Thanks for chiming in Jay! Yeah, if we hit it off, I think I'll just get him. I just want to make sure. I don't want to bring him home and then think, "What the hell was I thinking?!" I have an IRN also and people are always asking me why I have him since ringnecks are supposed to be evil, nasty birds only fit to look at. But he's a good guy. When his hormones aren't raging anyway.

So was Marley hand raised? How old was he when you got him? Is he just not lovey-dovey? What's his personality like? Like I said, I'm just trying to get ALL the info I can. Thanks Jay!

marley was hand reared i got him at 11weeks and hes just not a real pet... stratches, touching his wings or body in general are big no no's..unless hes feeling cuddley then you can just barely stroke his chest for 2 seconds before he realises then looks at you as if to say "OMG i know you are not touchig me with those things you call fingers!!!!" then he pretends hes having heartattack and flies off lol

out of all the fids he is my baby and he is just such a wimp that even my mother ( who has a phobia of birds) loves him! if you dont annouce yourself before coming in the room he has another heart attack and falls off his perch then gives you the "are you seriously trying to kill me!?!?!?" look lol

on the flip side hes quiet happy to amuse himself for hours on end he doesnt need the constant cuddles zup, tango and poitin need but yet hes the best one for kissing and just sitting with you he also NEVER bites unlike the other 3 who play nip kinda harder than they should when they are really over excited!... even when he is excited he knows what hurts and what doesnt

and btw i know how you feel when it comes to people not understanding of the fact not all birds are agressive and evil!!!

i was warned agaisnt getting poitin by a "bird expert" who sold me marley but my thoughts were "yeah uh huh your only telling me that cause you cant get one in and therefore wont get the profit!" just last week he rang me and told me he had a beautiful caique who was adorable etc...when i said but "i thought you said they were agressive known for attacking people and generally all round not so nice birds" he said" ummm yeah i didnt realise they were as ice as this guy...dont you want him hes only 350" grrr MEN!!! thinks im stupid lol

LOL, no I was born in the USA and I am of half Arabic orgin-formerly a prefessional belly dancer! I'm a dual citizen-USA-Aussie!

I learned enough today to know that we should never generalize about birds species. I met two beautiful lutino IRNs who were handreared and sweet as sugar! I also met some quiet Nandays! I think we just need to meet birds, let them pick US out and go with the chemistry.

So what took you to Oz Tiki? And how do you get dual citizenship? I always thought that you had to choose one or the other? No?

I actually took a belly dancing class in college!! Wasn't too good at it though. I could never get those abs to r-o-l-l. I always looked like I was about to throw up when I tried. Not too sexy. I never knew it was that hard to belly dance!!

Hi Vicki,

Thats the trouble with birds that are hand rasied and left in the shops. So many kids stir them so tehy do go shy. But once you take them home they know things are fine. I like the name Manikay.

It's nice to have forums that care hey Tara :P

You betcha, Nat!

Vicki, I married a Cook Islander and we decided to move to Australia. You used to have to choose but not any more, you can have both.

Did you bring him home yet, Vicki? Everyone is dying to see him!

Okay, so here's the latest update. I've been down to see the little boy every night all week. He is sooooo stand off-ish. Scared actually. Even when it's just him and I standing there. He's just so uncomfortable. Poor little guy. He is just pacing non-stop too. Like he's gone a bit nutty. I'm guessing, I don't know what birds do when they go mental. I just don't know what to do.

I think....I think I may just end up getting him. What the hell right? Maybe if he's here for awhile he'll settle down. The manager said that if I don't want him they are going to call the aviary that he came from and see if they want him back. He just seems to be deteriorating. The manager said that he will pace, literally, all day long. So I don't know... I talked with my husband about it last night and he said that he'd "THINK" about if I can get him. He's so cute when he thinks he has a say in things. Really adorable.

I don't know... Do you guys think I should just do it? Do you think I CAN do it? Am I getting in over my head here?

Whats the worst that can happen...he wont want to be handled much maybe. If you can be content with giving him his space, I cant see any harm. Id be pacing if I was caged up like that too! He just might come around when he's out of that place! (I would go for it)

Vicki, the poor guy may just have a personality where he'd be more comfortable being in a more solitary set up.... maybe with a buddy.

If you decide to bring him home, I know you are caring and loving and will see to it that he has the best life for his needs. It may not be possible to increase his comfort level so that he's happy being a hands on bird. He may end up calming down and just enjoying your presence and a calm and secure home environment.

Whoa I am really late on this one! Vicki I think you should go for it! Where this a will there is a way! You would try your hardest to make him happy and comfortable and to socialize him. And that is alot more than other people would do. Plus you have the help of a whole bunch of experienced people.

Two of my birds were rehomes, from a big jerk who did not treat them very well. They were scared to death of us and to be honest we had no idea what to do. We were most certainly in over our heads. But through the help of our bird friends online and with alot of patience we have two happy and healthy birdies at home. They aren't always in a good mood and they aren't the great snugglers like their brother Doyle. But we love them like crazy, even if Danny won't let me touch him, lol.