New addition! African Grey Parrot!

[Becky Wheeler]

Hiya guys,

I'm picking up my new addition this saturday!, She's gorgeous! Semi-tame, So i need to work with her on that! lol. She's healthy and full of beans!.

The owner is giving me a cage too!. She's about 3 years old and i can't wait to go and pick her up on satuday!.

Does anyone have any good tips on taming an african grey? I know she's gonna be nervous for a while cos of the new surroundings.

 

[Iktomi]

Congratulations!
You are about to enter into a relationship that you won't believe!

First, get with your friend and find out everything you can about your bird's former routine. It can help a lot to try to keep things as close to the same. What time did it eat? When does it go to bed? When is play time? etc.
The cage is the bird's safety right now. The grey has the potential to become very neurotic over a family change. Watch for feather plucking, etc. Provide rope and stuff that may help deter this behavior.
Keep the bird in a fairly active part of the home and just let it hang out and listen and watch stuff. I kept the cage door open for mine until he ventured out on his own.
Talk to him ALL THE TIME. It sounds crazy, but explain things to him, introduce people to him, etc. Communication between "flock" members is essential for their safety, comfort and happiness. Fluctuate your voice so it is interesting. I leave the TV on for mine while I'm at work, but that's a personal thing. I'm paying for it now because when I get home he says "Hi, Honey!" Then whistles the Tele Tubbies song. Eeewwww.
If he doesn't already know them, you'll want to teach him the "up" and "down" commands as soon as possible. You can run a search for that. Please feel free to PM me with any more specific questions! My adventure with my grey has been inexplicably amazing. Here's a little something for you too....

A PARROT'S BILL OF RIGHTS....

Get to know about parrots before you bring me home.
I am not a domesticated pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I have special needs which you may find hard to fill. Please don't learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire one of my cousins wild from the jungle -- it will jeopardize his survival and well-being, and that won't be a party for you either!


Give me the largest home possible.
I am used to flying through rainforests or savannas. I have given up this great gift for your pleasure. At the very least, give me enough room to flap my wings and exercise. And I need toys for my amusement and wood to chew -- otherwise, I might confuse your home with the forest and its trees.


Give me a nutritious diet.
I need a wide variety of fresh and nutritious foods, even if they take time to prepare. I cannot survive on seeds alone. Take time to learn what my needs and preferences are.


Let me have a "social life".
I am a gregarious flock animal, but I am not one of you. I need lots of socialization to learn how to act with you, and with my siblings. I also need to have adequate quality time with you every day -- no matter what your schedule or other needs are. I am a living, feeling creature. Above all, I need to be able to have complete trust in you and count on your predictability in looking after me -- everyday.


Let me be clean.
I may like to drop food or even throw it, but I need meticulous cleanliness to be healthy. My skin itches without frequent showers, the barbs of my feathers won't seal if they become oily and, worst of all, I may become ill if my food or water is not always sanitary.


I need my own doctor.
You may not understand my physiology and therefore you may not recognize it early on when I get sick. And it may be too late when you do, because I hide my illnesses (remember what I said about my being an animal of the jungle, where there are lots of predators). And I need an avian vet -- a specialist (no HMOs for me please). If you can't afford one, perhaps you shouldn't have taken me home.


Please don't punish me.
Just as I don't always understand your peculiarities, you may not understand mine. I don't TRY to get in trouble -- remember, a house is not the jungle. If I do screw up, don't yell at me, and never hit me. I have sensitive ears and I may never trust you again if you strike me. Hands are sometimes scary things to us (why in the world would you not be zygodactyl like us?). Even more importantly, we don't learn by punishment. We are gentle creatures who only strike back to protect ourselves; we learn through patience and love.


Speak my "language".
I know you get upset with me when I knock over my water bowl, throw food, scream, or pluck my feathers. I don't do these to annoy you -- I am probably trying to tell you something (perhaps that I am hurting, lonely or sad). Learn to speak MY (body) language. Remember that I, alone, of all creatures on this planet learn to speak yours!


See me as an individual.
I am a unique and feeling being. No two of us are alike. Please don't be disappointed in me if I don't talk like you wanted, or can't do the tricks that your friend's parrot can do. But if you pay close attention to me (and I always empathize with you, whether you know it or not), I will show you a unique being who will give you so much more than talking and playing. Give me a chance to show you who I am; I think you'll find the effort worth it. And remember -- I am not an ornament; I do not enhance ANY living room decor. And I am not a status symbol -- if you use me as such, I might nip at your up-turned nose!


