In need of advice!

[TATORxTOT]

So, I've had my Indian ringneck for over a year now. I don't know his background or any history what so ever. Well I've spent hours by his cage and talking to him, reading, singing, even eating and he's yet to show any type of progression even after a year! I'm worried that he's just not happy and it's disappointing. Still to this day, when you walk up to the cage (slowly) he tries to get away, I just don't know what to do.

 

[Oli]

It seems to me like your baby is just really comfortable in his own fear. I know sometimes it can be challenging, but 'pushing' him may be a good idea from here. You're doing a fantastic job, but I have some suggestions + questions

- will he eat something you offer from your hand?
-what's his diet like?
- when does he go to bed and wake up?
- is he around people in his every day routine?
- do you leave his cage open encouraging him to come out?
- do you tower over him or are you at eye level?
- is he afraid of hands particularly?



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[TATORxTOT]

Thanks! He goes to bed around 9pm and wakes up early morning. No, he's afraid of everything. Won't come near if I have any sort of treats. His diet consists of seeds along with veggies and fruits daily. And yes, I've gotten to eye level and even lower with treats he poor guy. And I do leave the cage open, I sit and ask him to come out and what not and still he hesitates to actually come out, cause I don't want to force him.

 

[fayah]

So while I have not dealt indian ring-necks before, I have had several cockatiels with very similar behavioral problems. First I try to figure out the bird's favorite treats. I leave several humble offerings in his foodbowl and see what it prefers. Usually my birds tend to be crazy about millet or corn, two things i normally don't give them on a regular basis except as treats. I like using millet as it offers significant distance betwen my hand + the bird.

Then for a good month or so, I slowly approach the cage, stopping whenever the bird appears alarmed (probably much easier to do w cockatiels considering their crest) and trying to talk very calmly until the bird calms down again. When I reach the cage, I show the bird the treat and offer it in the foodbowl. I stay around a little, sometimes pretend not to watch him/take a nap/etc, and see if he takes the treat. If he doesn't take the treat, take back the treat and try again in an hour. I rinse and repeat this a few times daily to make his association with me more positive. Hopefully with repetition, your bird will go towards the treat faster as a sign that he is familiar with the routine and you.

Then if you can get that far, I would suggest opening the cage door and placing the treat near the door. If you have a mounted cage set-up or something, I like placing a ladder around the door and putting the food there. Just make sure it's secure because birds sometimes startle themselves when they move their food lol. Just remember if the bird doesn't take the treat, just take it back, and come back in an hour (and maybe leave the door open if you can keep an eye on it, no need to startle them with door opening/closing all the time). It makes them curious.

I find a lot of my birds love to pretend they don't care but they are secretly curious if you take away the offering and put it back later and wait.

Then I start offering them millet/some form of treat held far from my hand from the cage door. I don't like sticking my hand in their cage as it is their territory. They are much more willing to interact with you outside of you invading their safe space. From then on you try to get closer and closer with hand feeding bribes and work from there. I also recommend trying step-up on a ladder first rather than a hand. It's just a lot of slow progress. Sometimes they make leaps, then just go back to not making that leap a day later.

I feel the most common mistake I used to make when I first dealt with birds is trying to offer a bird a treat from my hand right away, especially when they are very skittish and untame. I'm a bit against pushing a scared bird, it has never worked for me to force a bird to do something it does not want to do.

 

[Oli]

Thanks! He goes to bed around 9pm and wakes up early morning. No, he's afraid of everything. Won't come near if I have any sort of treats. His diet consists of seeds along with veggies and fruits daily. And yes, I've gotten to eye level and even lower with treats he poor guy. And I do leave the cage open, I sit and ask him to come out and what not and still he hesitates to actually come out, cause I don't want to force him.

Okay one thing I would recommend is trying to push him away from a seed heavy diet to a more pellet heavy or home cooked diet, it can do wonders for behavior and energy.

When I got my juliet she was completely untame, and I worked first with hand training her with a perch and showing her that my hands are safe. It took about a month to get her to step onto my hand, and after that it was a slow roll to getting her continuously comfortable with my hands and taking treats from them.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Good, kind, caring advice.
I hope it helps.
Meanwhile, may I just say that I really admire you and your patience?
Keep reaching out!

Good luck.

 

[Oli]

Good, kind, caring advice.
I hope it helps.
Meanwhile, may I just say that I really admire you and your patience?
Keep reaching out!

Good luck.

Yes this!! It's so important that you never give up on your bird. He needs and loves you, he just needs to be taught how to show it.

 

[TATORxTOT]

Thanks everyone!! I'll definitely keep it up! I'm also going to go to somewhat of a training class? They'll help me step by step to bind with him so hopefully it works out. Consistence is key!