My Parrots behaviour

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I got what you are saying.
I handfeed my bird both in and out of the cage.
My parrot always plays around with the indoor plants, that is where I handfeed him too. I have made sure that nothing can harm him in the area.
He attempts to flee from me only when I take him out from that part of the drawing hall.
He can fly right upto the ceiling now, I guess I should clip his wings again.
Nittin
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
My bird reduced hissing, but I don't think what I do to tame him will help much because all I do is handfeed him fruits. Can you tell me what you did when you had gotten a new bird, I think that will help me a lot.
By the way how many birds have you got?
Thanks
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi, Chrys
I handfed my parrot a grape outside his cage, isn't that great!
At first he was just tasting my hand and then he ate the grape.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Chrys,
I have noticed something about my parrot.
Everytime we let him out of his cage, he seems to fearing us more than before. The situation worsens everytime I let him out of his cage.
So I have decided not to let him out of his cage, is right to do that?

Nittin
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
You got that right!
That's exactly what I meant to say.
Thanks
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Chrys,
Sorry about the mail i sent on your personal id.
My parrot is doing great, I mean he does not get panic attacks when I come close.
But the problem is, he seems to get aggressive when i come close.
Most of the times he strikes 'like a snake' and makes a sort of 'hissing' sound, but he never bites.
He just holds my finger, then 'licks' it and then leaves it, and then strikes again.
He also eats the food same way from my hand.
What could be wrong?

-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have sent you a mail on your other ID(ripleybir....)
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I just send you that not too long ago, that means we both are using the computer right now. Wait for a while and I will send you the photos again.
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
I have send you the pictures at your ID.
The difference between you and I is of 9hrs(that's a lot!)

Nittin
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
I have send the pictures at needbirdinfo@yahoo.com
The petshop is under renevation so it's closed, but that looks exactly like mine but is the size of an african grey parrot.
I let the cage door open only when I am around to watch him or else I keep it closed. I let it out only to play around for a while.
(How many hours difference is there between your country and mine, Dubai id +4gmt, because I keep checking my mail all the time. I don't know when to expect it!)
Bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
Sometimes when my bird loses balance on the perch, it vigorously flaps it's wings in order to gain balance. I didn't see any part of his body touching the cage. Now I haven't seen it trying to fly in the cage(I'll send you a photo of it). My parrot is almost the same size as my fist is. He has not tried to break out of his new cage even once.
I, with the help of my sister have clipped his flight feathers today(4 on each side, it was succesful and no blood). He can fly around 2 feet high now. I was suprised to see that he did not panic after I clipped his wings. He is very calm, though he tries to run away from me, he sits on my finger and I take him to it's cage after he has nowhere to run. He seems to prefer his cage rather than going outside. I have given him a treat for being good. I have placed his cage on the gound so that he can access to it any time he wants.
What do you suggest I do now?
I am very thankful to you for helping me out with this, the petshop staff do not know anything and always told me,"everything will become fine, your bird will get used to it". They even have clipped many birds foot with a chain.
I saw a parrot at the petshop which looks exactly like mine but is mega sized, it's as big as a grey parrot. Which species is that?
Bye-Bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi again,
I did see the picture diagrams and have understood the concept.
My does flap his wings to get to from one perch to another(they are not at the same height) and none of his body parts touch any part of the cage.
I'll let you know the situation after trimming his feathers.
Bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hey,
I found out on internet to clip a bird's wings. I'll do sometime soon.Will I have to do it feather by feather?, which instrument do you recommend?
There is a lot of space in the cage, he can spread it's wings with ease.
I meant by saying interacting with a bird is how I interact with a bird is, I talk to it in a soft voice, I pat him, I handfeed him and stuff like that.So are there any other excercises which will help me tame him?

