My new Congo

[Billy]

yesterday I received a wild captured congo

He is old and agressive, He growl when I stare at him, but He lets me get close to his cage when I don't look at him.

Today, He made happy whistles and played all the morning in his cage, He ate a carrot that I gave him

I know that the only way to know a CAG gender is DNA test. But it's impossible to do it here in Algeria. I read some topics about the difference between male and female greys and I guess my parrot is a female according to those photos:

https://www.facebook.com/billel.mimouni/media_set?set=a.536792323041285.1073741893.100001315658057&type=1

What do you think about this ?

 

[MonicaMc]

My guess would be male.

Many DNA sexing companies will actually accept feathers or blood for DNA sexing if you ship it to them.


Have you looked into positive reinforcement training/applied behavior analysis?

 

[Billy]

I'm searching to know more about how to train it and make him feel secure here.
Can you help me?

His eyes are round and he had a rounded head. Also, his tale's feathers are not "solid red" there are grey tips on them. Doesen't this mean that it is a female? It's difficult to find DNA sexing companies here but I'll try ^_^

 

[MonicaMc]

I meant DNA sexing companies in other countries that you could ship the samples to.

Here's some good websites/blogs that may be of interest to you.

Learning Parrots | Empowering the learners in our households
Lara Joseph | An avid avian training, behavior, and enrichment enthusiast.
Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk
Written Works: Learning and Behavior - BehaviorWorks.com
Living With Parrots Cage Free

 

[Billy]

Thank you Monica I'll find a DNA sexing compagy

 

[triordan]

My female has grey tips. My vet guessed she was a female because of that before we got the dna results back~

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Was he recently wild caught? Out of curiosity were did you get him?

I'd say get a DNA testing, no visual sexing is 100% positive and his tail feathers are in too bad of shape to be accurate

 

[Billy]

Unfortunately, I don't know where or how it was caught. All what I know is that He came to Algeria from Mali, and at least he crossed 2200 Km in a vehicule with other parrots (2200 km is the distance between Algeria-Mali borders and my town). I guess he had very bad times there

 

[Pajarita]

Poor, poor thing! If there is a just God above, poachers will all rot in hell for all eternity!

I've cared for 6 grays at a time and they all 'matched' the visual sexing from the tail undercoverts.

Have you allowed him to come out and fly around the room? I think he will like that very much... but he might not go back into the cage after.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Poor thing looks so terrified in his photos It breaks my heart that greys are still being smuggled heavily. That was a long way for him to go.

this image reveals the harsh reality of the trade, and it's not even telling about the poor birds who die in the process of capture and smuggling.

 

[Billy]

@Pajarita: I can't open the cage lol I don't want to frighten him.

It's a very sad thing. when I was young, I saw greys, senegals, and other birds put in one small cage in a market ! there were blind ones, and you can imagine their situation

But now, parrots are very rare here, because it's becoming very difficult to bring them. The state is seriously fighting against smuggllers. and since the last year, there is a war in northern Mali so I think there will be no wild caught parrot here in Algeria (I hope so)

 

[getwozzy]

This is so sad...poor guy but thank you for taking him in- are you going to keep him and give him a forever home?

Maybe don't let him out just quite yet- give him a bit longer to adjust to his new home, surroundings, and you. Spend time sitting next to his cage, talk to him, maybe read him a book or something.

Does he take treats/food from you through the cage bars without signs of aggression?

 

[Billy]

Of course I'll keep him (I think it's a female ) She is so lovely,when I'm not close to the cage She whistles and play and answer to the Senegal whistles
She growl loudly when I'm close to the cage or when she sees my hands ( It's normal in her case) Yesterday I put a carrot in the cage, she growled loudly but when I moved back She picked it and ate it and made some happy sounds. I did it twice yesterday. And I just did it now She is eating the carrot.


I really want to make her feel home. I have to find her a name but I'm not sure if she's a female, DNA tests here are not available or very expensive

 

[getwozzy]

Just keep doing what you're doing- take things slow and be patient it may take her a bit of time, but she'll come around eventually. It's going to take a bit of time to earn her trust, and with her being wild-caught and probably man-handled in the process she's not very trusting of hands right now which is understandable.

I'd keep researching DNA companies to see if you can find one where you can mail them a feather or something for testing.

 

[Billy]

Thank you very much

 

[getwozzy]

You're welcome!! I hope things go well and maybe we'll get to see some pictures of your new baby??