Advice needed for clingy grey.

[Thowraa]

Never thought I would be posting something like this on day 2 of having my baby home :S

My new baby african grey Sage is incredibly clumsy, I know this is to be expected but it's becoming a real problem. I cant leave her in her cage when I'm in the same room as her because if I am she will fling herself at the side of the cage nearest to me, and clamber arround to follow me. The only way to get her to stop is to turn out the lights, which is a pain if I am doing something.

If her co-ordination skills were better it wouldn't be a problem, but half the time she ends up falling.

I've tried ignoring her but it's really hard to do when you keep hearing noises and are wondering if your baby is ok. My family checked her while I was at work today and said she was quite happy playing by herself so I would like to know if there's anything else I can try to help teach her that if I put her in her cage she has to ocupy herself until I let her out again. Even if I am in the room.

I'm sure she must just be lonely, moving from a home where there was always someone arround and many many other birds, to a home with one main carer who works and a Jenday who hates her.

I know now is the time for laying down the groud rules so any advice would be apreciated.

[Lisa B]

First I would say to line the cage floor with towels for when she is being clumsy. Lower her perches if need be. The reason she wants to be with you so much is because you are the mom. In the wild you, MOM, would be providing protection. Establish a contact call between you to so she knows you are there and things are fine. Give her something to distract her.

Second, you have to learn to ignore her. She is training you**LOL** to keep coming to check when she is up and about. If you need to check, (as we all do ) try to be sneeky about it So she doesnt think wiht each noise, mom comes running......Sage will settle in....just right now you are protection and she is just doing things that are wired into her instinctively.

[The Outlaw]

Lisa has given you excellent advice. Also, try tying a stuffed toy on the cage bars nearest where she most often perches.

[cfulhage]

I agree with Lisa- Ollie was just like that in the beginning. She is anxious because she is in a new place, and you're her mommy. Make sure she has plenty of toys to play with, and once you leave the room, don't let her know when you come back to check on her! Otherwise she will have you trained in no time at all! As time goes on, she will learn to play by herself.

[Thowraa]

If I leave the room there is no way to check on her without her knowing because her cage is opposite the door, and there is no where to move it to.

I'm a bit worried now, Sage seems to be calming down but she seems to have a bruise on her forehead, I'm sure this is from flying too hard at the side of the cage and hitting it on one of the bars. Should I be worried about this? She's still fine in all other respects, it doesn't hurt her when I touch it, just looks odd, a pinkyred spot on the white area of her face.

Any ideas how long this will take to dissapear, or anyone experienced anytrhing similar. I dont want to take her to the vet as they will probably only prescribe her antinflamatories and as it's not affecting her I'd rather not pump her full of drugs.

[Lisa B]

Chances are she did bruise herself, which actually lead to her calming down. She learned her actions can hurt
If there is no bump, no cut, then most likely, there is nothing to be worried about. It will go away. Emma has had several of these because she rough houses in her cage. She is a tom boy!
Remember, Greys "blush" too. Thier facial skin can turn Quite pink.
Emma, if a boy was going to be named "Pink" after the main charecter in Pink Floyds "the Wall"
Emma turns REAL pink. More then any grey I have ever seen.

[Thowraa]

I had heard of greys blushing, but didn't know they actualy went pink.

It's only one spot near her eye and it's been like that since this morning now, and only on the one side so I'm assuming it's a bruise. Doesn't hurt when I touch it and doesn't seem to be any different to the other side other than the color.

I'm glad in a way that she's learnt throwing herself at me from the other side of the cage hurts. I have to say she's been very good thisafternoon, that must be why.

She's such a silly girl ^_^

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Thowraa

I'm glad in a way that she's learnt throwing herself at me from the other side of the cage hurts. I have to say she's been very good thisafternoon, that must be why.

_^

thats probably what did it!

[Thowraa]

I guess I have to count myself lucky that she seems to have learnt her lesson and only has a little pinky red bruise to show for it :)

I'm incredibly lucky, she's a wonderful baby.