Could use some negatives

[LoveAlwaysFreely]

I've been thinking of adding another to my flock of one Sun Conure named Teetee. The only greys I've met absolutely hated me, though one was a little neurotic and the other was completely bonded to his male owner and hated all women. I've been reading up on African Greys but all these information sites only say the positive things about greys, which is great, but I would like to know some negatives that actual owners have experienced.

On the forum I read a lot of nippiness with the species, and I bet its nothing like Teetee's nibbles lol.

I probably won't add onto my flock until I choose the exact right bird for me. I'd like a different species only because I don't think there'd be another sun conure quite like Teetee and I wouldn't want to play the 'favorite' game between the two! I figure another species would be good, and I thought about maybe having them out together but I might scratch that after talking to some people in the conure forum....I could juggle my schedule around for two birds.

Thank you for the information. Sorry if its weird to ask for negative info though.

[shellbeme]

I think, what I've learned after having Chico for so long is that understanding their nature in the wild helps to understand a bit of why they can be so flighty and or untrusting. I think there was a link posted on the forums here somewhere about the wild nature of greys that really opened my eyes to some of the things he does and some of his reactions. Once you understand that, alot of what they do really makes so much more sense.

In that way, there aren't too many negatives-chico has a high pitch screech that most greys do (won't bother you with having a sun conure :p ) he uses it as his contact call-that's not his fault, it's mine for giving him attention when he uses it and not trying to teach him something else. Its like nails on a chalkboard. We are working on it.

He is a featherpicker-when that started our avian vet believed it started with a severe bacterial infection that he had at one point, and that it's now habitual. I kinda think it has more to do with alot of other things that has happened in his life, but at this point he's been given a clean bill of health, and I have to realize that we may be stuck with a chicken chest the rest of his life. It's ok, I still love him-and we still try different things to keep him occupied-bathed-anything that might distract him from his hobby.

I think the majority of the negatives associated with greys are caused by how they are raised-and it's just a matter of understanding their nature-I guess that's kinda true with any bird. I only have experience with chico, there are few other greys I have known-owned by others, but I never knew them well. But I will stop because I'm rambling now.... :)

[pippy]

I believe the most often quoted 'negative' of a Grey's personality is the fact it's neurotic, nervous and afraid of change.

None of mine are any of the above! So don't necessarily judge Greys by their stereotype

[amachen]

I really think every bird is different, and they certainly don't act the same once you bring them home.

My grey just turned 2, and he's the only bird I've ever owned. I play with other birds all the time at pet stores, and my mother has kept small birds since I was young. Greys seem to be happiest a) close to the "flock" and b) just "watching". We get touchy with ours, but it took several months, and we got him when he was a baby. Shooter loves to call and respond when you're not in the room. The scream that shellbeme mentions must be trained out of them by absolute disregard. Don't even let him/her know you acknowledge their screaming. They'll replace it with something else that's loud, but it's better than the scream (you won't get rid of it 100% - it's in their DNA to do it).

Shooter is a bit afraid of change, but the people I talk to suggests the level of that varies from bird to bird. Definitely introduce toys slowly.

[jdlilfan]

I've got both...conures & a grey.

The 2 conures (Cheeko-Sun & Maverick-Nanday) have that tendancy to act like a couple of kids that snorted pixie sticks and have the attention span of a fruit fly...especially Maverick. Cheeko gets that way but not as frequently as Maverick. They're so high strung. But I absolutely adore them.

Gizzy's just a totally different creature...very laid back, relaxed. She's also a Timneh...they seem overall to be less nervous than the Congos IMHO. She'll just hang out on her playstand and look out the window for hours or she'll get all cuddled up on your chest and go to sleep. She's a lot more mellow. She hasn't mimicked their screams...yet. I've had her for 7 months now. She's an older rehome bird...she's picked up quite a bit here and there but no screaming conures yet! I guess the only negative experience I've had with Gizzy is that being a rehome, she came from a neglectful environment...previous owners smoked in the home and as a result, she has upper respiratory issues. Nothing life-threatening or serious, she'll always be a heavy breather and she's very prone to upper respiratory infections-we've battled 2 in the last couple months.

Good luck to you and I think you've got the right attitude. You'll love the greys. It definitely seems that my family tends to gravitate more towards Gizzy because of her creepy-crazy alien intelligence! I'm sure a lot of us grey owners with multiple birds will say the same!

