My new ringneck is scared of hands and humans.

[Wesseljamesk]

I am a new owner to a ringneck parrot. My ringneck parrot is name is tweety.I just got home five days ago in a market in the middle of Paris. Ever since I’ve gotten him he’s been very scared of humans and human touch. In fact he screams very loud if I even get a chance to touch him. To try and make things better I have been keeping my distance from the cage so that he doesn’t get scared and have been socialising with him from afar using my voice and music. He eats in front of me which is a good sign but even then he is very wary about the surroundings even when I’m sitting down and doing nothing. Can someone please help me with my ringneck because I want to be able to tame him and to make him understand that I’m there to care for him and not do anything bad.

One last note, any time I come close to him then go away, he crawls around the cage trying to find a way to get out, constantly biting at the cage bars.

If anyone has any tips on what I should do please contact me, thank it would be very appreciated!

 

[Laurasea]

Hi,
Welcome to the forums .
IRN often have fear of hands,,they are more sensitive. Also if not raised and enteraction as baby, retain more wild type behavior. This. An be difficult to overcome.
This is from an excellent breeder of IRN .

Domain Renewal Instructions - silversageaviaries.com

silversageaviaries.com

You want to have a very large cage.
You want to use the same phrase and always come towards the front of the cage. So that he can see your behavior as more predictable and can trust the routine.

 

[Laurasea]

Target training is a way to work hands off.
At first he had to reward the bird just to let him come close, and then learning to touch the target. So I like this video

 

[Laurasea]

This might be helpful. I was trying to think of a way to explain desensitization to your presence. You come closer to the cage but stop before you cause a reaction. Then retreat. Many reps and goal is to be able to get close enough to cage without a freak out. Because then at that point you can start positive association. So that you can begin to be able to walk over and say hi put treat in dish and walk away. And work towards them taking a step towards treat dish when you come over and say hi and out treat in dish and leave. Until eventually you can walk over and say hi and give treat by hand.

But because your bird is so fearful , you don't want to walk away when they are freaked out and reinforce that. You want to be able to come towards , no freak out then move away. Working to be able to come closer without freak outs. Anyway its difficult enough to explain.

But thankfully Bird Tricks has a video on this technique! I think its a great place to start with your IRN. Personally I wouldn't act so predator stalking as he does in the video . And based on the reactions to the clicker i would have switched to saying good bird instead of clicking. But they get results, and are professional behavior consultants.

 

[EEPEEP121]

Hello!!!
I actually just wrote to someone else on this forum trying to gain the trust of their African ringneck. So I copied my reply and I’ll post it here lol
Hello,
Just read/skimmed this post and wanted to let you know that my Indian ringneck loves watching other irn's on you tube and learned to talk from them. Holding my phone up to the play top of his cage was how I got him to willing walk over to me and eventually step up and bond with me. So if he shows interest use it as a bonding tool as I did. It worked for me and for my husband since at first he only trusted and wanted to interact with me. My husband began to play you tube and tik tok videos and now he lives my husband and goes to him all the time. A lot of irns are scared of hands especially over their head. But over about 3months I saw a big change and I am able to pet my bird when he wants it and can kiss all over him and "pet" him with my face as much as I want. Definitely took a while to gain his trust but it is well worth it!! You will feel like you'll never gain his trust but you will whether he allows you to touch him idk... but don't give up. You seem like your in it for the right reasons and willing to go the distance good luck!
- Bleu's human/momma (marie)

So even though I wrote this to someone else it still applies for you and anyone that’s trying to get closer to there new baby. I know I was willing to try anything to get some birb loves! this happened to work and maybe it will for you as well. -Marie

 

[Wesseljamesk]

Hello!!!
I actually just wrote to someone else on this forum trying to gain the trust of their African ringneck. So I copied my reply and I’ll post it here lol
Hello,
Just read/skimmed this post and wanted to let you know that my Indian ringneck loves watching other irn's on you tube and learned to talk from them. Holding my phone up to the play top of his cage was how I got him to willing walk over to me and eventually step up and bond with me. So if he shows interest use it as a bonding tool as I did. It worked for me and for my husband since at first he only trusted and wanted to interact with me. My husband began to play you tube and tik tok videos and now he lives my husband and goes to him all the time. A lot of irns are scared of hands especially over their head. But over about 3months I saw a big change and I am able to pet my bird when he wants it and can kiss all over him and "pet" him with my face as much as I want. Definitely took a while to gain his trust but it is well worth it!! You will feel like you'll never gain his trust but you will whether he allows you to touch him idk... but don't give up. You seem like your in it for the right reasons and willing to go the distance good luck!
- Bleu's human/momma (marie)

So even though I wrote this to someone else it still applies for you and anyone that’s trying to get closer to there new baby. I know I was willing to try anything to get some birb loves! this happened to work and maybe it will for you as well. -Marie

Thank you so much for your reply!! It means a lot, I will try do the things that you did. My IRN is still scared but less scared then before, she makes cute noises when I am not in the room which I guess is a sign that she is more comfortable. I will let you know if anything gets better within the next few weeks!!

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Great advice above, just wanted to add one little thing (you’re all bored of hearing this at this point, I know).
Patience, love, and positive reinforcement are ALL you need to eventually get a tame bird.
That and maybe target training, which can prove extremely helpful.
Oh, and plenty of treats!
Good luck