IRNs reverting back to wild state?

Crayfish066 · Jul 23, 2017

Could someone please clear something up for me.

I've read that unless ring necks are handled daily they will revert back to being "wild".
What does this mean exactly? Will the ring neck lose all affection for me or is it
something different?

I will obviously try and handle my ring neck daily but I am worried about what will
happen if I can't for whatever reason at any point.

SilverSage · Jul 23, 2017

That is absolutely untrue of a properly socialized tame bird. However, in my experience raising Irns some babies have a genetic predisposition toward being wild. I have discussed this with other breeders of tame Ringnecks who have had the same experience.

For example my first year breeding ringies I bought out of other nests because I didn't get any fertile eggs. I had 7 babies, two were siblings the rest completely unrelated. They were all very close in age and all raised the same. Two weaned early and "went wild" completely. Absolutely mind boggling to see two babies that you have been feeding by hand turn like that. They were completely unrelated and come from different breeders, both of whom have provided me perfectly fine babies since then.

Some breeders will try to force these babies to "stay tame" and sell them as pets anyway. Here is my advice to you as a breeder:

DO NOT BUY ANY RINGNECK WHO WILL NOT HAPPILY STEP UP FOR YOU WHEN YOU MEET HIM.

Ringnecks are extremely unique and NEARLY impossible to tame if you get a wild one. In my years of working with birds I have tamed many, but never had success with an IRN. I have also only spoken to one person who has successfully "tamed" one, and even those people still cannot physically touch their bird with their hands even to pick her up.

Irns have an extremely bad reaction to emotional neglect as do all parrots and their reaction to being ignored may show up sooner, but one day of a crazy schedule is not going to turn a tame bird wild.

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Crayfish066 · Jul 23, 2017

SilverSage said:
That is absolutely untrue of a properly socialized tame bird. However, in my experience raising Irns some babies have a genetic predisposition toward being wild. I have discussed this with other breeders of tame Ringnecks who have had the same experience.

For example my first year breeding ringies I bought out of other nests because I didn't get any fertile eggs. I had 7 babies, two were siblings the rest completely unrelated. They were all very close in age and all raised the same. Two weaned early and "went wild" completely. Absolutely mind boggling to see two babies that you have been feeding by hand turn like that. They were completely unrelated and come from different breeders, both of whom have provided me perfectly fine babies since then.

Some breeders will try to force these babies to "stay tame" and sell them as pets anyway. Here is my advice to you as a breeder:

DO NOT BUY ANY RINGNECK WHO WILL NOT HAPPILY STEP UP FOR YOU WHEN YOU MEET HIM.

Ringnecks are extremely unique and NEARLY impossible to tame if you get a wild one. In my years of working with birds I have tamed many, but never had success with an IRN. I have also only spoken to one person who has successfully "tamed" one, and even those people still cannot physically touch their bird with their hands even to pick her up.

Irns have an extremely bad reaction to emotional neglect as do all parrots and their reaction to being ignored may show up sooner, but one day of a crazy schedule is not going to turn a tame bird wild.

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Upon doing further research I discovered them reverting to being "wild" is only
really a problem when they're still young, at least that is what i've read anyway.

I am a little anxious now because I have no clue if my IRN is naturally "wild" as
you say. I haven't really handled it yet but it does seem to move away from my hand
when I touch the cage although it's tollerance of this seems to have improved some.
I'm considering getting it's wings clipped before handling in order to avoid any potential
injuries it might cause itself.

SilverSage · Jul 23, 2017

I discourage clipping of you can avoid it, especially if the bird is already fearful. Was the bird not tame when you bought it? If not consider trying to return the bird.

If it were another species my advice would be VASTLY different but with IRNs trying to tame a wild one is usually a recipe for heartbreak for the owner and terror for the bird.

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itchyfeet · Jul 23, 2017

They can be finger funny too.
When sitting near the cage, try gently lifting up a close fist, or clothed arm and see how he responds.
Do you know if he has a very super special treat? I have an extremely nervy hand wary IRN who will still take a whole peanut (shell incl.) from my fingers no matter the situation.

Crayfish066 · Jul 24, 2017

SilverSage said:
I discourage clipping of you can avoid it, especially if the bird is already fearful. Was the bird not tame when you bought it? If not consider trying to return the bird.

If it were another species my advice would be VASTLY different but with IRNs trying to tame a wild one is usually a recipe for heartbreak for the owner and terror for the bird.

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I'm honestly not sure, I didn't pick the bird up and the person who did seems to have forgotten a lot of information they were told,
the only information I can seem to get from him is that it was in an aviary when he got it.

