building trust with a CAG?

[Darci]

I have had my grey since August. She is fairly tame, she lets me handle her etc. When I take her down from her cage to hang on the couch, she's always a little shaky and nervous. She loves kisses, but she's still not totally cuddly and doesn't let me help her with her pin feathers. I know they aren't always the most cuddly birds, and I love her regardless, but I'd like to get her to the point that she enjoys head scratches etc. Does anyone have tips on building trust with a grey? I should also mention that she got attention at her last home, but not a lot of handling. I don't know what her first home (the one before that) was like and she was there for 4 1/2 years. I just want her to be as happy and bonded with me as possible for her sake as well as my own.

 

[Birdman666]

I've had my CAG for 12+ years...

And the day he lets me open his pin feathers will be the day I die from shock!

He also isn't totally cuddly. He's cuddly on his terms... when he feels like it. The rest of the time, he'll push your fingers away.

They do tend to get skittish when trying anything new at first...

You just slowly push the boundaries with these guys. It's more about what they permit, that what you allow. Push too hard, and they just become more stubborn!

They get handled on their own terms. With all my other birds, I established the boundaries with the bird. My CAG on the other hand, established the boundaries with me.

You can manhandle a Mac... "don't try this at home" with a CAG!

 

[Sheeji]

That is so true birdman. Our CAG has us well tamed too.

 

[Hawk]

I have had my grey since August. She is fairly tame, she lets me handle her etc. When I take her down from her cage to hang on the couch, she's always a little shaky and nervous. She loves kisses, but she's still not totally cuddly and doesn't let me help her with her pin feathers. I know they aren't always the most cuddly birds, and I love her regardless, but I'd like to get her to the point that she enjoys head scratches etc. Does anyone have tips on building trust with a grey? I should also mention that she got attention at her last home, but not a lot of handling. I don't know what her first home (the one before that) was like and she was there for 4 1/2 years. I just want her to be as happy and bonded with me as possible for her sake as well as my own.

My Grey is like that, or was. He's loosened up some now. He tends to cuddle when he feels like it , or rather on his terms. He's not a biter, and has excellent bite pressure knowledge. Though there are times he get playing and accidentally bites a bit too hard.

Greyson is a bit needy, wants all the attention, but doesn't always want to be touched. He'll fly into the room and land on my shoulder with a quick "whatcha doing boo boo"..

He tends to love his head scritches right before bed time. Any other time of the day he'll tell you off, grab your finger and move it away.

Likes to sit by window and wave at the outside birds....the "whoo- hoooo
see ya" and waves with his wings straight up and down.
I ask " you see the birds out there ?" He'll bob his head up and down saying yes. He's incredibly smart.

Pin feathers are just not something a grey likes touched.....they will let you know that with a bit of a harder bite. if they are not a problem, let the grey sort out their own feathers. If it is a problem, best time to deal with feathers or inspect wings is in the shower with them.
I take my grey into the shower and I can lift his wings and inspect them
or clip a feather that is twisted and bothering him. Best time to do it.
After a while of doing it in the shower, the grey will let you touch anywhere on his wing and underneath with no problem, least mine dose now.

 

[Bandespresso]

Espresso is a snuggle monster and that is such a rarity in greys (I almost flipped over backwards when she was hanging out on the couch with ne and put her head down for scritches for the first time)! And even she hates me touching her pin feathers...I can maybe get one a day if I'm lucky and go exceptionally slow. Most greys are content just sitting with their human and interacting. Play with some toys together, sing and dance with her, share some bird-safe meals (Espresso's favorite bonding activity ), go on walks, take showers together. Interaction is not always all about the snuggles especially not with a CAG.

 

[Darci]

She will come into the shower, but she doesn't like the water. I give her lots of talking, and dancing and all that. She loves kisses and I know she's bonding with me because she tries to feed me. I'm sure in time she will become more ok with petting her and all that. But if not, she's still my fid and I will always do what's best for her.

 

[roosta]

At what age did everyone here buy their greys? Or were they in your arms shortly after birth from a breeding pair?

 

[Bandespresso]

At what age did everyone here buy their greys? Or were they in your arms shortly after birth from a breeding pair?

I adopted mine at 18.

 

[LeaKP]

Our adopted grey came to us at 9 yrs old. He is unlike my other greys. He cuddles and as he gets more comfortable with the family, opens up more every day. Unbelievably, he loves me to go through his feathers one by one and open the pin feathers. He also lets me know when to go like "regular" greys by taking my finger in his beak and pushing it away. We are working with him to get back to playing with toys - seems he was kept alone far from toys and interaction for a long time. He's scared of toys but plays with shoes, paper bags, and other such things. Interesting!

 

[Hawk]

At what age did everyone here buy their greys? Or were they in your arms shortly after birth from a breeding pair?

Mine was obtained just after it was weaned. Been my boy ever since.
Great bird he is.