New Grey is Very Shy

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

Hi everyone! I just got a CAG a week and a half ago. He is very shy. I thought he was feeling more comfortable because on Monday he was exploring and vocalizing really loud. On Tuesday morning, he was still his outgoing self. However, I put him inside the cage because I couldn't watch him. After that he didn't want to come out and went back to being very timid. He stays in one spot, is very quiet and doesn't want to step up. What can I do about this to make him more comfortable? Is it normal for him to be outgoing one day and then revert back to being shy?

 

[Cowtown]

Congrats on the Grey. How old is you Grey? Remember you have only had him a week and a half.
He is still adjusting to his new surrounding and people. It will take time and patience for him to learn you will be his best friend. You have to give him time to bond with you.
I took Abby several months before she would step up out of her cage. Even now she will sit in her cage with the door open.
Open the cage, get a chair and sit next to him talking to him, reading a book out loud or magazine, offer him small treats and see if he will take them from you. If not then put a treat on the bottom of the open cage door and ignore him and see what he does.. Bonding takes time and more time. Some parrots bond quickly and others it takes weeks, months and sometime years to develop the bond... Don't get in a hurry.

Keep us informed on your progress.

 

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

Oh wow, sounds like it takes them a long time to feel comfortable. He's only 4.5 months old. Guess I just need to be more patient. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Davinchi]

Cowtown gave you great advice. It took my grey a month and a half to even step up on me from his cage. I basically did what Cowtown said and practiced patience and eventually Picasso came out of his shell. Just remember the cage is his familiar place so that is why he hangs out there all the time. Its where he feels safe.

 

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

I think today he is in one of his less shy moods. He leans toward me and shows a lot of interest in what I am doing. If I have a food he likes, he takes it from my hand, which is something he didn't do before. However, he still doesn't want to step up from his cage but maybe that'll happen in time! He flew off of his cage and is exploring. But I have another concern about that. Whenever he flies, he crashes into things. He seems to be ok every time thankfully, but I am still worried! His wings are already trimmed. I hope it is just because he's a clumsy baby and will get better at it.

 

[wolf0994]

That is likely that he is inexperienced at flying, especially in a strange environment. When he is on the ground after flying they usually feel fairly vulnerable. This is a great time for you to get them to step up as they usually want OFF the ground.

Also, often times once they are comfortable with the room they are in, you can use that time when they fly to the ground to take them into another room that they are unfamiliar with and they will look to you for comfort and security because your the only thing they know in that room.

Congrats on your grey!

 

[purplemonkeydishwasher]

I figured out how to get him to step up from his cage! All I have to do is bribe him with pretzels.