African Grey training progress advice needed

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Definitely physical abuse.

Now I have to figure out how to work past it. I will say when I first got her no treat held any value for her to comply with ANY training. She has made progress in that treats now hold some importance and will have her comply with some tricks. She no longer growls and trembles the way she did in the beginning. She talks to me and asks for treats but is too scared to try any new tricks beyond the few she learned. She seems to want to do more but fear stops it. She likes music and likes to sing along with it and she likes videos with other birds. She likes to chat with the Ringneck.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

How does a person do that to any living creature?

I just told my husband that and he flipped out!

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

Now I have to figure out how to work past it. I will say when I first got her no treat held any value for her to comply with ANY training. She has made progress in that treats now hold some importance and will have her comply with some tricks. She no longer growls and trembles the way she did in the beginning. She talks to me and asks for treats but is too scared to try any new tricks beyond the few she learned. She seems to want to do more but fear stops it. She likes music and likes to sing along with it and she likes videos with other birds. She likes to chat with the Ringneck.

I don't know anything about training and tricks. But my gut would tell me to just let her live in peace for a while.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

I would like to report them. I worry about the birds he has there. I’ve also come to find out many are kept outside all year in all weather conditions. Nees to find out where would be the appropriate place to report it. The issue is I just have the say so of a person who use to work for them and someone else who got a bird from them and witnessed some things that didn’t seem right. I don’t have first hand accounts or evidence and Im unsure if the people I met are willing to put anything in writing. There seems to be a weird hesitation cause as I said this person is well liked in the community and has good reviews.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

I just told my husband that and he flipped out!

Honestly it makes me sick. I thought I had researched a reputable breeder. His business cards were on the counter at my avian vets office in fact. I thought something was odd when I went to see the bird she seemed so scared. But me only having been around older greys that were already acclimated to their homes and owners I believed him when he said it was just lack of socialization.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

Is there a way you can get video of the birds being kept outside in all weather conditions?

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Is there a way you can get video of the birds being kept outside in all weather conditions?

Possibly but it’ll be hard its a very large property with gates and cameras.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Take what you know to an avian vet. To determine if a calming agent can be used. Note calming which is usually something herbal and/or natural. Side effects tend to be few. Not sedative which are drugs and can open up a bag of worms, many negative especially when it wears off.

I think this is a good plan. I need to share with them what I believe has occurred. I appreciate the input. I honestly have felt for a while that her slow progress was not normal and possibly the result of how the breeder treated her. The person who worked for him now works at an exotic pet supply store and when they found out I got a bird from him they looked at me and said “so how is the bird? Scared?” And then laid on me what they saw while working for them. It was why they quit in fact.

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

(844)-728-2729 https://woundedpawproject.org/animal-abuse/how-to-report-animal-cruelty/. I would report it even if I didn't have proof because maybe other people have called or will call. If they get multiple calls maybe they will investigate.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Give the bird time and love.
It was about two years before my rescue grey would make any vocalization if there was anyone but me within hearing distance.
7 years later she and the BOSS are just starting to make physical contact between them not painful (for the BOSS). Recently she has started refusing to take her favorite treat from me. She calls the BOSS with a wolf whistle whenever she wants one (or 4)

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

I have already established Mable which is the greys name at our avian vet. Im going to make an appointment to discuss if there is anything I can do to help her calm but not sedation. This angers me so much. This poor bird didn’t need to start out like this. I did not intend to take on a bird with trauma issues as I do not believe I have the experience level for it , but here we are.

I just hope at some point she can have a normal life and not be terrified of me. I worry now that I have a bird that will never be comfortable around my wife and I or people in general.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

(844)-728-2729 https://woundedpawproject.org/animal-abuse/how-to-report-animal-cruelty/. I would report it even if I didn't have proof because maybe other people have called or will call. If they get multiple calls maybe they will investigate.

Thank you I am going to reach out.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Give the bird time and love.
It was about two years before my rescue grey would make any vocalization if there was anyone but me within hearing distance.
7 years later she and the BOSS are just starting to make physical contact between them not painful (for the BOSS). Recently she has started refusing to take her favorite treat from me. She calls the BOSS with a wolf whistle whenever she wants one (or 4)

I want to do the right thing for her. Part of me thinks she’d be better off with someone of a higher experience level than myself. But I don’t want to give up on her and have her bounce around never finding stability. I just need to slow my training down more and as someone noted leave her in peace. Not sure what to do about moving her when I need to other than moving close and asking for a step up which results in her flying off the cage or stand and into the wall and then picking her up. If anyone can suggest any safer ways to move the bird I’d appreciate it. I do not wish to towel her as I feel it will only make the relationship worse since she already doesn’t want to be near me.

