Indian ringnecks are starting to become one of the most beloved parrot pets. Their size is not only perfect for your home, but their demeanor is also fascinating that one might even mistake them as being dogs. When it comes to giving affection, do these birds give a lot?
Are Indian Ringnecks Affectionate? Indian ringnecks can be very affectionate. They love to be held and they thrive on attention. They can be standoff-ish but that can easily be corrected by proper training and socialization. Further, they have a tendency to not just bond with their owner, so they can be affectionate towards everyone.
In this article, we are going to discuss how affectionate an Indian ringneck can be. At the same time, we are going to discuss its different attitudes and behavior which makes it one of the easiest pet birds to handle.
Lastly, we will talk about some tips and tricks on how to make your unaffectionate Indian ringneck, affectionate.
Why Are Indian Ringnecks Affectionate? This Makes Them Special!
It has a lot to do with their DNA. They are just made that way. Not only are they affectionate to people, but they also get along well with fellow Indian ringnecks and even other birds.
In general, birds usually get along well with birds that are at least the same size as them, but the story is different from Indian ringnecks.
They are such social birds that they will get out of their way to even befriend larger birds. (You should still be careful with smaller birds though. For example, you need to be careful with Cockatiels as we explain here.)
This is great especially if you already have another parrot, like a macaw and you are wondering if it will get along with an Indian ringneck.
Your macaw might not warm up to it at first, but trust us when we say that your Indian ringneck will find a way to make your macaw fall in love with it.
Moreover, they also tend to be affectionate as it is easier for owners to understand their needs. The reason behind this is that they are so vocal. They are such exceptional talkers and they have a wide vocabulary that they can express pretty much anything with such clarity.
In this way, they can easily convey if they need something or if something is wrong with them. This clear communication between the parrot and the owner makes it easier for both to trust each other. Therefore, the Indian ringneck will get more comfortable with its owner in no time.
Indian Ringnecks Are Affectionate, So Are They Cuddly?
This is where the confusion lies. Indian ringnecks are usually associated with the fun-loving conures that love to snuggle against their owner. But for Indian ringnecks, they do not necessarily appreciate being confined in a tight space which is made possible via cuddles or hugs.
Yes, they are affectionate however, do not expect them to cuddle against you. On the other hand, they do like sitting beside their owners as well as getting scratches and strokes. Therefore, you can think of them as the perfect “hangout bird.”
They can sit on your desk while you do your work and you will notice that they will occasionally brush their body or head against your hand. But when it comes to squishing them against your neck or chest, they may let you, but they do not like it as much.
When it comes to petting, they like their beak and head to be petted. They also tend to nibble your ears and also pick or hide in your hair. You might also notice that they try to remove some of your freckles. Some owners even let them groom their eyebrows.
More than that, they also like to inspect nostrils. Therefore, this is where you should do proper training as their claws however tiny they are, might scratch your face. Some Indian ringnecks go as far as having the ability to give you a manicure.
Definitely, there are a number of ways on how you can bond with your Indian ringneck, cuddling them too much is not just one of those.
Are you already falling in love with Indian Ringnecks? Well, here are 20 more reasons why they are awesome-sauce!
Your Indian Ringneck Is Not Affectionate? Here Are 3 Potential Reasons For That
As we have mentioned earlier, Indian ringnecks are usually very affectionate. Still, there are times when they just want to be left alone or seem to not want to have anything to do with their owners. Here are some reasons.
Bluffing Stage
After Indian ringnecks have been weaned they go through a biting stage. There is no cause for alarm here as this is normal. This is just because of their rush of hormones.
At this stage, they tend to be nippy and they would rather bond with birds rather than be with their owners. Unfortunately, this is the stage where owners give up on positive reinforcement training. This is brought about by the thought that the bird needs to be tamed.
In reality, they are just getting through a phase which they will eventually leave behind.
On the negative side, if the owner practiced too much negative reinforcement training during this bluffing stage, the Indian ringneck might have lost its trust, therefore, they remain unaffectionate even though the stage is over.
Isolation Issues
Indian ringnecks are social creatures, for them, getting attention and affection is as important as eating and drinking.
Therefore, if there is a time when you were so busy and your bird was cooped up in its cage for far too long without anyone socializing with it, you might notice that it will keep to itself.
You can think of it as its way of showing how sad it was for being ignored. What you can do is to talk to it first through the cage, before slowly coaxing it to be held. At first, it might ignore you, but consistently talk to it and let it trust you again.
Breeding Season
If you have a lot of Indian ringnecks which comprise of both males and females, you might notice a shift in their behavior when it is the breeding season. During this time, it is best to leave them alone and just talk with them through their cage.
The reason behind this is that there is a rush of hormones and they would choose to bond with other birds instead of their owner. Therefore, if you bother them too much, they may result in biting behavior.
Keep in mind that in this season, females are more tolerant than males. So if you want to hold one, go for the females so it is less likely that you will get bitten.
Related Questions
My Indian ringneck is affectionate during night time, but is aggressive during the day, what should I do? It might be suffering from night frights which is why it is in a sour mood in the day. Try to cover the cage and place it in a secluded area where there is not too much noise so it can rest properly.
Are Indian ringnecks afraid of fingers? Yes, there is something in their genes that make them feel terrified at the sight of fingers. This will go away through training and proper socializing. As they slowly trust you, they would not fear your fingers.
My Indian ringneck is noisy, what should I do? If the noise cannot be deciphered, then this is a way of them telling you that they need more attention. So spend more time with them. If they keep on doing this, there might be something wrong with them and you should contact your vet.
