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pinkprincess
Egg
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 7
Location: WILTON sALISBURY |
| new owner any help please |
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Hi all,
Just looking at the site i think it's great.
I have got an african gray thats about a year old, i have had him for two weeks and his name is honey bunny.
He is a very quiet bird he will not make a sound in his cage unless you get near the cage then he will growl. How can i calm him down?
When i let him out he is happy to sit on his cage and he will make a few sounds. How can i make him more vocal?
He will get back in his cage when he has had enough of being out.
He will not let me touch him all he does is scream and when i do get hold of him he bites
I need some tips if anyone can help i know they need time to trust someone.
Many thanks
Nicky   |
Thursday September 29, 2005 12:18 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
Hi Nicky,
Welcome to the forum!
There are a few African Grey owners around, so hopefully they'll be able to give you a more in depth advice. Unfortunately I do not have grey but cockatoo and budgies.
From the sound of things, I'd say you've only had him very briefly, give him his own timing to adjust to his new surrounding. Most birds need a bit of time to get comfortable at the new home, and to open up to people and slowly build the bond with it's owner. I'm sorry I can't be of any more help.  But may be Shirin may be able to give you some advice as she is owned by an African Grey as well!!  Good luck.
Have fun
Bih |
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Thursday September 29, 2005 2:42 pm |
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Tia
Fledgeling
Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Illinois |
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Hi Nicky
Two weeks is not a very long time for a grey. Greys are extremely sensitive birds and they do not take to change nicely at all. The growling is his way of letting you know that he is scared yet defending his nest. I would take things very slowly...it took me a month before Sam would let me get close to him. He needs to get used to his new surroundings. Offer him treats...be aware he might snub you for a few days. I would offer treats and let my Sam perch on his cage..he has a huge cage with a play area on top...I would stand by the cage and just talk to him...after a few weeks i would put my hand on the cage as I was talking in a very soft calm voice, at first he ignored me then one day he came over to me and he gave me a nip.....I did all i could to not react to it, granted he didn't bite me but pinched me with is beak. I told him no in a firm yet calm voice....after a few weeks of that he let me give him a quick scritch....I was sooooooo happy on that day! As time went on he let me touch him more and now he woos me over for time with him. Honey needs to learn to trust you and that does take time......patience is the best advice I can give you! Hang in there one day you too will break through! Talking is the best way to get him to talk as well, greys are pretty quiet birds.....and you have to realize not all greys will be vocal.....just like us humans some are chatty and some are not. Just keep talking to him...tell him all about your day, give him tons of praise too! They love that.  |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 3:07 am |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
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Hi Nicky  My grey's name is Bunny too, and I always call him honey bunny  Like Tia said, Greys are extremely sensitive to change and take a lot longer to adjust than most birds to their new environments and new companions. When I first brought my baby home, he was the exact same way as yours. He wouldn't let me pick him up, and he would try to bite. I pretty much had to give him his space for about 3-4 weeks. I would let him out of his cage everyday and talk to him but that was as far as our interaction went. With Greys you sort of really have to earn their love and trust, they don't just fall in love with you the first day you bring them home. They watch you very closesly while deciding if you can be trusted and whether or not you will make a strong flock leader. After about 4 weeks of observing me, my Grey came to me on his own. I was on the floor studying, and he for the first time ever, climbed down his cage and came to me and started playing with my highlighters. It was the sweetest moment ever So I recommend that you just give him time, and let him watch you for a couple of more weeks, and he will come around. And when he does eventually develop a bond with you, it will be the most special bond ever, because you'll know that he doesn't trust anyone the way he trusts and loves you Once he becomes more confident and comfortable in his environment, he'll become more vocal too. He might not talk, because not all parrots talk, but he'll definitely become more vocal |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 2:53 pm |
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pinkprincess
Egg
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 7
Location: WILTON sALISBURY |
| Thank you |
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Thank you so much for your help, it's nice to know that there is somewhere to go if i have any problems.
Honey bunny is picking up new sounds and doing new things everyday.
