, I don't think he had anything like this where he used to be. As far as the budgie goes, the older gentleman wanted his budgie, lol that was why he got rid of Peeko, he couldn't go near his budgie,

I am going to come up w ith a play area for him, problem is i have dogs, soooo I want him totally used to his new home before i freely allow him to go out of cage again,
Clipping the wings, i think is a must, i don't want him flying out the door or harming himself hitting the windows

thanks so much,

Jeana