Hey guys,
I have just got myself a beautiful blue IRN who we think was born October 2016 time.
My husband works with someone who's kids wanted a bird, asked my husband for advise (knowing we are animal lovers and have a zoo at home), and my husband advised his colleague against it.
Anyways, long story short, he ignored my husband, got the kids a bird for Christmas, kids got bored cuz he's not talking, were gong to stick him in the local RSPCA (which is a truly horrible place!!), so we've ended up with him.
To be fair, they got him a lovely big cage (I hope its big enough...as its this), please let me know if this is ok.
I know a little bit about IRN's as a few years ago I looked into getting one, but with lack of experience with birds, decided against it and got a canary and a couple of budgies. I have since brushed up on reading about them as I want to give the best possible home I can for this sweet little bird...like I do all my pets that we share our home with.
The thing I'm most concerned with at the moment is, how can I gain his trust? He's seems to be settling in slowly, he's finding his voice and we let him out daily, as much as we can so he can have a fly, stretch his wings. He doesn't like us going near him and soon flies away, so I'd like for him to be able to "step up" on an offered perch, and eventually our fingers/hands. This is the main goal we'd like for him. To feel and know he is loved and wanted.
I would like him to talk, that's my second goal. I've called him Ziggy Stardust (his name was Polly...the kids named him in his previous home :rolleyes: ), and I have been saying things like "Hello Ziggy" to him while he's in his cage, out of his cage, whenever. I also say things like "Whatcha doin'?", "Hiya" and "Pretty boy", things I think may be easy for him to learn. And just repeating over and over to him. He seems to be listening, sometimes tilts his head to the side but I'm not sure. I realise there's no guarantee's that he will ever talk, but I'd like to give it a go.
Also....I believe him to be a boy, as he has a light grey ring around his neck and light grey lines between his eyes to his beak, so hopefully I've got that right. Here's a picture, any advice would be great as to whether he is a boy or girl...
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I have him on a mix of budgie seed and sunflower seeds, this is what he was on, I hope this is correct? I plan on getting him some pellets also, am looking at Zupreem or Tops Organic Pellets...can anyone advise on that? I've also tried him with a little bit of Spring Greens, but he doesn't seem interested in that at the moment. Hopefully in time.
Can anybody give me tips, more so on how to help him settling in and begin to feel confident with us, that is the most important to me.
I have just got myself a beautiful blue IRN who we think was born October 2016 time.
My husband works with someone who's kids wanted a bird, asked my husband for advise (knowing we are animal lovers and have a zoo at home), and my husband advised his colleague against it.
Anyways, long story short, he ignored my husband, got the kids a bird for Christmas, kids got bored cuz he's not talking, were gong to stick him in the local RSPCA (which is a truly horrible place!!), so we've ended up with him.
To be fair, they got him a lovely big cage (I hope its big enough...as its this), please let me know if this is ok.
I know a little bit about IRN's as a few years ago I looked into getting one, but with lack of experience with birds, decided against it and got a canary and a couple of budgies. I have since brushed up on reading about them as I want to give the best possible home I can for this sweet little bird...like I do all my pets that we share our home with.
The thing I'm most concerned with at the moment is, how can I gain his trust? He's seems to be settling in slowly, he's finding his voice and we let him out daily, as much as we can so he can have a fly, stretch his wings. He doesn't like us going near him and soon flies away, so I'd like for him to be able to "step up" on an offered perch, and eventually our fingers/hands. This is the main goal we'd like for him. To feel and know he is loved and wanted.
I would like him to talk, that's my second goal. I've called him Ziggy Stardust (his name was Polly...the kids named him in his previous home :rolleyes: ), and I have been saying things like "Hello Ziggy" to him while he's in his cage, out of his cage, whenever. I also say things like "Whatcha doin'?", "Hiya" and "Pretty boy", things I think may be easy for him to learn. And just repeating over and over to him. He seems to be listening, sometimes tilts his head to the side but I'm not sure. I realise there's no guarantee's that he will ever talk, but I'd like to give it a go.
Also....I believe him to be a boy, as he has a light grey ring around his neck and light grey lines between his eyes to his beak, so hopefully I've got that right. Here's a picture, any advice would be great as to whether he is a boy or girl...
I have him on a mix of budgie seed and sunflower seeds, this is what he was on, I hope this is correct? I plan on getting him some pellets also, am looking at Zupreem or Tops Organic Pellets...can anyone advise on that? I've also tried him with a little bit of Spring Greens, but he doesn't seem interested in that at the moment. Hopefully in time.
Can anybody give me tips, more so on how to help him settling in and begin to feel confident with us, that is the most important to me.