Yesterday I took home an adorable baby indian ringneck! He is completely untamed since he is a rescued baby. I would just like some tips on how to tame him and make him love me. Right now he very terrified of me. He will eat if I have my back turned to him but the moment I even glance at him he runs to the opposite side of the cage and just stares. Now, I have had him for less than 24 so I understand his fear. He is still getting used to everything. I just want to make sure I do EVERYTHING right. I know ringnecks have a reputation for being wild so I want to ensure I get his trust properly and asap!
Taming a Rescue
- Thread starter romobird
- Start date
Mitchan
New member
- Jun 24, 2013
- 134
- 1
- Parrots
- Meg the Indian Ringneck, Drogon the BF Amazon, Leia the Alexandrine, Donnie the YC Amazon
Congrats on your new baby, and good for you for going for a rescue! 
Right now, the most important thing to do is to take it slow, just go about your business as you normally would do. Let him get used to you moving around the room, don't pay too much attention to him as that obviously makes him uncomfortable. Do whatever stuff you usually do around the cage area, but don't actually approach the cage unless you're giving him food and water or cleaning the cage for a couple of days or so. You can whistle and talk to him if you want to, but if he's uncomfortable with you looking at him, have your back turned while doing so
When he's starting to look more comfortable around you, when he's starting to settle in and get used to you being there, you can start trying to interact with him - whistle, talk, whisper, beep to him. When you give him food in the morning, sit by the cage and eat your own breakfast with him.
When the time's right, try offering him a treat - perhaps something healthy from your own plate - sharing food is a very social behaviour in parrot flocks and a good bonding exercise. It can take a while to get to a point where he'll take the treat, but that's okay. Keep whistling and talking softly to him, sit by his cage, etc.
If you notice he's frightened or uncomfortable by something you do, try not doing that if you can avoid it.
When he's really settled in and has started taking treats from you, you can start taming/trust building. The key there is to "listen" to what he wants, learn his body language and interact with him on his terms. If he's not into what you're doing, if he thinks you're going too far too fast, he'll tell you that with his body language, so it's important that you know how he looks when he communicates these feelings.
When he does, take a step back. Show him that you understand him, that it's okay to be uncomfortable, and that you respect what he wants. Give him a treat when he looks comfortable again, and go back to what you know he's fine with.
Try again after a little while, bribing with some yummy treats. Be clear about your own intentions in order to allow him to read you too, so don’t try and sneak up on it to scratch his head or try and make him step up on your finger from behind or anything, just be patient and keep removing your hand when it all gets a bit too much for your bird to be comfortable. Also treats. Lots of treats. Bribery is awesome.
If you're, for example, trying to make him step up - remember that the instant he's taking a step back, looking frightened, going in for a bite or anything, you calmly but quickly remove your hand as to tell him "oh sorry I didn't know you weren't into that, if that's scary we can try again later!"
When you show him that you understand when he's uncomfortable and respect that he doesn't really want what you want right now, he will start trusting you. He will learn that there's no reason to be afraid of this person, because when he's not up for something, he doesn't have to do it. And he also gets treats.
When he gets that, I'd say it's just a matter of time before he'll start wanting to hang out with you on his own initiative too. Just keep respecting his body language, and bribing him with yummies
You can, at that point, take a while and just sit in the room where his cage is, eat an apple or a carrot or something, and see if he'd like to come over to you and share said article of food. That's how my IRN Meg ended up pretty much taming herself, she just wanted whatever I was eating so she started flying over to me and before she knew it she had accidentally realized that I wasn't dangerous.
And, another important thing to take note of is that a happy, healthy, enriched bird will almost always be easier to tame and gain a trust/trust-relationship with!
If you can provide your little friend with fun activities (foraging opportunities, toys of different sizes, colors and textures, fresh and natural branches, etc), a good and healthy diet, as much time with you as possible, and preferably the biggest and most spacious cage you can afford and/or fit into your house – your chances of having a happy, healthy and confident bird will definitely increase, and that will be a pretty big advantage when doing all the taming and stuff.
A flighted bird has, in my experience, an easier time learning how to trust humans, too. They know that they can at any point fly away if things get out of hand which makes them naturally more confident. Ringnecks are very active birds who use their wings a lot, too, and they don't do very well with having their wings clipped.
