Hard time without my fids.

[Joshuwaaa]

I have cared for a lot of birds, but right now I'm bird less. All my babies are having babies themselves and I'm gutted that I don't have a companion bird.

I've been looking at cockatiels, Quakers, indian ringnecks, Senegals and so on.. I really didn't want to get more before I moved into my house but I'm missing them, I love birds.

I'm looking at an indian ringneck right now, weened and tame, would they not suit an apartment building? I know noise can be different, my GCC was loud and noisy and holly our macaw was generally calm and quiet.

Are they companion birds? Like being with people?

I've been looking at tons of birds but these seem small and I took to them a lot. Any help and advice? Are they nice companion birds? Or is the bad rumours true?

 

[Mitchan]

I can't help with the noise question, as I live in a house, am not bothered by the noise (that is, I don't really notice it so I wouldn't know if they're awfully annoying lol), AND have one pretty loud and one very quiet IRN..
But I can tell you that both of my ringnecks are very lovely companion birds. They both love being with me, and Nicko also loves my sister and my dad (Meg came to me a year old, parent raised, untame and pretty much unhandled, but I've won her trust and she enjoys my company now - though she's not a fan of other people)
Meg accepts the occasional scritch and/or cuddle, especially if I let her chew lightly on my fingers (she's never actually bitten me, she just loves to explore things with her beak, and I figured that if I expect her to trust me with having my fingers in her face, I should trust her with having her face in my fingers too hahaha).
Nicko's 15 years old, I'm his third home and he was probably abused in his first home, since he's been very afraid of fingers for 12 years at least, and still is - so I don't cuddle him per definition. He is, however, the sweetest bird EVER and will literally BEG for kisses and sit with (on) me forEVER if I let him.


Oh and they're the FUNNIEST little things ever! They're really active and playful and if Meg got her way, she would be upside down all day long, preferrably watching something outside the window or chewing on a piece of wood.
IRNs are also amazingly clever and, in my experience, easy to train!

They're just lovely birds.

 

[sabrecat666]

IRN's can be very loud. I have a Jenday, 2 GCC a 'tiel, and an IRN, and the IRN is a close second to the loudest bird in the house. That said Kiwi was very easy to train to change his flocking call. I found that he was loudest when he was looking for me so I trained him to use a whistle rather than his usual flocking call when looking for me. As long as I answer him with the same call he doesn't escalate the volume

As far as companion parrots then can be AWESOME. Kiwi is very happy to just hang out with me, and when he's in a cuddly mood he loves a good neck scratch. Surprisingly that's a lot more often than what I had read about IRN's previous to getting him

Don't be led astray by their size though. They are NOT a small parrot More a large parrot in a small body I couldn't imagine not having my Fid though

 

[RavensGryf]

I haven't had an IRN, but I have heard they're generally loud and a hands off bird.

Many people including myself over the years have had bigger or louder birds in an apartment and never had an issue. It is rare that it is an issue. APARTMENTS AREN'T LIBRARIES! Most people who dwell in one realize there will be some noise inconvenience from loud tv's, stereos, loud people, dogs barking, etc. from neighbors.

How about the Senegal? Poicephalus species are always a nice choice if you ask me!

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Maybe you can foster a bird or two and see how it goes with the noise and apartment life.

 

[Joshuwaaa]

Hey guys,

I actually took the leap and adopted an indian ringneck. I have made a thread about her first week here and it's turning into my little IRN journal haha

Thanks for responses, I love this little indian ringneck!

 

[RavensGryf]

Good for you! It's nice to get a species that you really want I think IRN's are really beautiful. Did you get a mutation or normal? They all look striking and seem to have really smooth tight looking feathers. The green ones remind me of a grasshopper. I have no idea why!

ps. You need to pick up your 'Carol' thread! I think we ran out of ideas...lol

 

[antoinette]

Hey guys,

I actually took the leap and adopted an indian ringneck. I have made a thread about her first week here and it's turning into my little IRN journal haha

Thanks for responses, I love this little indian ringneck!

Glad you adopted Josh
You are a fantastic guardian and any bird would be privileged to be in your care