Nittin

-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
hi again,
what is your website?
What is the right way to interact with birds? Do they like to be patted?

bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hey,
I did notice something wrong about it, I just wanted to be sure. Anyway I'll keep looking for a wing clip.
Bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
I noticed that my parrot was finding the perch too big and was not sitting on it, he was sitting on the food bowl instead (he even slept on that). So I am going to exchange the perch for a bigger cage.
The thing is when I had been looking everywhere for a wing clip, I could not find it at any shop. So I had asked the shop-keeper about it and he gave me a chain to clip it on the parrot's feet(I have seen many birds clipped at their foot).So I wanted to ask is that safe to use because whenever he tries to fly, he get pulled by the foot.
I'll get a bigger cage(tonight) as you consulted and there is only one type of available clip.
Bye-Bye
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hey Chrys,
I finally got an open perch and a wing clip, I guess it will take some time for him to get use to it(any idea how long?).So it has got a bowl on each side of the perch and his foot goes more than half of the cicumference of the perch.Do you think it's alright?
I have also changed his deit to include lots of fruits.
I am also worried when he sometimes hangs upside down from his foot, will it harm it's foot in anyway?


It's been quite a while because I had my exams and all...

-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi,
thanks for the reply.
sorry I think send anoher mail, please ignore that.
I didn't find any way to send picture so I browsed the internet and found out about my parrot.
It is an Indian Redneck Parrot, I live in Dubai so it's easy to get them in pet stores.
When I had got him the shop-keeper said it a male.
I don't know about his age.

His cage is cubiodal 33cmx27cm base and 30cm height.
The cage hangs on a stand about 1.5m high in between many green plants. Inside his cage he has got seperate food and water trays at the base away from each other. At about 15cm high in his cage there are two parallel plastic rods for him to sit on. He hops from one rod to another.
He is basically scared I don't know why.
He is not hurt by anyone and no one scares him.

I hope you recieved the information you needed.

(My uncle in India also has one of the same species for 13 years now, he does not eat sunflower seeds but other fruits and vegetables, he is very calm and fearless.)
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello,I've got some problems with my parrot, so I am writing this letter to you.I have got one of those green ones with a red beak and is not big nor small sized.I have got his cage hanging with some indoor plants near the window(he does not recieve direct sunlight).Inside the cage he is like an angel, I hand feed him grapes, pomegranate, apples and some other fruits, he loves it.He allows me to pet him and even sits on my hand when I remove the rods he sits on. I have had him for 1 1/2 year.he usually eats sunflower seeds. I have been hand feeding him from 3-4 months now. I let him out of the cage quite often but now I have reduced it. He flies around the drawing hall with nothing that can harm him. But his behaviour is completely different outside the cage. He acts like he has never seen me before. He flies away eveytime I come close, he flutters and panic sometimes. He even crashes into the window then I pick him up and put him in his cage. He refuses to go into his cage even when he is starving(once he didn't eat or drink for 3 days so I had to catch him and put him in). I have tried feeding him outside his cage but he eats only when no one is near. I don't want to let him out but he manages to break out sometimes(he attemts only in the mornings), he has even broken the base of the cage once.I thoroughly wash his cage once a week and change the tray 2-3 times a week. The room temperature stays around 25 C  I hope you have got a good solution to this problem.
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.  Thanks for posting!

Most all parrots behave differently outside their cages than they do inside their cages.  This is perfectly normal.  However, I see many problems in your situation.  

Before I can try to help you and your bird, I need to know what type of parrot you have...a green one with a red beak can be several different species of parrot.  Can you send me a picture of your parrot so I can try to determine what species parrot you have?  Also, do you know how old your bird is?  Do you know your bird's sex?  What size and type of cage does your bird have?  Does your bird have any toys inside it's cage?  Having the answers to these questions are necessary for me to help you and your bird.

Sunflower seeds as the bird's primary diet is horrible!  Diet alone might be causing many of your bird's behavior problems.  This parrot needs to be eating primarily vegetables, fruit, and a large variety of other healthy, nutritional human foods.  The bird also needs to be eating pelleted food for parrots.  You need to STOP feeding this parrot sunflower seeds and feed your bird more nutritionally or you will continue to have problems with your parrot.

For whatever reason, this bird seems to hate it's cage.  I recommend you start with the cage in order to start to resolve the problems with your bird.  If you can tell me what type of cage setup you have for your parrot, we can start there.  I'll also need the answers to my questions above.

Thanks.

Chrys


-----Answer-----
Hi again, Nittin.  Thanks for the additional information.

Your bird is an Indian Ringneck, not Redneck (although s/he is acting like a redneck)!  

