I just joined today. Sky is my first ringneck. He's a total puppy dog. He wants to go explore everything then wants to come cuddle with me or my husband then get back down and do some more exploring. He's one busy bird. Creative ideas for his cage and a place to buy a reasonably priced play stand would be greatly appreciated. There's pics of him and his cage in my photo album in my profile.

Any and all advice/ideas are greatly appreciated.

Hi again.

I once saw an amazing corner perch for an IRN. It kind of looked like a V with a base - hung in the corner. What made it exciting was the changeable grapefruit branches that served as perch/gym, secured to the V & base. They were attractive, kept the floor areas clear [kind of], recycle, wood chewing was great for the birds mind and beak. Being up high the bird got to see everything.

The atom is a very popular swing & perch. They can be by a window & offer another place to go to, if flighted.

I forgot to ask - is he flighted?

Sky looks real cute, IRN like to chew up things so any wood or paper is appreciated. I can't guess sex but s/he is very young since the bottom beak is still pink. I think about 6-8 months the bottom beak will turn blackish. Tessica our pet IRN is friends and preening partner with my baby blue and gold macaw Banjo. Tess is also the chief eating instructor for Banjo since she eats anything and everything.
You may want to add a big water dish on the cage bottom since Tess likes to bath every morning. Tess is also a explorer, visits quick and is off again on her next mission. Her favorite toys are a cardboard box to play in and remodel and a talking mirror toy. My IRN that live outside have great fun shredding branches.

I haven't heard about either of those. They do sound pretty cool.

No he is not flighted. I'm trying to decide if i want to let his wings grow out or not. I'm afraid of him flying away. What do you think? I'm also thinking about getting one of those aviator harnesses. What do you think about those?

He's just so cute. ~Jenna

Aww how cute!! Cool.. so he really is still very young. He likes those extra large cereal boxes that have 2-3 bags of cereal in them. He mostly just likes to go in and out of them. He hasn't really started chewing on that too much. He has a preening/chew. He climbs on it and hangs while he's chewing it. There's an apple tree growing in a park in town. Do you think that wood is safe? I'll bet when the park managers prune the tree, i could snag some of the branches and ask them what chemicals that tree is treated with.

Sky doesn't really know what to make of water. He's not afraid of it, but he doesn't get all into his baths and stuff. I take him in the shower with me, and he doesn't seem to mind that. Then we have a cuddle session on the couch with him wrapped up in a clean towel to dry him and keep him warm.

Thanks!! ^_^

I think if you can get him used to a harness, do so. Those that have birds that enjoy them can go anywhere - flighted or no.

I am pro flighted. However it really has a lot to do with the environment the bird is in. If your bird is very young I would hope it gets a chance to fledge [when they learn as youngsters]- it is hard for birds to be good fliers if they don't. Some of the pluses of flighted are training options, exercise, health, burning off energy in young birds, and getting away from danger quickly & skillfully.

I don't know a lot about IRNs - I have read from others that they require a lot of work & if neglected, will return to a more wild state. Quite frankly even my Budgies are a bit like that if I get too busy. A well trained bird that is flighted is a pleasure - ask Angie about Peanut.

It took about 4 months of practice before my Budgie Laker was a good flier & after a year he was as good or better than our other Budgie who has always been free. One thing you really need for a flighted bird are a number of good perch areas to fly to. When they are learning they need to have a place they can rely on. The atom, or as I just found out is also called the hoopball, can be bought or made & comes in many sizes. The Hoopball...A DIY Project

Peanut is a sun conure and my only bird that is trained enough to be safe outside. It is a true pleasure.
IRN are big time bluffers, they pretend to be dangerous and lunge to bite. Don't react when you see this, pulling back is BIG entertainment for the bird. A bluff does not usually result in a bite, but if this lunge becomes entertainment they will get braver and bite. This is why it is said they are not tame etc, but it is all pretense.
Don't panic when you see Sky molting, IRN can look real raggy not the pretty feathers you see now. They molt very fast and soon get those beautiful feathers back.

A link to safe branches. http://www.parrotchatter.com/f21/lin...irds-9637.html

Apple is good although a tree that normally gets a lot of pesticide sprayed on it. This may be a problem, any pesticide would be bad since it penetrates deeply and can't be washed off.