Getting to know an 45 year old African Grey

[freedwithwings204]

Hello,
I am fairly new here. But my fiancee and I recently brought home a roughly 45+ year old Timneh African Grey named Sydney from the Parrot Sanctuary we work at. We both have large/small bird experience. We don't have/get too many Greys at the sanctuary and ours was one of the few. So we didn't get to meet a lot of them. Any advice as to how to work with a bird like this would be greatly appreciated.
As a side note I have done a lot of homework prior to bringing him home and a few things I have done have been working really well. I am slowly putting pics of my Grey and other bird up soon on my profile.

 

[PortaPerch]

Good for you, taking on such a special parrot. We'd like to know more about him.

We keep the flight feathers trimmed on our two birds, and don't ever lock them in a cage, except at night in motels. Sure, we have chewed-up clothes and furniture, but we think their freedom to move about our upstairs is more important.

 

[wenz2712]

Welcome to the forum

Thats great news that you have taken on an older Bird Look forward to seeing pics.

 

[Cowtown]

Congrats on taking on a rescue..... Do you know any of his background?
It will take patience and more patience, just talk to him and love him, which I am sure you will.

More pics please.

 

[freedwithwings204]

Thanks guys, I need all the tips I can get. I've stopped Moluccan Cockatoo's screaming and other bad habits (biting and attacking people). But Grey's are a completely different challenge. I have to add that I'm pretty sure he's a wild caught Grey. I have met another wild caught grey that had the same (or similar) band on his ankle like Sydney does (does anyone know how to track/find out band numbers?). From what I read in his file at the Sanctuary was minimal. The previous owner got him in 1982 from we don't know where, he lived with a Cockateil, likes apples and peanuts. But it was all small stuff like that. Not much of significance that I hadn't already figured out. The sounds he makes make me think that he's closer to his 50's. But within hours of bringing him home you could physically see him become happier. We didn't know he could talk, until he called my fiancee something not-so-nice. As far as we can tell he doesn't know how to step up (or is hiding it like I know some birds can do). Anything helps. More pics coming soon too.

 

[Davinchi]

is the band open or completely closed?

 

[antoinette]

and a big welcome
Congrats taking in a rescue, sure you going to have many happy years together.
Beautiful pic..... thanks for sharing

 

[freedwithwings204]

The band isn't closed. What does it mean then? I have the code on it written down too.