New Baby female or male

[Gabbana]

Hi All i am new to the forum. I am a proud owner of a beautiful IGN Called Gabbana, Age 13wks. I have had it 2 half days and on the 1st day i had it hand feeding eating a Apple using Garden Gloves. Also it stepped up on to the house floor brush that i used for the pole end as a perch too take him out the cage up onto the top of it's cage.

I feel he or she is so relaxed and feels safe and has gained trust with me ever so quickly. He or she even cleans it's feathers with it's head under it's wing while being on top of the cage knowing i am around and close to him or her so that's some trust. He also sleeps with his head turned right around once the light Dims for bed time and stays like that for hours till the following morning. The bird is not shy, However it makes NO noise not even a whistle.

I have had zero noise from her or her. I have even encouraged it with other bird sounds of IGN on you tube which it is not one bit fussed by it carries on eating lol.

It does not like bare hands as i have tried. He or she feels really happy with the garden gloves so for now i'll stick to this.

Just a question. I know a DNA kit is the accuracy of knowing birds Gender. However when mine bends it's head down to eat out of it's bowl it has a bright green neck ring. Do all birds have this at the age of 13 weeks old OR is this a female.

my bird is eating and drinking and moving round the cage absolute fine. It has tried Apple, strawberry, and even ate some Chicken lol and romaine lettuce along with it's bird food.

He seems so happy and watches my every movement with my bare hands when the cage is near were i am sat. Like now i am typing this on the lap top and he is on his perch watching my fingers type he is very clever and so relaxed.

I did start to think whether it was deaf but it tilts it's head to noise and has even raised it's neck length so it cant be. The bird has looked in the mirror and not a bit bothered about the reflection staring back at it. I used the mobile phone for IGN sounds and he sat on the phone and ate the rest of his apple not a bit bothered that bird noises was coming from it.

I have played music, talk a lot to it, and even sing, and it has dilated pupils too, to the colour blue which was amazing. It sometimes blinks it's eyes shut when listening to me.

So my questions are, bright green neck ring around the back of neck when it bends down for something to eat, is this a female ? or do all have this in the early stages. Also the no noise at all but it's not a shy bird either. And has settled in knew surroundings ever so quickly. What is the problem.

 

[Smerft85]

First, welcome! A few pointers if I may...

Romaine lettuce has ZERO nutritional value, I would swap for collard greens, mustard greens, bell pepper, squash, ect.

Chicken isn't suitable for much more than an occasional treat, animal protein isn't the end of the world, but shouldn't be fed often.

Fruits are high in sugars and captive birds generally don't fly like wild birds, and don't burn the sugars in the same manner.

As far as your questions, my pair are DNA proven, and of similar age to yours, to help any better pictures would help a ton, but all I can do is compare words to my birds. The behavioral things you mention aren't really out of the ordinary for either sex, both of mine act similar to the other. Both of mine are still relatively quiet, I attribute this to being very young, and at 10 weeks, unless it was hatched in your home, it is still adapting to new surroundings.

As far as the visible ring, the males will mature around three years from my understanding, and I think the ring turns black around that time for males, the female has the ring too, but doesn't turn black, so both of my birds currently have a ring that appears to be a faded color of the rest of the body, so in the case of the ring telling gender, you have a long wait, but the ring cam still help, if you have a 2nd bird to compare of a known gender, but even then it is a guess without DNA.

The noise level of mine is still minimal, but they are learning their voices, squaks, and they do attempt a mimic every now and then, once they do find their voice they will call LOUDLY, so enjoy while it's quiet!

It sounds like you have a healthy baby ringneck, and time will be the best thing for you and your bird, interact daily, holding, talking ect, they seem to hold it against you if you skip a day. They are so different from every other parrot I can think of, truly unique birds.

 

[SilverSage]

Yes, both sexes have “shadow rings” at that age I know it can be frustrating but I really do recommend the DNA test. Even as a breeder I am sometimes wrong about gender so I always do the DNA test. I also don’t hear any specific sex related behaviors from what you say.