 

[rheashard2]

Been doing research on CAG, problems and solutions.

End Pet Bird Hand Fear

African Greys and other parrots can definitely be rehabilitated if allowed to move at their own speed.

be.chewy.com

This is one of the many articles that they have written about CAG. They have articles that cover fear of leaving cage, being handled and more. They also suggest solutions. I've read several articles of theirs. You can use these as a baseline. Remember to use a grain of caution. Behavior is hard to define in a CAG and all pet birds. They are prey animals. This is their basline period! I sympathize with you. Do as much reading as possible on different sites. Use this forum as a backup. Think of outside reading as objective thinking. It's what the book says should have a chance of working. Think of this and other forums as subjective thinking. It's what I and others independently discovered what works for us.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Just my opinion and personal experience so please take this "advice" in the spirit it is given.
CAGs are so intelligent and observant that they take longer than other species to trust and forgive. Add to that their inherent stubborn attitude (I used to raise and train donkeys and CAGs have them beat for stubborn).
I really feel you are on the right path you just need to go agonizingly slow. Mable will come around eventually. I would treat her as you would a badly abused rescue. That sounds like what she is and that is what you did.........you rescued her and bless you for that.
I'm so very sorry this happened to her and to you.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Just my opinion and personal experience so please take this "advice" in the spirit it is given.
CAGs are so intelligent and observant that they take longer than other species to trust and forgive. Add to that their inherent stubborn attitude (I used to raise and train donkeys and CAGs have them beat for stubborn).
I really feel you are on the right path you just need to go agonizingly slow. Mable will come around eventually. I would treat her as you would a badly abused rescue. That sounds like what she is and that is what you did.........you rescued her and bless you for that.
I'm so very sorry this happened to her and to you.

Well this sounds optimistic which is something I need right now. Nobody likes to hear anything indicating you have a long hard road ahead but it is what it is. I will do my best for Mable always. Both of my birds mean a lot to me. My wife and I weren’t able to have a family and we view them as our children. I had certainly hoped for a companion or at least some desire for interaction. For now Im going to focus on super slow with Mable, holding the breeder accountable and another bird from a “good breeder” that hasn’t been abused beforehand.

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Been doing research on CAG, problems and solutions.

End Pet Bird Hand Fear

African Greys and other parrots can definitely be rehabilitated if allowed to move at their own speed.

be.chewy.com

This is one of the many articles that they have written about CAG. They have articles that cover fear of leaving cage, being handled and more. They also suggest solutions. I've read several articles of theirs. You can use these as a baseline. Remember to use a grain of caution. Behavior is hard to define in a CAG and all pet birds. They are prey animals. This is their basline period! I sympathize with you. Do as much reading as possible on different sites. Use this forum as a backup. Think of outside reading as objective thinking. It's what the book says should have a chance of working. Think of this and other forums as subjective thinking. It's what I and others independently discovered what works for us.

This is good info lot of helpful tips

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Take what you know to an avian vet. To determine if a calming agent can be used. Note calming which is usually something herbal and/or natural. Side effects tend to be few. Not sedative which are drugs and can open up a bag of worms, many negative especially when it wears off.

Just because it's herbal and natural doesn't mean it's harmless. Some of the most addictive and harmful drugs are natural. Opium. Cocaine. Cannabis (for birds anyway). Lots of natural poisons out there!

 

[ParrotSnakeMan]

Just because it's herbal and natural doesn't mean it's harmless. Some of the most addictive and harmful drugs are natural. Opium. Cocaine. Cannabis (for birds anyway). Lots of natural poisons out there!

I going to see what my avian vet has to say. I’ve never heard of anything to give a parrot to calm down herbal or otherwise. I would be surprised if they offer any substance to calm the bird and I suspect that they will suggest professional training assistance and to see about working with a behavioralist instead.

 

[TiredOldMan]

Oh they have calming agents. The most popular that I've been offered for my birds are Prozac and Haloperidol. The haloperidol in very tiny dosage helped my U2 FDB without making him sleepy or dopey. Haven't had the same luck with the grey. She immediately stopped eating. For a bird that is and always has been skinny that was a definte no go. Going to give it another try with a much smaller starting dose.
I've tried various herbal teas made especially for CAGs can't really say they helped