Ring neck help

Hi, I am 2 weeks in to owning my first bird, well my dad used to breed budgie but don't remember much, anyway Betty Kiwi is apparently 3 years old, she is not tame at all, I know it takes time and I accept that, but can you just reasure me that it is possible to tame her at this age? I don't know any of her history! My question today though is I have just noticed that she doesn't have claws on every one of her toes, is this normal? It's almost like she has one fatter toe on each foot with no claw on! Thanks for your help!

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

Well, much of the first part of your post depends largely on her history. If at 3 years old she was never hand tame and had never gotten the chance to get used to human hands, you will have quite a project on your hands. Not saying impossible, just that you'll have your work cut out for you. And you might be looking at a period of months rather than weeks. But be patient and you will get there.

First thing to work on is building trust. Here is a very recent thread where a similar situation is being discussed in detail. Take a peek: http://www.parrotforums.com/lovebirds/75999-need-suggestion.html

As for your question about the toes, no, that is not normal. Could be a birth defect, or her feet may have been bitten by another bird, or she might even have gotten a toe from each foot caught in something, costing her those claws. Do you have pics?

Thank you for caring enough to reach out!

Agreeing with Anansi about those toes! Oh, I wish you could find an avian vet for a welfare check. I've never heard of a condition like that... I'm frightened that it may be a degenerative thing, or an infection, or some form of self-mutilation. Or it may have been injuries inflicted by another animal.

I hope you'll continue to read and learn about diet, cages, toys, and more. There are so many good resources here.

We'll help you all we can.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me, iv just got as close as I could to get some pics, hopefully you can make them out, again thanks

You're welcome!

Can't quite make out any details from that pic. Maybe you can try again later under a bit more light.

Sorry, is that any clearer?

Yes, that's definitely clearer than the first. Is it the same toe on each foot? From what I can see in that pic it at least doesn't seem like any recent damage. So perhaps a birth defect or old damage? Still hard to say even with the improved pic, though.

Have you taken her in yet to see a certified avian vet? If not, you should. Not only to make sure that the situation with the toes isn't a problem, but also to get baseline readings of all his levels now for points of comparison for future visits.

Hi and welcome. Please read the link Anansi gave you. Keep in mind, Ringneck parrots are very difficult to tame. it will require you to spend quiet time with her next to her cage , reading softly to her, and offering treats thru the bars, until your presence is not threatening. And do this every day without fail, at least 1/2 hour. Doesn;t matter what you read to her, just that its regular and done in non-threatening manner. Once she will take treats thru the bars, you can start with having her take them when she is standing on the front bar of her cage. This really could take weeks or even months. Ringnecks are notorious for loosing tameness very quickly. All parrots are wild animals still, none are domesticated like dogs and cats. It is patience and getting the bird to accept being in your flock that makes them tame. Good luck, let us know how its going.

Thanks for that, relieved to know it's nothing I have done then. No not taken her to any vet, would never be able to get hold of her, she flapps about too much if anyone goes too close, we let her out of the cage to fly around and was good the first few times, went back in herself, but the last time she was out she stayed out for 2 and half days! She doesn't eat very much, maybe a couple of monkey nuts and some apple a day, I have put 5 toy items in her cage and she won't play with any of them! Just sits on her perch all of the time, and if anyone goes to close she paces up and down her perch and jumps back and forth from one perch to the other!! Is this all normal behaviour for this type of bird? Sorry for all questions and thanks for your help!

Thanks for all your replies, I had lost my post for a few days, trying to work my way around this forum, I have been trying all your suggestions and watching/ reading your recommendations, thank you

I'd be getting her to a CAV as soon as possible...you will probably have to towel her to get her inside a carrier, but it has to be done...I'd not only worry about the toes, but I'd worry a lot more about her diet...She should not be eating fruit every day, as it's full of sugar...Fresh Veggies every day is a must, but she needs to get on a staple of something substantial, a mix of pellets and a varied seed mix without Sunflower Seeds...

I have no idea what "Monkey Nuts" are, lol...but I know she can't exist on only them and some apple each day...Was this the diet she was on when you got her? Where did you get her, out of curiosity?

It sounds like she probably doesn't know how to play with toys, some parrots never learn, it depends on what their breeder did when they were weaning, and what they've been exposed to, you actually do have to show some birds how to play with toys...But right now, her diet/health is going to be your biggest priority.