Socrates the young IRN

[freedwithwings204]

Socrates is my 9 month old IRN. I got him from a woman in a town near where I live who adopted him but discovered that she didn't have the time that she needed to spend with him. I brought him home about 6 months ago and he just started talking in about the last month and a half. He's already up to about 10 words, 4 different whistles and sounds and so much more.

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the foruum... He is adorable> Do you have any pics of your Grey as well?

 

[freedwithwings204]

I only have one of him up on my profile. We just brought him home about 2 weeks ago. Hadn't had the chance to get any really good pics of him. But he's a 45 year old wild caught timneh grey.

 

[wulfie]

I've always SO wanted an IRN, but I've heard that they don't make good apartment birds

 

[freedwithwings204]

I live in an apartment. (Technically a duplex) And I have had no complaints. I should add that our place is really sound proofed (All I can hear from our upstairs neighbors is rarely their foot steps). Plus our landlord is far more comfortable with us having birds versus cats. All that I can tell you is to take into account what kind of neighbors you have, and even ask your landlord if getting a bird is ok. IRNs can be noisy, and can have the attitude of a big bird. Socrates thinks he's a macaw some days. They are incredibly intelligent, so you do need to spend at least a few hours a day playing and training them. Overall Socrates has his moments of noisy, but with the IRNs that I've met, he's fairly relaxed. Learn everything you can about the bird and the people around you before making a decision. It doesn't hurt to ask either.

 

[freedwithwings204]

I should add that once you put the time into working with and IRN, they are super awesome. Bringing Socrates home was one of the best choices I've made in a long time. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

 

[Amandastander]

Agreed, they are super intelligent and always up to try something new. They're also good at sgape sorting and threading beads etc. They love trying out everything. Yes they do need more attention than the average bird, interaction and playtime as well as out of the cage time. I adore my irn birds

 

[freedwithwings204]

Again, I completely agree. I was in a toss up with a Senegal and Sun Conure, then I met and IRN for the first time. I got to play with the IRN for a bit, then I asked the owner to tell me what he knew about them. I was hooked and it was the best bird for my lifestyle too.

 

[sarafigal]

So when you say "putting in the time" and training, what do you mean? What do you do on a regular basis?

I'm working right now with an older rescued Amazon (who lived with another Amazon for her first 20 years or so, as far as I know), and thinking of adding a Conure to the mix. Meanwhile, I'm trying to hear as much as I can from others what they are doing re training on a regular basis...

 

[freedwithwings204]

When I got Socrates he barely knew how to step up, but over the last 7 months I have spent a minimum of two hours every day training and spending time with him. That also helped us bond, and now he has at the point if you were to put him on the floor and let him pick which person to go to, he comes straight to me.
I do a lot of trick training with him, he knows how to wave, turn around, ring a bell, give kisses and such.
It's funny (or at least ironic) to me that you're working with an Amazon, as I am working with my neighbors 30 year old yellow naped Amazon. In my experience with him, and I wasn't very good with Amazons until I discovered he lived next door, Amazons are a bird that has to trust/like you. What kind of things are you looking to improve with yours?
On another note I also am working with our new African Grey, (45+ years old) he didn't like me much at first, but one common factor that I've found when it came to bonding with him was food, and time. It worked with the Amazon too. Though it took me about 6 months for him to fully trust me.
If you have something specific that your curious about, just ask. My experience ranges pretty far now days.