IndianRingNeck.com

Two weeks ago, I picked up Charm, a 5 (or so) month old green irn. Now the breeder said she had been handfed but not handled a lot since. The first couple days were great, she was learning to come out of the cage, she loves zupreem wild-n-spicy and loves her toys.

For the last couple days or so I think she is trying to kill me. Okay, so its not that bad. But she has a huge amount of cage agression. Every time I go near her cage she tries to take my hand off. Even if my hand is outside the cage, she tried to rip it apart. I've tried not to be pushy and she will step up on my hand (after attacking my fingers) so that I can put her on my shoulder, but she immediatly tries to fly off.

Is she is that biting stage? Will she would mellow out as she gets older and as I handle her more, etc...

Also, when she wakes up tomorrow, if I post pics can someone make a guess as to whether or not Charm is a he or a she?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

My Baby too was very aggressive. He would be trying to eat me in between dropper fulls of formula. Only thing that will fix this is time and trust.

Hold the baby and interact with it as much as humanly possible. Get use to the baby bites, they are nothing. So now would be a good time to stop being afraid and drawing your hand back. You take the bite and teach 'step up' as soon as possible.

Do you know how to teach step-up?

No, I don't know how to teach her to step up. This website seems to have absolutely everything I need so should I do a search on it?

Here are some pics, can anyone guess if Charm is male or a female? Thanks!









This site is great! I'm learning so much about my new baby. I'm so glad this site is around!

Congrats on your new baby. Charm looks exactly like Peegee (well, all the greenies look alike). Too young to tell gender, but my best guess is female. The light green ring is usually female.

I wish you many years of fun and frolic with your new friend.

I gave her a bowl of water today and she had so much fun! I also strung up some uncooked noodes and she had a blast chewing those off and breaking them apart. I asked about the sexing because I did a search on it and some people can make a guess based on the head shape and feet shape I think. I'm not really sure but I thought it would be interesting to have a guess. She's a lot of fun.

Yeah, do a seach on step up or goggle it.

What a nice looking IRN you have...I'd say boy on that one...(reminds me a little of Mik's Baby)

Dani

Thanks! I'll look up different tricks and such. Charm almost took a piece of apple from me today, so we're making progress. Right now she's eyeing up my dogs who just finished "sweeping" the floor around he cage. Maybe I'll have to start calling her/him Prince Charming...

Looks exactly like my baby did. I want my baby back!!!! He is a mean teen now.

I agree with ya Mik...I want my baby back...*sighs* I miss that adorable little baby face that she had...

Dani

No way to tell the sex until the ring comes in or doesn't, unless you DNA test. Your baby may start displaying male or female behaviours but this would be apparent about the age of 8 months +

Both my boys displayed their behaviours close to the 12 month mark. They will also display alot more during breeding season.

With your baby you need to voice everything you are doing, so that they learn the voice commands aswell as the action. This way s/he will know exactly what you are doing before you do it. They will hear.. "step up" and know you are coming at them with your hand to do just that and not attack them.

If they lunge at first, just be a little more forceful and push past the bite, or distract your baby with some food in the other hand as you push in for a step up. If they bite at you while they are on your hand say NO and do a gentle up and down shake to make them lose their balance a little and let go.

Always reward good behaviour. If they step up well, make a big production, telling them how good they are and give them a treat. This will usually be their favorite thing to eat, that you have removed from their diet so they only get it as a treat from now on. For example , my babies, all my fids LOVE Melon Seeds. I scoop the seeds out of rock and honey dew melons wash them in a seive and dry them out. I place them in a jar with a characteristic red lid so they know exactly what it is and they will do anything for me to get some treats. *evil grin*

Trust comes with time, as you are nervous and new to your bird and what it is doing, so is your bird new to you and what you are doing.

Cheers and good luck with your baby, s/he is absolutely beautiful

Thanks for the advice! I'll try distracting her and offering her a treat when I am trying to get her on my hand. He loves destroying things so maybe if I offer him a toy too he will not try to bite me as much. He is so much fun to watch! flipping upside down hanging by one foot