I'm going to recommend several things that I think will start your bird on the way to becoming a better-behaved parrot!  If these ideas don't work, we can try something else.

- Already mentioned that sunflower seeds alone are a horrible diet.  You need to feed your bird primarily vegetables and fruits, with pelleted food available all the time.  Feed sunflower seeds or other nuts as an occasional treat or as a reward for positive behavior (ALWAYS reward your bird immediately when s/he acts positively, but NEVER reward your bird when s/he acts negatively/behaves badly).  Rewarding is very important in teaching your bird right from wrong.

- I believe your bird's cage is too small.  This is most likely why s/he doesn't like being in it's cage!  Your bird needs a cage about twice the size it currently has, but bigger is always better when it comes to parrots.  In fact, if you want your bird to spend more time in it's cage, you'll need to provide a bigger cage.  At minimum, your bird must be able to vigorously flap it's wings inside it's cage without any part of it's body touching anything inside it's cage.  If your bird spends a lot of time in it's cage, the cage needs to be larger than the latter.

- Perches - Replace the parallel plastic rods with wooden perches.  You can use wooden dowel rods or tree limbs/branches from outside.  Parrots need a variety of perches positioned horizontally, vertically, diagonally, etc., so their feet get enough exercise and are comfortable.  Parrots must spend all their lives on their feet, so their perches are very important.  The proper size perch is one in which the bird's toes wrap 3/4 of the way around the perch.  If the bird's toenails touch around a perch or the toes don't reach at least 1/2 to 3/4th's of the way around the perch, the perch(es) are not the correct size.

- Check to see if the green plants near your bird are safe for your bird.  Check against this listing:  http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/plntstox.htm  If they are not safe, please remove them so your parrot doesn't become poisoned.

- Ensure the bird's food and water dishes/trays are higher in the cage than where the bird perches so the bird's poo doesn't drop into the food and water dishes.  Contaminated food and water dishes are a sure way to make a healthy bird sick.

- Most parrots are excellent escape artists.  Therefore, you need to buy a "sturdy" cage your parrot can't get out of/destroy in order to get out of and/or perhaps place some type of locking devices on cage doors, etc., in order to keep the bird inside it's cage.  For my parrots who can escape/destroy from plastic cages, I use steel dog cages to house them and/or make my own wire cages.  

- When your bird is out of it's cage (or even in it's cage) and the bird is positioned higher than your eye level, the bird feels dominant over you.  Try to avoid interacting with your bird when your bird is higher than your eye level.  

- Keeping your parrot's wing flight feathers clipped will help you work with your bird easier and will also keep your parrot "grounded" so to speak.  With clipped flight feathers, your bird can still fly, but s/he won't be able to gain altitude with clipped feathers.  Most birds who are clipped tend to not try to fly around because they are limited.  As a result, some learn to climb down from their cages, etc., and get around on foot.  With clipped flight feathers, the bird will remain closer to your eye level and be more restricted and dependent on you to take s/he from point A to point B.  There are lots of dangers for our parrots in our homes...it's usually best to keep their flight restricted so they don't injure or seriously hurt themselves.  This also helps keep them inside the home when doors or windows are opened up.  Clipping flight feathers helps keep a tame bird tame.

- Parrots don't know what glass and windows are.  They have no conception of window glass.  Therefore, it doesn't exist for them.  When your bird is out and flying around, close your curtains/drapes or otherwise place something on or in front of the glass window so your bird doesn't injure or kill itself flying into the glass.

I don't know whether your bird was ever hand tamed or not (handfed with baby parrot handfeeding formula as a baby).  However, the first thing you need to do in order to change your bird's behavior is to get the bird on a more nutritionally sound diet.  I also recommend a larger cage as soon as possible.  If your bird never imprinted on humans as a baby, s/he is not tame and you will need much time and patience to work with your parrot.  Indian Ringnecks are very nice parrots and can learn to mimic very well.  

Start with the above and let me know how things go.  I'll help you move on to the next steps when we see how your bird reacts to the above changes.

Come back with any questions.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi again, Nittin.

Yes, it takes a little while for a bird to get used to it's flight feathers being clipped. Should only take a couple of days at most.

