New ringneck

[sayray]

X-Posted in "Getting help with your bird". Someone told me to post here also to get info from all you experienced ringneck owners :)



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

[Fiver]

Three days is a short period, so I'd give everything a lot more time. It seems too early to expect much from him. Maybe it'd be good to initially let him adapt to you and his new home without a lot of hands-on attention. Any bird will be cautious and anxious in a new setting, and if that new bird is on you, he will just transfer that anxiety onto you, i.e. biting.

It sounds like he could be testing you with the biting. If he's not biting hard or a lot, maybe he's just testing your mettle? How much you'll put up with? My grey, Ralphie, did this to me once or twice after I adopted her. She'd sit nice and friendly and then just bite my thumb for no apparent reason. I didn't react, and she just went back to sitting. She's since gotten over this issue. (It also took three months to get her to step up onto my hand reliably.)

His behavior while you pet him could be sexually related. My grey and Meyer's both will crouch low, hold out their wings, pin their eyes, and vocalize (they cluck) when they are hormonal and I am petting them. The best thing to do -- if this is a mating behavior -- is to stop petting him, let him calm down, and approach him when he's acting "normal."

As for your conure... this relationship may never change. My birds don't like each other at all. Luckily, they don't hate each other either. They leave each other alone, for the most part. However, there have been some close calls where one flies to the other or provokes the other with hissing, posturing, etc...

You really can't make birds get along. The best thing to do is make sure you have a good relationship with each of them so you can handle them. Always be vigilant when they are out of their cages (and let them out one at a time until they can reliably be let out together). Provide them with plenty of toys, playstands, and stimulation so they are too distracted to bother the other bird.

[sayray]

thank you for the advice, i really didnt understand the crouching down thing.. are you grey and meyers males?

i think he is probably testing me.. hes gotten alot better with the biting (its been about 6 days now I probably should have changed that..)


thanks again for replying!

[Fiver]

Your welcome. My grey, Ralphie, is a female for sure. She has laid eggs. Strangely (or perhaps, obviously?), she only displays mating behavior toward men. My Meyer's, Gonzo, is not DNA-sexed. I just assume he's male, but the more I think about his behavior, the more I think he may be female. He displays just like Ralphie, and likes sitting in a big empty food bowl like it's a nest. Everyone I know who has male parrots who get amorous say they hump toys, much like male dogs would. Who knows...

Is your ringneck DNA-sexed?

[sayray]

No that's why I was wondering... hmmm maybe he's a girl. He does have a light grey ring around his neck but I don't really think that's a good indicator.. maybe I should get him/her DNA-sexed. Or I could just wait 3 years and see if his ring comes in.. haha. My GCC used to hump my hand.. he's not DNA-sexed either I just assume everyone is a boy hahah

[rewki]

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..



Your bird is tasting you, don't laugh it is his way of recognising and accepting you. Born at the beginning of 2009 makes him too young to be mating, there is however a vertain behaviourarl pattern. Males: walking head stretched high, wings flung back into a heart shape and strutting walk, long strides. Females: Tend to make an odd noise, and squack high pitched sounds. Of course for both sexes since they are not around other ringnecks it may be diifcult to evaluate. All ringnecks both male and female have faint rings around their necks it is only at the one and a half year point which males coloring begins to change, and darkening begins the process of the ring developping. Of my 13 I never had any testing done on them, and I am accurate in evaluating their sex.

Mine do not hang upside down that much. Bats tend to hang upside down...lol... the only time mine are hanging upside down is when they want to do a good wing flap to rid themselves of accumulated dander or want more water shpritzed on them.

[mabird]

Originally Posted by sayray

No that's why I was wondering... hmmm maybe he's a girl. He does have a light grey ring around his neck but I don't really think that's a good indicator.. maybe I should get him/her DNA-sexed. Or I could just wait 3 years and see if his ring comes in.. haha. My GCC used to hump my hand.. he's not DNA-sexed either I just assume everyone is a boy hahah

Hello! Well, first of all, the good news is you may not have to wait three years.I think the three year mark is the longest it usually takes. Helio will be 2 in February and his ring is in. I started to see signs of it quite some time ago... a few lil white feathers showing up around his neck. (If you want search my posts in the ringneck forum, I'm sure there are pics, lol) However, I had him dna sexed before he came home from the breeder.
At any rate, the point I'd really and truly like to make is that I WANT PICTURES, LOL. What color is he/she? What's his/her name?
C'mon I'm dying up here in NH... I NEED details!!

[red192]

Congrats on being owned by a ringneck. I am owned by the Queen of Luntino Ringnecks. She is my demon bird but I love that little beast. She has such a personaility and SMART. You will LOVE having a Ringie.

[sayray]

thank you all for the replies. I attached a couple of pictures of the new addition and then one of bb just because :). I actually don't have a name for him yet... if you have any ideas please send them my way!

mabird i didnt know that the rings could come in that soon.. that's good to know! helio is really adorable by the way!

rewki- wooow 13 I bet you have gotten pretty good at figuring out their sexes. maybe I'll try to post a video of my bird and you might be able to help me out.. i'm really curious. thank you for the advice!

and thank you red! I already love him. yours is also really pretty I don't see the luntino ones too often

[Chicklette]

Congratts on the new IRN. They are hilarious birds. Chiquita is always mumbling, grumbling, screaming, talking, that bird is never quiet and pigs out on any kind of food I offer her, she loves eating.

I really do love her to peaces and you will love you little devil as well. It’s so easy to get attached to them and they are incredibly smart.