Scared Indian Ring Neck

[Sammyc]

Hi

I have an Indian Ring Neck called Daisy. We believe that she is around 2 years old maybe older. 
In her previous home, she was mistreated quite badly. She is frightened over the little things. She wont let us around her, even walking past her cage, we don't let her out the cage because we are concerned she might hurt herself especially because she doesn't trust anyone. She has made a small amount of progress but not as much as we were expecting and she isn't talking. We believe the previous owners left Daisy alone all day so she had no human interaction and they let a cat sleep under her cage.

We weren't knowledgeable about Indian Ring Necks and when we got Daisy we were shocked and didn't know what to do. We did some googling about what was wrong with her and how we could help. We found that she is petrified. 

Daisy is happy where she is now but is there anything that I can do to help her without scaring her further?

[Loz]

People with more experience than me will hopefully be able to give you some helpful pointers but in the meantime, I will say that patience, endless patience, is required when rehabilitating a timid or traumatised bird. It's important to take little steps and try to always end an interaction on a positive note.
If you are able to approach her cage within, say, 6ft/2m, establish that as a safe boundary. Then try to shrink the distance very gradually, paying attention to body language at all times. Try to avoid triggering her fear. Progress will seem terribly slow but that is what is required.

These are first steps, hopefully someone can fill you in on more details. What I really meant to post and say is, congratulations and thank you for rescuing a little bird from what sounds like a terrible life and giving her a safe and living home.

[Marianne Marlow]

Thank you for helping her. I can't believe that someone would allow a cat to sleep under a birds cage - how ignorant is that!

[Azalea]

Hello, Sammyc. You said that she doesn't want you near her cage, but she needs to recognize you as part of her new environment. One thing that helps with any bird is simply spending time near the cage. Start with the 6-ft/2-m distance that Loz suggested. Talk to her, talk on your phone, read a book, etc. That way, your behaviors will become part of her everyday life. You won't be viewed as a creepy "trespasser" in the cage area.

[Hezz]

I agree with what Azalea has given you, also think about where her cage is situated. Is it out in the open, against a wall, near a window etc. For a bird this scared I would try to find a blank piece of wall, if not a corner, to position her cage, and then cover half the sides and top to give her a feeling of security so she doesn’t feel she has to be on the lookout for trouble coming at her from all sides. This place ideally would be in the room you spend a lot of time in just chilling out. You haven’t said how long Daisy has been with you and it is possible she is still settling into her new environment; this can take months for some birds especially ones such as Daisy who have had a hard time in their previous home. Also, are there any other pets in the house, or even the normal noise of children and daily racket of family may cause her to be on edge so other pets out of the room when she is there and ask children to be kind and speak quietly when they are around her. Until she is feeling more secure, at least.

I would also reach out to other people with more insight into Ringnecks than we have. You may be able to find a group, breeders perhaps, or consider a behavioural consultant. Many of them will do video hook-ups these days and there may be things they will pick up while watching in real time.

[jellybean]

Well done to you for rescuing Daisy from what seems like a horrendous situation, I hope in time with all the good advice you've had here that she finally settles to be the happy bird she deserves to be.

Love and patience always win in the end.
Good luck, please keep in touch with updates of her progress.

[Azalea]

Sammyc, I found this YouTube video that involves taming an Indian Ringneck: 

The "Bird Tricks" channel also has IRN videos.

[Marianne Marlow]

How is Daisy doing now? I hope she is settling in.