I got a new bird!

[sayray]

Hi everyone. I haven't been on here in a long time but I got a cinnamon greencheek conure about a year ago and you guys helped me out with a lot of questions I had (he was my first bird). Anyway he is doing great! I love him so much I decided maybe I'll get another one.

SO 3 days ago I was in petco just to pick up some crickets for my bearded dragon and I saw an indian ringneck.. which is the kind of bird i've wanted for a long time.. I held him and he seemed to like me, the woman said he is very aggressive (she put gloves on to get him out and everything which I thought was a little dramatic...) but anyway.. i got him to step up on me and he didn't bite.. he did pin his eyes at me.. a lot. but I just assumed he was scared, i'm a new person and I didn't think much of it. she was shocked he didnt bite me. anyway I left and a couple hours later I came back and got him... hes gotten so much better just in these few days, it took the person at the store about 7-10 minutes to get him out each time now he steps right up when I go to take him out.. but there are a few things about him that I don't quite get...

I'll be holding him and hes fine then he will just start biting at my fingers (not usually hard.. just opening his beak on my fingers pinning his eyes and then eventually if I don't get my finger out of there he will bite down hard. I don't know that this is the "bluffing" stage they go through because hes not actually attacking me..

also he'll let me pet him but he'll tilt his head up crouch down pin his eyes and spread his wings slightly then make a kind of high pitch laughing noise while I'm petting him.. he doesnt try to bite when I do this.. I have no idea what this means...

also and the one thing I really would like to fix. he HATES my conure. the second he sees him he pins his eyes/closes them puffs up and stretches his neck all the way out. then he lunges at him... if BB was close enough I'm positive he would rip him apart.. and I'd really really like for them to eventually get along.

I know alot of this is probably because hes adjusting to his new home and I'm okay with working with him until he gets acclimated... I just would like a translation for what hes trying to tell me by his behaviors.. I can read my conure better than anyone but I have no idea what this bird is thinking.. I've never really seen a bird that has his little quirky things.

also 80 percent of the time he hangs upside down in his cage.? hes an interesting little bird.



he hatched 1-2-09 and I'm not sure he is a boy... just assuming. I wont know until after 3 years when he gets his ring.. or she doesnt...

if anyone could give me some advice I'd really appreciate it. I'm sorry this is so long

[Jag]

Your new bird has seen your GCC? Gah!! Quarantine! Since your new one isn't what you're used to... have you posted this on the IRN forum? You may get more responses there. Your IRN may never get along with your GCC...but I agree it's way too soon to tell. I didn't think Rico and Rayne would ever get along...but they do for the most part. They just have to be watched closely. Especially because my GCC thinks she's bigger than my sun! Please quarantine your birds until they can be vet checked. Especially with so much exposure to different people and birds in the petstore.... you wouldn't want to have your GCC sick if the IRN is ill with something.

I did some reading on IRN's not too long ago when my youngest seriously wanted one... and my wife did, too! However, I didn't get into specific behaviors like that, so I can't help you there. What color is he/she? Have you thought of a name yet? They sound like fun birds...but a little trying, too. Sounds like you're already off to a good start, though. Congrats!

[Ashling]

The laughing thing sounds SO CUTE! You know what's weird? This new bird reminds me of my lorikeet. In fact his behaviours are extremely lorikeet like. Have you thought about searching lorikeet behaviours or surfing the "lories and lorikeets" section of birdboard? You might find some behavioural advice that will help you understand him. Sounds to me like he is testing his limits and having some fun. He also sounds like a big bluffing male! You have to gently show him you are not there to hurt him, you are there for fuuunn! -This is where treats and toys come in! Make sure every encounter with you is a positive one. Play with some toys and treats by yourself on the floor or near his cage and see if he walks over to you to check it out. If he does- give him what he wants. Watch for the signs that he is going to bite (like you said- pinning etc) and try and change what you are doing- find out what ticks him off and avoid it. When he bites you don't scream or make a big deal out of it; try and convert his beak to something else and as soon as it latched onto something else, praise him and reward him!

Jag is right you should quarantine them in case the new bird has a disease that it is hiding. When they are quarantined but able to "meet" keep him away from your other conure- don't risk anything. Take your time. Try and make every time he sees the conure a positive experience (treats, toys, praise etc). Different cage in the same room- if they eat and sleep at the same time they will feel like more of a flock and hopefully the IRN will come to enjoy his company. My lorikeet is too rough and rowdy for my cockatiel but they get along ok with supervision (otherwise Ash has fun chasing Peanut around and laughing at him!)

I've been researching IRN's recently and you are making me want to get one!