Nearly all parrots hang from their cage wire by their feet.  It won't hurt the bird...it's natural.  Some types of parrots do this more than others, but it won't harm them.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Nittin,

DO NOT use a chain and clip your bird's leg to it.  You can kill your bird by doing this.  In addition, this is animal cruelty.  This would be no different than placing a chain and lock around your leg and fastening it to something so you could not go anywhere.  Your bird can break it's leg/foot in it's attempt to get loose from this type of restraint, not to mention the stress and shock your bird would go through associated with this type of restraint.  Your bird could also break it's wings, break off blood feathers trying to get loose and bleed to death.  This would be a horrible way to treat your bird.  Your bird will never be responsive to you if you treat it this way.  

You need to get the right size cage, right type of perches, etc., etc., for your bird or you should not own any birds.  What you are doing is cruelty to animals.  

Chrys


-----Answer-----
Nittin, you can clip your bird's flight feathers yourself...there's instructions and links to pictures on my website and I know there's information all over the internet on how to do it.  If you don't want to do it, give the instructions to someone you know...it will take 2 of you to do it anyway.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi again, Nittin.

My website is:  www.angelfire.com/falcon/birdinfo/index.html

Another good website:  www.birdchannel.com

Some birds like to be petted and some don't...it just depends on the individual bird and whether it is tame or not, it's experiences with humans, etc., etc.

I don't understand what you mean when you say "what's the right way to interact with birds."  Please explain.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Nittin.

Yes, you need to clip no more than 5 or 6 flight feathers on each wing.  Not the entire feather...please see link to picture from my website.  Also, DO NOT clip any blood feathers.  You need to examine each feather you intend to clip to ensure it isn't a blood feather BEFORE you trim it.  Otherwise, your bird will bleed (a bird can bleed to death from a clipped blood feather if you can't stop the bleeding).  You should use a pair of scissors.  

Spreading wings and flapping wings are 2 different things!  Can your ringneck FLAP it's wings (as if it were flying) inside it's cage without touching anything inside the cage?  This is very important.

Once your bird's flight feathers are clipped, the situation will change.  Let me know the situation with taming after the flight feathers have been trimmed and we can go from there.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
I have to disagree with you, Nittin.  This bird cannot vigorously flap it's wings (as in flying) in the size cage you described.  

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

Is your ringneck a baby?  Ringneck parrots are bigger than a fist, unless the bird is a baby.  Maybe you need to send me a picture of your bird so we can be sure what species of parrot you have!

I recommend you move the cage from the ground to a table or cage stand or something similar.  Your bird needs to stay in/around it's cage or on a playstand or the like, not roaming around the inside of your home all the time.  It isn't safe for a parrot to have free roam unsupervised in a home...there are too many dangers, especially now that the birds flight feathers have been clipped.  

I'd have to see a picture of the "mega" sized bird you are referring to in order to identify it.  There are hundreds of species of parrots out there, so a picture would be the only way of trying to identify the bird you describe.  This is why I'm now wondering about the parrot you currently have!

Chrys


-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

I'm so sorry...that website doesn't work any more (I'll remove the address from my website).  Can you send the pics to me at ripleybird@netzero.net?

I'm in USA eastern time zone (state of Ohio).  I don't know what the time difference is between you and I!

Thanks.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

I have the photos, but they are too dark.  I can only see an image of your bird, but not details, such as color, etc.  I'll try playing around with the photos to see if I can lighten them up, but if you can add more light to the area when you take the photos, that might help me to see the bird better.

Thanks much, Nittin.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

I sent an E-Mail to your personal account.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

Did you send me a photo or do you have a new question?  I don't want to use my personal E-Mail for questions, only photos when necessary.  Otherwise, people will start sending their questions to me at home, and I can't have this!

Thanks.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin!

So your bird is doing better...this is great!  On your newest question...I'm not sure I completely understand.  Are you saying your bird is actually putting his beak around your finger, but not biting down?  If so, this is great progress.  You'll have to let me know if this is what you mean.

Parrots use their tongues like we use our fingers.  In other words, what your bird is probably doing is trying to scare you off at first by "striking" like a snake.  But when he sees you aren't frightened by his lunging, he then puts his beak around your finger and is using his tongue to taste and feel your skin.  He's getting to know you!  If this is what is happening, then he is slowly starting to trust you more.  If he learns that your fingers don't mean him harm, then soon he'll be climbing on your finger (if he doesn't already do this).

