Help with new Grey...

[jtm_mama]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and recently acquired a 15-year-old Congo African Grey. I have two little cockatiels as well. Anyway, our Grey's name is Monkey and he's been living with my fiance and I for about a month now. Overall he is a very happy and healthy bird, but I had some questions about a weird behavior I've been noticing.

Whenever I'm home, he follows me everywhere! He doesn't fly, he walks around the house following me (his wings are not clipped, though). This is fine - he sits happily on our bed while I fold laundry, sits on the couch with us when we watch a movie, and overall just likes being around us. The only thing that concerns me is he does NOT like feet - in fact, he makes an effort to lunge at my toes whenever I get too close to him. He's taken a few good, hard bites out of me. Whenever he does this, I remain calm and stoop down to his eye level and tell him very sternly 'no' and give him the hairy eye, as I was told is the right thing to do. It just doesn't seem to be helping. Could he have had a bad experience in the past that is making him act like this? I love having him around, but I don't want to walk around my house with the fear of being bitten

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[thekarens]

That's not unusual. If it were me I'd either wear closed toe shoes or pick him up and don't let him on the floor. Take him to whatever room you're going to.

 

[Carmalita]

my friends blue and gold macaw does the same thing. never flies. just waddles around after her. the toe thing....has he ever been kicked or stepped on? it could be a fear response.

 

[getwozzy]

I second the idea of wearing closed-toe shoes and just pick him up if he's on the floor -pick him up before he starts attacking your toes.

 

[Katiejayne]

My grey is exactly the same, and I've heard many greys are the same. For some reason feet seem to be something to bite I'm lucky mine does not bite too hard but it sure makes u jump lol. Congratulation I your new grey btw it's great he already like to follow and be with you

 

[Shayner]

Congrats on the new grey! And my best guess would be that something happened before you got him to make him have this fear of feet! Get a good pair of slippers for wearing around the house so you can keep your toes from getting nipped.

 

[lotosha]

Mine also hunters my feet and boots. I think it's some kind of a parrot fetish. Have no idea how to stop it.

 

[antoinette]

Congrats with your new Grey, what is his name<

LoL that is just a birdie thing and many birds do not like feet.
As suggested wear closed shoes for your own safety

 

[MikeyTN]

Definitely wear shoes!!!! Willie is a toe biter, before when he used to roam the floor with Alexis and Bucky, he goes after their paws. It was funny to watch as Willie chases after them around the house in circles, when we see the dogs running into the kitchen, here comes Willie chasing after them then they run the other way out, Willie turns around and go back the direction he came from and the dogs was coming back that direction and do a quick stop and run the other direction....It was quite funny....

 

[lotosha]

Here is my CAG hunting my husband

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COTFHd8KiPU]20131229 154650 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[thekarens]

Lol, love the music and that's a gorgeous grey.

 

[lotosha]

Lol, love the music and that's a gorgeous grey.

Thanks! Buying her was the best thing that happened in my life in last year

 

[jtm_mama]

lol, thank you for the input everyone! his name is monkey, he's a very sweet birdie. i wear shoes and ignore him when he attacks my feet and recently he's been doing it less and less.