Newbie!

[weeneybomber]

Hello, my name is James and I have been researching many types of parrots because I have been wanting one for a while and might be able to get one in a few months. From the start I heard negetive things about Indian Ringnecks and kind of wrote them off. Now I am coming back and learning that there might be another side to these birds. However so far on this site I ahven't read one story where an owner was just telling a good story, there is always some complecation or behavior problem. What I am trying to ask is are these birds good for a pretty novice owner. I have owned budgies in the past and that's pretty much it. Any advice and personal experience with these parrots would be appreciated.

[parrotgal]

James, just take a look around the forums, they are really comprehensive on training techniques. Parrots, like people, are all different. Some of them are just a**holes All parrots have their good and bad points - some are quiet, some screech, some have episodes of both! Good luck whatever you decide

[ellieelectrons]

Hi James

Well done for doing your homework!

I wouldn't be without my IRNs. They are great sources of joy and I love being with them and looking after them... but it hasn't been all smooth sailing for us. There are some people who have no problems at all and others that are plagued with problems and have to rehome their bird. However, most people are somewhere in between. Where on the continuum you will find yourself depends on the way you interact with your bird and the bird's temperament.

We've had more problems with our first bird than our second bird. We knew more when we brought our second one home and we purposely chose him because we knew that his father was tame and had seen that his siblings from other clutches were extremely tame too... I'd put down the success with the second bird to:
- his temperament
- we knew what we were doing more
- he was handraised
- we got him at about 12 weeks (I think - if that's not right, it was after he had been flying for a little while and the breeder clipped his wings before giving him to us) whereas we got Janey just after she'd been weaned at about 6 weeks. The downside of getting an older bird is that it takes them longer to get used to you. He was quite scared of us when we brought him home but after a couple of months of hard work, we managed to get past that. I believe letting them spend longer with their siblings as chicks means they are less likely to think they are human... and can help prevent some of the bad behaviours caused by separation anxiety from their humans.

I hope that makes sense.

Good luck with your choice!

Ellie.