Molting: Your bird will molt once a year. He will go through a severe molt each summer. He may look very moth eaten. Continue to feed him well and he will look as good as new in about four weeks.

He may have a light molt in the spring. His flight feathers may will change at this time. Be sure to have his wings clipped!

If your bird looses feathers continuously during the year, have him checked by a vet. This is not a common occurrence for Ringnecks.

Behavior and Discipline
Your new bird may be frightened of you or of his new cage. The new smells, food, lights and sounds can confuse and distress him. Give him a day or two to adjust to his surroundings. Don't put any toys in the cage for the first few days. New toys can make the baby frightened and aggressive. Add one toy at a time later. Too many toys will confuse and frighten him.

The beak is a third hand to any parrot. He will use his beak to climb, grab and reach. When he steps onto your hand or arm he will use his beak first to steady himself. Do not be alarmed. He is not biting. Imagine climbing over steep, uneven terrain without holding on to anything.

Ringnecks recognize color. Beware, they are terrified of RED, especially as a baby. Do not try to handle them while wearing red nail polish. The bird's eyes will flash and he will lunge and bite at your nails. Don't hang red toys in or near the cage. Avoid wearing red when handling your baby. As your bird matures he should slowly learn to tolerate red. By a year old my own pets no longer reacted to the color red.

Somewhere between the ages of four and six months your bird might go through a "creepy" stage. I think of it as their adolescent time (it is not physiologically). He may be nippy, demanding, and messy. This behavior will pass quickly. It is easy going forever after.

Your bird is intelligent--as intelligent and bright as a two-year-old--forever and ever. His understanding and vocabulary will most likely never exceed a two-year-old (each bird is an individual, yours mayor may not be brighter). Like a two-year-old, he will test you and his boundaries constantly. Firm rules and consistency are all important in training and disciplining your baby.

Never, never hit your bird in any way--not so much as a tap on the beak. This can hurt or even kill your pet. (One man insisted on flicking his finger against the bird's beak to discipline him. He eventually broke the bird's neck.) Do not wave your finger at the bird. Waving can entice the bird to strike at your fingers. If your bird nips your ear too hard, tell him firmly "no!". If nipping persists, pick up the baby with both hands--don't play chase--and return him to the inside of its cage. Then ignore him completely for a time. This passive correction is the most effective way to discipline negative behavior. Enforce positive behavior with various rewards: edibles, toys, verbal praise.

Hands and fingers: Some babies do not associate a finger or a hand as part of a person. At first they want to taste a finger. Sometimes they are fearful of a finger. Teach your baby to step up on your hand first. Later you can teach him to step on fingers. I have tried to teach each baby this before they leave me.

Keep your hand closed and flat. Gently press your hand against the bird's breast. Say "up." The pressure of your hand encourages the bird to step up.

Shoulders: Your baby already likes to sit on shoulders. He is curious and has not been fully trained not to nibble on ears. He also does not know how hard he is nibbling. You must teach him what is acceptable.

Usually the baby will behave excellently on your shoulder for a while and then for no apparent reason become very bad. He is tired and wants to be returned to the security and comfort of his cage. Try to learn his tolerance and return him to his cage before he is tired. Remember he is a baby. If you only return him to his cage when he is demonstrating negative behavior, you may be reinforcing that behavior. Look for a positive type behavior associated with his desire to go to his cage and reinforce this with praising the bird and returning him to his cage with a treat.

Chase: Chase is a great game that the birds catch onto at once. It is most undesirable to develop this habit when you want to put your new buddy away. What happens is this: baby knows you want to remove him from your shoulder--probably to be place on his perch or in his cage. Baby really prefers to be on your shoulder. You place your hand next to the bird and he runs to the other side of you. You follow with your hand. The bird lunges and nips and you pull away frustrated. He won! What Fun! Never let this happen.

