Indian ringneck

[Lorne96]

Hello! I am new to this forum and I am planning on getting an Indian ringneck within the next year or two (I would have one now but the bf won't let me yet lol) I already own a cat and a bearded dragon but I feel a bird would bring me so much joy (my other animals do obviously but there's something about talking birds that I love) I've never owned any birds before, and I understand an Indian ringneck can be a difficult bird at times from what I've read but I have the next year to learn about them and save the money up. I have a few questions that I am struggling to find the real answers to, a few different websites and people say different things so I thought I'd find a forum dedicated to parrot owners to try and help me out! So to start, how big should their cage be and does anyone have any good recommendations that they can link me to?(i am in the UK so should be a UK store if possible) Should they be long or tall? I know that you should provide a bird with the largest cage possible but I will be on a lowish budget most probably, a cage under 100 would be best but can stretch to 150-200 if needed. What kinds of toys are best? Any particular brands? Do I need to avoid certain brands?(I've heard that some parrot toys and cages have toxic coating on them and I don't want to harm my bird in any way!) Is there any difference between the 2 sexes? I really want a male, I already have 2 female animals and would like a male for a change and I also heard they're more talkative, is this true? What age should I get one? Under 6 months or above? I would really like to have it from a baby as I love for them to 'grow' with me, if that makes sense, I know they go through hormonal changes within the first year that can last for months. Any advice or videos or websites on training to avoid biting and bad behaviour would be much appreciated as I haven't looked into that yet, I have read a few bits and pieces but not enough where I feel confident. The last thing i will ask is about their diet. I know they should have a varied diet of fresh fruit and vegatables, seed mix, pellets and sprouted seeds (it's the seed mix, sprouted seeds and pellets that I am most baffled about as people say different things) does anyone have a diet plan for the week they can share with me to get the idea? Also how much is the monthly cost on food ect(not the husbandry). I probably will have a million more questions before the time i get one but these are the main questions on my mind at the moment. Sorry for all the questions Haha, any advice or links you can share with me on any of the questions I have wrote above or anything else you think I should know or look into would be really appreciated. Of course until I get one I will keep researching and will keep coming back here to check my replies. Thanks in advance!

 

[itchyfeet]

Wow! Lots of enthusiasm. That's awesome I'll do my best.

You want a bird that talks...but you're set on a baby. That doesn't work. If you want a talking IRN, you need to adopt an older bird....that talks. Talking is not guaranteed, not even in any grey, amazon or IRN.

With learning don't use google as your main source of information. Find specialist stores, vets and rescues. Get hands on experience. One of my IRN's was a rehome/rescue because whilst the owner was experienced with parrots, she was out of her depth with him. He was initially a hand reared baby and it ended with her unable to touch him. I think either you're an IRN person or you're not, and that's okay. I personally think it's better to have two or three species of interest, and then just keep an eye on breeders and local classifieds and see what comes up. My IRN's are the bee's knees, but initially I was out for an African Grey. The birds in my flock are perfect because I matched their natures to the others in our home, human and avian alike.

I'm not going to give you UK links because today's to do list is already too long, but here's what I use, for you to compare... Avi One 603 Parrot Cage
IRN's are smart, and do need to be out and about. You need to make sure you either buy or DIY a stand that can be moved around the place. I have a woodworking husband, but there are some great PVC pipe tutorials around too.

3 of 4 from our flock respond well to clicker training. This is worth your effort, and information is easily accessible online.

I'm pretty lax with their diet. Pellets are their main food, fresh stuff gets fed daily including (not always) sprouted seed, depending on what's around and what I've made my little human lunches with and seeds go into foraging toys, often wrapped in plain papers or something similar. It sounds heavy but routine is your friend

Hope that gives you a bit more of a starting point!

 

[Lorne96]

Hi! Thanks very much for your advice. If you think I should get one older then that's fine by me, I will be able to tell the sex of an older one so that would make it easier in that part haha. What age should I get one then, over a year old? Maybe older? I want to find a good trusted breeder to get my IRN from as I got my beardie from gumtree (I didn't know any better) and she was a tiny little runt who's tail was infected and she was underweight, but I've got her on the right track now but it was so stressful for her and myself. So I've learnt my lesson, find decent breeders that know what they're talking about! I have looked into other parrots such as the Alex, African grey and conures but I really feel that a IRN will fit into my little family perfectly. I plan to get the cage and have other stand and perches around the house and I want the bird out as much as possible when I'm home. Yes I have read about clicker training before, I used it with my mum's dog so I can definitely try it with a bird! Ah okay so I just need to make sure their diet is varied and fun for them! I have a concrete routine with my beardie so shouldn't be too hard with a bird too, I like to have routine anyway �� Thanks so much for your help any other advice would be hugely appreciated!

 

[itchyfeet]

If you're sure you want a baby from a breeder, then the bird will most likely be younger.
Don't write off the likes of gumtree completely. Henry, my first, came at 7 months old and not DNA'd. The adult daughter had a change of circumstances and her father had taken him on as agreed. Problem was, to ensure he didn't get bored, her father was taking him to work every single day. He worked as an automotive engineering instructor. That parrot was beginning to sound as though he might get some colourful language.

Still a young, healthy parrot under a year old, that needed a new home. And we could all tell he was beginning to mimic sounds....there are occasionally some genuine rehomes. I'd find a local breeder, and start forming a relationship, but also keep an eye out on community pages. We've grown our flock both ways and one isn't necessarily better than the other, it's just about staying open minded

 

[Scott]

Welcome to the forums, thanks for doing research before purchasing a feathered companion! I'll let our resident IRN experts discuss the species, but for other issues, see below!

