Irn help pleazeee

Ron

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Help,my 2 1/2 month old IRN SCARED

:confused: I recently purchased a 2 1/2 month old IRN green female. I bought her from a breeder. She was hand fed but Omg she's soooo scared of me,my hand everything. It breaks my heart to see her this way. I have been doing alot of reading. I know I have to give her time to gain my trust. But I was wondering with no physical contact will she become wilder? I was told by the breeder to take her out the cage often. But after doing so it REALLY made things worse. Man oh man was that a mistake. How do I regain her trust?? HELP
 

plumsmum2005

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Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
Hi and welcome,
some info FYI Socializing A Young Ringneck Parrot | IndianRingneck.com

Did you see her at the breeders and what was the set up? Was she in a box/false nest or in a cage? How was she being fed? What was she being fed? Any toys with her? How much socialisation did she get there?

PS you will probably gain from only having one post on the go about the same subject OK? It is possible to delete one if you so wish.
 
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Anansi

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...PS you will probably gain from only having one post on the go about the same subject OK?

So true. I've combined the two threads now, as double/cross posting is not allowed.
 

Anansi

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Great link for trust building above. Don't be discouraged. Setbacks happen, but with patience and hard work lost trust can be regained.
 
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Ron

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Sorry about the repost. I wasn't sure it was posted. It's my 1st time doing this. Thanks for the replies. I don't know what her living arrangements were l8ke? I met the breeder at a local store? I was told she was eating seeds,fresh fruits n vegetables. I'm feeding her fresh fruits n vegetables and seed mix. She loves her apples n peas lol. But I'm NOT forcing her out of her cage. I spend time with her,talk to her,we watch TV together etc... I just hope I can gain her trust. I'm in no hurry
 

Scott

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Welcome to the forums, Ron!

Sometimes it is necessary to attempt a "reset" of the relationship. Obviously parrots lack a reset "button" but think back to the first day with your parrot. Both of you were likely doing a lot of observation, sizing up the other.

Please read the helpful links presented by plumsmum2005. You might open the cage door and place some desired treats just outside. Sit and read softly. Try to hand-feed selected items you know she likes. Progress is all about gaining trust.
 

clark_conure

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"I was told by the breeder to take her out the cage often. But after doing so it REALLY made things worse. Man oh man was that a mistake. How do I regain her trust??"

Patience is a virtue I hope it works, I like the post plumsmum2005 referred to.

I hope I'm not kicked off here for saying this, but sometimes you just need to take a bite with a new young bird and not flinch. Birds love to cuddle and they want to be petted on the head, in my experience petting their head is how you make friends.

One caveat, I did this as soon as I got home before I introduced the cage. I really don't know if its a good idea if he already has a safe place.


You can't let the bird be in charge or you, it will be a lifelong companion but it has to have a parent at first too you said it's only 2.5 moths old. You can't be timid or it will be even more afraid...you reaching then pulling back and performing all sorts of unpredictable moves doesn't help. Remember the bird is operating out of fear, if your testing and probing and going in and out back and forth it's HAS to assume you are working against his interests. Maybe I read to much into your first post, but it's panicky and panic is the last thing you want around a new bird.

Soft voice, you're coming out, pick him up from the back gently then hold him to your sternum, wear a thick shirt he can't bite through. Keep holding him to you and pet his head with your thumb for a while till he calms down and realizes your petting him, not a predator. Then keep it going for a while, not 5 minutes and back in, set something in his memory that you are looking to preen him and pet him and take care of him.

My bird hates his wings clipped even though it's painless. But I do it quick when needed then we are back to normal. It's the hours and hours of sitting on my shoulder he remembers; not the 3 minutes of NOOOO!!!! you suck!

Basically it's the Ceasar Milan Method with dogs, (the dog whisperer). Confidence in yourself projects. The bird doesn't want to be afraid of you...it just has no idea what your intentions are. There can't be any half measures. No load noises or OUCHES!, just pet him and talk to him and no unpredictable movements. I think the problem from the beginning is your afraid of the bird, and the bird has no idea what you are doing and is picking up on your fear.


If someone thinks I'm wrong, please post that I am and that I shouldn't be listened to on this. But I won over my bird in about ten minutes and later we assembled his cage together., and now I can't even get him off me.
 

Scott

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I hope I'm not kicked off here for saying this, but sometimes you just need to take a bite with a new young bird and not flinch. Birds love to cuddle and they want to be petted on the head, in my experience petting their head is how you make friends.

Not by me! A lot of good intuitive advice in your post. Refusing to react to an initial bite or two is logical, though many folks won't tolerate such behavior. Birds can sense fear and may use to great advantage in the early days.
 

Anansi

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...I hope I'm not kicked off here for saying this, but sometimes you just need to take a bite with a new young bird and not flinch. Birds love to cuddle and they want to be petted on the head, in my experience petting their head is how you make friends.

