New Parakeet question?

Question

I just bought a parakeet about a day ago. She's already letting me pet her, but she still slumps away. That I can understand, but she just sits around in her cage. She'll sit in the same spot for hours. I've bought her a mirror, toys, a cuddle bone, everything. Is this just because she's in a new surrounding? Will she eventually warm up to me?

Answer 1

She will start warming to you, but it's going to take you constantly interacting with her for that to happen.

Ask her to step up 5-6 times a day (or as many as you can) even if it's just in passing and you don't have a lot of time. If you keep asking her to do it, and keep talking to her and expect her to become part of the family, then over time she'll do it.

With the toys and stuff, that's really good, but just be aware that birds are instinctively scared of just about everything. By scared, I mean wary...they don't trust anything until it proves to them that it's not going to hurt them. You have the benefit of having a new bird in a new house with new stuff. With Oscar, our Umbrella Cockatoo, when I buy him new toys, I have to hang them outside of his cage on a wall or a piece of furniture where he can see it but not necessarily touch it for a good week before I put it in his cage. If I don't, he flips out and won't go anywhere near it and never plays with it. I change out my bird toys every 2 weeks, so this is a constant battle with him. If I just hang them outside the cage first so that he can get used to the idea of the toy, then he isn't afraid of it and will play with it.

Mirrors in my opinion for the smaller birds are a bad idea. Sometimes they'll bond with that other birdy in the mirror instead of you. But...just keep an eye on it. If that's not the case for your bird, then leave it in there. If he's getting nippy and cranky towards you, that should be the first thing to go.

Just keep interacting with her, biting or not. If you want to teach her tricks and stuff like that, take her out of the room her cage and stuff is in and work with her there. If she's in the same room with that stuff, her mind will be on making sure her stuff is safe.

Hope that helps!

Good luck!

Answer 2

I am also a new owner of three indian ringnecks. I am not sure if they are males or females. I am hoping for alteast one of each. We bought them at a bird show in florida. We also have a cockatoo that we bought last year she is such a joy. I cant hardly wait to hold and socialize with my indian ringnecks. I have two that are green and one that is greyish blue. Oh I have a plum head too she will allow me to hold her already she cuddles right up to my neck she is a very social bird such a sweet little thing. I am sure I will be asking alot of the same questions that you will be asking. We can learn about these beautiful birds together. When I figure out how to post pictures on here I will put pictures on for everyone to see my new additions.

Answer 3

Little birds going into new environments is very stressful for them.

Ignore the bird for a few days (make sure it has food and water;) but do not play with it until it has become acclimated to it's new suroundings.

Your little friend is almost in a state of shock.

Answer 4

From experience you should let your bird chill for about a week until it gets use to the new home. Also make sure your bird always has clean fresh water.Try not to use a mirror on your bird ..........this is so it will learn to talk...otherwise it will become an introvert..........

Answer 5

leave it alone for a little bit it should be fine this is normal because it's in a strange surounding. after 2 or 3 days you should search online and start finger training it. i suggest you get it's wings cliped also.

Answer 6

Yes I had one before your bird has to get use to its surroundings it never had contact with humans so dont play with her for a while hope it helps.

Answer 7

thats is completely normal...shes just getting comfortablewith her new home

Answer 8

ya, she should!