African grey won't get on my hand anymore.

[SeekerP]

Hi guys

My Congo African grey, who is around 7 months old now (I had him for 4 months) suddenly won't get on my hand.

I know African Greys tend to be one person birds, but ours seemed to love me, and my two brothers. I could stroke him, and he would jump on my hand/shoulder when he could.

About two days ago, I tried getting him on my hand, but he just lowers his head, like he wants to be stroked. He lets my brother pick him up just fine.

He is fine with me in other ways. He lets me stroke him, chirps with me, nibbles my hair like he always did, but won't get on my hand/shoulder.

Does anybody have experience with this?

 

[mh434]

I never offer my hand to our larger birds...instead, I gently nudge their chests with my forearm, as though I'm pushing them backwards slightly. This works without fail with our CAG who occasionally doesn't want to step up when we need him to do so. It sort of doesn't give them a choice and, if given a reward after stepping up, will make it pretty much automatic.

 

[LeaKP]

Agreed. And don't take it too personal. Greys can be moody, even to their chosen person!

 

[texsize]

My Bella was as friendly as could be at first.
Then she became her own person and can play hard to get.
You may need to show her who is boss.
Like horses . once they know that they can get away with something they think they can do whatever they want.

 

[DRB]

This baffled me at the 5 mo mark, Perjo was so sweet and so obedient and friendly and really wanted to be on my hand. Then she started getting her wings and feeling her freedoms and started not wanting to perch on my hand as much. Part of the journey.

 

[SailBoat]

Sounds more like he (DNA Verified?) wanted a head scratch more than petting.

Step-up training is something one does everyday forever.

I will let one of our Grey Experts tighten it down from there!

This will also get you bounced back to the top of the board for a second look!

FYI: Assure that you are reading the Sticky Threads at the top of the Grey Forum

 

[trimblegirls]

In my limited experience, I find the my Grey Jasper is way smarter than I originally gave him credit for. I got him as an adult and have no baby Grey experience. If he doesn't do something, it's not that he doesn't know how. He has just decided that he doesn't want to. I used to have trouble getting him to step up in his cage. Clearly, he knew how but just didn't want to. I didn't think that was acceptable and wouldn't take no for an answer. There are some basic commands that should be obeyed and I feel stepping up is one of them. Yours is just a baby. Keep that in mind but keep asking until he responds. You can help him by gently putting your hand against his body above his feet. Greys are super smart and will test what they can get away with. Your baby is trying to figure his place in the world and I suspect will test you often. Good Luck.

 

[Birdman666]

CAGS can give stubborn lessons to a mule...

The more you push. The more stubborn they can get.

Training a CAG is the opposite of training most birds.

With a macaw, or a too, or an amazon you are constantly reigning in behaviors, and setting boundaries.

With a CAG, they set the boundaries with you, and you are constantly gradually expanding what they will accept. You get THEM to accept things. Be patient. Keep at it. Reward the behaviors you want from the bird.

Their quirky birds. Smart but neurotic.

I absolutely agree with Sailboat. Go back to basics. Do step up and laddering practice. Reward the bird for doing it.

He is testing you now. He is setting his boundaries. I DON'T WANNA... cannot expand to the point where he refuses to do anything other than what he wants when he wants. Now you need to expand those... Step up. No bite. (NOT YOURS... that's the real struggle!)

 

[LeaKP]

What Birdman said. Perfect.