Kicked off for respectfully expressing an opinion? Nah. That's just not how we roll. Opinions are respected and valued here, so keep them coming.

Now, I do disagree with a point or two, here. First, the idea of just taking a bite without flinching. This is an idea that has gained in popularity over the years, and I just don't understand why. This is an example that I use often: If a one or two year old toddler decided to just spontaneously smack you in the face, would you allow it? Or would you course-correct and teach him that it's not an acceptable method? Because the fact of the matter is that the child doesn't know any better. And he/she won't until you teach a better way to express emotions. Same deal with a parrot. While you cannot make an exact correlation between children and birds, there is common ground in that you need to establish guidelines with both regarding what is or isn't acceptable.

Of course, there is something to be said for not going into hysterics or wailing in agony when bitten by a bird, as they may not properly interpret your sounds and actions. Heck, they might even find them amusing and engage the scientific approach of testing a hypothesis in an attempt to repeat the result. (i.e. biting you again to hear that funny yelping sound.) So instead you would tell them "No" in a firm yet controlled voice, while using your other hand to remove the bird's beak from your flesh. And then good behaviors that do not result in bloodshed would be rewarded with enthusiastically voiced praise and tasty treats.

Here are some links to threads on biting:
http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/58911-bird-bites-always-2.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/57935-brainstorming-biting-parrots.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

Oh, and it's also important to note that not all birds like to be petted and cuddled. Some merely tolerate it for us, and some even hate it. Macaws and conures are more likely, for instance, to crave petting and cuddling than say an eclectus or a grey. My ekkies do enjoy being petted, but not in that feathered puppy way that some macs do. Know what I mean? You have to get to know your individual bird's likes and dislikes.

clark_conure said:
Soft voice, you're coming out, pick him up from the back gently then hold him to your sternum, wear a thick shirt he can't bite through. Keep holding him to you and pet his head with your thumb for a while till he calms down and realizes your petting him, not a predator. Then keep it going for a while, not 5 minutes and back in, set something in his memory that you are looking to preen him and pet him and take care of him.

The technique you are referring to here is known as flooding. Basically, inundating the bird with a new experience until he gives up resistance and comes to realize that he is not actually being hurt by the process. Whether or not to use this method is a hotly debated one amongst keepers of parrots. Personally, I choose positive reinforcement training instead. I'm not denying the efficacy of flooding, as many have used it to great effect, but I prefer getting my birds to want to do what I'm asking via positive associations. I like the idea of organically building a bond of mutual trust that way over forcing any aspect of it. Here is a link to one of my favorite threads, which discusses the differences in training techniques in great detail:
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/43631-old-vs-modern-techniques.html

clark_conure said:
Basically it's the Ceasar Milan Method with dogs, (the dog whisperer). Confidence in yourself projects. The bird doesn't want to be afraid of you...it just has no idea what your intentions are. There can't be any half measures. No load noises or OUCHES!, just pet him and talk to him and no unpredictable movements. I think the problem from the beginning is your afraid of the bird, and the bird has no idea what you are doing and is picking up on your fear...

I agree wholeheartedly with the necessity for confidence and predictable movements when interacting with birds. Birds do a lot of communication via body language, and simply don't understand that we humans are far less proficient at it than they are. So, if their body language indicates no hostile intent and you respond with a more tense and nervous energy, your reaction is very likely to put them on edge. They bite when you approach with fear because, to them, you are not evoking a sense of peaceful intent. You're amped up, and "telling" them there is reason to be afraid.
 

Billdore

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I let Timneh bite me when we first met partially because I had to know if I could handle being bit and also partly so she would know I'm not going to lash out and hurt her. Everyday I went to see her she got more friendly until she came a runnin to see me. Course I brought treats and talked to her for a long while. I read somewhere Macaws test you with a hello chomp to see your reaction and test the sturdiness of your arm.
 

clark_conure

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Oh I don't mean after the first day let him bite, I just meant the first time, especially with a newborn. he had about a 20 minute grace period for nibbles and then that was that, time to go on the floor.

So as I said, don't tolerate the bird biting once you establish your not going to hurt him and he calms down. Also if it was an older bird I would recommend the positive reinforcement route. I only recommended because a bird that young that was hand fed should be used to human hands still, and it worked for me.

I believe its just the fear/panic. Most people that spend their lives with birds probably wouldn't have any problem because we'd just be naturally calm....just another bird to us. I once found a wild young bird (i think it was a wren) outside a gas station that would have been trampled obviously on the main sidewalk, I just scooped him onto my hand and took him to a nearby back yard, didn't even think twice about it.

Oh thanks for the link to old vs modern post, I've been reading through it.
 
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Ron

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Thanks for the good advice. She's doing much better. All in time and patience. I'm not afraid of her at all. She just doesn't know what being preen ed is about. But she adjusting well. Too cute how she discovered she has a voice lol. Thank yall soooo much for the advice.
 

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