Here's what to do:

System 1: The easiest way to avoid developing this game is to have a second person present. Coordinate together. It is important that the person who has the bird on their shoulder be the one to say "up" and place their hand (not just a finger) at the bird's chest. The second person will use their hands cupped around the baby to keep him from retreating. The baby will not really "bite" he just threatens. Be firm and he will step up. He has no choice. Praise and pet him, give him a kiss and put him on his perch or cage. Practice this. After a few times, over a few days, he will remember.

System 2: When no one is around to help with training, use an obstacle. Stand next to a wall so that the bird cannot run to the other side of your shoulder. Sweep your hand from your opposite shoulder towards the bird. He has nowhere to go but onto your hand. You will need a little practice with this method.

Lunging or snapping: Never move away from your baby when he lunges at you or threatens you. This only reinforces the negative trait. You will find that if you do not back away, the bird will not bite and in a short amount of time will no longer threaten. I cannot emphasize this enough.

The cage is his territory. Even the tamest babies do not like their security invaded. I teach that it is OK for my hand to come into his cage. It is important from day one to make him comfortable with your hand in his cage. Offer him goodies from your hand in the cage.

Never pull away if he lunges, strikes, or nips. Remove your hand if he nudges it with his beak. This teaches and reinforces a positive way of communicating. I have even trained older Ringnecks to accept my hand in their cage and to step up on command. You can't give an inch or they will take a mile--just like a two-year-old!

Voices
Ringnecks can talk! They are excellent at learning whistles. Each bird will develop his ability at his own pace and to his own level. My birds imitated whistles at six months old. They began to say their first words when they were a year old. Your baby may talk much sooner. Don't give up! My birds' great-grandpa was an aviary bird. He learned to say "babies" and "where's my babies" after he was an adult.

In the wild, Ringnecks have sharp, shrill, ear piercing voices. My breeding pair makes sound much like their wild relatives. My pets have never been exposed to these wild sounds. They are quiet birds with pleasant voices.

Here's my trick:   Birds imitate what they hear. I play pleasant music for the bird during the day. Ringnecks will develop a soft voice by trying to imitate the music. If your bird does not hear anything all day long, you can expect him to develop a wild voice.

Talk to your bird when you are with him. Repeat words that you would like him to learn. Whistle short tunes for him to repeat. He is likely to repeat kissing sounds first. He can learn to whisper. Be patient.

Safety Tips To Remember

Keeping Wings Clipped
Don't Take Outside on Your Shoulder
Keep Away From Other Pets While Unsupervised
Supervise With Small Children
Keep Food and Water Clean
Keep Out of Hot Sun
Use Safe Toys
Lead is Deadly, Burning Teflon Will Kill
Chocolate could be his last food
Do not use walnut shells in the cage!

Remember:
The fumes from burning Teflon and other non-stick surfaces will kill any bird very quickly. You may choose not to keep Teflon in the house.

Since birds like to chew, lead and zinc poisoning is common. Be sure to know what your bird is chewing on or eating. While just playing on a Tiffany or Stained Glass a bird can ingest enough lead to kill him. Rush him to the vet if you suspect lead poisoning. There is hope.

A tame Ringneck will not hurt a child. A child can easily inflict mortal damage to a curious bird. Supervision is important.

Bird Talk has wonderful reports on safe toys. Bird specialty stores have a myriad of toys at reasonable prices. Know what you are putting in his cage.

AFTER SIX MONTHS
Your baby has begun to develop the personality that will carry through his long life. He should be gentle and quiet. Now you can leave him with a house sitter, go on vacation, and know he will be tame and loving when you return. But you will miss him.

In the morning and late afternoon you can expect him to sing, chatter, and talk. He is practicing his words. He is quiet most of the time.

Your buddy is content in his cage all day while you're away. He enjoys the time you have to give him but will not demand it. During the day he plays with his toys and tears up any wood you leave him.

All is not lost if you neglected him in his first six months. Give him more time and be patient. It would have been better for both of you if you spent the time with him in the first six months!

This page has been accessed time(s)