I have actually written an article specifically about taking Indian Ringnecks since their minds can be quite different than other birds, I’ll link it below. Feel free to brows my other ringneck articles as well.

http://www.silversageaviaries.com/tamingyourringneck-1



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[Gabbana]

Thank you both for your replies. Smerft85. If i am honest Gabbana never seems to eat the romaine lettuce so i have given kale too and i will start to give Bell pepper thanks for that tip. He does have chicken as a treat when i am cooking chicken he gets a little bit which he does enjoy lol. He loves Apples and Grapes. I know fruit is high in sugar but i cant refuse him a Slice of Apple or a Grape bless him i'm sure he'll be fine. Thanks so much for the tips i will make note.

Silversage. Thanks for reply. I'm not really fussed if it is either Girl or boy to be honest. The only thing that seems to be annoying is having the quietest bird ever LOL !!! Not single peep. Talking daily, even singing, and even letting it listen to other ring necks to see if that would help encourage him or her but it don't seem to phase this bird of mine. He carries on eating not one bit bothered lol.

Thanks guys.

 

[Smerft85]

Don't get me wrong, I feed fruit too! Lots of folks do think because they do something in the wild so it must be the same in captive life, little things that some don't consider. Bell peppers no matter the color are a favorite among both of my ringnecks.

I also agree they are like no other bird, my other birds have similar attributes, but nothing really identical. Behavior, looks, sounds ect. Mine are 16 and 18 weeks old, and are just starting to make noise around us, when they thought no one was around they would sometimes be heard briefly. That's the entire reason I think your bird is still settling in, at an early or on time weaning, that would be an 8 week old bird, meaning in theory he/she has been home 2-3 weeks tops. My male cockatiel has been home for almost 5 months and still isn't 100% there, although he sis comfortable.

I think your bird is young and taking in the world, thinking, learning, and figuring out its own personality, as well as yours, no to mention, similar to mimicking human speach, not all birds are super chatty. Some bird owners swear that their breed of parrot are super loud to the point of making their ears hurt, while others swear the same breed is super quiet, and have never heard a screech, depends on the bird.

 

[Gabbana]

Don't get me wrong, I feed fruit too! Lots of folks do think because they do something in the wild so it must be the same in captive life, little things that some don't consider. Bell peppers no matter the color are a favorite among both of my ringnecks.

I also agree they are like no other bird, my other birds have similar attributes, but nothing really identical. Behavior, looks, sounds ect. Mine are 16 and 18 weeks old, and are just starting to make noise around us, when they thought no one was around they would sometimes be heard briefly. That's the entire reason I think your bird is still settling in, at an early or on time weaning, that would be an 8 week old bird, meaning in theory he/she has been home 2-3 weeks tops. My male cockatiel has been home for almost 5 months and still isn't 100% there, although he sis comfortable.

I think your bird is young and taking in the world, thinking, learning, and figuring out its own personality, as well as yours, no to mention, similar to mimicking human speach, not all birds are super chatty. Some bird owners swear that their breed of parrot are super loud to the point of making their ears hurt, while others swear the same breed is super quiet, and have never heard a screech, depends on the bird.

Hi you will never guess what happened. Yesterday i got him or her out the cage and he flew on top of the fire place ledge then on top of the tv. From no were he give not 1 but 4 loud Sqwark sounds. I was super excited :18: He would not go back into the cage though. That's the only problem and he flew onto the back of the sofa and i think the way he landed had hurt him some how as when he tried to take flight again, it was not so high and come back down crashing again. :-( i never wanted too but felt there was no other way for his own safety other than to get hold of him with a towel which i did and put him back into his cage. He handled that quite well and was still my friend.

However he was getting around his cage rather different than usual using his beak to move around a lot rather than taking flight to hop onto things. He was also accepting my support with my training perch stick to get up and onto things so that's how i knew he had hurt himself someway or other.

