With the name giving the ideal description of its origin, the Indian neck parrot is considered to be one of the most beautiful, intelligent and outgoing species of parakeets to be kept as pets. They are known as 'ringnecks' because of a distinctive ring on their neck which starts from their lower chin and goes all the way up towards their cheeks. However, this ring is not visible in female birds. Normally, the Indian ringnecks are green in color with certain shades of blue on the feather and the back of the head. The lower abdomen is greenish yellow in color. The ring on the neck is usually dark blue with shades of turquoise and pink. These birds are extremely friendly and intelligent and can be a pleasure to live with, if taken care of in the right manner. The approach would actually vary depending upon the fact whether the bird was hand fed or aviary raised. While it is more easy for hand-fed ringnecks to adjust to the new environment, you will have to work more towards an aviary-raised bird. How to Take Care of Indian Ringneck Parrots Like all other parrots, even these parrots take some time to adjust to a new environment. Therefore, once you have got your new pet home, give it some time to adjust to the new environment and avoid handling it to show to the rest of the world. If the bird has been hand-fed, then it will most likely behave in a friendly manner. For example, it may climb on your finger, or will not make a lot of noise. On the other hand, an untamed bird will make a lot of noise, sit with ruffled and frilly feathers, would try to bite you and so on. If that is the case then make sure that you are giving the bird a lot of space initially. Avoid handling them and let them be at a place where there is minimum noise. Even when you are around the bird, say for the purpose of giving food or cleaning the cage, try to be as polite and gentle as possible. Also avoid direct eye contact with the bird as that might be perceived as a potential threat. Once your Indian ringneck parrot is familiar with you, and has calmed down a little bit, you can expect the beginning of a better relationship. Have a look at some essential tips on how to take good care of this lovely bird. Shelter and Space When it comes to giving ideal shelter and space to your Indian ringneck parrot, you must make sure that the cage should be large enough for the bird. These birds can grow up to 16 inches tall and have a fairly long tail. Also these birds are very active and need a lot of space to roam around and exercise. Therefore if you want your bird to be extremely happy and comfortable, go for a cage of about 36"h x 18"d x 24"w. Make sure that the cage is made of nothing else other than stainless steel as these birds love to chew. Keep in mind that there is nothing toxic on the surface of the cage to make your bird's living space 'safe to chew'. You must also be very careful about the location of the cage. If your bird is untamed, it is best to place the cage in a quiet location. Do not place the cage in extreme sunlight or darkness, make sure the positioning of the cage is such that there is a wall on one side, and a window at a distant so that the bird's cage is cool and shady, and is also able to get some sunlight at the same time. The main idea is for your bird to feel safe and protected, along with realizing that it is a part of your family now. Food and Nutrition Though these birds are not all that picky about what they eat (remember that they love to chew!), you must still make sure that they don't eat certain food items like chocolates and avocados. And I know giving them alcohol and caffeine is out of the question, but I just want you to be careful because even though accidentally, these food items can prove to be really toxic to your pet. You can feed them organic pellets in the beginning, followed by a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Give them dark green vegetables, orange vegetables and some doze of berries, apples and melons. Indian ringnecks love seeds and nuts, however, you can save the best to be served as rewards for treats while training. Make sure you give them fresh food everyday. Cleanliness The next important area of concern when it comes to taking care of these birds is cleanliness. Cleaning the cage at least once in a week is mandatory. There can be a lot of mess in the cage with the stool and spilled food and water. Speaking of stool, observing the stool of the bird will also help you understand if the bird is 'feeling at home' or not. If the stool is watery, it means that there is still time to feel comfortable. Absence of adequate stool means that your bird is not eating well. If you sense that it is ill, do not fail to get in touch with an avian vet! Coming back to cleanliness, these birds also enjoy taking bird baths. Training As mentioned earlier, these birds are extremely intelligent and independent. They love to be challenged and are highly inquisitive in nature. Therefore, it is advisable to fill their cage with lots of chewable toys. Make sure that you add a variety of toys with different shapes, sizes and colors. If you can find some toys that are challenging, it will help your pet keep busy. Apart from that, you need to make sure that you spend a lot of time with your Indian ringneck parrot if you want to tame them, or keep them tamed. You need to teach them some basic commands like stepping up and down. Speaking to them in a polite manner also helps them get a safe vibe from you. Also, if you speak with them, they might just end up mimicking you as they are extremely good talkers. Training not only helps these birds to be a part of your family, it also helps them stop from becoming their wild self again, especially at the time of sexual maturity. Keep in mind that these birds can be pretty loud at times. So be prepared. Indian ringneck comes under the category of parakeets, so reading about parakeet care would also help you understand the requirements of taking care of this bird. I hope this article helped you understand the basics of taking care of the Indian ringneck parrot. It may seem to be a little effort, and also quite time-consuming initially, but then when you have decided to make it a part of your family, you are expected to invest your time to it. I think this applies to each and every one, be it a pet or a human. It is the time, care, and love that is required to make someone a part of your family, right? Just make sure that you are catering to the basic food, shelter and cleanliness needs, along with spending significant time with your ringneck to grow a healthy and deeper bond. One interesting thing about this parrot is that it can bond with everyone in the family and is not a 'one owner' pet. Watch this bird play, wonder and have fun with you and give it a lot of space and time to adjust, making sure that your silent presence is always felt. All the best.