Should I buy a second ringneck?

[wildheart]

I have no idea how old my girl is but the vet reckoned around 3 years old. She came from an abusive home and suffered a lot of pain with a broken leg that was left to grow back abnormally.

She is obsessed with me and aggressive towards everybody else in our house. Do you think that a companion will solve some of her behavior problems?

Does the ringneck need to be a boy or can it be a girl?

She is housed in a huge cage with a tree next to it but she only uses her cage to sleep in, must I then also buy a second cage and tree?

What is the disadvantages of having 2 ringnecks?

Most of all, what is best for my girl, having a mate or me?

Can a second parrot cause her to turn around and be aggressive towards me as well?

 

[HRH Di]

Please note - what I've typed below is just my opinion and "instinct" based on discussions with our breeder and on-line and reference book research I've done. Others may have a better idea to resolve your situation.

It may be better for your family and home life to get another ringneck for her. From your other thread, it does sound as if she's chosen you for a mate. As much as you love her, you really can't "fullfill" her as a mate. It's possible that bonding with another bird would make her aggressive toward you. But the most important question is whether another bird would be best for her. From what I've read and "heard", many birds do better in a multi-bird household especially if they bond closely with another bird. It doesn't necessarily mean she'll be agreesive toward you, but you won't know until it happens.

I'm sure you'll do the best for her, given the information you have and get. Good luck and I wish I could be more help.

 

[Birdamor]

I agree with HRH. It would have to be a male and it would have to be a male she is interested in but, if you can manage this, it will be 100 times better for her and for you both. And no, if you handle the situation and the transition right, she will not become aggressive towards you (well, she might during breeding season but that's another story altogether).

 

[wildheart]

I've been to every aviary in my area and there is not one that I liked, I found wrong with each one! (It is almost as if I am looking for a husband for my daughter!) I did send e-mail to some breeders and one responded so I think I would rather take that route.

I did however notice that all the adult females were MUCH bigger than Sterretjie! The vet said that she can be an old female or a very young male and after seeing so many adults I am really wondering about it.
Can it be that she is actually a young male or maybe an old girl that had the incorrect diet?

Here are the only close-ups that I have, if they are not good enough to get an idea then I'll take new ones tonight. What do you think?

 

[HRH Di]

She's darling! Doesn't she have an old injury on one of her legs/feet? I don't see it at all if I'm remembering correctly. She has almost no neck ring at all. To be sure, you'd need to get a DNA test, or wait for the next molt when some sort of neck ring should show up if she's a he.

She does have a bit of a devilish look in her eye, though. I be she's got just loads of personality.

 

[wildheart]

Yes, she arrived with a broken leg that grew back the wrong way around, the poor baby!

You are 100% correct about her personality, a little angel with a devil fork! She makes me laugh every single day, luckily my patience with animals does not have an end, it is totally the opposite for my husband thou.

I laughed so much at her last night cause I was bathing my iguana and he decided to take a loooong soak, this was too long for Sterretjie. I heard tick-tick in the passage and when I opened the bathroom door she stood there very 'innocently' (tapping her foot asking what is taking so long!)

She is just precious!

 

[Spiritbird]

Tough postion you are in here. Getting a second bird could be a good thing or the two birds could actually hate eachother. Just like people they may not get along. It would be nice if you could get a second bird on a trial basis to see how they react to eachother before making a commitment. You may have an edge if you have opposite sexes and that would require DNA cirtification which is not a big deal. Best to get the blood test for that one. Good luck WH.

 

[Birdamor]

Spiritbird is correct. You need to make sure you end up with a male and a female because two female IRNs will not get along and can end up making your life hell.

As to your trying to find a bird you like, I am sorry to say that this is not the way it should be. It's not you who must like the bird, it's your bird. And birds, like all other animals, do not go by external beauty. I do not know what IRNs go by but some birds are VERY attractive to almost all others of the opposite gender (I have a female lovebird who has had every single male that has ever seen her trying to woo her -her name is Marilyn Monroe) while some are only attracted to a particular bird (I have a perfectly healthy male budgie who adores a severly handicapped hen). Some fall in love at first sight and some are won over time. Love is not an exact science and it is entirely subjective.

 

[wildheart]

As to your trying to find a bird you like, I am sorry to say that this is not the way it should be. It's not you who must like the bird, it's your bird.

To me they were all beautiful, but, I did not like the way one kept his mouth open almost all the time, another ones feathers did not look healthy and there was some that just looked sick. I was looking for healthy signs.

Well I have wonderful news! One of the people that I contacted came back to me and we spoke over several e-mails. He will accommodate Sterretjie with a young silver male and if it doesnt work out then I can bring him back or swop him - which ever I choose. I am going to have a look this weekend!

Here is his website: http://www.be-amazed.co.za/gardening/birds.html

He seems like a nice guy, tell me if you disagree or see something that I am missing. Thanks.

 

[Birdamor]

I think you got real lucky and should definitely pursue this option! But make sure you keep the new bird quarantined and separate from yours, just in case. If they are interested in each other, you can tell even if they are not touching.

 

[antoinette]

The birds all look great, and healthy.
You know all the "rules" when obtaining a new bird, I say go for it, what have you got to lose !!!!!!!
LoL this guy could be my neighbor

 

[Marnie]

Make sure you don't put them in the same cage. females can be very aggressive towards the males. never leave them unobserved.
i had a pair that got along great, but that is not always the case.

 

[wildheart]

I was so excited on Friday about getting Sunny that I could not wait to start a thread about him - thank goodness I did not because I came home empty handed.

I took Sterretjie with so that I could see her reaction to other birds and so that Pieter could give me his opinion about her being a boy or girl.

I was very impressed with her and she was very interested when she saw all the ring necks, she even climbed on top of their cage - that really scared me thou!

But, she started showing male behavior! Well actually, she's always done that when somebody new came to our house but I did not know that it was a male characteristic. She made herself real tall, head high and opened her wings a bit, we call it pronk in Afrikaans. Pieter and his wife immediately said that she is a he and most probably last years batch.

What confused them was when she was back on my arm she tilted her head back, bend her legs, opened her wings and acted like a baby begging for food. She does this ALL the time with me, at least 4-5 times a day. This is a female characteristic?

They said that I will have to get her tested and I really do not like the gas idea and we do not have something like DNA testing in SA. The next best thing is to wait until December / January to see if she turns out to be a boy. He also said that it will not be wise to join her with another at this time because September is breeding time.

So, we will wait for this years eggs and I will take one that is weened and tested.

 

[wildheart]

Its going to be a loooong wait.

 

[HRH Di]

Poor WH! I didn't realize that standing straight up like that is a male behavior. Max does that often...especially when he's in an especially grouchy mood.

DNA tests are really pretty easy. Good luck and try to be patient.

 

[wildheart]

DNA tests are really pretty easy. Good luck and try to be patient.

No DNA testing for birds here in SA, do you think the test center by you will help me?

 

[HRH Di]

Jade and Ruby were DNA tested by the breeder so we didn't have to do that. Here are a couple links I found on Google...

Avian Services Center: DNA sexing and disease testing for all species of birds. The site says that they'll test non-US birds but they need special forms.

Does your vet have any suggestions? I hope this helps.

 

[wildheart]

Wow, they do want a lot of paper work!

My vet suggested gas and Pieter's vet also do it the gas way. I rather wait, too many things can go wrong and I will in anyway stress myself to death!