Just got a 15 yr old African Grey

[Laurenandraja]

I bought an african grey from a family whos wife became allergic. They had to keep him in the basement for the last year so he has become a little wild. What is the quickest way to get him to warm up and calm down. He has mas ALOT of progress in the last few days, he chirps, comes out of his cage, lets u hold him if he is in an unfamiliar room, AND has started exploring on his own. He is selective about who he talks to though. So far he has only said two words to me and to somebody else. My family thinks i am hearing things because he wont talk to them. How can I help him?

[mmr]

consistancy, patience, routine, and TIME!

[Tom Lawless]

It sounds like you are making good progress. A lot of these greys do their best talking when no one else is around or only those they trust so take it as a complement that he let you hear him. I've heard people say it took months to get a rehomed bird to make a connection to them so it is a process that takes time. Everything mmr said, I say the same. Especially at this beginning stage try not to force anything on him. If he was in a basement for a year and out of the direct day-to-day contact with people it will take a little while but he will want to be part of a flock and will respond well once he decides he wants you to be a member.

Good luck and have fun.

[huntress]

I have two congos and one is a rescue about 10. They will both jabber like crazy but only when no one is really paying attention directly to them. Save for a few responses from the baby we raised to certain things we say. The rescue was talking all the way from the plane to the pick up point and then all the way home with us lol. each bird is so different. just relax and let him get used to your routine - he will come out of his shell once he gets into the daily routine and feels safe.

[Laurenandraja]

He has been checked and has a clean bill of health but is plucking. I know plucking is not the worst thing that can happen to a bird, but how do I help him break this habit? I suspect it started with being placed in the basement but he is getting a lot of attention now and i suspect that it is a habit. Do they come out of it on their own? How can I help him quit?

[huntress]

whoops! Sorry , I have three - the female says NO human words and never has. May or may not. Probably was caused by being banished to the basement. It all depends on how long he has been plucking. Good diet, sunshine where ever possible (not thru glass) and lots of love and care may stop the plucking.

[Laurenandraja]

Originally Posted by huntress

whoops! Sorry , I have three - the female says NO human words and never has. May or may not. Probably was caused by being banished to the basement. It all depends on how long he has been plucking. Good diet, sunshine where ever possible (not thru glass) and lots of love and care may stop the plucking.

Thanx, I cant take him outside because his wings are not yet clipped. I am trying to wait until he calms down a bit. He has spoken a little bit more he has now said "hello" (the phone rang), "Im Raja", "hey", and "Hello raja." Hes a bit self centered I think lol. He rarely speaks but he DOES whistle, not just chirping but distinct whistles. Im not sure why he will mimic whistles and not words. I started teaching him the whistle part from Kill bill and he has picked it up partly. I am taking this as a good sign. He will not let us bathe him though. He HATES it.

[Laurenandraja]

Oh, and I would like to know if african grey's will change their behaviour if they become angry with you. Today my boyfriend went to work, leaving the bird semi-alone. There are other people in the house but they don't pay as much attention as my boyfriend and I do. When my boyfriend got back from work and tried to play with the grey, it refused to step up or leave the outside of his cage. My boyfriend is a little down because he just recently got raja to do this consistantly. Is Raja just upset with him for leaving?

[huntress]

Yes they can get a little "put out" and snuff you. Greys are best at that,LOL! DONT take it personal and DONT humanize his behavior. he would do that to a close flock mate who may have dissapeard for no reason and came back. Give him allot of time. African grey parrots are the type of flock parrot who do not usually ever let ANY OTHER bird species hang with them (unlike say Macaws will) in the wild and social ties dont allow other grey intruders to fast. It takes months if not YEARS for a lone bird to be accepted into a grey flock. Get him a travel cage to go for outdoor visits with you while your out doing stuff in the yard. Fresh air and sunshine are the best medicine but be aware that some greys can be afraid of new thing so take it slow and maybe just the porch for awhile, setting him so half his cage gets some sun and half shade. Mistings on warm days is good!
Some greys are better whistle mimics and some are better talk mimics. I have one that is great at both!

[nado]

hi, the african grey is shy . anyway my african grey start to like me when he see that my amazon likes me . he dont talk when we have strangers at home , he usually talk when he is isolated. and he comunicate with my amazon sometime. with time he start to talk to me ,and after to my family .