Greetings

ZiggyIRN

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Hi everyone

I'm new to the forum so just wanted to pop my head in, say hello and ask a couple of questions that might help me with my first IRN.

After wanting a parrot for over 20 years but having a lifestyle that wouldn't compliment a bird I'm now in a position to be able to give one the care and attention it needs so have very recently got a violet IRN called Ziggy (although looks more of a two tone blue) after a lot of research.

He's 14 weeks old and untamed. We brought him home yesterday and have housed him for now in our living room so he can get used to being around us, although we might move him into another room at a later date as worried he won't get 12 hours sleep in the busiest room in the house. He seems to be settling in quite nicely already as yesterday he was quite skittish, flying across his cage any time we stood up in the room or walked past his cage but he's now happy for us (and the kids) to walk right up to the cage so our noses are almost touching the bars. He's still very timid with hands close to the cage (as expected) but has settled into allowing his food and water bowls to be replaced from the outside.

I haven't as yet allowed him out of the cage but I'm thinking about opening the door tomorrow to see if he wants to come out. Having read a few tips I have taken his food bowl away and won't replace until he comes out tomorrow -if he does at all- as I'm a bit worried about creating a bad experience by trying to get him back in (hoping adding his food bowl back will help him go back in on his own accord). Would tomorrow be too soon to allow him out do you think? I'm a bit apprehensive that it's too soon but also don't want to have him locked up in the cage too long. Whilst he's out I'm planning on having as little interaction as possible with him unless he was to come to me and I have a separate external perch for him which hopefully he will use although it's fine if he doesn't want to yet.

Also, he's been scratching a bit later on today, after getting raspberry juice all over him so think he may need a bath. I'm not sure the best way to do this inside the cage. I've read about spray misting and just allowing the spray to drop over him which might be an option but again not sure if this would be too soon for him.

Thank you
 
Welcome, it sounds like you have done some research which is brilliant, I worry a little as 14 weeks is a bit early to have got the bird as it might not have weaned completely yet however some do. Keep an eye on Ziggy make sure he's ok eating and confident holding and eating things. Ziggy needs to get use to your family and shouldn't be put anywhere to out the way, I would leave Ziggy in his cage for a few days and let him workout the room and gain confidence in the fact you bring him food, after he's had a few sleeps in your house and knows where his cage and food are shut all windows and any doors you need to and sit down and start watching TV pop his door/hatch open and see what he does, do this slowly so not to scare him. He will either bolt out and go mental or take weeks to feel like he wants to come out. You will need to start to find a treat that he loves and will go back in his cage for. This early part can be very difficult and take ages to master, just remember to be calm and try to not get in the situation where you might have a bad experience. Birds totally pick up on commands, I say "seeds" and chuck a walnut in my parrots cage and she's in there before the nut hits the bowl this is something she never gets so she would choose her freedom over it and willingly go straight in her cage. You need to be smart as birds will cotton on to anything your trying to get them to do straight away. Re spraying/bathing be very careful as you don't want your bird to be scared, I sat on a chair next to mine and use to spray myself lightly and slowly over a week moved closer to her cage sometimes wiff a bit over her until she knew it wasn't a bad thing. I hope this helps a bit and hopefully some members will add some more advice/views as we all have different experiences. What food are you feeding him.
 
Welcome, it sounds like you have done some research which is brilliant, I worry a little as 14 weeks is a bit early to have got the bird as it might not have weaned completely yet however some do. Keep an eye on Ziggy make sure he's ok eating and confident holding and eating things. Ziggy needs to get use to your family and shouldn't be put anywhere to out the way, I would leave Ziggy in his cage for a few days and let him workout the room and gain confidence in the fact you bring him food, after he's had a few sleeps in your house and knows where his cage and food are shut all windows and any doors you need to and sit down and start watching TV pop his door/hatch open and see what he does, do this slowly so not to scare him. He will either bolt out and go mental or take weeks to feel like he wants to come out. You will need to start to find a treat that he loves and will go back in his cage for. This early part can be very difficult and take ages to master, just remember to be calm and try to not get in the situation where you might have a bad experience. Birds totally pick up on commands, I say "seeds" and chuck a walnut in my parrots cage and she's in there before the nut hits the bowl this is something she never gets so she would choose her freedom over it and willingly go straight in her cage. You need to be smart as birds will cotton on to anything your trying to get them to do straight away. Re spraying/bathing be very careful as you don't want your bird to be scared, I sat on a chair next to mine and use to spray myself lightly and slowly over a week moved closer to her cage sometimes wiff a bit over her until she knew it wasn't a bad thing. I hope this helps a bit and hopefully some members will add some more advice/views as we all have different experiences. What food are you feeding him.

Hi, thank you I wasn't too sure about how long they could be caged for without being let out although I do have a suspicion he wouldn't want to come out yet anyway. I'll leave him in for now like you suggest.

We were given some food for him when we picked him up which is a mixture of seeds including sunflower seeds but I'd read too many sunflower seeds can be bad for them so I've picked the majority out to control how many he gets. Today I've given him grapes, raspberries, cucumber, corn and carrot as well. He loves the grapes and corn! He's held both the carrots and the grapes (cut into halves) to eat but didn't really have many of the seeds but he might have been a bit full off the fruit/veg.

I spent a few hours today sat next to him on a chair doing some work while talking to him intermittently and he seemed happy enough to play in the cage and eat with me there near him so taking that as a good sign.
 
That's a good way to bond, veg is best as they say, go lightly on the fruit and a good quality seed mix possibly one with no sunflower seeds is a good idea.

Yes, I'm continuing with the seeds minus the sunflower ones currently and looking towards getting him on to the pellets as well over the next few weeks once he has settled in more. I don't want to over load him with too many changes straight away.
 
He is still young so it sounds like he was introduced to solid feed by using cockatiel feed. glad you are introducing fresh feed, i am not a lover of giving pellets to ringnecks, but try to give food that grows on the farm dandelion and grsses, berries, there is a list of safe plants you can use.
 
He is still young so it sounds like he was introduced to solid feed by using cockatiel feed. glad you are introducing fresh feed, i am not a lover of giving pellets to ringnecks, but try to give food that grows on the farm dandelion and grsses, berries, there is a list of safe plants you can use.

Thats interesting, thank you. I'll take a look.

Yes the pellets have their good and bad points but I would say better than seeds. Can’t wait to see some pics of ziggy soon.

I'll make sure I upload some soon.
 
:welcome:from me too, good advice given. Looking forward to photos of Ziggy and of course updates.
 
Hello again. Sorry I haven't been on for a while bit just wanted to post a quick update.

Ziggy seems to be settling in really well. He's found his voice after a few days of silence and over the last two days he's started taking some millet poked through the cage bars before today allowing me to put my hand in for him to take it. Even coming so close to accidentally nibble my finger.

Haven't had him out the cage yet after dome advice on here but we have a new bigger one on order (this one was always temporary) which should hopefully come in the next week so once he's had a few daya to get used to his new surroundings I think I will leave the door open to see if he comes out and get some pictures!
 
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