Questions about behavior of my new bird.

[MrBackpack]

So, my wife and I just adopted our first bird, a 7-year-old Congo African Grey, and we have questions upon questions.

First and formost, he's VERY upset about being moved from his old home and has since clipped and cut most of his feathers along his chest and back giving him a very fluffy and ragged look, his actual breast bone is bare. We think that this is because of the long trip and new invironment, but this is the first behavior that we want to correct more than anything, we want him to be healthy and well-adjusted.

Also, he's rather nippy with everyone, including his previous owners, he got me rather good when I was trying to hang a new toy for him to destory in his old cage. Its a very small cage, maybe 2.5'x2.5'x3.5-4' tall and we are going to move him to the HUGE macaw cage that I have set up.

Also, on occasion, he'll lift his wings away from his body and shake and make grunting, squeaking noises likes he's struggling with something. his old owners said that this was mating behavior and to just let him cool off in his cage, is this correct? If he's not hold his wings out, he'll occasionally sit on his perch and shiver while just staring at me or my wife.

Also, I was informed that his favorite food are sweet potatos, boiled, mashed and cooled, are these okay for him to have?

I have some pictures of him, but none of them have really turned out becasue of the lighting at the time, hopefully I can get some better pics soon or when we move him over to the new cage.

I welcome ANY advice that anyone can give, we want to provide the best possible home for Bobby.

 

[Kalidasa]

Congratulations on your new boy! he'll take a little time to settle in. Sweet potatoes are nutritious, and the way you're serving them is perfect. Make sure he has plenty to shred to keep his beak busy, it might take a while for him to break of that habit, so don't be discouraged about it. The more he has to to, and the more attention he gets, the less he will pluck (ruling out health issues). Hang out near him often, talking to him. Make sure he's in the busiest room of the house so he gets acclimated and figures out all the new sights and sounds. Moving is traumatic for any bird, so take it slow & good luck

 

[Shayner]

He's going to need some time to settle in proper make sure he's getting a good quality pellet and lots of fresh fruit and veggies lots of new toys to keep him occupied, maybe try foraging toys? Talk to him spend time with him! Share oatmeal with him in the morning? Show him your not a threat. things will turn around just give him some time, I'm sure you 2 will be the best of friends!!

 

[MikeyTN]

Sweet potatoes would be great for him to have!!! He's nervous right now which is no unusual for new birds to feel that way. Give him time to get adjusted and acquainted with everything. Get him adjusted to a training perch and get him to step up onto it and do step up training with it. Use two perches for that process! Only use your hand once he's learned how to step up good on training perches. So that way you wouldn't get bit.

On the new cage, give him about a month to settle before moving him into the new cage. Sometimes you will see behavior change moving into a new cage. He may freak out at first but he will get over it. I would highly suggest leaving on a night light for the time being. I've seen good changes when moving into a new cage. He might just turn 360 on you and behave like he should.

 

[MrBackpack]

He's going to need some time to settle in proper make sure he's getting a good quality pellet and lots of fresh fruit and veggies lots of new toys to keep him occupied, maybe try foraging toys? Talk to him spend time with him! Share oatmeal with him in the morning? Show him your not a threat. things will turn around just give him some time, I'm sure you 2 will be the best of friends!!

I normally don't have the time for breakfast in the morning, I leave my house at 0500 to be at work on time.

his little cage, the one that came with him, is in the downstairs where we spend the majority of out time at home. Right now, my wife is at home while I'm working a double.

I've got several toys on order from the sale at mysafebirdstore, and I have lumber sitting in my garage just waiting to be made into perches and toys for him.

Right now, he won't let us get him out of the cage, nor does he want to get out, so we're giving him his space while still spending a good amount of time near him. He loves shredding the empty wrapping paper rolls that we had from Christmas, and I have dozens of them for him to destory to his little heart's content.

 

[MrBackpack]

He's going to need some time to settle in proper make sure he's getting a good quality pellet and lots of fresh fruit and veggies lots of new toys to keep him occupied, maybe try foraging toys? Talk to him spend time with him! Share oatmeal with him in the morning? Show him your not a threat. things will turn around just give him some time, I'm sure you 2 will be the best of friends!!

he has Roudybush medium pellets that are the only kind he'll eat, he loves grapes and will nibble at carrots before throwing them arround his cage like toys, and I'll be making a sweet potatos mash tonight for dinner.

 

[Shayner]

Right on roudybush seem to be a good pellet anyways! And i think giving him his space is exactly whats needed right now, good thinking. Your trying and right now thats about all you can do, like i said he'll come around eventually just needs time to settle it.

 

[Shayner]

Oh and i order all my stuff from mysafebirdstore as well! And as for the wrapping paper rolls if he loves it, its keeping him occupied and happy so keep the rolls coming!

 

[MrBackpack]

He seems to be settling into his new life with us very well. He likes to approach the side of his cage whenever my wife or I come over or walk by. And holy crap does he LOVE sweet potatoes, I thought that he was going to suffocate himself in them with they way that he dived into his food bowl.

wrapping paper roll kill count is at 6

Our real problem right now is getting the cat to leave his cage alone and to not climb on it.

Question: what do y'all use as a cage liner? I bought that crushed walnut litter and I was wondering if there was a better alternative.

 

[thekarens]

I use newspaper.

 

[Shayner]

I agree with thekarens iv always used news paper spray the legs of the cage with a citrus like lemon or lime or orange cats hate it! Its good to hear that he's settling in well!