New Female and Male Indian Ring Necks

[Arwa]

I have a African Grey Parrot which is always at home alone for 9 hours a day while I am at work. So I decided to get her some friends. I decided to buy an Indian Ring neck which I have no experience with. I went to more than 1 Avian shop and looked around. I ended up buying 2 IRNs, male and female.
I read about IRNs before purchasing them, but I didnt read about having a pair, female and male. I read that if I have both sexes in one cage they will not learn to talk and be playful, their main concentration will be on breeding. Another thing is that when I bought them I asked how old they are and the guy told me they are 10 months old. The male already has his black ring on his necks and after reading online it says that a male gets it's ring after 18 months. I think I have been lied to before purchasing my IRNs. I forgot to mention that they are untamed. Next day I went and purchased another cage and separated them and put each cage in opposite sides of the living room. Yesterday I came back from work and I dont know how, but the female found her way out of the cage. I dont see them play in their cages. They do bite on the cage and try to find a way out, they is what I noticed. I also noticed that they tear up the newspaper on the floor of the cage. I need an advice. Should I keep both birds or should I take one back to the Avian shop. If I am to keep both what should I do? Should I put them back together or should I leave them in separate cages. If I have both sexes will the ever learn to talk or sing or at least chirp. I am going to work on taming them but it will take time. I just dont want them to concentrate on breeding. I want them to be playful. My african grey is really happy. she tries to play with them but they are still scared and still need time to get used to the surroundings. But my main concerned is what should I do??????? I know I wrote alot but I am so worried and I need HELP!

 

[itchyfeet]

You should always buy new birds if youwant them, not as friends for your other parrots, because you never really know who's going to get on with who. So the decision lies with you...do you want them? Have you fot the time to work them? They are my favourite parrot - a nice size, amazing talking ability, full of bold character....but they can be finicky, and you do have your work cut out for you.

I suspect your female may be getting through her feed container doors...they're pretty clever like that

Were they in the same cage at the pet shop? And do you have any photos? I'd love to see all three....grey's are my very close second favourite

 

[GaleriaGila]

I think some elements of my story may be of interest here. And anyway, I like to tell it now and then...
My story about (with) The Rickeybird...
I got him in 1984. I was in college. I had plenty of TIME for him, but not much money and lots of complications. I was fearing getting evicted due to his noise, and my family at the time HATED him. I recall struggling to make a decision. I loved him so much, but I felt so guilty and inadequate and afraid at one point that I had him in his travel cage and was planning to take him back to the bird store. I opened the front door and couldn't go through. Closed it.
Then there were were years (about 25 of him) when 5-6 days a week, I was gone at 7:30-ish and back at 6-ish.
Some did and will consider me wrong and think I should have re-homed him. My husband at that time detested the bird. My current ol' man tolerates him with good humor. No, the bird wasn't responsible for the first marriage's ending!
Anyway, here is what I think made it work.
I moved and got new jobs maybe 5 times or so. BUT...
Every morning, he had at least ten minutes, and every evening, he had 20 or so. I have always kept him on a natural light schedule, in a separate room, so sometimes those times together were in the dark. During the day, he had a big window looking out on something interesting, a television on his favorite channel (CNN - he loves talking heads), a biggg cage, lots of fun foods, and a few toys that I changed out regularly).
He KNEW he could count on those two crummy sessions a day. Somehow we both made it.
I'm now retired and times are good again. Side-note... when I first started being able to spend much more time, he was strangely aggressive and jumpy. Eventually we settled down.
I don't know if I have any right or reason to think this is relevant. I do most sincerely wish you and your bird(s) well.
Good luck to you in making a decision. And welcome to the Forum... you'll get lots of empathy and advice here.

 

[Arwa]

Thanks for your advise. I am an animal lover and always happy to have more pets, it just that I am afraid that I dont have enough time for them. I am already in love with my two IRNs and actually they are more calmer than when I brought them the first day, Yes the female is very smart. I have started to leave the cage open so they can go out on their own and get used to the house. I need to take pictures of them and I will send you.

 

[Arwa]

GaleriaGila, thanks for your story. I didnt know IRNs can live that long. Wish you the best with your birdy.

 

[Arwa]

At the Avian shop both birds were in the same cage along with another female.

 

[itchyfeet]

These birds are super smart and love to think! Sometimes if I'm going to be out for the day, I'll plait up some newspaper with seeds springled through the paper, and he'll rip and tear and hunt and shread for ages. If you have a wee google at DIY foraging toys you'll find some great ideas It'll help to ease your worry when you're not there.

 

[Arwa]

These birds are super smart and love to think! Sometimes if I'm going to be out for the day, I'll plait up some newspaper with seeds springled through the paper, and he'll rip and tear and hunt and shread for ages. If you have a wee google at DIY foraging toys you'll find some great ideas It'll help to ease your worry when you're not there.

I didnt the newspaper thing couple of days ago. The female was enjoying the newspaper, it was the opposite with the male, dodnt like the newspaper at all.