[Congobongo]

I have 2 CAG's. I just think they are hillarious with the things they say and how when they look at you you can just tell they are thinking!

Mine are very quiet. No screaming or irritating noises. They either talk or wistle or mimick a truck backing up. They do this in the morning and a bit at night. It is never too loud or irritating. It's funny!

One thing I will say, I do not reach into their cage. I always just open the door and let them come out and then ask them to step up. I also give them a peanut first before I reach in and get their food and water bowls to clean and fill. Their cage is their castle and they don't like intrusion into it.

One negative is that they are 'floor walkers'. And if you have dogs or cats or anything that doesn't get along with them that can be a problem. So when mine are out of the cage I need to be there to supervise. Oh, yes Radar also chomped up a wood plant stand that I had on one of his unsupervised walks.

And yes, they can give a good bloody bite if they want to or if you approach them wrong. The other day when I was giving Yobo her peanut so I could put food in her bowl I dropped the peanut accidentally and she bit my finger instead (thinking the peanut was there). It wasn't intentional but she broke the skin and drew blood. No major injury but, those beaks are strong and sharp.

[pippy]

Originally Posted by amachen

Definitely introduce toys slowly.

Now this is just what I've never done!

Right from the word go when I first brought them home I've always given them new toys, foods, perches etc on a very regular basis and I've always just put them straight in the cage making no fuss. Their breeder did the same.

I'm convinced this is why they are so accepting of anything and everything new now!

[SallyQZ]

I have a CAG, and have had him for almost 11 yrs now. He is slightly neurotic, VERY afraid of change as it relates to his living quarters. Although he is now good enough with new toys that I can just put them right in and he'll play with them immediately. I used to have to leave them outside of his cage for him to study for a few days or he'd huddle in a corner of his cage, spurning food and water until he got over his fear of the toy. Sigh.

I agree with Congobongo who said they can give you a good bloody bite if they feel like it. Tonka doesn't bite very often, but when he does, it's a doozy. Rips open the skin and goes deep! Usually bruises badly too, so it hurts for at least a week. And he'll bite ME to make a point about his passionate hatred for my husband. If I'm holding Tonka and my husband walks up to me, I put Tonka down immediately or I'll be bleeding soon.

He plucks too, started when I got the cockatoos last year. Avicalm is helping, he just plucks from his chest now and leaves the downy feathers so it's not too bad. Still hoping to get it completely stopped one day...

Other than that, I think there aren't too many negatives about greys. They are super smart, fairly quiet, and have very complex personalities. Once I learned more about reading his body language, Tonka got a lot more relaxed around me. I don't think he enjoys biting me either .... when it happens, it's because I'm not paying attention to his signals or his surroundings.

[Greycloud]

The only thing negative about greys is not having one! My CAG, Dexter, is a rehome. He is 12 yrs old. He was never held in his old home and never had toys. When I brought him home I gave him a cage double the size of his old. I put toys in it. All kinds, whicker, chew toys, wood, bells and foot toys. It took him about 3 hours to start testing them. Dexter is fully flighted, I have never, in my 4 yrs of owning him, seen him open his wings and flap or stretch. He may not know he has wings, LOL! He may do it in private. Even when I bath him he does not open his wings. He eats anything I put in front of him. He never, ever screams. He can whistle sorta loud but that's nothing. He talks up a storm and even though we don't mention his old owner he still after 4 yrs will call her at times. He makes every sound effect in the book. I never shut Dexter's cage. He sits on his cage door or his playpen right next to his cage. He comes and goes as pleases. They only time I shut him in his cage is if I go out, which is rare. He absolutely refuses to step up. Not even onto a perch. I have tried everything in the book to entice him. He agrees not to step up and I agree to accept him for who he is. He is the easiest parrot I have ever owned. I would recommend greys to anyone. Some are a bit nervous but I think it depends on how you raise your bird and the trust you have with eachother.

[pippy]

Originally Posted by Greycloud

Dexter is fully flighted, I have never, in my 4 yrs of owning him, seen him open his wings and flap or stretch. He may not know he has wings, LOL!

Awww that's sad. He sounds like a happy boy though! Lovely he enjoys his toys too!