new parrot owner

[hicham]

Hello,

I am a new parrot owner, it the grey parrot with the red tail... So out of research I guess it is called the grey african parrot.

Well it has been like 4 days that I have it. When I first got it, each time I approached her cage he was getting a bit back from me and doing a noise like screaming, but today sometimes he is doing the same thing, and sometimes he gets his head nearer to the cage bars and starts tocking his tongue.

Is that a good sign or not?

is it true that he is a grey african parrot, or it is another type name?

Thanks

 

[suebee]

i'd say stop goin to the cage when your bird does this, can you up load a photo?

if the bird has his head lent forward and backing away, it is very afraid! but if he is in same position but coming forward he is about to attack, cage bars or not? and it is not a good sign

how old is the bird, how big is the cage, you've only had the bird 4 days, where did you get it from

 

[hicham]

Thanks for the reply. The cage is a big one. Where do i upload photos? I bought him from a pet shop i was told he is 2 years old.

 

[hicham]

He also wouldn't eat anything other than sunflower seeds tried bananas apples potato even a thing i bought full of seeds he wouldn't touch it.

 

[hicham]

Ok i am uploading some photos. I would really appreciate any help telling how should i behave with my parrot for him to be happy and adapt fast. I approach the cage just to try to show hom that i would cause him no harm

 

[Spiritbird]

He is most likely in fear of you, his new home and the new food you are presenting to him. Please study the information in the site I give you. Your bird is an African Grey Congo. There are safe foods and not safe foods. There are toxic things in our homes. If you can find an avain vet please get the bird to one for an exam as a baseline. Please do not push the bird. Bonding is a slow process. Do not put your hands in the cage and reach for him. Most of what you need to know will be on the link I send to you. Please stay in touch for any problems you may have.
http://www.africangreys.com/

 

[suebee]

ok looking at the photo, he, if it is a he does not look happy, and though i may not be correct in saying this, my sene is half his size and her cage is twice as big, but for now it'll do



he is already very afraid and un-sure in new and un familar surroundings, so you walking over to him, in his eyes is very threatening! so for now even sitting in same room as him is enough, occasional eye contact, read a book etc

he will adapt but it takes time, so please be patience, like spirit says its a slow process

he may not try new foods simply as he does not know its food! or he is rejecting it as he has no trust in you, so you may have to sit eating in front of him, he will show interest at some point, then you can introduce him to the fresh fruit etc this then canbe used as part of the bonding process

can the cage be put oppersite the door ways?? that way he will have clear view of who is coming and going, try to put a few more perches in his cage, near his food bowls, and get similar toys he had in his cage in the pet shop,

also what was his behaviour like in the pet shop??

 

[hicham]

thanks a lot for all your help... I never put my hand into the cage, as I am scared of his reaction, and then my reaction. Other than that, I'll give him his time, I am just introducing some new foods for him to be in good health and maybe happy... I don't know how he was in the pet shop. So as I understand from you is that all i have to do now is just letting him see me while I am a bit far from his cage, and I approach only for putting him food and water...

 

[hicham]

hello, just 1 more question out of curiosity, is there like an average time for him to get to trust me?

 

[Spiritbird]

The more you spend quality time with him the more you will bond. Each bird is different. You should be taking him out of the cage for at leat 2 or more hours a day for one on one time with you. If you are afriad of the bird he will sense that and bonding will be difficult.
Remember there is no "fast" when it come to bonding with a bird. The bird is not on your schedule, it is on his.

By the way the cage the bird is in is way too small. They need lots of space to play, lots of toys and natural type perches out of bird safe wood. Please read all the articles I gave you in the link.

Here is another valuable sourse for your education.
http://www.theafricangreyparrot.com...Parrot-Articles-African-Grey-Parrot-Cage.html

Here is a photo of my birds cage. My Rosie is smaller than you AG.

 

[Cowtown]

Congrats on the new fid... I have been a guardian to Abby my female Eclectus since August 2010. she is just now 10 + months old. We are just now really starting to bond.
She will let me know by doing what your Grey is (What is his name?) Has he been DNA confirmed that he is a male?
Send Antoinette a PM and ask her some questions he has a male grey...

I will take time, especially if he has been owned by someone and mistreated and how long was he in the pet shop? They usually do not get the best of attention and care in pet shops.

Look at the links you were give about safe food and the best diet for Grey's.
Try fresh peeled apples just a couple of pieces to start out with.
you need to get him off sunflower seeds and do not give him peanuts.

Antoinette and the other Grey owners can advise you more on the nutrition areas.

Just be patient, I would sit by Abby's cage for hours at a time, talking and eating.
She will get used to you slowly.