Cage size advice is generally the larger (within reason) the better. Keep in mind outfitting with perches, (standard dowels not desirable) and a variety of toys ought be considered in the total budget. Don't want to be "cage rich" and "accessory poor." Perhaps our UK members can suggest purchasing venues. In the U.S. many folks acquire from online; Amazon and versions of national pet store brands. In some areas you might find dedicated "brick and mortar" shops with good variety.

The Parrot Food, Recipes, and Diet Forum has a wealth of information, particularly the page top "sticky" threads. Most everyone has their preferred mode of feeding; fresh vegetables/fruits is a desirable core with some variety of pellets, seeds, and nutritious treats, especially for training. http://www.parrotforums.com/parrot-food-recipes-diet/

While it is possible to have birds and cats in the same home, extreme caution and planning is necessary. You'll hear "stories" of loving cat/bird relationships, but don't rely on anecdotes. Cats are proven killers of parrots, so some sort of durable separation is needed. While not every cat is voracious, they are capable of turning on a dime. Cat saliva from even a grazing bite is deadly.

Good luck with your search, feel free to ask questions!

 

[Lorne96]

Thank you for both of your replies! Sorry busy few days and forgot to check here. I would really love a baby, how bad is the bluffing stage And what age? I've read it can be a tough time for the bird and the person haha. Is there anything you can do to try and make it easier on the bird and myself? I know training can help. Any advice on training? Thank you itchyfeet! Thanks for your advice Scott. I do want a big cage for him (hopefully) should I get a vertical one or a long one? Another question is about wingclipping. Pros and cons? Not looked into that properly yet but it's on my list haha. How loud actually are they? I don't mind the noise, I actually enjoy the squawks and other noises they make but my partner doesn't like much noise. I understand training can help with this. I've seen about covering the cage can help them not scream first thing and last thing at night, is this true? Don't worry Scott, I don't plan to have my cat near my bird unless I have full attention and can control the situation, even then I don't like the idea. I keep my beardie in a separate room so my cat can't get to her, they have met, but I don't trust my cat with her when my beardie runs she chases her and my beardie clearly doesn't like it so they very rarely see each other. I am planning to keep the bird in a separate room too with my beardie or in my living room (my partner has allergies to my cat so she can't be in the rooms he spends a lot of time in) bit any more advice you can give me would be great, thanks for both of your advice so far ��

 

[Scott]

I've never had an IRN so can't comment on their characteristics. My guess is a taller cage would be best for an active bird. And yes, the biggest you can afford, keeping in mind the "cage budget" should include perches and toys. The typically included dowel "perches" are next to worthless and for some species almost unusable.

Wing-clipping is about the largest source of debate! Plenty of good reasons either way, depends on the environment and your expectations. Do a topic check with the forum search-engine and you'll find tons of threads.

 

[ChrisYNA]

I'll quickly throw in my 2 cents on clipping. When I adopted my Amazon, hers were clipped and I can tell you that she became so much more confident since her feathers grew back, it's been a stark contrast. I love it when she's flying around the house from place to place, lands on my back or my shoulder, etc. If there is one thing that birds are known for it is flying, so to take that away from them is not OK with me. Sure, there are opinions and circumstances, so this is just my take.

With a flying bird comes a bit more responsibility, so a harness/leash is always recommended. I use a stretchable bungee leash that's considerably safer than the regular one that can produce a "hard stop" when the bird does take off. I started doing this after my bird got spooked two times and flew off 3 years ago. She spent a whole night on top of a tree so tall one time, even the fire department couldn't help since the truck's ladder just wasn't long enough. Luckily, she flew down in the morning. Another time, she got scared again and took off right across a busy street and, if not for her ability to go high, she would have gotten ran over by a car. She landed in a neighbor's backyard, so it wasn't so bad. Birds fly for protection, not only to get to a different location.

A well-bonded bird will typically not fly away just to do so, but it can get scared or curious or strong wind can pick it right up. Harness/leash is therefore highly recommended.

My bird is scared of the color red, for instance. If it's something small, it's fine. But the other day, I was in the park and this lady with a red stroller came over to talk and my bird got scared of the thing. She started running around my shoulder and eventually tried to take off. On the leash, she did a circle around me, and all was good when I stepped away.

You gotta be more careful with a bird that can fly, but it shouldn't be much of a problem - or rather, inconvenience - to a responsible owner.

 

[Lorne96]

Thanks again for your replies! I want the biggest cage I can afford, the breeder I've been talking to offers a cage big enough for 2 ringnecks full grown at £60 so I've asked for dimensions and a picture. Still waiting on a reply. I'd rather my bird wasn't clipped, maybe when it's young and getting used to me and the surroundings? But I believe too that you shouldn't take away flight as that's what birds are known for! I love it when birds fly over your head and you feel the wind from their wings. I'm just worried about her having an accident or hurting herself or flying away like you say. I've seen that flying is the best exercise for them as well. Im hopefully going to get a bird around christmas this year so i might start buying toys and bowls and food now so then I'll only have to pay for the bird itself and the cage (so long as it's good enough) does anyone have an average monthly cost for food for birds? I always buy different veg greens and fruit for myself and my beardie and I have plenty left over, so I guess I'm wondering how much bird seed mix do you go through weekly/monthly? I read that birds can be less expensive than cats in food costs? Any recommendations for what bird seed to use? I read that cockatiel bird food should be fine but I am unsure. I plan to get a harness and a leash, I want to be able to take her places. Is the squawk as bad as they say as well? Thank you all, all this talk about birds is getting me excited to get one ��