Any advice on getting an Indian ringneck?

[JagsSon22]

hi every one. I just joined because I'm hopefully getting an Indian ringneck soon. We found a guy out in callifornia who has an unsexed blue IRN for 200$. And befor we get the bird I was looking for some1 to give me some advice on Indian ringnecks. Btw, this 1 is just a baby from a breeder in Cali. It is only 7 weeks old.... Thxs

[Chicklette]

Aww, a little baby. Congratts! IRN’s are great but they do have an attitude and are independent. They are extremely boisterous and loud. EXTREMELY smart and pick up things really fast. They are a lot of work because they need a ton of attention so they don’t regress which they can easily do if not given a lot of one on one attention.

I love my IRN, Chiquita to peaces. She is a great bird but LOUD, my neighbors wonder how I can stand all that racket. But I love her so I put up with it.

You should work with your IRN right away, give her a few days to settle in and then start letting her out in small amounts threw ought they day. Don’t pressure her, work with her on her terms. Don’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want to or you will lose her trust. Talk to her as much as possible by her cage.

This is how I train my new birds;

ALWAYS make slow movements around them. Not fast abrupt movements or this will send them into a panic. This takes a long time, be patient and don’t give up.

#1. Put your hand is the cage and be very still and hold in there. Do this threw ought the day. As much as possible.

Once they get used to your hands being in the cage move on to step #2.

#2. Hold you hand in the cage with a treat. This process may take a while. They will eventually take it from you. After #2. Move on to step #3.

#3. Now you’re ready for “step up”. Put your hand in the cage and when they go to your hand press your hand under there belly to train them to step up on your hand. Always use the command words and once they learn that give them a treat for stepping up on your hand.

Congratts and Welcome to the IRN world. Learn all you can!

[catschair]

You are in for a great adventure. Ringies are like teenagers--you never know quite what to expect, but you just have to love them. They will be running the house in no time, if you give them the opportunity. They just need lots of love and time and patience, but they are well worth the effort!

[asulli]

I agree with Chicklette and the step by step training that she noted. Although you ask for advice, and perhaps this is not what you are looking for in a response, I just wanted to share with you what my personal relationship is with my IRN

I feel IRN's are very smart and learn very quickly what the boundaries are. My IRN, Shakti, is 6 months old. In the beginning she did a lot of the "bluffing", but once she knew I was not apprehensive about putting my hand in her cage she stopped. I have learned to read her and she in turn reads me through body movements. I think in short, one must know their fid and try to learn to communicate in a level that they understand.

Shakti will let me put my hand in her cage and she will automatically step up. But there are times, especially at night after our bedtime ritual that she does not want to be bothered at all. She is also protective of a certain food bowl, but I am teaching her that when I take it something good happens.

Shakti loves to cuddle. This was something we worked on from the beginning as I like to cuddling. In return, I give her great neck rubs which she loves! She has taught me what she likes and doesn't like and I have taught her what is acceptable and what is not. Shakti not only likes the routine we set up for her, but now demands it.

I did 2 years of research, which has helped me tremendously, before I decided on an IRN.

As far as noisy, I would not say they are too too noisy. She calls in the morning and in the early evening, but I have found if I leave soft music for her during the day it calms her. If I sing to her she does just listens and only makes little peep sounds. -- But she does make a bit raucous when she hears the microwave!
Of course, I am sure when spring time comes around, and those hormones kick in, we will have to connect on a different level!!

Good luck, do your research and when you think you know it all learn some more!

[Chicklette]

Shakti sounds adorable. Your lucky that she is not too noisy, Chiquita will scream her head off at times that my neighbor, Eddie can hear her. Eddie thinks it's funny and had to come in to meet Chiquita, she LOVES Chiquita and talks to her threw my screen window when it’s open. So I guess noise depends on that specific bird, you never know what your going to get. I had another IRN Rascal who unfortunately passed away would scream as well, LOL. Chiquita's goal in life is to scream as loud as she can. I just got a conure two weeks ago and if Boomer squawks Chiquita has to out do her and be bigger and louder.

So guess it depends. But you will get very attached to your IRN, they are just so easy to love and keep you laughing! There always on the go, never just sitting there doing nothing. Chiquita has ants in her pants. She just cannot sit still for anything. But once they bond to you it's the best feeling in the world but they do have a temper and can be quite trying and difficult at times but it's worth it.