I had a look to check he had not broken his wing but they are not hanging down in the broke position and there are no signs of blood. The only unusual thing that is something new, and being a 1st time parrot owner i am not sure if this something or not, any advice ? the tiny wings at the top, shoulder wing that tuck under the wing, one was on display, the wing is so tiny and he has them on both sides. On his right side it is visible and i never noticed this before until his fall. Is this normal or should it be hidden under the wing ?

He is eating and active in the cage today, and when i stroked his chest with my training stick he give a little Sqwark. Not heard them loud bird Whistles again, he's gone back quite lol. Wow it was fantastic hearing him when he did.

The Pet store who was selling him handled him with thick garden gloves and for that reason he hate hands. So i have to use Garden Gloves to enter the cage, and he will even eat food from me when wearing them but as soon as i take them gloves off he goes up onto the roof upside down trying to get away from them. How am i ever going to learn him with hands and even more so how am i ever going to get him out the cage to hold if he takes flight as not had his wings clipped and not sure if i want too. ? Do i towel hold him with his head out the towel so that he can see and feed him that way.

 

[Gabbana]

I would post a photo but the attachment button here for photos wont open any of my files on my phone or my Lap top. It asking for a URL link and i don't have a URL link how weird ? It has only let me add a profile photo. That is my Gabbana in my profile photo I forgot to add i tried yellow and red bell pepper and he never liked it. He has a nibble along with cucumber and resorted back to his Apple which he loves. I will keep adding the bell pepper he will get calcium from that.

 

[Aspie_Aviphile]

He probably crashed because he ran out of stamina. He still needs to develop fitness and muscle strength, as well as flight skills. Whatever you do, don't clip his flight feathers. The health and developmental effects would be like keeping a toddler's legs tied when he starts to run and fall, and thinking you can just untie them when they're old enough to behave better. Hopefully in this country you wouldn't actually find an avian vet willing to clip a bird before they're fully grown and strong, fit, skillful fliers anyway; it was only ever common practice in the USA and is slowly falling out of favour there too due to studies on the effects it has had on their birds. In this country vets have only ever recommended it for ADULT birds - let alone growing birds - in exceptional circumstances like blindness or a dangerous parrot with aggression that's being worked on. The effects are severe even in adults, e.g. never using their full lung capacity the whole time they're flightless, and rapid muscle loss that allows females to become egg-bound because they can't push the eggs out. When it's done to babies they may never learn to fly unless specifically encouraged and taught, and with juveniles they may never become confident or skillful fliers, which is a tragedy for a species as skillful and joyful in flight as IRNs are. Just make sure you remove potential hazards when he's out of his cage, like sharp objects and poisonous plants, so you don't have to chase him around. He'll go to his cage when he's hungry or thirsty, and the more hours per day he's out the more casually he'll go to it without being poised to immediately jump out again if you try to close the door.

 

[Gabbana]

He probably crashed because he ran out of stamina. He still needs to develop fitness and muscle strength, as well as flight skills. Whatever you do, don't clip his flight feathers. The health and developmental effects would be like keeping a toddler's legs tied when he starts to run and fall, and thinking you can just untie them when they're old enough to behave better. Hopefully in this country you wouldn't actually find an avian vet willing to clip a bird before they're fully grown and strong, fit, skillful fliers anyway; it was only ever common practice in the USA and is slowly falling out of favour there too due to studies on the effects it has had on their birds. In this country vets have only ever recommended it for ADULT birds - let alone growing birds - in exceptional circumstances like blindness or a dangerous parrot with aggression that's being worked on. The effects are severe even in adults, e.g. never using their full lung capacity the whole time they're flightless, and rapid muscle loss that allows females to become egg-bound because they can't push the eggs out. When it's done to babies they may never learn to fly unless specifically encouraged and taught, and with juveniles they may never become confident or skillful fliers, which is a tragedy for a species as skillful and joyful in flight as IRNs are. Just make sure you remove potential hazards when he's out of his cage, like sharp objects and poisonous plants, so you don't have to chase him around. He'll go to his cage when he's hungry or thirsty, and the more hours per day he's out the more casually he'll go to it without being poised to immediately jump out again if you try to close the door.

