New Grey owner

[Roguemoppet]

Hello Everyone,

well we just got our first grey in last night. She's a five year old female that was given to us as a rescue bird. She has been through seven different homes already! the people who gave her to us said that as far as they know the longest period she's spent in any of them has been about a year.

She has a mild case of scoliosis that causes her left foot to face out sideways instead of down. She can climb, walk, perch and play like any other bird though so it's a very mild disability that she probably doesn't even notice.

She has been fed on an all seed diet for who knows how long and seems afraid of new foods. I did however manage to get her to eat some oatmeal with mashed pumpkin and pom seeds mixed in. Granted she ate it because she lunged and attacked the spoon I was offering it to her on and accidently got some in her mouth, but Hey - whatever works.

She also seems to be afraid and unsure of what to do with toys so I do not think she's had many offered to her in her life time, poor thing.

Last night she gave me a pretty good lunge and bite when I was giving her fresh water but she's already calmed down a bit since then. This morning she didn't lunge and try to bite when I changed her water and gave her breakfast.

I was wondering if anyone has tried the toweling method listed on Eclectus Parrots for african greys? I used it on my female eclectus and it worked wonderfully.

Any other advice on getting her to try new foods and getting her to stop attacking me would be great!

~Beth

Phoebe - Solomon Island Eclectus
Rafael - Vos Eclectus
Omelette - Miligold macaw
Quiche - Greenwing Macaw
Unnamed - African grey

[Lisa B]

hiya Beth.
again, thanks for taking her in. I am sure part of her aggression is due to the many homes she has been in, and her fears.
I have one who is about 25 years old, and I am the only person who has ever been able to hold him. I can now get him to lay on his back and I can tickle his belly.
The key to working with greys is to be very calm. they dont care for noise or aggressions. Working with them is differnt then other species. (they give us a work out!)
You will need lots of patients, a soft voice, and she needs time to adjust to her new place, surroundings and new family.

and what you said about getting new foods in her because she was lunging and got the spoon...you are correct..what ever works.
In fact, I would continue to offer her new things on the spoon, so she associates both you and the spoon with good things.

I am not sure of the toweling methods with ekkies, since that and macaws are the only species I have not shared my life with .
I think in time, a good game of peekaboo with the towel and letting her play with it, will show her its not bad nor scarey.

again, I am very happy to see you here. There are alot of great grey people here to make you laugh and help you along the way.....

[cbalvino]

TIME is of the essence with greys,she'll let you know when she's ready for more,I think you'll love her! congrats!

[JGMAP]

OK I have 3 rescued birds 2 being greys. Here are some helpful tips I found work. Not that they will work all greys just the ones I have encountered. I know that he has a disabilty. As long as he can step up on a perch normally I would try to perch train him. Get him in and out of the cage with a perch. At least if he bites he wont hurt you and if he bites the perch you can push alittle toward him so he will realize that if he does bite he will not get the reaction he wants. Jack my Grey preferes my husband I cannot touch him unless he is on the floor. then he will step up without a problem. He used to lunge at me I have more bites then I care to talk about. But today I have to say he does not run after me anymore. I respect his boundries and he doesn't bite.
Since you just got him the other night I would give him a few days to get used to his surroundings. I do not think letting him out at this point would be your best bet. He has to get comfortable somewhere. The cage is for that first. I also play classical music for the birds it is soothing and I think it calms them down.
He is totally clueless on what has happened to him and he is freaked it will settle down in time. Also I hope you have him in a quiet place in the house. This helps him adjust better. It is going to take awhile. But, in the long run he will prob be a great pet. you gotta have patience and do not expect much from him. He will come around.
As far as food thing. All you can do is offer it to him. Someday he will look foward to his treats. I have a pellet bowl and a fresh bowl in my birds cages and I fill the fresh bowls I take out the pellet/seed bowl. See where that leads him.

Good Luck and keep the faith. We are here for you. You did a great thing taking a rescue. Bless your Heart.

[Valo's Moirana]

i don't have to add anything, as the grey people are already here

just wanted to say hi and welcome to BB hope you like it here, and thanks for taking the birdie in

[Nazir's]

Hello and welcome to the Bird Board.
I hope that you enjoy yourself here as there tons to be read.
I do towel my Grey when need be. She can be a hand full at times when I need her to be still. LOL

Enjoy!

[Tobysmom]

welcome to bb ...when i first got toby i trained him using the towel but i had an older bird that i trained to towel it just takes time

[Kevin]

welcome to birdboard!!

[parrotntn]

You and your new bird are surely WELCOME HERE!!
There are so many steps to rehabbing a bird. But the first most important one is TRUST.
I actually had people tell me when I first got Cleo to put on a welder's glove, to force her to do stuff. That's wrong, it promotes fear, not trust. Trust is proven to get you better overall results because the bird is working WITH you, not for you.
That said, there is a breakpoint to where if you allow her to continue with bad behavior, you are conditioning her to continue. She doesn't know it's a bad thing. So, it's a fine line indeed to walk. But you sound very aware and intune with the bird.
First off, I'd just sit by the cage. play some easy music, wooo her. When I first got Cleo, my goal was to "want her to want me". talk softly, be fun, reassuring. The thing is to be careful to NOT setup a situation, now, that she could bite you over. Keep it simple for awhile. Time varies, but after a few weeks, you can start making a little more contact safely. Notice in between now and then the time of day she is more receptive. Make notes.
First is trust, then everything else layers on top of that. But, trust is foundation.
Look in the training section, I made a list of basic needs.
Keep us posted! Glad you're here.
Mark

[Freedomoflight]

Welcome to BirdBoard. Lisa is the grey expert here, so I am not even going to attempt giving advice, lol. Can't wait to hear more about your beautiful new faby.