[Ringneckmom]

Chicklette your second paragraph says it well. My guys are not too bad about the screaming unless it is the alarm call and it is quite high pitched so that can be quite annoying.
That said, I adore my ringies. I am totally in love with the Psittacula family and have 10 ringnecks, 3 plumheads and 1 Derbyan.
My ringies always keep me laughing even when they can be regular brats. And if you have food - they want it PERIOD. Mine will actually climb up my leg to get to the food if they are not hanging off the side of the cages whining about it.

It is a roller coaster with them and you will have your times when you want to wring their necks but well... then they are just the sweetest things in the world. Course this is the case with just about any bird let alone my Linnie and Tiels.

I would definitely get exposure to them if possible first just to make sure that their noise will not aggravate you too much when they do go off. My ringies don't bother me but my hahns will set me off in a heartbeat.
Some noises will grate on your nerves moreso than others.

Another thing to know is that most ringnecks will reach for your hand or finger before stepping up - they are not going to bite (most times ) but they will do that before stepping up.
As much exposure as you can get to them with handling and noise, is a plus as it will help you to determine if they will fit with you.

Good luck in your quest.

[JagsSon22]

Ok, well my mom thinks that the 7 weeks old is to young to be weaned and he is to young to b flown in a plain at such a young. Age... But I found a guy in cleavland who is willing to sell me the last weaned DNA tested girl blue IRN at sale price and we could drive to pick him up. I'm waiting for an email back to see if she is sweet and hand tame. I already have a name picked out that my stepmom came up with.... Zeva. Well I heard that girls don't accualy talk. Do you guys with girl IRNs out there plz reply. Thxs, jagsson22

[Chicklette]

Ringneck mom, wow 10 ringgies, that is amazing. I would LOVE to come see them all. That is a dream of mine, I just LOVE IRN’s there the best. That is also true about the food. If I am eating something Chiquita will book it over and land on my plate. She will even climb up to my mouth and try to pry my lips open so she can get the food inside my mouth, LOL

If I go into the kitchen I BETTER come out with some sort of snack or she screams her head of bouncing from ledge to ledge. They are food crazy, they just love to eat anything and everything. It’s cute.

Sometimes the noise can get to you if your sick, like a couple days ago I had a migraine and I had to go outside because the noise of Boomer and Chiquita was killing my head. Other then that the noise just blends in and I really don’t even hear it anymore but when friends/family comes over they think I have like 10 birds.

[Ringneckmom]

Thanks Chicklette. Much as I love all of them - sometimes I wish I didn't have as many as I do though I wouldn't give them up for the world. Multiple birds is a lot of work as well as more money that has to be spent.


JagsSon - 7 weeks may not be too young for a ringie to be weaned - it really depends on the bird. Females can and will talk - it is really up to the individual bird as to whether they will or not - male or female.

I have some males that don't say a word and one of them used to talk, but now he doesn't. If you work with her then it is a very good possibility that she may talk then again she may not.
One thing I have seen in the female ringneck is that they can become very devoted to their chosen person to the exclusion of other people. Make sure that everyone in the family works with her to keep her from doing this.
I like to call me females "colored cockatoos" they are very touchy feely when they bond to you and love the rubbed and cuddled - at least mine do. Sometimes they are not as receptive, but for the most part all I have to do is walk over and start talking to them and their head goes up and they start clucking at me - they love their mommy!

The females can be a bit more moody - they are the boss in the ringneck world so just keep that in mind. If you can I would try to visit and handle the bird first before think about buying a particular one just to make sure that you and the bird get along.

A young ringneck does need more handling for at least the first year or so to make sure they do not get a little wild. The best scenario is to have them in the family room or something so that they are in the thick of things - they love activity and like to be in the middle of it all.
If in the middle of activity, they seem to do well with their family and don't need hands on work as much - they tend to be happy just hanging out as well as getting that hands on attention. they do like being rubbed - some more than others so don't listen to those fables out there about how they don't like rubbing etc. There are very few,if any, in my house that don't like a good neck ruffle.

Keep us up to date on your new bird or search for him/her.
I really hope that you learn to love yours as much as I love mine. you have an advantage in that you parents love birds as well so you have a good support system in place to help you succeed.