pros and cons of indian ringnecks?

[ritchie]

hey guys, well for a month or so now I have been really keen on buying an indian ringneck (fell inlove at the corner petshop at the end of my street)hahaha, so ive been researching them something cronick (to make sure i was aware of the pros and cons etc)...yet the other day i ran into an old friend of mine who use to work at a petshop, once i told her i was looking into buying an indian ringneck she laughed and said that they chew EVERYTHING...from television cables,wooden furniture (just bought some very expensive wooden furniture lol) too pretty much anything they can get their beaks around...is this true?if so is there anyway to ensure it doesnt happen?....and also..what are some of the pros and cons you guys have personally come across in owning an indian ringneck?
thankyou so very much for any help/guidence you can give me
sincerely
-Ritchie

[cgrite]

what bird dont chew everything if you let them..???

I have an IRN "Green Bird" and i wouldn't trade him for the world....as i have said here b4, i think they are one of the most underrated birds.....Green is smart as a whip and talks like there's no tomorrow....My two G2's chew up 10 times as much stuff as he does...plus on top of it all ...they are SO soft and beautiful....green keeps himself in tip-top shape at all times....what a lover he is....

i think if you take the time with them they make incredible pets......i handfed Green myself and he couldn't be more loveable.....


Good Luck and I hope this helps......

P.S. just remember if you decide to make the decision to get him/her make sure you are well prepared...(cage is plenty large....lots of toys... full spectrum lighting.....and definately proper diet....there is plenty of good info on this site along with people that are much more knowlegeable than myself....ask questions!) Remember...this is a long term decision...

[Monica]

If they have plenty of wooden toys to chew on then they may have less of an inclination to chew on other things, though yes, that may be one of the cons. Just keep him busy and don't let your eyes off of him when he's out! I'll let others reply now as I've never owned one before...

[ritchie]

As i said i have been cronickly researching for the past month so iam aware of the minimum requirements indian ringneck cages require,diet,health issues,toys (altho i have read a number of members on the birdboard let their birds choose the toys..) etc, ...Iam just curious as to whether or not chewing tv cables,wooden furniture etc is a common problem people find in owning an indian ringneck??thankyou also guys for your help so far...
sincerely
-Ritchie

[sadie]

I have had tons of problems with my ringneck - see My bird hates me- in ask the experts, but she has never destroyed anything. She doesn't chew things at all. She has a lot of toys which she really doen't care to play with. Her biggest thing is being with her people. She gets irritated and schreecy if she is not the centre of attention. I just talk to her pretty much constantly and she is fine. I am no expert, but for my bird anyways she needs a lot of attention.

[Noddy Boid]

Hi Richie, fellow Aussie. I have had my baby IRN for a few weeks now, and I'm totally smitten. I love him to bits. They are full of personality and mischief - but from all the reading I've been doing, it's pretty much standard practise to watch ANY bird for their own safety, while they are out of the cage.

My Noddy likes to perch on the top of the laptop screen, but within seconds today had pulled off the F2 key and little mouse sensor! He also pooped on and bit the pages of, of all things, a book on good parrot behaviour! He hates my long fingernails and chews those if he can, which is fine until he gets to the edge where the quick is. Ouch!

Yes, they do nibble. But I go for the distraction technique and if he starts getting a bit unruly, go bravely forward with a firm 'Up' and generally he complies. Then gets all sooky and sweet.

He has moments of cozy snuggling and then has a mad half hour before settling down again.

