Hey guys

Well I made some serious progress. He has never really 'freaked out' as I would expect him to. He is a willful little bugger though. Steph I bet Kirby is that way too huh?

Well he and I sat in the bathroom, him on a perching stick and I was holding it. We played the blinking game; if you've never heard of it before, it's where you blink and the bird blinks back...a trust building game. I veeery slooooowly placed my index finger onto his beak and gently stroked it (I did this with Aggie...she loved it!). He was at first a bit ataken back but did not try for even one second to bite me. After a few minutes of me just gently petting his beak, he got really into it. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and had that 'blissful' look on his cute little face.

Well I would moved to the feathers on his cheeks, right beside the beak, for a few seconds and move back to what I was doing. At one point he even bowed his head and let me pet the top of his head for a tiny bit! We're breaking through to this cute little thing :boogie:

I swear if I come across one more site that says IRNs and Alexs don't make great companions I am going to explode! You wouldn't believe how many people out there actually think that IRNs can't ever be sweet or loving...that they are mean and nasty and should only be in an avairy.

It takes a different kind of person to keep IRNs though...I call them 'pit bulls' of the fid world. They have very defined personalities...and we do get bitten. But once you manage to break through and find out truly what your bird is like...there is a bond that is unlike anything I have ever experienced! Don't believe for one second that they aren't perfect companions!

Dani

Yay!!! I'm so happy for you that things are going well!! I have to say - biting is the one thing Kirby is not prone to do! Even if the 4 yr. old asks him to step up and he doesn't want to - Kirby will grab his finger and kind of shove it to the side. (the 4 yr. old usually says "owe" then laughs - but knows this means Kirby's not in the mood and he has to leave him alone) Of course - I've said it many times before - there's just no mistaking a mad alex! I find him so easy to read - so it's just never really been an issue.

Aww! Raj sounds like he is really starting to trust you! And he sounds like an absolute sweetheart. I hate when birds get bad raps, especially when they can be sweet and friendly. I think we need some pics!

It sounds like things are going very well! That is great news!!

How great Dani! I agree with you about the IRN's bad rap. The store that we bought Willis from told us that he was a bad choice for us if we wanted a pet. They said that IRN's were more for "eye candy". And Willie is a pill no doubt, but he can be such a love. I can't imagine just looking at him in a cage and not interacting with him. That would be such a waste.

Alex's are getting very popular in Australia lately. I can't have one because I have a mixed aviary and I need to keep all my birds in a similar size range so they don't hurt each other so I can't have anything larger than a Nanday/Princess. I see them all over the local bird fairs here though, sure are pretty!

Congrats on the progress Dani. Yeppers, makes me mad when I hear bad things being said about IRN's too. Anyone who met Silk would want to run off with her, she's just the sweetest thing around. She is the biggest cuddle bunny here after Mullani my tiel. Out of all my ringies Pepper is the only one that you could call stand offish, and she is getting heaps better. I ate breakfast out with the fids this morning and I had to fight them off me so I could eat. Silk stole my toast and ran off with it, which then had the other three chasing her so it bought me some time to wolf down the rest of my plate.
Indian ringnecks are the Marilyn Monroe's of the bird world. Most people only see how pretty they are, they overlook their intelligence and personality. Which is a shame because they miss out of knowing what great little guys they are.

Yep, yep, and yep!
I have read so many sites out there that say ringies are standoffish and do not like having their heads ruffled up - you have to stroke with the grain of the feathers - maybe so for Alexs - but not my ringies!

Oh and the thing about not being affectionate - tell that to the little green girl that is under my shirt with her tail sticking out the top.

If there is one thing I want to do - it is to make people aware of what great birds they can be. Heck, I have a waiting list for Indy. When I worked in the bird shop, I had people wanting to buy him all the time. I had a breeder that wanted to use him for breeding and I would get pick of the clutch. my best friend was just joking about making room for him in her house for the millionth time tonight.

Nope, not my baby!

I have the whole range of personalities in my house. From easy going and learning to love, to sweet and cuddly, the misunderstood - fiesty but still very lovable with me, the yeah you are ok however I prefer following my love around wherever she goes (another bird of course), the i will deal with you but you aren't my first choice - I like birds better, the bird that considers me to be her mate, and then the evil little bully who really isn't. I love them all each and every one.

Oh I forgot to say - glad to hear that you are starting to make some progress with him.

Sounds like things are going well and you are being very patient, allowing Alex to learn to trust you. If it is any consolation, I had an Alexandrine - he was a wonderful bird. I unfortunately had to rehome him - long story - I didn't really have a choice. The good thing, though, is that I still get to see him since he's only across the river from me!