My partner thinks that i have him out too much, but i just say if he is happy i am happy. I would not want to be locked up in a cage all day .
The last few day's he has started to preen himself in front of me, i have been told that they do not do that unless they feel secure is that true?.
Many thanks
Nicky.x |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 7:45 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
That's so great sounds like he's coming along just fine! Relaxing his feathers and preening himself in front of you is definitely a sign that he's feeling more confident and less fearful around you. You're doing the right thing by letting him out of his cage as much as possible. A bird who is left in his cage all day long is bound to get bored, no matter how big the cage is and how many toys he has. And boredom could lead to feather mutilation. African Greys are highly prone to plucking their feathers, so you definitely wouldn't want him to get bored |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 8:22 pm |
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Tia
Fledgeling
Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Illinois |
Yeah, sounds like things are going to work out for you! Keep us posted! |
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Wednesday October 5, 2005 3:01 am |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: new owner any help please |
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Hi there!
Welcome to this site..
What a cute name, Honey Bunny.. Shirin's grey is called Bunny..
I am sorry to hear that HB growls when you approach his cage..
Can I ask if his wings are clipped? Does he know how to step up?
I would not try to pet him at this time.. |
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Friday October 7, 2005 10:02 am |
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pinkprincess
Egg
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 7
Location: WILTON sALISBURY |
| wings |
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Hi all,
Thank you for your support.
His wings are not clipped and he will not let me near him yet.
Any suggestions for handling i have been waiting for him to come to me.
Kind regards
Nicky. |
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Thursday October 13, 2005 10:02 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
Hi Nicky
I might be an idea to some how get him to someone who knows how to clip/trim bird wings as this does help tremendously how a bird would interact with humans. It might be easier for you to handle him. |
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Thursday October 13, 2005 10:25 am |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
I definately recommend getting his wings clipped sooner than later. Even if he wont let you touch him, there are alternative ways to get him into a carrier or a smaller cage so you can take him to the vet. We can all help you here. In my opinion, without his wings clipped he will get the upper hand which is much harder to reverse than it is to develope. |
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Thursday October 13, 2005 7:40 pm |
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pinkprincess
Egg
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 7
Location: WILTON sALISBURY |
Thank you for your help.
I live in the uk not sure where to find a good vet to clip his wings.
I have had him for 4 weeks now and he still growls at me and it's quite fustrating.
Yesterday he was out of his cage all day making lots of sounds and i am sure he is starting to say something like hello.
I will keep you posted and have a look on the internet for local vets.
Nicky |
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Friday October 14, 2005 4:19 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
hi Nicky,
Please don't be discouraged by the way it's interacting with you now... some birds just take a lot longer than others to build that bond with it's owner, and African greys are notorious for taking a lot longer to bond with that someone!! HB will come around one day and you'll just adore that little guy to death!! good luck find that elusive vet to help you trim it's wings... Otherwise what about specialised bird places/shops? the bird shops down the road from us does a good job of wing and nail trimming. |
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Friday October 14, 2005 4:24 pm |
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bokgrasul
Egg
Joined: 27 Oct 2005
Posts: 14
Location: ROMANIA |
I will tell you know the best trick on market!
Free! You will nowere find it!
My Riko was exactly like yours! Good, smart, funny parrot! Until I come near the cage! When i reach his cage he screams like a maniak!
That all happened until today (after a long, frustrating months)
I will tell you my secret! Ready?
ok! Do not feed him ! For a day or two! I promise , he will live! But at the end of o diet-day , he will come and eat the treat from your hand! But you have to be patiente! First , try to put the treat at the end of a stick! then try with the bare hand!
For me it worked! |
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Thursday October 27, 2005 8:27 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
 I strongly disagree with this. I read somewhere that it's dangerous to allow your bird to go to sleep with an empty crop, and that it could cause serious health problems. That aside, I think it's very cruel to starve a poor bird to get them to do what you want. There's other ways. Nicky, please don't starve your bird! |
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Friday October 28, 2005 4:15 am |
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