Am I doing ok?

[edentayler]

Hi everyone just looking for some advice...I have recently bought a ringed neck parrot (jake ). He was advertised with a cage which was a total shock as the poor boy did not even have a perch to sit on.. he had a material perch which had been bitten to the metal core..and cant believe it had not spiked him, it was filthy and quite small. After collecting him in silence I took him home. I did notice whilst in the house he was sat next to a spray air freshener, although i was pleased to see the owner did have dogs, as I have 3 chihuahuas. He is a very quiet bird and sometimes chirps when he sees himself in mirror but thats it. Luckly I had the chance to buy him a huge cage with lots of toys..i also bought a mobile table perch for him to have a dust bath and i put treats on like fruit and veg for him to try. I absolutely love this little man and want the best for him. The woman said he was semi tame, so i gave him 2 weeks in his old cage to get used to my family, dogs etc..then placed new cage next to him..i sat wondering how to transfer him without stress and i could not believe that all i had to do was open both cages doors then 2 jumps and he transfered himself ha ha. He loves his cage toys and dont think he can believe how lucky he is..I placed him next to my tortoise whom he loves and he is quite chilled out. My problem is his new cage he seems to be able to let himself out at 8 every morning. I dont mind as he sits with my tortoise and he is always watched by me or my husband just in case. But im am not sure if this is best way for him to be tamed. I sit with him every night for 1 hour and chat to him he is now used to me putting food in cage although he does move far away but does not flap like before. When I want him to go back in cage he does step up onto stick but it is a longish one not my hand. I just want to know if im doing everything right as I would love him to be tamed and take food from me..what is the next step for us. He is 2 years old and I did think when the woman told me his age should I buy a baby but I could not leave him. Sorry for dribbling on..any advice would be most welcome.

[Pajarita]

I think you are taking all the right steps. Patience, persistence, love, a good diet/lights, and allowing them to indicate when they are ready for the next step is all it takes, in my personal experience. I wouldn't keep him up at night though. Birds are supposed to wake up with dawn and go to sleep with dusk because light regulates their endocrine system and ignoring this usually means a highly hormonal (read bites, screams, etc) bird.

[Dave & Karen]

I agree... it sounds like you're doing everything right so far... Just take things at his pace. maybe once he's used to your routine with him, offer him a treat with your hand, get it close enough to him so he can see the treat, but not so close that he wants to move away. His desire to get the treat will eventually outweigh his nervousness of your hand and he'll run up and snatch it away from you, sometimes you need to look away before he'll aproach your hand, but you can easily work that in and gradually srart looking his way after he's more confident about taking a treat from your hand... when he walks up and takes it instead of snatching it away and retreating to a safe distance etc... Just take it slow and easy and spoil him a little.. or a lot along the way. Ringnecks do need daily attention and some kind of steady routine as well to be at their best with their humans.