Curious or cautious?

[willowbirdy218]

When you buy a new toy or something else for your grey's cage, does he/she go right over to explore or hide in the corner? When you have guests or people your grey doesn't see very often, does he/she step-up to them and start vocalizing or sit very quietly in his cage away from the newcomer? I think this would be a good thread to compare timneh and congo personalities.

I read many times that congos are more cautious than timnehs but when Willow gets a new toys...within minutes of me putting it in the cage Willow is right there playing with it!! It seems that Willow wants to get a head start on the fun and will make it difficult to even get the toy in 'cause he wants to see what it is and play! When people come over, he is quiet at first but after a few minutes, he will ussually start talking up a storm-although he will not step up to anyone because he is a one person bird and will come only to me (I'm trying to change this but need some suggestions on how to get him to accept others).

[greyburd]

Rather than comparing TAGs to CAGs, I think this is just a matter of individual bird's personality. I know (generally) TAGs tend to be more outgoing than CAG's. But I have heard of shy TAGs or very outgoing CAGs. So, I guess this would depend on the bird's personality and on it's socialization.

[Greymom721]

Bosco also loves new toys right away for the most part. He is very curious and also does well with new people. He isn't as quick to step up to them but he doesn't shy away either. Depending on his mood....sometimes he moves quickly which looks like he is going to bite...if they flinch he will do it again....however, if they stand their ground he will then step up. If a person has flinched I take their hand and place it against mine and have him step up but make sure he actually steps onto their hand. He always seems OK with whomever once he is there. If he is not Ok with it, he will quickly turn to me & fly to me. If he does this I do not push him...I just let him stay with me and get used to that person more slowly.

[The Outlaw]

Here at the ********** Testing Institute (LOL) we have ongoing experiments with my Radar (TAG) and my Cleo (CAG). Radar is hands and aways more confident, readily attacks all toys when discovered and will generally go from my hand to anyone I ask her to go to. However, she's quiet as a mouse with a stranger in the house.

Cleo is none of the above. She's always nervous about new toys. I usually hang them on the outside of her cage for a day and then bring them inside. She's fine with that. Cleo will only go to one or two people that she knows very well. However, within moments of a new arrival, she'll nervously start vocalizing. She imitates Radar (is that insane or what?) and lots of other sounds such as microwaves, cell phones, drills, whatever strikes her fancy. Sometimes, she reminds me of a ventriloquist: You look at Radar to figure out what she's saying, but then you notice its actually Cleo.

Both birds were in one former home, very much loved and are quite well-adjusted. Cleo is also very wary of any new food or a familiar food served differently.

THE OUTLAW