Don't like hands ??

[Gabbana]

I have recently got myself a lovely green ring neck baby age 13 weeks old. It was handled and fed using garden gloves thick ones there for it is so use to this and is only accepting me using garden gloves. I can feed him by hand using garden gloves and he will let me stroke him using a training perch stick which i have used to help him step up to things and stroke his chest and he likes head rubs too only with the stick.

As soon as i take the gloves off he is watching my hands turning his head side to side really focusing on my hands. How do i get out of this routine. He is so content and happy with me using these gloves that i feel i am stuck in a habit and if i take them off he will become withdrawn as he likes his daily rubs with the training stick and i wont be able to do it without the gloves.

He most likely will position himself onto the top of the cage and become unhappy. I am unsure what to do but i want to learn him to sit on my hand etc.

I have had the baby for 5 days now and i have recently had him out and he made his first bird sounds 4 times one after another which was overwhelming because he was so quite. I am saying he but unsure yet what sex it is lol.

He took flight around the room 2 days ago literally doing a 360 in mid air and turning it's self around which so cool to see as i got a full view of it's wings spread out and got to see it's lovely colours.

He did however land in a funny way which i think caused a bit of a injury. Wings are not broken none are drooping however i did notice the little side feathers by the shoulder, one to be hanging out when usually it is tucked behind. I kept him in its cage all day yesterday but i noticed the day of flight crash that he wasn't getting around the cage as he normally would and would only use his beak rather than hopping flight if that makes sense to sit on perches. He was eating and drinking during it all so that was good.

He is getting around like normal today in his cage and that little small feather at the armpit part of the wing isn't out on display like it was on the day of his flight crash. Are these the flight wings ?

Does anyone have a photo with a wing open that they can point out what parts of the feathers are which as i would be able to learn more that way ? Tried google and cant discover anything.

What do i do today, let him out or leave him for a few days ?

Really feel like a have one amazing bird that is a quick learner and the only down side is not being able to hand hold him. I have already learnt him to ring his bell he copied me got a bite of a apple and he then copied me to ring his bell for another bite of his apple. That's how i know i have a quick learner and could be onto some amazing things learning him tricks but getting him use to my hands and holding him is causing problems as he is not getting any younger. Any ideas ??? Few pics of my beautiful Gabbana below.

Do i towel hold him with his head out so he can see. ?? maybe a idea to get use to seeing my hands. Help needed please. Thanks in Advance.

 

[Tami2]

Hello Gabbana,

You asked, "How do i get out of this routine." slowly with a great deal of patience and understanding. In my experience, my Levi does not like change, routine is key. I have the opposite problem, Levi hates gloves. I'm sure it's b/c it brings out Vet visit memories. But, it is what it is.

You have to allow your new baby to slowly accept the new norm. Gradually, expose your ungloved hands and let him know there is nothing to fear. Offer him his favorite treat from your ungloved hand, but make sure he sees the treat first. Eventually, he should come around. However, there is also a chance he may not. But, you won't know unless you try.

Best of luck.

 

[Gabbana]

Hello Gabbana,

You asked, "How do i get out of this routine." slowly with a great deal of patience and understanding. In my experience, my Levi does not like change, routine is key. I have the opposite problem, Levi hates gloves. I'm sure it's b/c it brings out Vet visit memories. But, it is what it is.

You have to allow your new baby to slowly accept the new norm. Gradually, expose your ungloved hands and let him know there is nothing to fear. Offer him his favorite treat from your ungloved hand, but make sure he sees the treat first. Eventually, he should come around. However, there is also a chance he may not. But, you won't know unless you try.

Best of luck.

Thanks so much for your reply. I have tried but no success as such. If he will feed from the glove but wont let me stroke him with the glove which is odd. I think it's going to need a lot of time and patience and hopefully we will get some success. I love your Beautiful African Grey your photo in signiture box is amazing.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Gabbana is still very young and has been with you only days now. It is a totally new world for him! Patients is the key. find out what his favorite food is. with his favorite food or treat,just lay it on your ungloved hand and talk sweet and softly to him. You might even try taking a piece of his food and act like you are eating it while telling him " Ohhh this is so good! it is YUMMY!" make a big deal out of it,letting him see how much you like it. He WILL come around,but it could take a little time.
BTW he is such a handsome little ringy!


Jim

 

[charmedbyekkie]

One of our forum members has written quite a bit about her experience with ringnecks, including their species' unique relationship with fingers:
What's so Different about Indian Ringnecks

Fear of Fingers

Join any ringneck group on facebook and you will see dozens of posts about a ringneck absolutely terrified of fingers. For whatever reason, ringnecks seem to be genetically predisposed to lose their minds at the sight of human fingers. Where a conure or cockatiel may be best approached with a finger, a ringneck can be thrown into hysterics by that, and is better approached with a closed fist or at least a flat “plank” hand. In tame birds this is usually temporary and subsides once the bird feels safe around the person, but it is an important thing to realize when getting to know a new bird.

You should check out the rest of her writings as well as her posts here as SilverSage.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I'm so glad you're here. Please keep reading and trying. Personally, I have reduced biting to almost zero over the years I've spent with the Rickeybird... and a lot of that has involved compromise. I don't do stuff that gets me bitten. Some will say I have let him get away with too much, and that's a fair criticism, but, well... I'm okay with it. I don't do stuff that makes him mad... I don't touch others when he's out; I rarely try to get him to step up onto my hand first. Hand-held perch first, then hand. In some ways, I'm disappointed/embarassed at having such a little monster for a pet, but he is what he is. I ALWAYS wear my hair down when he's on my shoulder, so all he can bite is hair. Really, I don't involve hands much... he doesn't like them. He seems to think the real ME is my head, perched on a weird moveable tree with questionable appendages.

Since he's fully flighted, the ONLY way I get him into the cage is to toss a chile pepper in and he flaps in after it. So food reward is a necessity for me. Time-out doesn't exist in the Rb's kingdom.

The important thing is that you are with us, and talking, and learning, and sharing. And I'm grateful.