Let me know if this is what's happening or if I've misunderstood what's going on.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin!

Cool!  You're doing something right!

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

Parrots act differently when outside their cages than they do when inside their cages because they are more vulnerable when outside their cages.  In other words, when inside their cage, they feel safe and secure.  However, without the cage around them, they feel vulnerable, less secure, etc.    

Whether you allow your bird outside it's cage is up to you.  I think you should allow him out because keeping a parrot caged can result in the bird becoming cage bound, unhappy, your trust-building with your bird is limited, etc.  Your bird will just need time to get used to being outside its cage.  When he learns a predator won't get him when he's out of his cage and no harm will come to him, he'll feel comfortable being outside of his cage.  It's a learning process for your bird.

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

That's great!  Keep up the good work.  Whatever you're doing to tame your bird is working!

Chrys
-----Answer-----
Hi, Nittin.

Are you letting your bird outside of his cage at all?  Tell me what else you are doing besides handfeeding your bird fruit.  When you handfeed fruit, is the bird inside its cage or outside its cage?

When I acquire a new bird, how I handle the situation depends on what my plans are for that particular bird.  Most of my parrots are breeder birds or a combination of pets and breeder birds.  Most have mates.  Therefore, my situation is different from yours in that you have 1 parrot you want to have as a pet.  I have over one hundred parrots and 200 homing pigeons.

Chrys
ANSWER: Hi, Nittin.

Didn't you just clip your bird's flight feathers a couple of weeks ago?  He shouldn't need them clipped already, but if he's able to gain altitude, they need to be clipped again.  

When your bird is out of its cage, can you just sit in a chair or soda near your bird (and watch TV or something) so that he can come to you when/if he wants?  I think you need to take this to the next level now that he accepts food from you out of your hand when he's outside of his cage.  When he's out, see if you can get him interested in whatever it is you can do in the area where you allow your bird to go when he's out of his cage.  Parrots are curious and if he sees you doing something, he might get curious enough to come to you to see what you are doing.  If not, just sitting in the same area where your bird is might get him to come to you.  Sit there and watch TV or something and eat food!  One way to a parrot's heart is through food!  Whatever it is you feed him by hand, sit there and eat this food yourself and see if doing this doesn't get your bird curious enough to come to you for a bite.  Get a bag of shelled peanuts and sit there and crack them open and eat them.  I'll bet your bird will come to you.

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Chrys,
Today I tried to make my parrot step up, there were no results. I had noticed that he was hungry so I took a small slice of mango(he likes mangoes too) and held it about 10-15 cm away from him in such a way that he had to take just one or two steps forward to grab the mango. In the starting, he was trying stretch as far as he could and grab the mango. But when he didn't reach, he just SAT their. I thought if I waited for a while he would take a step, so I held my hand in the same position for 45 minutes and he still didn't come. Afterwards when I got tired then I just got my hand closer to him and he ate the mango. I am not giving up on this I'll try again tomorrow and so on. I have realized how bored my parrot must be getting so I decided to spend more time trying to interact with him.
Nittin
ANSWER: Nittin.

Working with a parrot takes much time and patience.  You are doing really well with your parrot and your parrot is reacting positively.  However, the process of taming/training takes time.  Just keep up with what you are doing and your bird will come around with time.

Chrys

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Chrys,
I again tried to make him step up, it worked!
Where my parrot was sitting was a part of the side table(it's like decks, he was on the bottom) with the indoor plants which was like a perch, so if he had taken a step front, it was flat. I thought it might be uncomfortable for him to walk on flat surface so I held the slice of mango on his side about 10 cm away and he walked to it and grabbed it, then ate it.
I'll do this for a few days then I'll try to make him step on my hand.
Nittin

Answer
See, he's catching on!  Not all days will be good days in the learning process.  Some days, your bird may not cooperate with you at all, then some days he might surprise you.  This is just how parrots are...they have good days and bad days just like we do!

Next time you write, would you please create a new post!  This question string is getting so long, it's taking a while to load each time!

Chrys