Hello from the southern hemisphere! Steve from N.Z.

[sleeprsteve]

Hello,
Have been reading the boards for a couple of weeks and now have joined. I'm Steve and have a 5 month old Indian Ringneck named Thunderwing Doomslayer, but we call him Eddie!
I am guessing he's a boy, he really likes females and will let strange women stroke him while he makes little squeeks and churps! I have been watching him closely, but can not learn the trick and so far been unsuccessful!
He was 12 weeks old and hand reared with clipped wings when I got him, he loves being around people and has traveled around on my shoulder in public and behaved well. He used to bite when I got him and took some good chunks of flesh, but I just let him Bite me hard one day and did not pull away(you seem to lose more flesh pulling away). After that his bites got softer, and he would grab the skin on my hand and slowly bite harder. When it hurt I said owch and he let go. he rearly bites harder than that now and uses his beak to climb onto my hand all the time. Once he learned he didn't have to grab the hand to get on it he became very gentle. When getting him to step up, I never pull back when he lunges, he no longer bothers to play up as much. Then one day he was sitting on my sholder and he started preening my eyebrows. It was pretty spooky as he was right by my eye and his beak looked realy big, but I didn't move and he finished preening me. Since then he has been very trusting.
I have had cockateals before, both hand reared and avary birds, and every time the hand reared birds have been very friendly and trusting.
Yet Eddie is already very special and loving!
Steve

[Monica]

He sure is a cutie! Looks like you learned how to get past the stubborness of a ringneck to see the cute side! We've got a Kiwi in the family, here! Anyway, welcome to BB!

[MandysBlackRoses]

Hiya neighbor! Welcome to BirdBoard Steve & Eddie!

[homebird]

What a beauty - hope to hear more about his exploits - & hope he stays a good boy
I'm new to the board too & am learning so much from everyone's stories.

[Samm]

Eddie is very beautiful! I have a pair of IRNs as well!

[Tiki]

Welcome Steve and Eddie from your neighbor across the Tasman!

[sleeprsteve]

Thank you all for the warm welcome, Your website has been very informative! I've been doing a couple of things wrong(nothing major) and have learnt more reading off this site, than all the books ive read about birds. My vet heard I had a new bird and asked me to send in some photo's, while I was typing in the e-mail address Eddie got the card.
It was destroyed within seconds, but I got that pic!

[Monica]

LOL! Sounds all too great! It is normally easier to learn from other well experienced owners rather from a book or article!