Meet Bosco

[Angio333]

Hello,

Forgive the long post.

Bosco is a Timneh African grey and is just about 1 year old (Bday is 4/27).

He arrived at the bird only store when he was 4 weeks old and they were doing the hand feeding, etc. I lived about 30 minutes away and was able to visit him 2-3 days a week. I was finally able to take him home when he was done weaning.

He is affectionate and loves to tap me with his beak and mimic the lip smacking sound of a kiss. He likes to sit on your shoulder and lay down so his head is on my other shoulder so you can pet his head while on the computer. (I know about the whole shoulder debate). He will step up to strangers, but will want to hop back on me as soon as possible. However, he does hate my girlfriend with a passion. He will perch as close to her as he can, turn his head so that one eye is staring at her, puff up, and then not move do that for long periods of time. Then he will go take break to pout in the corner of his cage, and then stare at her while puffed up again. After she leaves he'll get kinda klingy. He can be a bit jealous. He seems to enjoy picking on my cockatiel, Dakota.

HIs favorite toy cost me about 10 bucks and is worth every penny. However, I learned that I cannot leave it out all of the time. He isn't aggressive about it, but becomes so fixated on the toy that he won't do anything else while its out. He'll play with it non-stop and won't take a break from it. So I'll put it put for a period of time each day, when he's being really good, or you need to distract him so I can get work done. Also, its a loud toy. Its basically has 2 wooden pieces, then a small-thick manzita (sp?) branch followed by another 4wooden pieces, and then a big bell. Hanging from each end of the manzita (sp) branch is a metal spoon. Bosco will spend hours hitting the bells or the spoons, or hanging from it, and smacking the spoons/bell together, and more.

Bosco is just starting to talk, but doesn;t do it often. However, he will perch on top of the "arm" that holds a hanging toy on the playgym that is on top of his cage and mumble for long periods of time. So far he has said "Hello," "Good boy" and "Step up.".

He is a good eater, but can be picky at times. I use Roudybush noncolored pellets which he seems to love. I also feed him a variety of veggies, fruits, the "Crazy Corn" and "Beakappetite" varieties. His favorite treat is dried banana chips. He also loves to sneak into Dakota's cage (my cockatiel) and steal his millet if I forget to close the cage door.

He's a great bird, and I am very happy that I have him.

- C

[tattdpixie]

Bosco sounds so adorable! You should try to get a pic up for us all to see. :)

[Regina U.]

What a great introduction to Bosco! :eusa_clap And what a great name.
I love it....

Thanks for sharing your story .... hope to hear more.


Regina

[greyburd]

Hello Angio and Bosco, welcome to the group. Bosco sounds wonderful!!! Thanks for that grey't story.......hope to see some pics soon!!

[Tiki]

Bosco sounds like a wonderful bird. I am a little worried about Dakota as a TAG is large enough to do serious damage to a little tiel, you said that he "picks on Dakota"? Please make sure that no harm can come to him. :eusa_pray

[Franciscus]

It would be natural for your bird to e a little jealous of your girlfriend but it's best to discourage negative behaviour as a result. If your girlfriend is willing it would be best for her to develop a friendly relationship with Bosco. One way to do this would be for you to take Bosco to a room he does't normally spend a lot of time in, you leave the room and your girlfriend would go in and interact with him, getting him to step up and so on. It would also be good for her to be the dispencer of favourite treats into his food bowl when she comes to see you.

I agree with Tiki. It would take nothing for a grey to kill a cockatiel. Greys tend to be a little agressive with other birds, especially smaller ones. Caillou, my timneh, has gone after Razz, my macaw.