Hello from Ontario! My name is Mel (my IRN's name is Tiko)

Good Morning all, my name is Mel (Melissa) and I joined today after receiving what seems like the hundredth nasty bite from my IRN. He is less than 2 years old and I know I have a lot to learn still, otherwise I wouldn't still be getting bitten so frequently.

About Tiko - my little green buddy who knows how to push my buttons.

So, we purchased him from a 'breeder' in Guelph Ontario about 4 months ago. He had belonged to his niece who was leaving for college. In hindsight, we should have done a lot more research on this breeder because Tiko was expensive, came with no papers and has a deformed nail/claw. We love him and would not trade him for another bird because what kind of owners would we be if we did not commit to our little guy, train him and love him?

Anyway, our biggest issue is biting. He is flighted, and obsesses over a spot in our kitchen right next to the stove. We put him in his cage when we cook as a result, because we have no door on the kitchen and he is far too interested in the stove itself. Our current solution to that is to put a door up eventually. However, once he gets to this spot he loves so much, only my husband can get him off it without getting bit. And these bites are hard, and always draw blood. But at this time, without the door, we can't let him out of his cage without him flying straight there.

We are starting from the ground up with training. We are working on step up because he only really does it when he feels like it. To some extent I understand that - he has never been rewarded for stepping up (from us) so that combined with the clicker for an event marker works when we are doing a little training session. However in the mornings, he won't have any of that. I am also working on targeting and my husband is working on stationing.

My biggest question is what to do when he bites hard, other than not reacting, what can I do!? He draws blood and it darn well sucks! I know I have created this behavior somehow, and there have been times I've pushed him back when he bit hard only for him to bite harder. I end up pulling away eventually, so I am basically re-enforcing him to bite harder to get rid of me. He only bites like this from that spot in the kitchen.

His cage is 6 feet tall by 4 feet with lots of new toys regularly. His bedtime is 9:20 sharp with a dark cage and he knows when its time to go to bed, and does so happily. He gets fruits and veggies daily, seed, and pellets.

Hi there Mel, and welcome to the forums. I moved your thread to the "Behavioral" section, in hopes of generating greater responses from our awesome members.

I'm having some trouble with photos, but that is my little tikosaurus in the sun right after a bath :21:

WOW, Tiko sure is GLOWING! What a gorgeous IRN!!! Thanks so much for the photo.

Hmm...not quite sure why you had issues, you could have a look at this thread if you like. http://www.parrotforums.com/technical-support/6287-how-post-pictures.html

I will take a look at the thread. Thank you, I'm looking forward to him maturing a bit so I can confirm that he is indeed a "him". Hes almost 2 we believe and he doesn't really have a ring yet.

Hello and Welcome, Mel! Tiko is a beauty, I love the photo.

I can't help with IRN behavior, but I know we have members who can.

Hi welcome he's lovely! What a cute picture.

Hi!
Great to see another ringneck
I'm lucky at the moment, the worst I tend to get when Henry is cross is a deafening squark.
Have a search on the forums for 'bite pressure training', there should be some great ideas amongst those

Thank you for the advice so far! Its much appreciated. I went away for a few days and had my mom bird sit, now he is worse than ever with the biting. I am not sure why but I am trying to give him space to get used to us being home after the 4 day absence. It's very hard to think like a bird and figure out what is setting him off! My poor little green monster.

Just had another read of your post. I've got a good thing going with my IRN at the moment, a male over a year but less then 2. This is what's worked for us, not necessarily correct in theory. This is all just in my humble opinion.

Biting. I was told to react, gently. I can't remember from where or by who, but I thought it was on here. I wish we could tag members, think it was Mark? When he bites, I gently push back towards him and say no, 'be gentle'. As soon as I do that he now lets go, and it's genuinely more gentle. Of course, it also sounds like he's now trying to say gentle after he beaks me. If you stay firm, it will pass.

As for being flighted, do you know about bluffing? I have a harness trained parrot, but he came to me fully clipped. I've always said I'd have fully flighted birds, but honestly, the clip has been a huge help in getting the basics sorted. I know it's more rewarding to win trust over and clipping can feel like forcing it, but in this situation it may well be worth while. Once Henry's flighted again hopefully that will be it.

You've had him four months - he darn well knows your place. I read it as he knows how to game play, and he's holding the power a bit. Unless the fear is in the hands, which isn't uncommon - but hubby's moving him without a bite. The reason I doubt this is because he's flighted, and could take off in fear, as opposed to a clip bird who may only have biting as a reaction tool.

So in short, I think having him clipped by someone who can do it confidently is a good move. Read his body language, but if you choose to ask something of him, expect it and follow through. It's a two way thing, he'll learn that he's not the only one who gets to call the shots. I really believe these little parrots are right up there with the greys etc on their thought processes and intelligence, and that you will get there with consistency and by being firm. It will pay off one day!

He is beauuuuuuuuuuuutiful!

I've been thinking about you! How are you getting on?

Indian Ringneck's are notorious for their bluffing phase when they start to mature. Almost every Indian Ringneck goes through a bluffing phase, where a cute little baby can turn mean and nasty for a few(or more) months. So you aren't necessarily doing anything wrong, and you just need to ride this out. As long as you don't make it worse, by reacting wrongly[I'm sure you won't. ], then everything should get better soon. The behavior will eventually stop. Just take everyone's advice on how to react to biting, and you should be all set!