Our new 14 week old IRN is fly happy! Help?

[Lovelyloribeth]

So I can get Ringo to step up. (hubby renamed him) he doesn't do it well but he gets the concept and does do it without hesitation. However, he won't stay, he just flaps off. Every. Single. Time. It's just a vicious frustrating circle.

Step up.
Flap off to floor.
Step up.
Flap off to floor.
Etc, etc, etc.

So far, this is all the interaction we can get! I know he's a baby, his wings are clipped so he's just flapping to the floor. I've tried treats, which he won't take anything from my hand yet. I don't think he knows it's for him. To eat. As a treat. Lol. But he won't stay still for us. I have t hold him close to pet him. Could it be he don't feel safe justerching on my hand? How can I get hi to stay longer than 3 seconds without flapping off? Any ideas?? Or is t just a baby patience thing? I've never had a baby bird this young ever so I'm like a new mommy!

 

[cdog]

You should never clip a baby parrots wings until they are expert, strong fliers. It messes up their mental and physical development.
It sounds like he didn't get to learn to fly properly before you clipped him and now he is trying to finish the training process. He needs to learn to fly very well before he is clipped otherwise he will keep trying to fly.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

Don't take offense to this, but I'm not that stupid! The girl I got him from clipped him. I'd never do that. ChiChi is a proven pro flyer so I don't have a problem clipping his. I'm not planning to clip Ringos until they grow out enough to allow him to fly. I never thought about that. But now that you said it, I bet that's what it is. And also I asked her if he had flown for a while before she clipped him and she swore he had. I never thought of that. Also I take my babies into a breeder friend to clip them since I don't know how and don't want to mess them up. *sigh* I feel so bad for him now. I'll call her tomorrow and let her know about this. Thanks.

 

[cdog]

I'm so sorry, I'm glad to hear you know not to do that.

Well he will either learn he can't fly and won't try when he's older, or he will continue to try until he can, making him a very strong flier when he's older.

Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

No! I'm glad people get concerned. That's how we all learn.

So there's really nothing to do but wait and let him fly.
Do you know when IRN's molt?
He's also still got some Down feathers fluffing thru places like between his wings, above his tail feathers and the bottom of his belly.

 

[cdog]

They molt around spring/summer, but he won't start molting until he is at least 5-6 months old.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

Aw. Poor baby!! I feel bad for him.
I bring him out to the play area above the cage most of the day every day. He never tries to fly there or inside the cage. Just from my hands.

 

[paulhanlon]

Lol my amazon jinx is a heck of a flyer he just doesn't like to fly much he is only 14 weeks old god love him he would rather have me get him to step up than fly to me I'll get him to fly more often after he masters the step up command and good look with your baby the woman you got him from shouldn't have clipped him but that's her mistake not yours fingers crossed for you and hope its on ways and up ways from hear.

 

[friedsoup]

try wrapping the thumb over the toes just lightly so he doesn't feel trapped and increase the pressure if he tries to fly soon they learn that the thumb means he has to stay.

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

try wrapping the thumb over the toes just lightly so he doesn't feel trapped and increase the pressure if he tries to fly soon they learn that the thumb means he has to stay.

This didn't work lol. He flapped so much he was twisting and stuff so I let go. I was scared to hurt him. I'll just keep at it. I plan on letting his flight feathers grow back in and fly for a few weeks them clip him. Hopefully time and patience works.