There are many different species of birds that make great pets. Parrots and parakeets, in particular, are beloved pets of many. But once you begin to do your research, it becomes evident that there are sooo many species of parrots and parakeets. Which one should you get?
One species of parrot (parakeet) that is popular among bird owners is the Indian Ringneck.
People claim that Indian Ringnecks make excellent pets because of how intelligent they are and how good they are at learning tricks. They’re also highly affectionate, caring, and curious. It’s generally said that you won’t have a dull moment if you get an Indian Ringneck.
Of course, as with all pets, they do require special care and attention that is important to take note of. Indian Ringnecks also have unique behavioral patterns that you should be aware of, too.
This behavior has caused them to get quite a reputation among parrot owners. But otherwise, they do make for marvelous pets and are definitely parakeets that you should consider adding to your home.
In this article, we will give you our top 20 reasons as to why Indian Ringnecks make amazing pets, as well as their behavioral patterns, what they eat, and all the other important information you should know if you’re considering getting one.
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Indian Ringneck Behavior
If you don’t know much about Indian Ringnecks or you perhaps have never heard of them, then it’s important to talk about what they are and what typical behavioral patterns they exhibit first.
As we have established, parrots as a species are highly sociable birds. Indian Ringnecks are no exception. These parrots are also known for their extreme beauty and unique looks, but their personalities are just as colorful as their looks.
The biggest thing that they’re known for is the fact that they’re highly vocal birds, more so than many other parrot species. Some people even found the fact that they like to scream so loudly to be an issue for keeping Indian Ringnecks as pets.
But this is a normal feature and one that is to be expected; just as a dog may bark loudly periodically, an Indian Ringneck will scream loudly.
They also love to whistle and to mimic things you say. Copying humans is one trick that these birds to better than many others. Their speech is completely clear and they’re known for being able to repeat words and phrases that you say around them a lot.
This makes them easy to train; you may want to teach your Ringneck how to say one phrase in particular.
You won’t ever have a dull moment if you get an Indian Ringneck, as we said. Just like all parrots, they’re very social birds and will depend on your attention for their happiness and health.
This has a huge impact on the way that they behave; if you can’t dedicate a big portion of your free time to your Ringneck, it will become aggressive.
They also can grow jealous and territorial if put in the wrong conditions. So, you’ll want to make sure that they get plenty of interaction with all the people you live with.
And if you want to get another bird, make sure the cage is large enough so that they don’t feel as though their private space is being invaded.
Another thing to note about their behavior is a stage called bluffing. This is something that all Indian Ringnecks go through once they’ve been weaned. It’s simply a stage that lasts for approximately a few weeks or so where they’re aggressive.
It’s important to interact with them as usual and completely ignore any of their aggressive behavior; keeping the bird in its cage at all times can have a detrimental effect on it as it gets older.
Know that this goes away on its own and is similar to the moody behavior young teens go through when they start puberty.
Otherwise, it’s completely necessary to pay as much attention to Ringnecks as possible. They love to ride around on their owners’ shoulders and play games. You’ll also find that you can teach your Ringneck tricks that it’ll pick up very quickly.
The better you treat your Ringneck, the happier it will be. So now that you have a good picture of what types of birds Indian Ringnecks are, let’s talk about the top 20 reasons why you should consider getting one as a pet.
Reasons Indian Ringnecks Make Great Pets
1. They learn quickly
One thing that many people loved about their Indian Ringnecks was how fast they were able to pick up on everything. Any tricks that you want to teach your Ringneck will be picked up in a short period of time. This will make for an interesting relationship between you and your bird.
2. They’re highly intelligent birds
Going along with the last point, these are probably one of the most intelligent species of birds out there. They learn quickly and love to try new things.
If you’re someone who wants a bird that will be interesting to take care of and that will surprise you on a constant basis, Indian Ringnecks are definitely for you.
3. They love to talk
Parrots, in general, are characterized by their ability to talk, but Indian Ringnecks speak even more clearly than most others. Be careful – they tend to pick up on most things that are said around them, so you definitely want to watch what you say!
It’s said that they can remember over 200 different words and phrases, which certainly attests to the fact that they’re intelligent and unique birds. However, they can also be loud at times. We show you how loud Indian Ringnecks can get here!
4. They’re gentle pets
Ringnecks can be noisy, but they’re also gentle. Your chances of getting bitten or “scratched” are extremely low, and when they feel like it, they love to cuddle.
They do experience a range of emotions, but they’re mostly tame birds, meaning that their attitude and behavior won’t cause problems for you.
5. They love attention
This is a bird that you’ll be able to give all your love and attention to. They need it for their health and development. When you give your Ringneck enough attention, it will be the happiest bird you’ve seen.