If he's already clipped, that's okay, just make sure you don't take any short-cuts with the trust training because he can't get away when he's stepped up. (like if he steps up, and then changes his mind about it, don't keep him on your finger! respecting he's uncomfortable is still applicable when he's where you initially wanted him to be - that's harder to do with a clipped bird)
Oh, and, a tip: If he ends up having a hard time wanting to step up on your finger, try offering him your arm. Both of my ringnecks are still, though tame companion birds, not that comfortable around fingers, and that seems to be pretty common with ringnecks.
Right now, the most important thing to do is to take it slow, just go about your business as you normally would do. Let him get used to you moving around the room, don't pay too much attention to him as that obviously makes him uncomfortable. Do whatever stuff you usually do around the cage area, but don't actually approach the cage unless you're giving him food and water or cleaning the cage for a couple of days or so. You can whistle and talk to him if you want to, but if he's uncomfortable with you looking at him, have your back turned while doing so
When he's starting to look more comfortable around you, when he's starting to settle in and get used to you being there, you can start trying to interact with him - whistle, talk, whisper, beep to him. When you give him food in the morning, sit by the cage and eat your own breakfast with him.
When the time's right, try offering him a treat - perhaps something healthy from your own plate - sharing food is a very social behaviour in parrot flocks and a good bonding exercise. It can take a while to get to a point where he'll take the treat, but that's okay. Keep whistling and talking softly to him, sit by his cage, etc.
If you notice he's frightened or uncomfortable by something you do, try not doing that if you can avoid it.
When he's really settled in and has started taking treats from you, you can start taming/trust building. The key there is to "listen" to what he wants, learn his body language and interact with him on his terms. If he's not into what you're doing, if he thinks you're going too far too fast, he'll tell you that with his body language, so it's important that you know how he looks when he communicates these feelings.
When he does, take a step back. Show him that you understand him, that it's okay to be uncomfortable, and that you respect what he wants. Give him a treat when he looks comfortable again, and go back to what you know he's fine with.
Try again after a little while, bribing with some yummy treats. Be clear about your own intentions in order to allow him to read you too, so don’t try and sneak up on it to scratch his head or try and make him step up on your finger from behind or anything, just be patient and keep removing your hand when it all gets a bit too much for your bird to be comfortable. Also treats. Lots of treats. Bribery is awesome.
If you're, for example, trying to make him step up - remember that the instant he's taking a step back, looking frightened, going in for a bite or anything, you calmly but quickly remove your hand as to tell him "oh sorry I didn't know you weren't into that, if that's scary we can try again later!"
When you show him that you understand when he's uncomfortable and respect that he doesn't really want what you want right now, he will start trusting you. He will learn that there's no reason to be afraid of this person, because when he's not up for something, he doesn't have to do it. And he also gets treats.
When he gets that, I'd say it's just a matter of time before he'll start wanting to hang out with you on his own initiative too. Just keep respecting his body language, and bribing him with yummies
You can, at that point, take a while and just sit in the room where his cage is, eat an apple or a carrot or something, and see if he'd like to come over to you and share said article of food. That's how my IRN Meg ended up pretty much taming herself, she just wanted whatever I was eating so she started flying over to me and before she knew it she had accidentally realized that I wasn't dangerous.
And, another important thing to take note of is that a happy, healthy, enriched bird will almost always be easier to tame and gain a trust/trust-relationship with!
If you can provide your little friend with fun activities (foraging opportunities, toys of different sizes, colors and textures, fresh and natural branches, etc), a good and healthy diet, as much time with you as possible, and preferably the biggest and most spacious cage you can afford and/or fit into your house – your chances of having a happy, healthy and confident bird will definitely increase, and that will be a pretty big advantage when doing all the taming and stuff.
A flighted bird has, in my experience, an easier time learning how to trust humans, too. They know that they can at any point fly away if things get out of hand which makes them naturally more confident. Ringnecks are very active birds who use their wings a lot, too, and they don't do very well with having their wings clipped.
If he's already clipped, that's okay, just make sure you don't take any short-cuts with the trust training because he can't get away when he's stepped up. (like if he steps up, and then changes his mind about it, don't keep him on your finger! respecting he's uncomfortable is still applicable when he's where you initially wanted him to be
- that's harder to do with a clipped bird) Oh, and, a tip: If he ends up having a hard time wanting to step up on your finger, try offering him your arm. Both of my ringnecks are still, though tame companion birds, not that comfortable around fingers, and that seems to be pretty common with ringnecks.
