Indian Ringnecks as pets...

[Ashling]

What are Indian Ringnecks generally like as companion pets? I'm curious about temperament, intelligence, talking ability, training ability, noise factor, biting/ aggression, main diet, chewing ability and anything else you can think of. Also, are they typically a one-person bird? Are they prone to rolling on their backs? Are they hormonal? Personal experiences are encouraged!

[Andie]

This sounds dangerous, Mel!

Just for you, I will say that IRN make very bad pets they are all evil and mean and loud and require a very special and difficult diet!

<Invisible-to-Mel>
I love Grover dearly. He is not a cuddly bird though. He is getting his ring in so he is at the cantankerous age. He has still got some cage aggression but now steps up onto my hand if it is draped in a face cloth without the slightest hint of lunging. Not my bare hand. That he lunges at.

When he is in a cuddly mood he will let me scritch his neck and almost seems to purr like a kitten. Other days he will only lower himself so far as to sit on my shoulder and nothing more.

He is cute and funny and imitates the other birds as well as the ones outside and on cds and he seems to bob in time and sing along. I want to get a normal green friend for him so he has someone his own size to play with!

He likes to chew wood and plastic and paper and his cage and basically anything he can get his beak on!
</Invisible-to-Mel>

[rewki]

Originally Posted by Ashling

What are Indian Ringnecks generally like as companion pets? I'm curious about temperament, intelligence, talking ability, training ability, noise factor, biting/ aggression, main diet, chewing ability and anything else you can think of. Also, are they typically a one-person bird? Are they prone to rolling on their backs? Are they hormonal? Personal experiences are encouraged!

If the photos of your signature are any indication of your menagere of pets I wold say no to a ringie. They are not the affectionate type when affections are shared with a whole slew of others. Earplugs are in order at times. They can be very aggresive and tempermental at times and usually do not do well with other birds. They should be kept apart from other types of birds. They are very intelligent and do like pampering and attention. Remember we are owned by our pets, and not the other way around. Mine are in an outdoor aviary all year round, the original two belonged to my daughter and were in a cage which is not fair for ringnecks. They need their space and freedom, they are super loud, can make tremendous messes and will chew anything wooden!!!! Think twice no three times at least before buying one. Diet is a biggie, variety is their spice of life. !!!! They are not dogs and do not roll on their backs, I don't know where you got that idea. Who is not hormonal, hormonal phases are a gift from Mother Nature in both animals and humans, if not for hormonal changes how would their be continuation of any species including Humans. Just a few of my own personal thooughts and observations of IRNs. I have 13, therefore I think I am qualified to comment on them in all honesty.

[Abby]

They're one that you really need to stay on top of if you want them to remain human friendly. Noise wise, I'd say no worse then a lorikeet at full volume. They can get a bit nippy. I find them more elegant rather then playful.

Ty and Blondie are in an aviary with my mallee ringneck. Blondie will be incredibly sweet one day, the next be a thorough cow. We knew she was like this when we took her on so when she wants to be sweet we lap it up, when she doesn't, well her choice. even though I finished handraising Ty he's not a super friendly bird. I got him as an aviary companion for my mallee (long story that has nothing to do with this) so that was never a big deal for me.

[mabird]

I can only speak from my experiences with Helio. Helio has no cage agression, never has. Helio has never nipped, bitten or any of the such... heck, he's never pinned his eyes at me.
If he is "human surfing"... he prefers me, however, he will jump down onto the boys (6 & 7) especially when they are sitting on the couch watching tv, ya know for his "guy time". He also really seems to enjoy table time. That is when we only take one bird out of their cage for time alone with "we humans" to play with numerous foot toys, straws, paper plates, plastic cups, blocks & to have special snacks. He usually has table time with myself along with the two boys. He likes to do puzzles & other "thinking" type games. He is extremely smart & clear speaking. He learns words and phrases more quickly than Murphy (my grey) of course Helio could just be more open to new things, as their ages could be an issue, as Helio will be 2 in February & Murphy is 17.
As far as diet, he loves to try anything we have on our plates and we for the most part let him.
I would however suggest getting a male if at all possible as the females are the alpha bird and are known for being quite a bit more trouble and also more moody, etc.
I know it may sound crazy, having read some of the other posts about ringies myself, but in all seriousness, Helio is one of my easier birds. He never screams or has any other "negative" type of behaviors. If I could just get him to use the toilet I'd be in Heaven!

[JenG78]

As an only bird, Joey is doted on, and a total ham and he eats up the attention. They are loud, I can hear Joey in our house from a few hundred feet down the street when our double-paned windows are closed tight.

