CAG is afraid of toys and humans, what to do to prevent boredom?

[50ShadesOfAfricanGrey]

It’s been a little over a week since I brought home my 8-month-old African Grey, and while there’s been some progress, he’s still really shy and cautious. At first, he was scared of everything. any sudden movement would make him scream or fly around in a panic. I noticed right away that toys stressed him out; he’d completely avoid any part of the cage that had them. To help him feel more comfortable, I took out all the toys and perches, leaving only a few small ones, but he hasn’t shown any interest in them.

Building trust has been slow, but we’re making little steps forward. He now follows the target stick, unless it moves toward the toys, then he avoids it. He’s also started responding when I say “kiss” touching my lips with his beak for a treat, and he sometimes asks me to pet his head. But even with these small wins, he’s still afraid of me at times and doesn’t trust me or the toys. Most of the time, he just sits in the corner of his big cage, not doing much, or climbs to the highest spot (about two meters up), where he spends time hanging and doing his own version of gymnastics. I’m worried that if he keeps avoiding toys and staying inactive, he might develop destructive habits.

One of the biggest breakthroughs so far has been wooden spoons. I trained him to accept them, and now he absolutely loves them. He only chews the wooden spoon when I hold it, but ignores it if I leave it in the cage. So I always stay with him while he chews and plays with them. It’s the first time he’s really interacted with an object, which makes me hopeful that he might eventually accept real toys.

That said, he still completely avoids bird toys. I set up a camera to check on him while I’m at work, but he was scared of it, so I had to move it farther away. Some family members interact with him during the day, but I want him to have more ways to stay engaged and mentally stimulated.

Since he’s doing well with wooden spoons, do you have any tips on how I can slowly get him comfortable with actual toys? I really want to make sure he stays happy and doesn’t develop bad habits from boredom.

 

[rheashard2]

CAGs are among the most cautious, suspicious, slow to change, accept the new out there! Add toys slowly and few in numbers. My CAG is 20 yo. She still refuses some toys. She's got a nice 10yo swing that doesn't have poo and is avoided. But she played on a birdie skateboard after 5 minutes. If possible get a puzzle toy and put loved treats. Mine loves rationed sunflower and safflower seeds. Offer a few, then let him see you put it in toy on easy level. This will encourage checking things out. There is no way to predict what they'll eventually play with. A clue is he'll touch it, back away, then repeat. Then probability of playing with it increases. Start a storage container of rejected toys. Reintroduce them occasionally it may become a favorite. Patience is key and don't rush it.

 

[50ShadesOfAfricanGrey]

CAGs are among the most cautious, suspicious, slow to change, accept the new out there! Add toys slowly and few in numbers. My CAG is 20 yo. She still refuses some toys. She's got a nice 10yo swing that doesn't have poo and is avoided. But she played on a birdie skateboard after 5 minutes. If possible get a puzzle toy and put loved treats. Mine loves rationed sunflower and safflower seeds. Offer a few, then let him see you put it in toy on easy level. This will encourage checking things out. There is no way to predict what they'll eventually play with. A clue is he'll touch it, back away, then repeat. Then probability of playing with it increases. Start a storage container of rejected toys. Reintroduce them occasionally it may become a favorite. Patience is key and don't rush it.

Thank you! That’s really helpful will start introduce small stuff and click when he interacts with them until they click haha

Actually I’m not rushing it but I’m afraid for him not having toys and perches in the cage
I want him to be busy and happy

 

[rheashard2]

Thank you! That’s really helpful will start introduce small stuff and click when he interacts with them until they click haha

Actually I’m not rushing it but I’m afraid for him not having toys and perches in the cage
I want him to be busy and happy

Don't worry. If he's true to form, he'll entertain himself. Disassemble food dishes, attempt to open door, and more than you can imagine or expect! It'll just take time (his)!

 

[50ShadesOfAfricanGrey]

I was expecting more replies here

 

[texsize]

Our African Grey Bella has a similar problem.
She doesn’t like new stuff.
Doesn’t play much with the toys she accepts.
Instead….
She has the most out of cage time of all my flock, about 6 hours.
She is treated more like another member of the family.
She gets into trouble like.

Bothering the Cockatiels.
Trying to make a nest in the kitchen cupboards.
Chewing the woodwork around the house.

Is she bored? IDK but we try to pay attention to her as much as we can and keep from stressing her out as much as we can.