Choosing a Grey.

[Allan Gibbs]

Oh, I also broke a rule about not having birds intermingle right away (excitement I guess).

Moe and my conures are very well aware of each other since Moe came home. The other day, I had them out on the patio and I gues Montrose -my first Sun Conure doesn't like Moe. He actually attacked Moe. I broke them up but he would keep trying to attack Moe and Moe would just run. Of course, I ended that session very quickly and the've never in the same place at the same time again.

I thought this was ironic considering Moe is twice as large as my conure and assumed Moe would try to assert dominance which he never did. Come to think of it, when Moe bit me on Sunday night, Montrose (my first conure) started screaming a few times.

Also, my biggest problem with my Conure was getting them to eat anything but seeds. I gave them a piece of apple this morning and they went crazy eatting it. I guess they're also learning from Moe which is fair because Moe learned the "step up" from the Conures.

Does anyone have any suggestion how to get these birds to eventually get along?

 

[HRH Di]

I wish I had some good tips for helping them get along. My Max has never been happy about Jade coming to live with us, and we'll be getting Ruby soon, so he's going to be angry again.

They may just eventually get used to each other, but not really ever be friends. That's kind of where Max and Jade are. I think he'd be better with her if she didn't try to monopolize all of my time.

 

[Spiritbird]

Leet me see if I get this. Moe is your new AG from the pet store who was not happy there. You did not have room to seperate them in different rooms. Is this correct? If correct then we are off to a not so good start. Your sunny needs your assurance and attention to let him know he is still the flock leader so to speak. A new bird comes along and he is asserting his dominence as conures are known to do. If you could begin again I would seperate them in different rooms so they would have time to call to eachother and stimulate interest. To put them together to play is not going to happen at this stage. You do not want them to start plucking feathers from the stress. I am giving you a link for a story sort of the same as yours but with different birds.

Living With Merlin: Introducing The Second Parrot

 

[Allan Gibbs]

Let me see if I get this. Moe is your new AG from the pet store who was not happy there. You did not have room to seperate them in different rooms. Is this correct? If correct then we are off to a not so good start. Your sunny needs your assurance and attention to let him know he is still the flock leader so to speak. A new bird comes along and he is asserting his dominence as conures are known to do. If you could begin again I would seperate them in different rooms so they would have time to call to eachother and stimulate interest. To put them together to play is not going to happen at this stage. You do not want them to start plucking feathers from the stress. I am giving you a link for a story sort of the same as yours but with different birds.

Living With Merlin: Introducing The Second Parrot

You're right. Montrose (my first Conure) is pretty upset about the new arrival. They are new separted and will be probably for some time. I don't think they'll be any bird calling though. All of them are pretty quite (except for Sunkist) the second Conure.

Also, Moe (the African Grey) has been getting most of my attention this week as I've been trying to get him relaxed in his new environment and monitoring the amount of food/water he needs, and cage adjustments. I wouldn't say he's an emotional mess - but either he's been traumatized or ignored at the pet shop and easily frightened with new environments.

For example, last night, I take Moe with me to get the mail on the other end of the apartment complex. It started off okay but as we start going through different hallways, he fear kept growing. He's claws started digging deeper into my arm (with scratches), his wings spread open as if he was going to fly, and his head looking at each hallway light as we passed by. He really looked like he was "freaking out" complete with eye's popping out!

Obviously, we bit off more than we can chew last night but I think I need to start slowly and gradually exposing him to different environments so he doesn't get accostumed to just my apartment and patio. He's a smart bird with lots of potential and he's come a long way in just a few days but still has aways to go. I guess this probably comes from being in a cage most of the time. Although, the pet store said he spends lots of time in the "play pen" in the front of the store. Another interesting fact is Moe is scared of sticks (or perches) and the pet store manager told me so, hmm, I wonder why!

 

[Spiritbird]

With any AG it is a good training option to gently expose them to something new every day. Some small things at first. Walk them around your apartment but not hallways. Please do this slowly as you could send Mo into phobias. I still take Rosie around my home and try to find something new to show her.
You have a rather fragile bird as most greys are in a new situation. Have you had him for a vet visit yet?

 

[antoinette]

Poor Moe must be so scared, everything is so new and strange right now.
My suggestion, let him remain in one room, for a few days, Let him explore, and settle down. When he seems more comfortable, take the next step.
SB is correct, exposing them to something new, everyday, at a slow pace.
Mishka my Ag now 2 1/2 years, only started going into our kitchen last week.
She has her cereal there, every morning, sitting on a play perch.
It took her forever, to walk in on her own, but now she owns the kitchen.
Every night at dinner time, she walks in, says hello and makes herself comfortable.
Good luck

 

[Allan Gibbs]

My vet appointment was suppose to be today but the vet rescheduled to Wednesday.

I've let Moe have his space and time to adjust, but since this is a weekend, I'm giving him lots of time in our patio. He really enjoys it.

One thing I noticed is that my nose and throat seem slightly irritated. I assume it's dander. So, I give Moe a shower this afternoon -which he also seem to really enjoy. None of my other bird liked water but I read that AGs tend to. I also got a HEPA room filter to help.

 

[Spiritbird]

Good on the bathing. I just ordered a new shower perch because the old one fell and broke. They make some for multiple birds. Of course if you are handy you can make one yourself and save money. You are doing everything correct. Please let us know how vet visit goes. Thanks

 

[Allan Gibbs]

I took Moe to the vet yesterday and he weighed in at 419 grams. Overall, he looked healthy and free from illness. The vet did say his plumage could have been better and he was starting to pluck himself. I noticed most of Moe's plucking looks like preening but during the exam, he just violently ripped off two feathers - right in front of the vet! Quiet surprising.

She also took a dropping sample for a fecal exam to rule out and biological causes. She also recommended switching to Harrison pellets as Moe's former diet was mostly seeds and the cause of his poor-to-average plumage. Currently, Moe mostly eats apples, carrots, peanuts, lettuce, and grapes now and only a few sun flower seeds and "parrot" seed food that his pet store recommended. I'll be getting some pellets shortly and try to transition him and my conures too.

I'm pretty sure the plucking is physiological and I know it's stress. I've been racking my brain to the specific cause. I notice most of the falling chest feathers when he's preening outside his cage while perched on his cage door -which is a spot he seems to like. My first thought was a ceiling fan which I had on just to provide him with some visual stimulation. I notice end tends to watch it frequently. So, I've turned it off and will see how that goes. I guess the problem is that I need to try one environmental change at a time so I can identify what's cause the stress. I just hope I have enough time.

As I mentioned, most of his plucking is when he's outside he cage and when he appears relaxed and preening in the spot he chooses. Basically, I let him out of his cage and he'll come out on his own and pick a spot he likes (usually the door) and start observing, stretching, and preening.

Thinking he needed more time out of the cage, last night, I left his cage door open so he can sleep where ever he chooses. Around 3 a.m., I noticed he was sleeping on his door. This morning, I noticed more rough patches on his plumage by his abdomen. Maybe, for now, I should leave him in his cage more since that was his environment when he was in the store? Although, he's been with us for almost two weeks and usually out of the cage starting at 5:30 - 6:00 p.m.

It's a bit stressful for me and if I had feather, I'd probably start plucking them too. The only plus side is that the plucking doesn't seem too bad at this point.