My new yellow buddy!

[ihijazi]

Hello guys,

So after the sad thread that I've went thru, and put you thru, I thought of sharing, and asking, some happy questions about my new yellow buddy.

He's very active. Inside the cage, he doesn't stop going up and down, on the cage ground going right and left (looking at me). The "activeness" part is great indication of a healthy behaviour, I believe. However, I don't think he's doing this out of being playful, but rather to get outside the cage. Am I correct?

As for eating, until now, I haven't seen him eating anything INSIDE the cage, or drink water. Not so many droppings on the cage ground either. However, when he's outside, he does eat his mix of seeds and pallets. Moreover, I gave him cucumber today (outside the cage) and he went nuts on it.

My concern is, I want to see him eating/drinking inside the cage. And I want to see him "content" and playful inside the cage (there are few toys there). Should I be worried of anything? He's been with me since 2 days now.

And oh, he isn't ultra tame now yet. Today, I've just started with the "step up" training, and it went very well. I had few bites attempts, but weren't successful/harmful from his side. He's 8 months btw.

Issam

 

[GaleriaGila]

For just two days... I think you are NAILING it!!!!!

I think everything will work out.

I'm sure you'll get los of support and advice as time goes by.

Pictures, please????????????

 

[SilverSage]

We are all hoping this will be a better experience for you!

Likely he is trying to get out. Use out of the cage time as a reward; see if you can lure him onto your hand or arm to come out instead of just climbing out of the cage.

As long as he knows where the food and water is inside his cage, and you know he knows what the food is because you have seen him eating it outside the cage, I wouldn't be concerned.

A healthy IRN is an incredibly active and intelligent parrot. Lots of toys, constantly changing, especially foraging toys, are required in order to keep their minds busy inside the cage as well as out.

As for keeping that busy brain occupied, here are some things I do;

1) harness training. It's a long process and shouldn't be started until the bird fully trusts you, but being able to take him out and about does WONDERS for their mental energy! You can do it with a travel cage in the mean time once he trusts you enough. Remember, just clipping the wings is NOT enough to keep him safe.

Above: Royal shopping with me. Many places that don't allow dogs allow birds if you ask.

Above: Nohea and I after a hike. She LOVES hiking!


2) Toy boxes. I use these paper boxes and fill them with foot toys, dry food, and bits of paper. They help contain the mess and make it easy for me to put a "station" near me wherever I am even though my small house lacks much space for big play stands (and honestly, the birds seem to like these better!)

Above: Kaleo usually chooses one toy and completely destroys it.

Above (two photos) Hamilton and Madison will spend hours in the box if there are bits of food scattered in it

3) foraging toys. There are different levels of foraging toy but the basic idea is for the bird to have to work for some of his food. You have to be sure he understands that though, and is getting enough food even if he is still working on the new concept. When I make my toys sometimes I'll twist up a piece of almond in paper and attach it, etc. my usual "first intro" foraging toy for birds who have never done it is just some seed in a plastic bag. They can see it, but they have to work to get it.

Above: recent rescue Madison being introduced to the bag.

Above: Kaleo with a store-bought foraging toy

4) put a toy on everything. We have toys hanging from windows, lamps, I even have toys that hang in my hair. I joke that I have always wanted Caiques but now that I have IRNs I might not get them! I have and do shared my life with Conures, Eclectus, Lovebirds, Quakers, Budgies, Cockatiels, Macaws, Canaries, Finches, and Pionus, but the Indian Ringnecks are the most mischievous, inquisitive, active, ANNOYING ones by far! Lol but worth every bit of it!

Above: Kaleo and Nohea on the lamp around which we wrapped natural fibers and hang toys.

Above: Nohea learned how to turn the lamp on and off and does it all the time!


Best of luck! We are excited for you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SilverSage]

Oh, and IRNs thrive on fresh food! Give him as many safe veggies as you can! They also do great with a bit of guava or papaya added in regularly


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[LadyE]

First I have to say I followed your thread on the other forum and must say I'm glad you got a new baby so soon and he/she is absolutely beautiful, totally understand why you couldn't walk away without getting new one lol and no about eating since I've been through the same thing recently when I got mine don't be too worried about it, he'll eat when you're there probably. Mine wasn't eating almost anything when we just got him. One day we were very long out of home (14h or so) and when we got home he was clearly depressed, in no mood for anything and when I looked at the food bowl it was almost untouched! I couldn't believe it, he was so long without food and still didn't want to eat anything. And he still doesn't eat much when we're gone but goes crazy for almost any food we give him when we're there. My guess is he's too bonded with humans and can't stand being alone, but as the time is passing he's getting more used to our timings in days and probably knows it doesn't matter we're away for longer time, he knows we're coming back. Yours is also adjusting to new environment and new people(you) and as long as he's eating outside don't worry he knows what the food is and he will eat I fed mine outside cage at that time too but decided not to do that any longer and now he knows food is in the cage only, maybe some treats occasionally with me in the kitchen but that's all wish you a lot of very happy time with your new little guy/girl

 

[ihijazi]

For just two days... I think you are NAILING it!!!!!

I think everything will work out.

I'm sure you'll get los of support and advice as time goes by.

Pictures, please????????????

 

[ihijazi]

We are all hoping this will be a better experience for you!

