IRN or Cockatiel

animalfriend

New member
May 18, 2010
3
0
Auckland, NZ
Parrots
None
Hi guys
I'm in a bit of a dilemma as to which species to go for, either the Indian ringneck or a cockatiel.
I really like the idea of the IRN due to it's nice size, colouration. However I have heard these birds can be difficult to train and rather like to sit on their perch than be handled.
The cockatiel well I really like the pied variety, they are cheaper in terms of overall cost etc and they seem easier to tame. However I have heard they are significantly messy and get really dusty during certain times.
So I'm really not sure, would like to hear your opinions as which bird is most suitable.
Note: I have not owned a parrot before, however I know quite alot about them and have cared for some in the past.
 

Ratzy

New member
Apr 7, 2010
803
Media
2
5
Hamilton, Victoria, Australia
Parrots
See siggie :)
Cockatiels aren't as dusty as a CAG but they do have some dust. I can't really say anything about a ringneck but I belive they are harder to tame. Cockatiels are quite friendly but can be aggressive. I 'sort of have a tiel'. He lives at my school. I tamed him and now he is my best buddy. He was impossible to handle but he trusted me and within 5 minutes I was walking around with him on my shoulder. He didn't have clipped wings. IRN's have bigger beaks and I think they aren't quite as good for a first timer parrot owner. I have no experience with IRN's so don't take my just my opinion.
 

HRH Di

New member
Jan 9, 2010
1,537
Media
3
9
McKinney, TX
Parrots
Max - Alexandrine, Jade - Red-Front Macaw, Ruby - CAG
I don't have an IRN, but I have an Alexandrine which is similar. Max is wonderful and I love him, but he isn't at all cuddly. Honestly, if I had done more research before we got him, we probably wouldn't have gotten an Alexandrine. He's much more independent and solitary that I would have prefered.

However, he has a sweet, if aloof, personality. He is part of our family and wants to be where we are - unless he's having a bad molting day and is sulking in his cage. He's kind of grouchy and doesn't like to be touched at all. Max's older brother - from his parents' previous clutch - has a similar personality to Max.

We had another Alexandrine about a year ago for a very short time and some friends of ours had her clutchmate. They were both much more approachable than my Max. However, they both had neurological problems - which we didn't know about - and died within a month of coming home (we only had ours for 5 days) - so that may have been accountable for their temperments.

All that said, Max's positives are that he relatively low maintenance - at least comparied to our RFM. He still needs his shreddable toys (lots of them), food, interaction, etc. but he's not so in your face as Jade is. He's relatively quite and is only loud if he's lonely. And then as soon as we bring him into the room with us or put him on someone's shoulder - he's perfectly happy.

Again, Max is an Alexandrine, not an IRN, but they're part of the same family and have similar characteristcs.
 

Marnie

New member
May 4, 2010
113
0
Williamsport, PA
Parrots
Indian Ringneck Parrot;
had
a Senegal &
2 love birds
i really love the IRNs and had a breeding pair of them for a while. i loved them, as they are my favorite bird. so beautiful, gracefull and come in so many colors. their voice is just the cutest thing! but mine weren't tame so i just got to enjoy them for what they are. as breeders, they never had toys etc so i loved giving them new things to explore and shred. they are very eager eaters and will try most anything. they didn't talk either but thats ok. i just loved their natural sounds.
they can be a challenge to tame and get to trust you, but it can be done.
i rehomed my pair to a very nice IRN loving home and she is working on taming them and has really done a lot with them. they have a great life there. they are not easy to come by, but maybe some day i will find a nice hand tame one meant just for me.
in the meantime i have found my little Marnie and she is just a love! my husband calls her the devil bird because she will bite him or anyone else who tries to get her to step up. she will accept pets from anyone though, she just loves being petted!
i had a very nice pearl tiel but my allergies went nuts so she was only here 3 weeks. laid 10 eggs in that time too! she too has a good home and a new tiel friend now.
good luck on your decision. keep doing your research and spend some time with them if you can.
 

thebirdnerd

New member
Dec 28, 2010
140
0
Parrots
Whitefaced Pied Male Tiel- official greeter at the Rainbow Bridge, forever in our hearts,
Turquoise Mutation IRN,
Congo African Grey- please come home to us,
Blue mutation IRN
I think the cockatiel would be easier to train but both would be good birds. I had an IRN a couple of years ago. He was a great bird but was very noisy. He would let out an ear piercing whistle almost constantly...He was a friendly bird..i just could not take the noise...I rehomed him to a home were he was the only bird...I have two baby tiels right now and they are great birds....I would recommend them to someone with any level of experience. Good luck with your decision!
 

Abzeez

New member
Apr 26, 2011
807
1
WI
Parrots
Bean the Blue Front Amazon, Chico the Ringneck, and Ida the African grey
I have an Indian Ringneck, Chico, he is in his 30's(also wild caught), and I am his, who knows what number, but last home. He is WONDERFUL. Will fly around the house to find my boyfriend, and clings to him. He and my daughter share treats, and sit on the couch together. He is curious, and into everything. He only says a few words, but he is such a clown and I love him to pieces. Great little bird.
063-1.jpg
 

Abzeez

New member
Apr 26, 2011
807
1
WI
Parrots
Bean the Blue Front Amazon, Chico the Ringneck, and Ida the African grey
And I had to share this one. Chico helping in a game of memory.

061-1.gif
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
In reality the birds chooses you, not the other way around. My birds were meant to live with us cause they trusted us since day one, even the ones that needed training. Except one very very mean Cockatiel that goes ballistic....lol.... ALL my other birds are friendly and don't bite at all. None of my birds were planned, except the pair of Eclectus. All the others kinda just fell into our laps and people beg us to take them off their hands. None were really what I was striving for in the first place, except the Eclectus. I had other birds in mind but ended up with what we have. We don't regret having them at all cause they're all wonderful birds. Go around to check different birds out, you'd be surprised on what you may come home with that wasn't planned.
 

EmeraldIsle

New member
Mar 26, 2011
28
0
Cockatiels are easy to take care of. But take a look at the sun conures. They like to be touched and cuddle much more than other parrots as far as I know. Look at the videos on youtube. Right now a sun conure is my 2nd choice and a golden conure is my 1st choice.
 

Blackfang320

New member
Apr 18, 2011
62
0
near pittsburgh PA
Parrots
a beautiful baby Cinn. Turq. girl Beanie =)
I have a green cheek a just got her yestruday but she trusts me she only bit me once and thats when i was at the breeders house she nvr bit since then and she flys to me well trys since her wings are clipped lol and she is really affectionate cool and cuddly she talks in her bird language not real words...yet lol but i think she is quiet and she is like the best pet ever and when i first wanted a bird it was between a 'tiel and conure and i chose a green cheek and my cinnimon turquiose chose me =) and GCC's haver a lot of beautiful color mutations and sun conures are probaly similar to a GCC i knoe thier louder and bigger and theres tons of beautiful colors even hot pink!
 

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