Joey is a total buzz-saw, he goes thru wood toys like they are going out of style, and that beak is not to be ignored - for the size of the parrot, it's a much bigger beak than you might expect, and they can take a chunk out if they want to.

All that said, ours is the sweetest little man, a total velcro bird who loves to snuggle (on his terms of course) and gives kisses and talks up a storm.

Once in a while he gets a little cage possessive, and he has delivered nips - we see a lot of the male posturing to his toys and such and when he decides to let loose with a screech by your ear, you'll be deaf with ringing in that ear for a while.

And one day, he had himself all in a lather over something and gave me a real hard bite, that punctured my lip, but aside from that, he's been an overall easy bird!

Our vet calls him the most well-adjusted, easy bird he sees and just loves him when we bring him in!

[Kathy]

My advice can go either way. My bird was a beast for the first year. Mean to everyone in the family but me. We have had to read a lot on how to handle him, his behaviors and his temperaments.

It has all paid off and he is a loving, sweet bird... 6 years later. Sometimes I forget how much work and how nasty he was.

He is now a family bird- sweet and loving...but like a ringneck... on his own terms. Once we realized this and respected his space and his time- all was well.

IRNs are good for people who have bird experience... budgies don't count. Definitely not as a first bird

[Chicklette]

I would not say they are terrible pets if their behavior is understood. They are not cuddly, they are independent, confident, loud and Chiquita is a one person bird. She doesn’t really like anyone else but my mom.

Chiquita can be aggressive at times as all parrots can be. I use Zupreen pellets. I give her fruits and veggies all the time, organic, with treats raisins, dried fruits, nuts, sunflower seeds, ect.

They are not prone to roll on there back but conures are known for that.

I keep Chiquita (my IRN) away from Boomer (my GCC), I never let them have play times together, never have never will.

I love Chiquita with all my heart but I understand her behavior that she will not be all cuddly but she does sit on my head and shoulder and grooms my face at times she sticks her head in my mouth. IRN’s are hilarious with the things they do. Im always laughing at her.

I have head sets to watch movies with, if I didn’t I could never hear it. She is so loud my neighbor Eddie can hear her. But Im used to the noise now and I hardly hear it anymore. Except for when she is screaming. Which I ignore.

But if you are looking for a bird that is confident, strong willed an IRN is right for you. They are aggressive which should be understood but if cared for properly that way and you know about that you can prepare for it and learn how to manage it.

Chiquita is extremely smart and pick up things very quickly. She is always on the go, never still. Extremely active and happy. I would not change a thing about my baby, I love her dearly! But boy can she get into trouble at times, lol. She's a real bugger. lol

[Ashling]

Thanks rewki and Abby, that is exactly what I needed to hear- and trust me, I needed to hear it! I have been researching heaps and this is generally the things that I hear. Same with the "good" aspects. I can now see now what life with an IRN would probably be like.
I didn't need to hear those lovely things Andie and mabird! They sound so sweet. I can see that IRN's really are their own birds though, and do things on their terms.
Jen, Joey sounds like my lorikeet Ashling! Down to just about everything you described! I don't think I could handle two Ashlings though... Most of the descriptions are very lorikeet- like. Kathy, I could handly one easily... but my question is do I want to go through all that training and what not in order to have a manageable bird? The diet sounds pretty easy, considering what I already prepare it wouldn't make much difference. I guess I am not ready for an IRN. I want something that will get along with my lorikeet and cockatiel- I can have them both out at the same time and they interact with each other and never hurt each other. I have seen lorries and IRN's getting along, but I wouldn't want to risk that.

Originally Posted by rewki

They are not dogs and do not roll on their backs, I don't know where you got that idea.

I'll give you one guess











I am a sucker for rolly polly birdies!

[Andie]

Well I told the HTML to make it invisible. It is not my fault if it did not. And I did say he bites. Also, he has learned the sun conure screech in less than a week. SO basically I have 2 sun conure's worth of noise now!

Grover does bite. Hard. It takes a fair bit of time some days to sit and quietly coax him out of his cage with the promise of unhealthy, fatty treats. Even then, some days he does not want even a brief scritch and other days he practically purrs. Some days he is and many other days he is It is like he has PMS all the time!!

The training can be a pain in the butt! All my other birds are so so easy with no annoying behaviour problems that I can handle it. They all enjoy playing independently. If I had a crazy Ashling who loved me so much and wanted to play with me the way he does, I don't think I could handle it all. I am such a hypocrite but from what I know about lorikeets, they are demanding on attention and maybe another lorikeet would be the way to go?