Likely he is trying to get out. Use out of the cage time as a reward; see if you can lure him onto your hand or arm to come out instead of just climbing out of the cage.

As long as he knows where the food and water is inside his cage, and you know he knows what the food is because you have seen him eating it outside the cage, I wouldn't be concerned.

A healthy IRN is an incredibly active and intelligent parrot. Lots of toys, constantly changing, especially foraging toys, are required in order to keep their minds busy inside the cage as well as out.

As for keeping that busy brain occupied, here are some things I do;

1) harness training. It's a long process and shouldn't be started until the bird fully trusts you, but being able to take him out and about does WONDERS for their mental energy! You can do it with a travel cage in the mean time once he trusts you enough. Remember, just clipping the wings is NOT enough to keep him safe.

Above: Royal shopping with me. Many places that don't allow dogs allow birds if you ask.

Above: Nohea and I after a hike. She LOVES hiking!


2) Toy boxes. I use these paper boxes and fill them with foot toys, dry food, and bits of paper. They help contain the mess and make it easy for me to put a "station" near me wherever I am even though my small house lacks much space for big play stands (and honestly, the birds seem to like these better!)

Above: Kaleo usually chooses one toy and completely destroys it.

Above (two photos) Hamilton and Madison will spend hours in the box if there are bits of food scattered in it

3) foraging toys. There are different levels of foraging toy but the basic idea is for the bird to have to work for some of his food. You have to be sure he understands that though, and is getting enough food even if he is still working on the new concept. When I make my toys sometimes I'll twist up a piece of almond in paper and attach it, etc. my usual "first intro" foraging toy for birds who have never done it is just some seed in a plastic bag. They can see it, but they have to work to get it.

Above: recent rescue Madison being introduced to the bag.

Above: Kaleo with a store-bought foraging toy

4) put a toy on everything. We have toys hanging from windows, lamps, I even have toys that hang in my hair. I joke that I have always wanted Caiques but now that I have IRNs I might not get them! I have and do shared my life with Conures, Eclectus, Lovebirds, Quakers, Budgies, Cockatiels, Macaws, Canaries, Finches, and Pionus, but the Indian Ringnecks are the most mischievous, inquisitive, active, ANNOYING ones by far! Lol but worth every bit of it!

Above: Kaleo and Nohea on the lamp around which we wrapped natural fibers and hang toys.

Above: Nohea learned how to turn the lamp on and off and does it all the time!


Best of luck! We are excited for you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Excellent advices and THANK YOU for sharing your experience and the stunning folk pics

 

[ihijazi]

First I have to say I followed your thread on the other forum and must say I'm glad you got a new baby so soon and he/she is absolutely beautiful, totally understand why you couldn't walk away without getting new one lol and no about eating since I've been through the same thing recently when I got mine don't be too worried about it, he'll eat when you're there probably. Mine wasn't eating almost anything when we just got him. One day we were very long out of home (14h or so) and when we got home he was clearly depressed, in no mood for anything and when I looked at the food bowl it was almost untouched! I couldn't believe it, he was so long without food and still didn't want to eat anything. And he still doesn't eat much when we're gone but goes crazy for almost any food we give him when we're there. My guess is he's too bonded with humans and can't stand being alone, but as the time is passing he's getting more used to our timings in days and probably knows it doesn't matter we're away for longer time, he knows we're coming back. Yours is also adjusting to new environment and new people(you) and as long as he's eating outside don't worry he knows what the food is and he will eat I fed mine outside cage at that time too but decided not to do that any longer and now he knows food is in the cage only, maybe some treats occasionally with me in the kitchen but that's all wish you a lot of very happy time with your new little guy/girl

Finally, he's less demanding to get out of the cage and I actually saw him drinking water and eating pallets/seeds inside his cage

 

[EllenD]

Congratulations! I'm so glad you got a beautiful, healthy baby!

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[Scott]

He is beautiful, what a nice choice! Wishing you a healthy bird and many years of happiness!!

 

[Kentuckienne]

This is a joy to see!

 

[ihijazi]

Thanks guys!

Today marks day #8 for Lemon with me

Today, and ONLY today, he started to make some cute voices, finally. Also, today for the first time I started to see him play (chew) into his cage toys. The past 7 days, he's been only sitting on one side of the cage, avoiding ALL the toys or other sides, only eating/drinking, and demanding to get out of the cage (by tap dancing on the cage's ground), and having small flights around the room when he's outside the cage.

Of course, since I brought him, he's been a "step-up" good boy. I'm building the trust slowly, and not rushing into anything. He's accepting food from me, and his favourite vegetable, so far, is cucumber. Today, I've given him egg whites, small bite. At the beginning he didn't accept, but then I left it on his outside preach and he started to taste it, and finally picked it up and ate it
- ps: I love watching him holding into small piece of food and eating it slowly.

I'm really happy that he finally made some sounds today, and started to play. Hopefully this means he's getting more adapted to his new home (and me). And oh, he's sitting/sleeping on one leg greatly, and doesn't stand on two legs when I'm next to him (guess it means he's not panicked from presence).

Cheers

Issam

 

[Scott]

I think Lemon is doing very well considering he is still adapting! But you are patient and will be well rewarded with a wonderful companion!!