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #3
This is amazing thank you so much! I'm very excited to start the process.Congrats on your new baby, and good for you for going for a rescue!
Right now, the most important thing to do is to take it slow, just go about your business as you normally would do. Let him get used to you moving around the room, don't pay too much attention to him as that obviously makes him uncomfortable. Do whatever stuff you usually do around the cage area, but don't actually approach the cage unless you're giving him food and water or cleaning the cage for a couple of days or so. You can whistle and talk to him if you want to, but if he's uncomfortable with you looking at him, have your back turned while doing so
When he's starting to look more comfortable around you, when he's starting to settle in and get used to you being there, you can start trying to interact with him - whistle, talk, whisper, beep to him. When you give him food in the morning, sit by the cage and eat your own breakfast with him.
When the time's right, try offering him a treat - perhaps something healthy from your own plate - sharing food is a very social behaviour in parrot flocks and a good bonding exercise. It can take a while to get to a point where he'll take the treat, but that's okay. Keep whistling and talking softly to him, sit by his cage, etc.
If you notice he's frightened or uncomfortable by something you do, try not doing that if you can avoid it.
When he's really settled in and has started taking treats from you, you can start taming/trust building. The key there is to "listen" to what he wants, learn his body language and interact with him on his terms. If he's not into what you're doing, if he thinks you're going too far too fast, he'll tell you that with his body language, so it's important that you know how he looks when he communicates these feelings.
When he does, take a step back. Show him that you understand him, that it's okay to be uncomfortable, and that you respect what he wants. Give him a treat when he looks comfortable again, and go back to what you know he's fine with.
Try again after a little while, bribing with some yummy treats. Be clear about your own intentions in order to allow him to read you too, so don’t try and sneak up on it to scratch his head or try and make him step up on your finger from behind or anything, just be patient and keep removing your hand when it all gets a bit too much for your bird to be comfortable. Also treats. Lots of treats. Bribery is awesome.
If you're, for example, trying to make him step up - remember that the instant he's taking a step back, looking frightened, going in for a bite or anything, you calmly but quickly remove your hand as to tell him "oh sorry I didn't know you weren't into that, if that's scary we can try again later!"
When you show him that you understand when he's uncomfortable and respect that he doesn't really want what you want right now, he will start trusting you. He will learn that there's no reason to be afraid of this person, because when he's not up for something, he doesn't have to do it. And he also gets treats.
When he gets that, I'd say it's just a matter of time before he'll start wanting to hang out with you on his own initiative too. Just keep respecting his body language, and bribing him with yummies
You can, at that point, take a while and just sit in the room where his cage is, eat an apple or a carrot or something, and see if he'd like to come over to you and share said article of food. That's how my IRN Meg ended up pretty much taming herself, she just wanted whatever I was eating so she started flying over to me and before she knew it she had accidentally realized that I wasn't dangerous.
And, another important thing to take note of is that a happy, healthy, enriched bird will almost always be easier to tame and gain a trust/trust-relationship with!
If you can provide your little friend with fun activities (foraging opportunities, toys of different sizes, colors and textures, fresh and natural branches, etc), a good and healthy diet, as much time with you as possible, and preferably the biggest and most spacious cage you can afford and/or fit into your house – your chances of having a happy, healthy and confident bird will definitely increase, and that will be a pretty big advantage when doing all the taming and stuff.
A flighted bird has, in my experience, an easier time learning how to trust humans, too. They know that they can at any point fly away if things get out of hand which makes them naturally more confident. Ringnecks are very active birds who use their wings a lot, too, and they don't do very well with having their wings clipped.
If he's already clipped, that's okay, just make sure you don't take any short-cuts with the trust training because he can't get away when he's stepped up. (like if he steps up, and then changes his mind about it, don't keep him on your finger! respecting he's uncomfortable is still applicable when he's where you initially wanted him to be
Oh, and, a tip: If he ends up having a hard time wanting to step up on your finger, try offering him your arm. Both of my ringnecks are still, though tame companion birds, not that comfortable around fingers, and that seems to be pretty common with ringnecks.
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