Newbie!

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum, in fact I am new to owning and loving Indian ring neck parrots, of which I now own 2! I have a beautiful blue, approx 6 month old named Merlin and a yellow, 6 month old called Sherbet. I have just had them DNA tested and found out today that I have 2 girls...which is slightly disappointing knowing I won't be seeing a beautiful neck ring appear on either of them! I love them none the less though! They were both aviary raised, and I got them as 4 month olds. I am trying very hard to get them to be less afraid....Merlin is doing well, but Sherbet is a biter. She even bites poor Merlin now and again. They are both starting to make sweet little noises daily which I feel is a breakthrough as I talk non stop to them!! I love this forum with all it's titbits of information and advice. I previously owned a gorgeous cockatiel who was devoted to me and very friendly, but I am finding these 2 much stronger, not only on beak strength but also in stubbornness! I am sure I will find heaps of help on here with all the hurdles I will probably discover!i would post a photo of my babies, but can't figure out how to do it!

Welcome! Your fids sound beautiful! See the little yellow icon with the hills and sun? You can post images using that. Just right click a image and click "view image" then paste the URL in the pop up window. I post my images on Flickr, but many people use photo bucket. Are your birds in the same cage? It will be easier (and safer for them) to tame and train them if they are separate. I highly recommend touch(target) training with a clicker as a start for training.

Remember that it's ok to go slow, don't try to force yourself on your birds and accidentally scare them. When we invade their space and scare them they think of us as a predator, this is especially true for aviary raised birds. Take every small step as a a a achievement.

Yes, both my "birdies" are in the same large cage. I am trying with clicker training. Merlin is doing well, but Sherbet is still nervous, which in turn makes Merlin nervous!! Neither will accept food treats, well they take the food and then drop it!!

Keano said:

Yes, both my "birdies" are in the same large cage. I am trying with clicker training. Merlin is doing well, but Sherbet is still nervous, which in turn makes Merlin nervous!! Neither will accept food treats, well they take the food and then drop it!!

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Oh sorry, that was a typo. I meant it's easier to trams/tame them in separate cages. My iPhone likes to auto correct me haha.

Welcome
Enjoy our forum and have fun

Mmmm, I thought that may be the case. I have one very large cage with play centre at the side and one small cage that housed my cockatiel. Id feel cruel to move one into to the small cage......although it would be comfortable enough, it just seems like I'd be showing favouritism, although I know birds don't think like us!!
With the target training, both birds are reaching to touch my chopstick where ever I put it, but both are biting it rather than just touching it and as I said earlier, they are not accepting food to eat, only to drop. Is that all normal and should I continue to persevere. Another thing I've stopped doing, is opening the cage and letting them come out on their own terms after reading several people's suggestions that they should be happy to sit on your finger or stick and the reward is then to be let out. Does that sound feasible? I'm so sorry to bombard you with questions, I just want to do the right thing as its early days yet.

A very warm Scottish welcome to you from the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain

Mirlito said:

A very warm Scottish welcome to you from the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain

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Thank-you from a fellow Scot. Born in Dundee, emigrated here in 1990.

Welcome to the forum, Keano, Merlin & Sherbert.

We have LOTS of IRN lovers on here, so I'm sure you'll get lots of great info.