Indian Ringneck - First time bird owner questions

[Dean]

Hi!

I have a 1 y/o aviary raised Indian Ringneck . I recently moved into a new appartement and brough the bird with me (he used to be in a different cage at my parent's while I waited until I could move in).

He's pretty anxious around people but has been doing better lately and I can approach his cage most of the time without him freaking out. Changing his water/food makes him go banana's though and he gets quite scared. In the next couple of days, I would like to clean his cage. Seeing as he freaks out easily and doesn't know how to step up yet, I am uncertain how to proceed with cleaning his cage. Should I just take him out with gloves/towel and move him into the bathroom while I clean his cage? I figured that since I have to take him out anyway, I would be best off trying to give him some sort of a nice out-of-the-cage experience and do some training with him. Does anyone have any suggestions about this?

I will also be going on holiday (for a week) on June 7th, and I would have to move him to my parents so he can be taken care of. Would it be realistic to try and get him used to people a bit more/have him step up before then? To minimize the trauma of moving/being in a different location again?

Thanks!

-Dean

[feathermum]

ok, so your first question is should u let him out of cage? or how to get out of cage? mabey u could watch some of clips on here on how to do that... but what i think u should think of first, & sorry if this sounds rude, were u ready for a parrot? b/c(again i'm just takeing what i got out of ur post...so if i am wron g about something,i didn't have all info) u just moved a 1yo ring neck who is very nervous & just moved him from your parrents,into new surrondings,for only a month,then have to leave him bck @ ur parrents for a wk?? that sounds very hard on a untrusting,nervous parrot. why is he so untamed @ 1? did u rescue him, or did u get him as a baby?right now i think it best to work 1st on step -up & hand tameing...& imo mabey NOT leaving him for a wk so soon...and i knowthis accually took awhile to write, so bu now u probly have other posts that mabey explain more if not, well mabey u can add a bit more info..

[Dean]

ok, so your first question is should u let him out of cage? or how to get out of cage? mabey u could watch some of clips on here on how to do that... but what i think u should think of first, & sorry if this sounds rude, were u ready for a parrot? b/c(again i'm just takeing what i got out of ur post...so if i am wron g about something,i didn't have all info) u just moved a 1yo ring neck who is very nervous & just moved him from your parrents,into new surrondings,for only a month,then have to leave him bck @ ur parrents for a wk?? that sounds very hard on a untrusting,nervous parrot. why is he so untamed @ 1? did u rescue him, or did u get him as a baby?right now i think it best to work 1st on step -up & hand tameing...& imo mabey NOT leaving him for a wk so soon...and i knowthis accually took awhile to write, so bu now u probly have other posts that mabey explain more if not, well mabey u can add a bit more info..

He was brought to us as a youngling because he was going to be put down (malformed paws). We tied his feet together and he recovered completely. Unfortunately, he got into a fight in our aviary with some cockatiels and is missing most of his toes (at which point we took him out and put him on his own), though he is managing nicely in his new cage.

We had to find a new place for him and because I was moving out anyway, it just sort of happened that way. I've always liked birds, had a few in the house as well back when I still lived with my parents, and I'll take good care of him. Seeing as it's my first "bigger" bird, I figured writing this post to avoid silly mistakes and tame him in a way that is the most comfortable for him.

I am following parrot wizard's guide on his blog and am currently trying to get him to accept treats from my hand.

[feathermum]

ahhh..ok that makes more sence as to why he's 1 & not hand tame, sorry didn't see that part and was half distracted w/ human kids when i was reading & replying infact, my mistake all together,shouldn't try to read & reply when not fully paying attention! sorry!!!

anyway, i only posted when i read it b/c i just went away for 2 days, came home early infact yesterday, & my youngest is acting funny w/ me & his feedings...my leason for me, is that for now on, when i'm in the middle of training something important,or still handfeeding...I am NOT leaving them w/ anyone!!! all fids seem to have reverted a bit in 2 days!! but i have a diffrent kind of "training" problems to begin with...

if you are following a certin program of getting him handtame, then mabey others could chime in, as our situations seem verry diffrent. again sorry for posting leason learned. good luck w/ ur

[Dean]

ahhh..ok that makes more sence as to why he's 1 & not hand tame, sorry didn't see that part and was half distracted w/ human kids when i was reading & replying infact, my mistake all together,shouldn't try to read & reply when not fully paying attention! sorry!!!

Haha that's quite alright

anyway, i only posted when i read it b/c i just went away for 2 days, came home early infact yesterday, & my youngest is acting funny w/ me & his feedings...my leason for me, is that for now on, when i'm in the middle of training something important,or still handfeeding...I am NOT leaving them w/ anyone!!! all fids seem to have reverted a bit in 2 days!! but i have a diffrent kind of "training" problems to begin with...

Yes, this is exactly what I'm afraid of. I would like to easy the shock of being in a new environment for a week and then being transported back to his "real" home. I figured it might be easier on him if I can get him to step up before then, so I don't have to actually grab him and scare him even more. I don't want to upset the little fellow but there is no way I can have someone take care of him here.

[feathermum]

this may be a long shot, and don't know if it's possiable for you, or even the right step...but i didn't see another reply sooo....what about keeping him @ ur parrents house just untill u get back? are they the ppl who are still watching him for you? if u live fairly close enough, mabey u both can work w/ tameing? then bring him home when u get back? idk, i guess michale is the one to ask...mabey send him a measage??