 

[hicham]

hello,

No he wasn't dna proved for being a male, I just say he like this... his name is Yago. as for getting him out of his cage that is empossible since first of all I can't put my hand into his cage, then if I get him out and he's scared of me it will be a mess to catch him and to put him back into his cage. I am not scared of him, but what I said is that if I put my hand into the cage and he moves fast, my reaction by reflect would be to push him away or something which may kill him or cause him harm... That's all. As for the cage it is temporary at the moment, I'll get him a new bigger one in few time. This is just what I got from the pet shop, and when I got him I felt that he's not very happy at the pet shop that's what pushed me more to take him.

Btw who's Antoinette???

 

[hicham]

hello, one more question, and really thanks for the help... but is there a chance that he will talk even if he's 2 years old?

 

[Spiritbird]

Some birds talk yes, especially the AG. Companion birds are not ment to be left in a cage all day long every day. That is a very sad life for such an intelligent creature. Again, you should not be putting you hand in the cage!! This will teach Yago to bite you. If you got him from the pet shop because he was not happy you need to think about that.

 

[hicham]

I am ok with the idea getting him out of the cage, but the problem is getting him back in!!! so now the picture I have is that I'll get him out, he'll go hide in some corner as soon as I move, then to get him back into his cage will be very hard as he'll not let me get near him, and he'll maybe hurt himself... Any advice on that? really thanks for the help.

 

[EmeraldIsle]

Buy some books, read web sites, and learn everything you can about your bird. This is very important for proper care. Don't take a casual approach to this and just learn a few bits of info. It's not enough.

 

[suebee]

as you are gettin a bigger cage that is great, when you get cage come back to ask how best to introduce it to your bird and let us know of any improvements

ok best tactic for gettin him out of the cage is, to open door wide and pin door back if it needs to be. and let him walk out himself! choose a time when the house is quiet, before opening the cage door, make sure your room is sercure, just you an him, food ready to put in his cage etc

open cage door and go sit down! he will come out of the cage himself, what he will most likely do is move around his cage to start with! do not go near him, just watch from a chair etc watch him while you eat/read a book etc you must stay in room with him!

if he moves away from the cage, go slowly put food and toys in! walk away, he will see you doin that, and prob go check it out, then shut door behind him

at no point do you make a move to touch him or go near him! even if he goes near you,

but i will be surprise if he wonders away from his cage, so at some point he will go back in for food, then shut door then

is he flighted?/ he looks like his had his wings clipped in the photo

i know you want to make this bird happy, but its not an easy thing to to, i've a feeling this may be your 1st parrot, please keep coming back with any other questions no matter how small or silly you may think it is!

 

[antoinette]

[FONT=&quot]Top on your list, a visit to an avian vet is a must. Let the bird be checked over, peace of mind for a healthy bird.
Your bird must have time to settle down and adjust. Just imagine how many new things the bird has encountered, in these few days. So many new faces and voices, it must be so scary.
To gain your trust could take days, weeks, months even years. Each and every bird is so different. He obviously feels a comfort zone is his cage.
Sit near the cage, talking and singing to the bird. Let him become familiar with your voice. Leaving the cage door open, offer him treats through the bars at first. When he willingly accepts them, try placing a treat near the open door. Eventually he will starts taking the treats from the door, make no attempt to touch him.
To get a bird to trust you, could take many many months, it is something you have to earn. Spend time each and every day with the bird, try not to miss a day, birds love a routine.
Chat to him whenever you are home, even if you are in another room, he will become more familiar with your voice. Make a cd with your voice, talking to him, saying things you want him to learn, and leave it playing on and off when at home and out. At night, sit near him, play the recording, say the words along with him. Switch if off, then say them again, but a little slower. Stretch the word eg: love you.......looooooove youuuuuuuuu change the tone of your voice, to make it more interesting for him. Start off with small single words, then when he begins to say them add more on.
Go into the link below, sure you will find it useful : all about teaching your bird to talk

[/FONT]Teaching your bird to talk

Keep his cage where activity is constant.

Having done research on cages for African Greys'
the bigger the better.
Most cages designed for parrots of this size are at least 36 inches tall. There should be plenty of space between the top of the bird's head and the top of the cage. I will take special note of the bar spacing. Making sure the spacing is small enough, ensuring that any part will not get caught in between the bars, causing him injury.
Ensuring that there is enough room to flap his wings, stretch out, without having any obstructions. Making sure there are horizontally oriented bars, to allow him to climb on the sides of the cage. Have lots of toys for him to play with, keeping him occupied and stimulated at the same time.
He must get between 10 to 12 hours of undisturbed sleep each night.

Good luck
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[hicham]

ok, checking some of your images, I think you've seen the cage wrong, Cause I see it is as big as yours. it is 1meter high by like 1/2 a meter wide then like 25 cm large. I don't know I'll look for bigger cages in all cases. As for the other advices thanks a lot, I just left his cage open now, and I am sitting working, I'll see what he does

 

[hicham]

he woulnd't go out! he just put his head a bit out of the cage and that's it, got back in and doesn't try to reclimb out!