Hi, I don't want to clip it's wings as i said in previous post. They do however do this here in the UK but like i said it's not what i want to do i was only giving it a thought because of the accidents he can cause to it's self when out flying around. I do take away all objects that can cause any injury during flight. Getting it back into the cage did take a while and i had to resort to a tea towel to get it back into the cage after 3 half hours. I cant keep it out either too wait till it goes back into the cage it's self for long hours as i live in a open plan house so keeping the bird in one room all night can be quite a handful to do.

I am trying to get it use to my hands as it's only use to garden gloves which the pet store was using to feed the birds so it's not liking hands at all but so confident with me when i use the gloves. How am i ever going to get out of this habit. ?

 

[Inger]

This thread might help

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...orums.com/showthread.php?t=49144&share_type=t


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Smerft85]

I never used any kind of glove or cover over my hand. Here is my thought on the matter, you are a parrot owner, it's not if, but when you get bit, similar to motorcycle riding, there are those that have gone down, and there are those who will. Personally I'd put the gloves away while your bird is still super young. Continuing with the glove at least in my opinion is making it habit to the bird, think toddler for a minute, they are sponges for information and learning. It will be hard, but if he/She bites, accept the bite and don't yank away, start teaching "No bite" language, I gently tap the beak at the same time with my index finger, not as a way of punishment, but enough to break their concentration, like a spray bottle to a dog, never a goal to hurt. It will all take time, you will get bit, and things will likely get better.

As far as clipping goes, 7 of our 10 birds were clipped (horribly) before we got them, our ringnecks and one budgie were the only ones that we caught in time to forbid it. It's caused them one by one as they get flight feathers back, and one at a time they try to learn flight at an older age, and it's not pretty, however a couple of the budgies are following the one around and learning, my cockatiels don't fly worth a darn, more like tumble gliding to the ground, plus pet shops and even breeders AREN'T veteranarians, and they straighten the wing out, and one snip cutting ALL flight feathers, they look like crap, take forever to grow back, and if a blood feather is cut they are clueless generally, and some birds die as result of a bad wing clip, luckily I have a live-in in veterinary technician and her clinic does aviary, equine, livestock ect. She knows how to clip the right way, and we still dont.

Congrats on your bird starting to figure out its voice! I figured it wouldn't be much longer, now you will probably start hearing more from yours on a daily basis, my two have officially provided the jungle sound to my home, the neighbors that do hear them (next door is a deaf family) look around like crazy trying to figure out what the noises are, a ringneck screech isn't exactly common in Colorado, I find it funny to watch folks looking for "whatever made that sound!"

I hope the link that was provided above can help you post pictures, we love pictures around here!

 

[Gabbana]

I never used any kind of glove or cover over my hand. Here is my thought on the matter, you are a parrot owner, it's not if, but when you get bit, similar to motorcycle riding, there are those that have gone down, and there are those who will. Personally I'd put the gloves away while your bird is still super young. Continuing with the glove at least in my opinion is making it habit to the bird, think toddler for a minute, they are sponges for information and learning. It will be hard, but if he/She bites, accept the bite and don't yank away, start teaching "No bite" language, I gently tap the beak at the same time with my index finger, not as a way of punishment, but enough to break their concentration, like a spray bottle to a dog, never a goal to hurt. It will all take time, you will get bit, and things will likely get better.

As far as clipping goes, 7 of our 10 birds were clipped (horribly) before we got them, our ringnecks and one budgie were the only ones that we caught in time to forbid it. It's caused them one by one as they get flight feathers back, and one at a time they try to learn flight at an older age, and it's not pretty, however a couple of the budgies are following the one around and learning, my cockatiels don't fly worth a darn, more like tumble gliding to the ground, plus pet shops and even breeders AREN'T veteranarians, and they straighten the wing out, and one snip cutting ALL flight feathers, they look like crap, take forever to grow back, and if a blood feather is cut they are clueless generally, and some birds die as result of a bad wing clip, luckily I have a live-in in veterinary technician and her clinic does aviary, equine, livestock ect. She knows how to clip the right way, and we still dont.