[sayray]

thank you both for the replies he is pretty cute. Jag- Rayne looks just like my GGC BBKing. (i named him that because all he could say at the time was BB haha). I do have the new bird (i think I'm gonna name him Atlas he's green i'll post some pictures a little later) in a different cage in on the other side of the room.. he has seen a vet but I know that doesn't mean hes completely in the clear.. I guess I should probably be more careful..

thank you ashling. I'll have to try your advice on moving his beak to something else, that is a really good idea I never thought of it. I also I know pretty much nothing on lorikeets, I'll have to look up some info on them. yours is beautiful by the way! Thank you both for the advice!

[LovelySydney]

Congrats on your new baby!! Yes, quarantine is SUPER IMPORTANT!! At least until you can get a well bird check and know they are both healthy.

[asulli]

Originally Posted by sayray

Hi everyone. I haven't been on here in a long time but I got a cinnamon greencheek conure about a year ago and you guys helped me out with a lot of questions I had (he was my first bird). Anyway he is doing great! I love him so much I decided maybe I'll get another one.

SO 3 days ago I was in petco just to pick up some crickets for my bearded dragon and I saw an indian ringneck.. which is the kind of bird i've wanted for a long time.. I held him and he seemed to like me, the woman said he is very aggressive (she put gloves on to get him out and everything which I thought was a little dramatic...) but anyway.. i got him to step up on me and he didn't bite.. he did pin his eyes at me.. a lot. but I just assumed he was scared, i'm a new person and I didn't think much of it. she was shocked he didnt bite me. anyway I left and a couple hours later I came back and got him... hes gotten so much better just in these few days, it took the person at the store about 7-10 minutes to get him out each time now he steps right up when I go to take him out.. but there are a few things about him that I don't quite get...

I'll be holding him and hes fine then he will just start biting at my fingers (not usually hard.. just opening his beak on my fingers pinning his eyes and then eventually if I don't get my finger out of there he will bite down hard. I don't know that this is the "bluffing" stage they go through because hes not actually attacking me..

also he'll let me pet him but he'll tilt his head up crouch down pin his eyes and spread his wings slightly then make a kind of high pitch laughing noise while I'm petting him.. he doesnt try to bite when I do this.. I have no idea what this means...

also and the one thing I really would like to fix. he HATES my conure. the second he sees him he pins his eyes/closes them puffs up and stretches his neck all the way out. then he lunges at him... if BB was close enough I'm positive he would rip him apart.. and I'd really really like for them to eventually get along.

I know alot of this is probably because hes adjusting to his new home and I'm okay with working with him until he gets acclimated... I just would like a translation for what hes trying to tell me by his behaviors.. I can read my conure better than anyone but I have no idea what this bird is thinking.. I've never really seen a bird that has his little quirky things.

also 80 percent of the time he hangs upside down in his cage.? hes an interesting little bird.



he hatched 1-2-09 and I'm not sure he is a boy... just assuming. I wont know until after 3 years when he gets his ring.. or she doesnt...

if anyone could give me some advice I'd really appreciate it. I'm sorry this is so long

I have a female IRN, Shakti. They are really into the bluffing thing. Shakti has learned to be gentle when I say "gentle" and I always always reward her for this. Shakti loves to hand upside down.

She loves baths! I put her under the shower and she just spreads her wings, her tail and closes her eyes and looks like she is in heaven. When I set her down on the tub she just spreads herself while I am finishing my shower. She also loves to be cuddled in the towel while a dry her up a bit.

Shakti loves to chew on wood. She loves to try new things to eat and loves to forage.

She likes to be petted, but does not like it when you go against her feathers. She loves to give kisses and does cuddle under my neck. I can give her kisses all over her face and her wings and she does not mind...but not her tail...that is a very sensitive area and she does not like it. She sometimes lets me get her on her back, but this is not a usual behavior.

To keep an IRN from being aggressive you must handle her/him every day. Trust is a real bit thing with IRN's.

My Shakti is not fond of the baby GCC. It could be that Dharma (GCC) is a little more active and flighty than Shakti. I know she does not like it when Dharma goes to her condo and tries to go to her. I know this because Shakti will pin her eyes (only time I have seen her do this) lower her head, fan her tail and puff up both wings. I will never force them to be friends, but what I do is that when I have Dharma on my shoulder and Shakti does NOT do the above I give her a treat right away. I feel this way she can learn that Dharma comes near me with Mummy, I do not make any threatening postures, I get treat! When she does do her little threat thing I say NO NO and do not give her a treat.

I think she is getting the hang of it. But I will never leave them alone.

GCC's have a Napoleon complex! and will try to dominate the situation.

[Greycloud]

PLease move this bird into another room for quarentine. Keep the door closed and close off the airvent and cover that vent. 30 days he needs to stay there. You wouldn't believe how many people are sorry they didn't quarentine. Especially from Petco and the other chains. They have shut down before for psittcosis.