It does seem to be gaining more tollerance of me, initially it was silent but now after 5 days it is making noises and it is a little less nervous when my hand goes near it's cage.

It will also occasionally climb onto the side of it's cage facing towards me and make noises and look at me.

SilverSage · Jul 24, 2017

If you offer the bird your closed fist or flat hand to step up onto (no fingers!) and he or she flies into a panic, the bird is not tame. If he simply moves calmly away, he is likely tame but needs time to adjust to you because he is stressed and poorly socialized.

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Theone · Jul 26, 2017

I am really lucky with my birds. Both of my ring necks are super friendly and whatever way I pick them up they won't get aggressive, even if I lift up their wings or touch it's legs. Whenever I put my hand in the cage they would come near my hand and fight amongst each other to sit on my hand first. Ring necks can be really friendly if you give them attention and love in early stages.

Crayfish066 · Jul 26, 2017

I've started hand feeding it now, it was super anxious at first and would run away the second it got the food but now (depending on it's mood) it will sit there and take multiple bites.

I've got a clicker arriving soon, so hopefully that proves to be effective.

SilverSage · Jul 26, 2017

I'm glad he is taking food from your hand; that is a great first step!

Just so you can avoid confusion in the future, the term "hand feeding" in regards to parrots means feeding formula out of a syringe to baby (or sometimes just very sick) birds.

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Crayfish066 · Jul 26, 2017

Thanks.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to condition parrots with clicker training
on average?

itchyfeet · Jul 26, 2017

Haha Silversage I did worry for a moment there

Crayfish it really depends. They are so smart, but the incentive has to be there and the work has to be consistent. I did 'target' and 'turn around' with Henry and a clicker, would have been a days process rather than weeks, but he was already very 'human happy'. I should try it with Clarke, and give to to my daughter for her wee parrot too. Thanks for the reminder!

Crayfish066 · Jul 26, 2017

Good to know it isn't too long winded then lol.

It seems to squawk regularly when I'm out of the room, isn't that a sign that it already
has some level of attachment to me or is it something else?

Birdman666 · Jul 26, 2017

ANY BIRD that doesn't get handled on a regular basis will not stay tame.

ANY BIRD who is caged too much will tend to become cage bound, territorial and bitey...

If it's a too or a big mac? They scream louder and bite harder...

You have to establish and maintain that bond, or you lose it... It's not a whenever I think it's convenient. It's a make a little time for the bird's care needs every single day...

And if you're not willing to do that?! Don't get one!!!

Crayfish066 · Jul 28, 2017

SilverSage said:
If you offer the bird your closed fist or flat hand to step up onto (no fingers!) and he or she flies into a panic, the bird is not tame. If he simply moves calmly away, he is likely tame but needs time to adjust to you because he is stressed and poorly socialized.

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Initially he would panic when I tried this however after feeding him millet from my
hand many times a day over the course of about 4 days he simply backs away from me now.

He tries to get my attention regularly even if he doesn't always want me close to him and when i'm
feeding him millet at least he'll sit close with one leg raised which I believe means they're relaxed.

SilverSage · Jul 29, 2017

It sounds like you have a good bird from a bad breeder. Lots of love, patience, and bribes should secure you a very rewarding relationship.

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Crayfish066 · Jul 29, 2017

SilverSage said:
It sounds like you have a good bird from a bad breeder. Lots of love, patience, and bribes should secure you a very rewarding relationship.

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What makes you think the breeder was bad exactly? The bird was living in an aviary when I got him btw.

And yes our entire relationship seems to be based on bribes at the moment lol, hopefully that will change
a bit once he is more comfortable with me

SilverSage · Jul 29, 2017

Because there is no reason a baby bird should react that way to a new home. I raise Indian Ringnecks myself. Babies should be eager to interact with new people, explore their surroundings, and interested in new situations. The fear your bird is exhibiting is a clear sign of absolutely horrible socialization as a baby. Your breeder put zero effort into preparing your bird to be a pet.

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Crayfish066 · Jul 30, 2017

When I first got him he used to stand on his perch as far away from me as he could.
He's now usually stands on the same perch but on the opposite side now close to me.

Is this a sign of progress? He seems to try and get my attention regularly but at the same
time he still seems a bit afraid of me. Earlier today he lunged in the direction of my hand when I put my fist near him, good thing the bars were there to stop him. Usually he just moves to the opposite side of his perch away from me when I do this but today he's seemed a bit more aggressive in general, especially the way he is eating his millet when I offer him some.

The only thing I can think of is that I've been offering him a mouthful of millet and then taking it away and using the clicker to give him more after he's finished but a few times he's tried to hold onto the entire thing with his claw. Maybe me taking it away from him has annoyed him?

IRNs reverting back to wild state?

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