{"id":139126,"date":"2023-07-22T15:14:14","date_gmt":"2023-07-22T20:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/?p=139126"},"modified":"2023-07-22T15:14:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T20:14:14","slug":"ringneck-advice-for-a-well-bitten-her-words-customer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=139126","title":{"rendered":"Ringneck Advice For a Well Bitten (Her Words) Customer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sharon Mc. writes:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Hi Catherine,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Sunnie (if female)\/Sunny (if male) was born on 4\/27 and I brought her home <\/span>on 6\/27.<\/span><\/p>\n

I held her a few times @ the owner’s when she was still being hand <\/span>fed and with baby feathers. I brought her home @ 2 mos., as she was eating<\/span>\u00a0pellets on her own. <\/span><\/p>\n

She was cuddly, would snuggle in my hand, and sit at<\/span>\u00a0length on my shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, when I approach her cage, put my finger out and say, “Step up”, <\/span>she lunged at me and BIT my finger\/hand a few times HARD. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why? <\/span><\/p>\n

Are ring<\/span>necks territorial? Is this a phase? If I have (raw) sugar snap peas, thin slices of a baby carrot, or kernels of corn and offer it to her, she gently takes it. <\/span><\/p>\n

She will, many times, come <\/span>and eat on my hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is she biting?<\/span><\/p>\n

I also give her a “treat” (unsalted sunflower seed) 5-10 a day which she<\/span>\u00a0loves! <\/span><\/p>\n

Her original owner said sunflower seeds are no good because of their high-fat<\/span> content and not to give the seeds to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find All Bird Perches on Windy City Parrot Here<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My other ringneck (a definite male) – 4 mos. old, never did the biting. <\/span><\/p>\n

He <\/span>is close to Daddy whereas Sunnie is close to me. They’re in separate (open-door<\/span>) cages but they come out on their own and socialize with each other d<\/span>aily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please advise me as to the biting and the sunflower seeds.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’d appreciate <\/span>your advice and I thank you in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Sincerely,<\/span><\/p>\n

A “well-bitten” Sharon<\/span><\/p>\n

Dear Sharon<\/span><\/p>\n

The breeder should never have given you the bird at 8 weeks old, Ringnecks are not ready to be eating on their own that young. That the bird made it okay is very good, but please watch to make sure he\/she\u00a0<\/span>is eating enough food.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You should not put your hands into the bird’s cage to get it out. The cage is all the bird has to call its own unless it is an emergency and you have to grab the bird and go (like a fire), then wait until <\/span>the bird comes out on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the bird crawls out and onto the door then they are in YOUR space\u00a0<\/span>and thus are easier to pick up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Full transparency, I’ve had ringnecks in my life for almost 30 years.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don’t hesitate when putting your hand out for the bird, hold your fingers together and keep flat, move under the front of the bird, below the belly, and keep moving until the bird has no choice but to get on top of your hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is the bird perch trained yet? It is very important to learn that. If the bird gets nippy, the perch takes care of that problem.<\/span><\/p>\n