New IRN advice-was rehomed to me

[sherylb]

I have a new IRN, he is 6 monts. He was taken back to the breeder for some reason. He is very sweet, talks, whistles, kisses me, gets on my shoulder for a little bit. He steps up anytime I want him to. I have only had him a week so I am guessing he needs an adjustment time to get to know me and his new home. He seems to love his cage and he is not cage aggressive like my quaker was. She isn't anymore. How long should I wait for Clicker training? I would like him to hang out with me more but I understand it will take some time. He says quite a few words already so seems like his former owner spent time with him. Should I train him away from my quaker?? He also doesn't like her to be too close to him. If she is somewhat close he will whistle and talk and his eyes start pinning(I am learning more about this), but if she gets within reaching distance he will bite her. I sure hope this will pass too. They both have their own cage and I have 1 playstand which they take turns on. HE absolutely loves the playstand but they both can't be on it at the same time just yet. Any training and bonding tips would be great. thanks

 

[SailBoat]

Slow down and allow your new household member to become comfortable. Far too many Human underestimate the importance of building a relationship with a Parrot and that it is very different from near all of animals you have experience with. It will help greatly when you start from a place that they have no good reason to trust you. So, every interaction first starts with building trust: Only good things happen when Humans are around.

Clicker training really wants to start after you have a solid relationship in place. Remember, at present, you are a couple of months ahead of others.

 

[Scott]

Welcome to your new IRN! I know you are experienced, but this thread can be helpful: http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

 

[sherylb]

Not that experience! lol. I am new to a rehomed bird. I guess it's the same as taking a weaned baby home right? The weaned baby was used to whoever was feeding it. What's odd is, Jack will take a treat from me, he will step up when I go to him-most of the time, he's getting to where he will run to the opposited side of the cage but usually he steps up. In just a few days I've gotten him to give me a kiss for a treat so he's super smart and if he were all that afraid of me I don't think he would do this? What do you think? I'm sure just time, and more time, and patience.

 

[EllenD]

Congrats on your new family member! i agree with Sailboat, you should slow-down a bit and allow time for him to settle-in and build a close bond with you before you start any type of "training", as it will be much more successful if you have fully earned his trust and he feels completely comfortable with you and in his new home.

***As far as putting your two birds together, please be extremely careful, and if either one of them are biting/nipping/lunging/hissing or being aggressive in any way towards the other then it's best to just not have them out at the same time...And while I know you hope that they will at the very least learn to "tolerate" each other enough to be able to be out of their cages at the same time in the same room, realize that it's quite possible that this may never happen...It's typically the bird that was there first that has the issue, and since your first bird is a Quaker, who are extremely territorial, sometimes that is always an issue...My Quaker came first before any of my other birds, then my Green Cheek, and the two of them are the only two that bonded to each other (and they still fight occasionally)...My Cockatiel and my Green Cheek will tolerate each other, but my Quaker cannot be out with my Cockatiel or my Senegal at all at any time or there will be blood, and the same goes of my Senegal, he's a complete loner and only wants to be out with me, he will attack any of the other birds if they are in the same room with me while he is...I have gotten him to the point (after over 2 years) where he can be out on his own cage while the other birds are also out in the same room, and he'll typically just stay on top of his own cage and he'll be fine, but if any of the others go anywhere near his cage there will be a fight, so I have to be very, very vigilant and we have a daily schedule/routine for my Senegal to have his one-on-one time with me, while the Quaker and the Green Cheek are out together on the gym...

The important thing is to NEVER try to push them/force them to be out together, and if it doesn't work it just doesn't work. If you try to force it that's when injuries happen, and with an IRN and a Quaker, they can do a lot of damage. But overall just slow-down with the IRN and let him go/adjust at his own pace...And also make sure that you are not taking time away from your Quaker, as she has had you all to herself thus far, and if she feels jealousy or like she's being ignored, that's when behavioral issues usually arise...

 

[sherylb]

thank you. HOnestly my quaker is so curious about Jack it's funny. She wants to check him out, she doesn't hiss or lunge at him, It is the IRN who is new that lunges at her. I keep them seperated. Both have their wings clipped so they play on their own cage inside and out and they are fine. It's when they are on the same cage or playstand that the IRN will lunge at her. I'm ok with keeping them seperated. My quaker has become alot more loving since he came though....She talks for him too...If I kiss him, she says thank you because that's what I tell her when she kisses me. She is mimicking his sounds. It seems like she likes him but the feelings are not mutual just yet, if they ever will be. So my IRN will lunge at her, BUT he whisltes at her and talks when he see's her at a distance. Not sure why he does that. I am taking it slow with him, I just want to do it all right! LOL...my quaker has turned out to be an awesome companion and I hope he will too.