Share your love with me.
Above all, please remember that you are my Special Person. I put all my trust and faith in you. We parrots are used to being monogamous (no bar-hopping for us!). So please don't go away for long periods or give me away -- that would be a sadness from which I may never recover. If that seems to be asking a lot, remember you could have learned about my needs before bringing me home. Even having a baby or taking a new job isn't a fair reason -- you made a commitment to me FIRST. And if you think that you must leave me because you might die, provide for me forever after you leave. I may live to a ripe old age but I can't provide for myself. Remember I'm in a small cage amongst people who are not of my blood.


Your rights.
You have lots of rights, but I can only assure one. And that is, if you treat me the way I described above I will reward you with unwavering love, humor, knowledge, beauty, dedication -- and a sense of wonder and awe you haven't felt since you were a child. When you took me home, you became my Flock Leader, indeed, my entire universe -- for life. I would hang the moon and stars for you if I could. We are one in Heart and Soul.
-by Stewart A. Metz

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Awww thank you! I can't wait to meet her, She will be loved by the whole family. And as for attention, i'm sure my 2 year old son will chat & chat & chat to her as well as us.

 

[Iktomi]

Just keep the little one's fingers away! And allow the bird to get to know you all on HIS terms. Don't force. You'll be rewarded!

 

[kenspidey]

Make sure when your socializing the bird that if you have more then one member in your household to let them participate. I have seen african greys that bond with only one person and pretty much not trust anyine else. They are really great parrots and it will be around forever so you want to make sure it wont become the bird that nobody likes and nobody can touch except you lol. I love my african grey and i wish you the best of luck with yours.

 

[becca81]

Very nice!

I've wanted an African Grey for several years, but don't have the time to commit to one right now.

 

[xgrafcorex]

beautiful parrot! sounds like you're in for a treat.
probably the only bird i'd consider owning. granted i don't know much about them, always just thought of squawking a bunch.

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Her she is....Holly

Hi guys! Here's Holly! And yes it is a girl, She's adorable and a very good girl.

 

[Prometheusmum]

I'm so jealous! I've always wanted one! can I cuddle her?

 

[Iktomi]

She looks very healthy! How is she adjusting?

 

[Becky Wheeler]

She's settled in very well, She lets me put my hand in the cage and she comes up and gives your hand a kiss, She takes treats from me and she's very vocal, lol.

The only thing she's not keen on letting me do is to stroke her or come onto my hand, Which she never did with the previous owners, They reckon the breeder they got her from was a mean B*****d and treated her badly. She was wild when they first got her, but after 14 months she's almost a different bird. Does anyone have any good training advice on how to let me touch her etc?

 

[Swifty]

Does anyone have any good training advice on how to let me touch her etc?

Give it some time. They are super keen birds, and with your kindness, after awhile she will allow you to touch her more and more. I've had my Blue and Gold Macaw "Mikey" for 7 months, and he was an adult that lived for 15 years with a previous owner, but wasn't a mistreated bird, but still had to get use to me. Good luck with her, she's a beautiful bird!

 

[Iktomi]

Once you know she is used to you, watch her body language carefully when you put your hand near her to "step up." If her pupils go tiny, then back of little by little until she is more comfortable. Use her treats to try to coax her onto your hand. Hold it with your right hand so she has to reach over your left to get the treat. Once that doesn't bother her, continue to get closer with your left hand and a bit further with the treat until she has to step up on your hand to get it. Tell her each time "Up" or "Step Up."
Again, don't start this until you know she is pretty comfortable in the new home. It has to go at her pace, but you can just encourage a bit without pushing or scaring her. They hold grudges, so don't invade her space unforgivably!
Let us know how she does!

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Just to let you know that little Holly is doing great! Last night she flew out of her cage and landed on the floor! I was shocked because she has not left her cage since arriving here. Anyway, Brandon (our son) has a 5ft teddy on the floor and Holly seem to like it as she sat on it’s head for a while, I slowly crawled over to her and asked her for a kiss on the lips! And she gave me a kiss! It was so cute!.



She was walking all around the living room and was trying to peck my tarantulas that are in a cabinet! So I stuck my hand under her chest, gently lifted her and she sat on me! She did’nt keep still and was flapping about a lot. But the main thing is she let me touch her! And I got to hold her! Plus she gave me a kiss.



Anyway, She sat on top of her cage for a while and then I gently guided her back into her cage. And covered her up as I think she got a bit too excited and was panting a little, But she’s fine.

Thank you Iktomi for your advise, I won't rush her into anything she's not comfortable doing. I've ordered some more perches which i can bolt onto the outside of the cage and use to teach her "step up & down".

 

[Iktomi]

That is so great! Wait until she is comfortable with you all. Very few people know how special this animal is! Please let me know if you need anything!