Taming Wild Grey??

[TAGyourIT]

I feel like I already know the answer to this question, but I am going to ask anyway.

The people who I got my Macaw from also have a wild caught CAG. (The people used to work in bird quarintine in Florida, dont know how he wound up with him, but he did) He is 28+ years old (not sure of exact age) he has had him since 1981, and he is not tame. His wings are not clipped, but I dont think he is allowed out of the cage.

They want to rehome him also. (His wife has MS, and the birds are just to much for them at this time) When I got Jojo from them, he asked me if I would take the CAG to. (Knowing I already have a grey) I know he loves these birds, he cried when I left with JoJo, but he has to take care of his wife first. I dont blame him.

He mentioned if I didnt take him, he might just give him away as a breeder.

Not that I have anything against breeders, but some are great and some are not. Some take excellent care of their breeding birds, and some not so much.

I would just hate for him to wind up in the wrong hands. Am I silly for even considering taking this bird? Honestly, I would probably try to tame him, at least somewhat and then try to find a bird experienced home for him.

Obviously... I am willing to spend the time to do what I can with him.

Is this even do-able? Am I crazy? Am I getting in over my head?

[Emmilyy]

I don't think its silly, you could probably provide him with a great home, even if its only for a little while! I think its sad that he's not out of his cage, and for starters you could clip his wings and let him out, and work on taming him! anything is possible!..

I think you should - but it depends on how (or if) it will affect the birds you have currently.. because you *have* to think of them, first.

[Scritch]

I had a wild-caught grey who now lives with my mom. I don't believe he was ever tame before... his most recent owner before me was a breeder but didn't have him long. She said she'd got him from a lady who never had him out of the cage because she was too afraid of being bitten. I don't know his history before that. Anyway, Butters is not a real tame bird, but he IS people friendly outside of touching. He LOVES people, loves to be talked to, loves to talk back and he is a HUGE part of my mom's household and family... even if she can't touch him. He will step up on an arm, if you go slow and explain what you're doing, so he can be moved in and out of the cage. With more work, he could probably be tamer, but my mom doesn't have the know-how to do it and I'm too far away right now... when I'm back in Michigan, I plan to try him a bit more. He is special to me... I have frequent dreams about him, many more than about any of my other birds! I'm not quite sure why, but on my less skeptical days I believe it's because we share a connection and he's thinking of me.

Anyway, that's my experience with wild-caught greys, but the main point is, they ARE tameable. Obviously, in the past when wild-caught birds were all that was available, many were tamed and some became every bit as tame as a hand-fed. I think this is certainly testament to the intelligence and emotional depth of parrots -- to be able to communicate with and recognize another thinking being in something as strange and different from them as a human! I know humans that can't do that with parrots!

Second point being, even if he is not willing to be a tame, cuddly pet, he still could be happy, healthy, and part of the family.

Greys being greys, it will probably take time, patience, time, and patience. Trust is the thing with greys and it takes them a while.

Even if you can't keep him, at least you could get to know him, and from there find a home for him that would be the best possible match... a much better option than being tossed to a breeder, IMO.