Hello :)

RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
Hello everyone.

Newbie to the forum. Newbie to owning an Indian Ringneck. I purchased my girl from an animal hoarder. When I went to see her, I had no expectation of leaving with her. I never had anything bigger than keets and tiels. So, I figured I'd just look at her and see what I thought.

What I was expecting, a small apartment with a few pets and just a woman with her husband looking to make a little bit of space in their home (she said the IRN took up too much room). What I saw, an overcrowded apartment with cage on top of cage of small birds, small rodents, cats and dogs and stuff. So. Much. Stuff. I was baffled. The bird cages were all gross with poop, dirty water and it looked like all the birds (tiels, lovebirds, keets and irn) were all eating keet food. Needless to say, IRN came home with me. (October 2016)

Fast Forward to today.

Soleil is a handful lol. She's smart, quiet (weird) and HATES hands. When she first came home, I couldn't get near her. I'm stubborn though. I kept, and still keep working on step up with her. When we first started it, biting was a HUGE issue. She would draw blood every single time. Up until a few days ago, this was an issue. I've finally managed to have her step up without biting (YAY!).

Her favorite treats are peanuts, apples and nutri-berries. I've just started introducing her to broccoli (kinda liked it) and other greens. She's very hesitant to eat things other than her seed mix (little does she know I put dried greens in her seed :D).

I want to touch her SOOO bad. I've tried giving her head scratchies but she pins her eyes and lunges at me :( I refuse to give up. Any training tips would be greatly appreciated.

The previous owner told me that Soleil came from a pet store (lived there 3 yrs) and the woman had her for 4, making Soleil approx 7yrs old.

I just want my girl to be happy, healthy and feel safe. I was told that she may make a better breeder than a pet. IDK Opinions?

Sorry for my ramblings, just wanted to introduce myself and my girly. Thanks <3
 

wrench13

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Welcome and be welcomed. Blessings on you for rescuing this IRN. You certainly sound like you have the patience to get thru to Soleil, just keep at it, and be consistant in your requests. I've read that IRN;s if not handled almost daily tend to goback to the wild state, if true, it's like starting from scratch with a wild caught bird. If thats true, your making amazing progress. Keep us posted and we love pics !!
 

Allee

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Oct 27, 2013
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Hello and welcome! We're happy to have you here, we love success stories! Thank you for giving a deserving IRN a chance at the life she deserves. Your introduction touched me deeply, thank you so much for sharing your story. Good for you, it sounds like you have committed your time, energy, love and patience to turning things around for this beautiful girl, you've made impressive progress in a short time. I was told once that a little quaker parrot would be more suited to a breeding situation than a home, Harry and I beg to differ, she's a valued family member, she has lots of friends that love her dearly. All I can really say after reading your intro is, carry on and enjoy the journey. Here's a link that may have a few tips you haven't tried yet.

http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html
 

itchyfeet

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Nov 1, 2014
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Middle Earth
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Hi and welcome!
IRN's are brilliant parrots - quite literally very bright birds. They're often not hands on birds, with the occasional exception. My hand reared IRN who has been super well cared for his entire life loves people and loves to talk, but the only way he'll let me touch him willingly is by nose to beak, or cheek to cheek snuggles. I know a few people have more luck offering closed fists as opposed to loose hands or fingers when asking to step up or giving gentle rubs.
Good luck!
 
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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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Thank you! She's my little love, but everyone in the family calles her the angry chicken &#55357;&#56357; lol. I'll post some pix soon, not easy from my phone apparently...
 

wrench13

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Thank you - "Angry Chicken" caused a coffee explosion when I read that. At my desk. At work.
 
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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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  • #8
ae2a67cf077208633da0fb9e914dd953.jpg


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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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  • #9
003c687b3fac96d0ffab63e3c7ac7b51.jpg


PROGRESS!!! Soleil refused to go near anyone except me :) My youngest was able to carry Soleil safely to her cage, no biting!!! WOOT WOOT!!!

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RedheadedVixen

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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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OMG I'm SUCH A BIG SAP right now!!! I was able to give angry chicken (Soleil) head scratchies!!! I'm over the moon with happiness. I pushed it a bit further than her head. I brought my fingers down to the back of her neck and gave her neck rubs. Her reaction? She closed her eyes and purred! She FREAKING PURRED!! I can even think, I'm just in absolute euphoria. She's happy! Soleil is really, really happy!! <3 I wasn't sure if I was making headway with her, but I most certainly am :D
 

itzjbean

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Jan 27, 2017
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Congratulations on Soleil's amazing progress!!!!! :) Woohoo!!!!!

You were right to never give up on her!
 
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RedheadedVixen

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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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I was never going to give up, but I honestly thought she'd just be an "angry chicken" for life. I was willing to accept that, to accept her just the way she was. I haven't been pushing touch the way I was previously, but today I gave it a go and she was receptive. After a few moments, I stopped the scratchies (not pushing my luck) and gave her one of her favorite treats BLUEBERRIES!! lol :)
 

itzjbean

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Jan 27, 2017
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I was never going to give up, but I honestly thought she'd just be an "angry chicken" for life. I was willing to accept that, to accept her just the way she was. I haven't been pushing touch the way I was previously, but today I gave it a go and she was receptive. After a few moments, I stopped the scratchies (not pushing my luck) and gave her one of her favorite treats BLUEBERRIES!! lol :)

That is great!! I've heard it is better to stop and leave them wanting more!! Great progress Soleil.
 
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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
Parrots
Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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077e1b53f5f26a3bfb215ce510d9ea43.jpg

The new Cirque du Soleil! Lol. Excellent deal on this cage, Amazon rocks#

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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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Sorry in advance for my language.
HOLY ****! I just called to Soleil and she flew over to me and landed on my hand!!!!! SHE'S NEVER DONE THAT

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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Maine
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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  • #16
Updated Soleil progress
I can give FULL BODY rubs now :) She tells me when she wants them by putting her head up and exposing her neck. She coos and purrs during her "loves" time. It's funny, when I wake up in the morning and uncover her, she sticks her neck out and I ask "Do you want loves?" She'll start pacing back and forth until I open her cage and give her said loves lol :) When she's finished with her attention, she fluffs out her feathers and walks away. She's my little lovebug now :) Oh! Found out today she really enjoys warm showers lol. I tried letting her bathe in the sink and she had no desire. I put on the shower and set it to the lowest stream and she was in heaven. She perched on my hand and just let the water run all over her, closing her eyes and moving around to get the water across various parts of her. It was beautiful to watch. Wish I would have caught it on camera but I was SO caught up in the moment to even think about it.
 

YUMgrinder

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Mar 20, 2017
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I wish my wonderful birds liked to bathe, well, acted like they like it lol

They do let the water wash over them but they just look at me like "what is THIS?"
 
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RedheadedVixen

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Feb 5, 2017
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Soleil (F Creamino IRN), Loki (M Disabled Budgie), Freya (F Budgie)
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That's funny :)

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maverickbull

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Jun 18, 2016
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Bangalore, India
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Alexandrine (hulk)
IRN (honey)
CAG (red)
congratulations...
whatever you're doing... you're doing right for angry chicken :) continue doing that...
just monitor that diet & you'll have a super happy bird.
IRNs are (what my GF calls) hormonal like a pregnant woman (I know it is an exaggeration)... you might have some slips but that is just a bad day... keep moving forward.
 

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