6. They’re very curious
Ringnecks love to forage around and see what’s going on. They can’t sit still for a long time and want to be a part of the action. Get lots of toys for your Ringneck and switch them out every so often so that your bird can have something new to explore.
And make sure you take your bird on mini adventures, too, around your house and yard to allow them to explore.
7. They love to spend time with their owners
These are perfect birds for people who simply want a companion to spend quality time with. Your Ringneck will fare best when you spend as much time as possible with it. It’s not an independent animal and it’s certainly not one that you can ignore for a long time.
This is great for people who want to have a special feathery friend. You can take your birb out of the cage to play with, to cuddle, and more. And best of all, they’ll enjoy it.
This will be good for your own health too because studies have shown that caring for pets and developing bonds for them make you healthier.
8. They love to play
Ringnecks are birds that love playing. It’s often recommended that you purchase much more toys that you might consider necessary because of how much they like to play.
Switch out toys every so often so they don’t grow bored and make sure you spend a lot of time coming up with games to play together, too. We recommend reading the following articles to make sure that your Indian Ringneck never gets bored:
9. They’re affectionate
Ringnecks don’t tend to be super affectionate with one another, but when you’ve taken it out of its cage, you’ll find that it’ll rub up against your chin and want to cuddle. Ringnecks love to be pet and held. So you’ll definitely be able to show a lot of affection towards your pet.
In fact, when it comes to affection, Indian Ringnecks are truly special. We explain why here!
10. They’re easy to take care of
As with any animal, you’re going to face some challenges and difficulties, especially when you first are getting your Ringneck used to its environment. But generally, they’re easy to take care of. They don’t require a very special diet and they’re hardy birds.
11. They’re not picky about what they eat
Again, this is another feature that makes Indian Ringnecks a lot easier to take care of. They’ll generally eat many types of fruits, vegetables, and pellets you have on hand. So, a lot of the things you are eating, you can feed your Ringneck too.
We’ll get into their eating habits more down below.
12. They live for a long time
When kept in good living conditions, Indian Ringnecks can live for 20-30 years. This means that they’ll be a companion for a very long time and through many important life events. They live a lot longer than many other pets you might have.
This is great especially if you have a unique emotional bond with your pet.
13. You live alone or there aren’t a lot of people in your home?
If this isn’t the case, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a Ringneck. But they can get scared from a lot of noise and commotion, which means that living in a very noisy home might not be the best choice for them.
But if you live a rather quiet life, you’ll find that Indian Ringnecks will make great companions for you.
14. They’re healthy birds
As with all pets, you may find that your Ringneck has gotten sick from time to time, but they’re not particularly susceptible to a lot of diseases and they have strong immune systems. These are hardy birds, so they can generally handle a lot of things.
This further adds to the fact that these birds are easy to take care of.
Did you know that Indian Ringnecks are so hardy that they manage to survive even in Germany? It is true! It is said that in the 60s Indian Ringnecks escaped from a zoo in Cologne. Since then they live freely in the trees of Cologne! The video below proves it.
15. They can deal with you being away shortly
Of course, it’s impossible for you to spend all 24 hours of the day with any pet you have. If you have a job or need to go to an event, you can easily do so without having to worry about how it will impact your Ringneck.
Just make sure that you spend as much of your free time with your Ringneck as possible. And it doesn’t have to be totally direct; your pet can sit perched on your shoulder as you answer emails or make dinner.
(We still recommend to get at least two birds, here is why.)
16. They all have unique personalities
You’ve probably gathered that all pets are unique, but that’s especially the case for Ringnecks. No two Ringnecks are the same. If you’re someone who wants to be surprised and intrigued by your pet constantly, then this unique bird is one for you.
17. Both sexes make good pets
There are some species where males are more aggressive than females or vice versa, but that’s not the case with the Indian Ringneck. Whether you happen to purchase a male or a female, you’re going to get a curious and intelligent pet that loves to be cared for by you.
18. They’re highly devoted and loyal
One thing that many Indian Ringneck owners agreed upon is that their birds were highly devoted to them. These birds develop a strong attachment to their owners that only gets stronger over time.
19. They love mental stimulation
This is definitely not a more simple-minded pet. Ringnecks love challenges and they love to put their minds to work. You can get some more challenging toys for your pet or you can even hide their seeds in their cage so they can put their minds to work and find them.
There are loads of ways you can play with your Ringneck to ensure that it gets the mental stimulation it needs.
20. It doesn’t cost much to get one and to take care of it
It’s easy to find Ringnecks and it’s even easier to take care of them. They cost around $400, which is a good price for a pet. And since they eat mostly the same things that you do, you won’t have to spend too much on its food either.