Congrats on your bird starting to figure out its voice! I figured it wouldn't be much longer, now you will probably start hearing more from yours on a daily basis, my two have officially provided the jungle sound to my home, the neighbors that do hear them (next door is a deaf family) look around like crazy trying to figure out what the noises are, a ringneck screech isn't exactly common in Colorado, I find it funny to watch folks looking for "whatever made that sound!"

I hope the link that was provided above can help you post pictures, we love pictures around here!

I am a female owner and i change my nail varnish colour weekly and been told that parrots recognise things as such and having no nail varnish is a no lol so how will i get past that if wearing no gloves. Hopefully the sound of my voice will help. I discovered how to post photos. Here is 2 of my baby Gabbana and one with me feeding him a grape using the gloves. :04:

 

[Smerft85]

Beautiful feathered friend you have there! From what I see in the ghost ring, and comparing to my two, which aren't green, I'd say the ring on your bird closely matches the look of my male, I'm of course completely capable of being wrong and the DNA test is the best way to be sure, but I would definitely vote you have a boy.

On the nail polish, other than not letting your bird get your fingernails in his mouth, I don't know what the best solution is, for me it's simple, I've never painted mine, guys look a little odd with cherry red nails, at least in my opinion! There may be a paint that's non-toxic when dry?

 

[Gabbana]

Beautiful feathered friend you have there! From what I see in the ghost ring, and comparing to my two, which aren't green, I'd say the ring on your bird closely matches the look of my male, I'm of course completely capable of being wrong and the DNA test is the best way to be sure, but I would definitely vote you have a boy.

On the nail polish, other than not letting your bird get your fingernails in his mouth, I don't know what the best solution is, for me it's simple, I've never painted mine, guys look a little odd with cherry red nails, at least in my opinion! There may be a paint that's non-toxic when dry?

Thank you.

I hope your right because they reckon the males are much better talkers than the female ring necks. Here's hoping ( fingers crossed )

I was feeding him using the glove again and i noticed when he stretched one side of his wing out, a tear in one of his feathers.

It was the long dark feather. It looks like a actual clean slice near the bottom of it. I will try take a photo to show you. I am wondering if it's been like that since i purchased him and that's why he has been crashing a lot. OR he could of done it when crashing. However i don't see how he could of done it here not a actual tear.

maybe a sprain or it being broken but not a actual tear there is no way he could of done that when he crashed the other day at home. At least i don't think it is possible ? I was thinking because it was hidden under the wing i never noticed it and a cage mate could of done it at the pet store and now that he has his crash 2 days ago i have kept him caged and he's not been allowed out ( for rest ) it's only now i'm noticing it because it was not tucked under the wing.

I'll get a photo and post it soon. It's late evening here in the UK so it wont be tonight it will be tomorrow now.

 

[Gabbana]

This is what his wing looks like. He is eating but will this split in the black feather that you can see effect his flight ? He has another in the little green one too. His long tail is rugged looking too. Think that's with all the bashing around in the cage that he was initially in along with 8 other parrots of his breed.

 

[Smerft85]

I don't really see an injury to be honest, one of my cockatiels had a tail feather break and it's been dangling the past couple days, doesn't really affect her at all. He (If I'm right) may have had a crash landing for several reasons, still learning to fly, maybe he was spooked the time it happened, never learned how to land ect. My male ringneck somewhat fits all of those, except being spooked, he just doesn't like to me touched, also only gets along with HIS female, he doesn't like anyone else with feathers. He is supposed to be my wife's bird, but he is showing a bond to me a little more in a lot of ways.

 

[Gabbana]

That's good to know. I am learning as i go on lol. He has been doing really well still eating and i got him to step onto my hand in the cage which he quickly done then jumped up onto the side of the cage. I think the more determinate i am in getting him to get onto my hand the more success i have. The only worry is him being scared but if i dont' keep trying he will always be scared and he has to overcome his fear. Thanks for the posts.