Remember, he is like a child and you have to be committed for 20 years+ - so make sure you can handle him and give him the attention he needs - terrible psychological damage can be done to birds if they are left alone in their cages and neglected. :(

[SavvyMoon]

Originally Posted by ritchie

As i said i have been cronickly researching for the past month so iam aware of the minimum requirements indian ringneck cages require,diet,health issues,toys (altho i have read a number of members on the birdboard let their birds choose the toys..) etc, ...Iam just curious as to whether or not chewing tv cables,wooden furniture etc is a common problem people find in owning an indian ringneck??thankyou also guys for your help so far...
sincerely
-Ritchie

One way to avoid the chewing of your walls, woodwork, furniture, etc is to make sure you are PRESENT while the bird is out of his cage and/or on playstands. You'd be amazed to know how many people who complain of "lots of damage" done by any bird, are people who put their birds on playstands, or hanging gyms and then go off to do chores or whatever in another area of the house for 2 hours at a time. :)

Oh yes, sometimes it can't be helped; it only take a couple of minutes or so for a bird to grab onto something interesting to chew or shred... but
the vast majority of damage can be avoided by monitoring your birds' out of cage time closely.

As for Ringnecks specifically- Ritchie, I know you're in Australia, but as a heads up! for folks here in the USA -- there are a few states where the Ringnecks are illegal, much like the Quaker parrot.

AND, boy can they be high pitched!
I was standing about 4 ft away from a ringneck that decided to screech,
and Man! my ears were ringing for 10 minutes! LOL

All birds have their good points and bad... Just gotta decide which bad points you think you can tolerate, long term.

[Tivona]

Hello there Ritchie,

I would deffianatly go with an IRN as cliff says they are the most underrated birds, honestly their personality will depand a lot on how you raise it. They can be very attention demanding if allowed to become spoiled. I find if u make sure they know you won't run to them and take them out whenever they screetch, then (since they are very smart) they learn to play well by themselves then have their time out to play with you.

As for chewing I find mine is really good about it! he doens't like cords, but of corse there will be some who do, as others have said the best way to keep this from happening is just to be sure his perch is not near any! I also find mine loves leather to chew, plasitics are a no no with them cause their beak can really pull them appart. Mine has very very little interest in wood adn his toys that are wood he never destroys them or chews em!

I used to work in a petshop and I have to say they were some of the best behaved and most interesting personalities I have ever met in birds. They are very smart, talk VERY well, love to learn tricks and as long as they are well socialized they are very gentle and will go to anyone. I find this to be one of the best pros to them! My friends, family and people I am showing Cai(my IRN, male, 3 years old) to others he is happy to get onto them, give them kisses and talk to them. So I really support your choice! Good luck and let us know how it goes! :-D

[ritchie]

hey guys, well i got my beautiful indian ringneck today! he's an absolutely beautiful 8 week old baby grey named Rajah, thankyou guys so much for all the help and information you guys have made so readily available, you'll definately be hearing from me in the near future to let you know how everythings going,
once again thankyou so much
sincerely
-Ritchie :)
(i have one query, i seem to remember a post somewhere on birdboard about a member whose bird didnt seem to like being on his/her hand and just kept climbing up onto his/her shoulder, i have tried the 'eygptian arm', but he will without a doubt find a way to jump to my shoulder, his wings are clipped, any advice as to what i can try? or any advice just as to how i can get him to feel safe jut being on my hand?, at the moment rajah is in time-out for biting my cheek hahaha i think its coz im a little bit sweaty from jogging anyways, it was quite a shock because he's never bitten me before, and the breeder i bought him off has done a fantastic job raising him, if i see him eyeing off a cushion nearby as soon either of us sterny say 'no' he stops, i truly am inlove, how could i not be? hahaha thanks heaps guys :D )

[Tivona]

Oh Ritchie, he's beautiful! Can't wait to see more pics of him!!! I have an idea or two about the shoulder problem. Even my ringneck will be persistant about sitting on some people's shoulder. Just be a little tough with him, do step ups everytime he tries to climb or jump onto your shoulder so he gets the idea that if he tries to get up there he's going to have to do exercise! LOL Mine is a lazy bum and will stop quickly when he realizes all the exercise he'll have to do to get onto someone's shoulder. Plus until he has the right idea that sitting on a should is a treat and privelege he needs to earn, make sure he stays on your hand, knee or perche. Ringnecks are smart and learn quickly so I am sure you won't have trouble fixing the problem. Of corse don't forget to praise him highly when he does stop climbing and relaxes on your hand. :-) Good luck!!!