The cage, toys, and the vet might cost a bit more, but in general, this is a bird that’s good for those who can’t afford the thousands and thousands that other pets might demand.
There are plenty of great reasons to get an Indian Ringneck; we simply listed our top twenty.
Now let’s get into some of the things they like to eat to further advance the statement that they’re easy to take care of, and then we will debunk some of the myths that are circulating around them.
What Do Indian Ringnecks Eat?
As mentioned, Indian Ringnecks aren’t particularly picky eaters and can be fed many of the same foods that other parrots and birds can. This means that most vegetables, fruits, seeds, and pellets can be incorporated in their diet.
Every Indian Ringneck is unique and has their own personality and tastes, so just because one Ringneck likes to eat one food doesn’t mean that yours will. This is why it’s important to try out different things and see what yours likes the most.
Just like with other parrots, foods such as avocados, apple seeds, eggplant, mushrooms, chocolate, and others are highly toxic for Ringnecks, so you will absolutely want to avoid feeding them any.
Otherwise, one thing that many people liked about feeding Indian Ringnecks is that it’s fairly simple.
You can generally feed yours anything that you might be eating that day. For example, if you’re eating a kale salad for dinner, you can also give some of the kale leaves to your Indian Ringneck.
Some other foods that they typically like to eat include berries, apples (without the seeds), pumpkin seeds, celery, bananas, and pears.
This further goes to show that you won’t have to worry about spending too much or getting foods that are difficult to find. Ringnecks are a great choice for people who want to get a pet while on a rather tight budget.
Things to Keep in Mind
Is the Stigma True?
Surely if you’re reading this article, you’ve heard some of the rumors that are circulating about Ringnecks. There are people who claim that they’re difficult to take care of and who generally don’t recommend Ringnecks as pets.
We’ve already established in this article that Ringnecks make great pets, are highly affectionate and are intelligent, but let’s debunk some of the rumors that people have spread about them.
They bite too much
Every bird can get emotional and aggressive at times. It’s simply a part of their nature and you should expect the possibility of your Indian Ringneck potentially getting a little upset from time to time.
As we mentioned, they all go through a stage referred to as bluffing where they might end up biting you. But you have to ignore this behavior and teach your Ringneck that this is not good – but without shouting or hitting.
If you encourage the behavior, then it will continue to bite into adulthood. Otherwise, this is a short stage that your Ringneck will grow out of. Ringnecks are tame and gentle birds and typically won’t grow aggressive with you.
They’re too noisy
Yes, Ringnecks are known for being noisy. They like to talk, they like to scream, and they like to whistle. But this isn’t much different from, say, a dog that barks, pants, and begs, nor a cat that meows when it wants food.
So being noisy shouldn’t be much of a problem for you if you want to get a Ringneck.
They enjoy being communicative and this is a part of their behavior; it’s not a sign of aggression or anything you should worry about. You can even use this to teach your bird new tricks; they’re said to be able to learn well over 200 words and phrases.
This is just a sign of their extreme intelligence.
Also, a Ringneck scream measures around 80 decibels. A scream of a conure, macaw, or cockatoo can measure over 100 decibels. So Indian Ringnecks are still on the quiet side.
They have outrageous and aggressive behavior
Some people are scared to get Indian Ringnecks because they fear that these birds will have completely outrageous and aggressive behavior. Some people even said that this is what they were told by the people at the pet store when they went to purchase the bird.
Not a lot of people who work in pet stores have extensive knowledge and experience handling many types of animals, so they may simply be going along with what they were told about Indian Ringnecks- which is also what you were told.
If you don’t give you Ringneck enough attention, if you don’t make sure to spend as much time as possible with it, and if you don’t make sure that you give it the love and affection that it needs, your Ringneck will inevitably become aggressive.
This is because their nature demands attention and socialization, so this is something you absolutely need to consider before you buy one. Otherwise, if you’ve taken care of your bird correctly and spend as much time with it as you can, then there’s no reason for it to grow aggressive.
Yes, they can have bad moods and get angry, but on a general basis, Indian Ringnecks are kind, happy, and affectionate birds. Bad behavior is nothing you should worry about unless it’s in the bluffing stage.
Conclusion
We’ve listed our top 20 reasons why you should get an Indian Ringneck as a pet. They’re fun, playful, loyal, and affectionate birds that are perfect for those who want to have a companion for many years to come.
You will face some difficulties as is to be expected with any pet you purchase, but these are birds that care a lot about their owners and want as much attention and care as possible. Outside of the bluffing stage, Ringnecks are gentle and cuddly birds.
So, if you love parrots/ parakeets and want one that will amaze you with its intelligence, skills, and gentleness, then the Indian Ringneck is one to consider.