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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
| New TAG today! My first please help! |
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I picked up an African Grey Parrot today at the Local Shelter. From what I know, she is a female, 5 years old, and that is it!!!
Please give me any and all suggestions you can on this African Greys to make her transition as smooth as can be expected in her case.
Im not sure if she bites or anything about her, please help so that I can be more relaxed and enjoy my great find and new member of family. Thanks.. |
Wednesday December 13, 2006 3:45 am |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
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Frist thing relaxe, We have done this very thing a number of times...
Welcome to fluffies, There is no reason to panic.
1. Food and water,
the first thing to discover is what kind of food is he eating. You have got to try anything and everything. Including Table scraps, seed, sunflower seeds what every it takes to get him or her eating.
2. Cage and location.
the second thing is his Cage and the location of the cage. As soon as you can, Go out and get the largest cage you can, a 36 x 24 x 58 would be a nice size. Location, this guy is intellgent, he want to see everything, but is is scared to death. Place him in a coner where he can watch as much comings and going as he can. but where he can feel protected on at lest two side of his cage. At this point he want to see everything but he does not want to be a part of the action.
3. Handling.
Don't.... Handle him right now. Allow him time to adjust, Discover his favorite treat, Then Feed him his favorite treat through the bars.
Most of the time you want see the real bird for a couple of weeks. It will take him this long to settle in to the routine. You don't want to force yourself on him durning this period. You may get bite by a bird that does not know how to bite until you teach him to bite by sticking your hand in there for him to bite while he is scared... These guys are real shy birds most of the time, so don't force him into do things allow him to go at his pace. After he is settled in then you can see about a heathly diet, training, and other problems. For now this is the "Honeymoon" period. Enjoy it, you have a challenge ahead of you. But the rewards are equal to the challenage.
I know this will leave you with more questions then answers, but relaxe. You have time, it takes 2 to 12 months to get a grey to trust a new owner. Just the 3 things outlined so far. and post pictures on your free homepage, and keep up with his progress on the free diary here...
John |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 4:48 am |
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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
| New African Grey |
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Hi John..Thank you so much for all the information. I will take all your suggestions since after viewing your homepage, you must be very knowledgeable on birds. I have only had parakeets.
Can you suggest to me what human foods that your African Grey likes best, as your suggestion to feed through the cage to gain trust sounds like a good plan.
I plan on buying some books to educate myself on AG, but in the meantime, any helpful information is welcomed and very much appreciated.
Rene |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 5:18 am |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
Rene,
At this point the important thing is to get him eating, anything.
Human food, he will eat anything but no...
No Coffee
No Candy
No Dariy
Low salt
a couple of other things as well.
To a bird eating is a soical event, He will eat what ever you eat when you are eating it in front of him..
For treats try sunfollower seeds shell unsalted. This is like candy to them, He will love it. But it is just as heathy for him to eat, So only give it to him as a treat, none in his bowl, pick all sunfollower out. The only way he gets a sunfollower seed is from your hand. Everytime he see you have a sunfollower seed ready to pop into his mouth...He will fall in love with you real quick...
John |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 10:23 am |
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Gemma
Flier
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 846
Location: Essex, England |
 Hello Rene
Congrats on the new TAG. Do you have a name for him yet? Well I don't think there is anything I can say after John's essay Just let him settle down because after the first couple of days when they are too scared to be naughty they sometimes turn into little horrors. Hope for some pictures soon Good luck and welcome to fluffies
Gemma |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 2:59 pm |
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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
Hi Gemma...HER name is Maui. This morning she doesn't seem to be very shy. I sliced some apple and she took it right from me and starting eating it. Even my chihuahua's don't seem to phase her. She throws seeds at my puppy and she runs over to eat it..Pretty funny!
I did notice that she squawked when my husband entered the room this morning. She had not met him until this morning. I really didnt know if she perfers men, or if she squawked because she was scared of him.
Im off today to the bookstore to get educated on AG! I think a new cage is in order as well.
What do you think about a vet visit? Do I need to do this right away? She seems in good health and spirit, but I've heard horror stories about Parrot fever, etc. What would you all do?
Also, my husbands work associatiate says African Greys sell for $1,000's.
Is that true? I wouldn't sell her, but was just wondering how someone could let her escape and not look for her. Thanks everyone..Rene |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 3:31 pm |
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Gemma
Flier
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 846
Location: Essex, England |
Here an adult costs around £800 - £1000 but I dont know how much a handreared baby would cost.
Gemma |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 3:45 pm |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
A TAG is a little cheeper then a CAG, but right around $1000.00 for a baby, an Audlt general is a little Cheeper then that. Again it depends on where and when..
John |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 4:10 pm |
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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
| Type of African Grey |
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I was not told what she is, but after reading a little about them, Im assuming a TAG.
She is Grey and white and has maroon on her tail..Is that a TAG? |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 4:14 pm |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
| Re: Type of African Grey |
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quote:
Originally posted by naenae52
I was not told what she is, but after reading a little about them, Im assuming a TAG.
She is Grey and white and has maroon on her tail..Is that a TAG?
Post a picture if you can, then we can tell you...
John |
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Wednesday December 13, 2006 5:57 pm |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
Hi,
How are things going with your Grey?
John |
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Thursday December 14, 2006 9:11 pm |
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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
| Checking back in... |
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HI John..I have been very buisy with Maui. I was not happy with a little wire cage that she was in, so I searched for the perfect cage. A very large iron cage as you suggested. I took her to Pet-Orama today, where there is a very knowledgeable bird lady working there that clipped her wings and nails for me. She also showed me how to be the boss and stick my hand in the cage and say "Step Up" which she did great. The lady also carried her all through the pet store on her shoulder and told me not one time did she threaten to bite. That was good news to me and now I am much more comfortible with her. She told me I need to be the boss and not be afraid and be sure and let her play on top of her cage dailey, that it didnt take long for tame birds to become wild again.
So..I have learned alot over the last few days, from this forum and from the petshop. I think It will be great. I just hope that she will talk for me. I nearly bought a Parrot CD that teaches songs and simple phrases, but she told me to wait. What do you think about that? I went to the library and picke up 5 African Gray Books to read. Im very interested in making her transition as smooth as possible.
Thanks for thinking of me and my efforts to acquaint with my new baby "Maui". Rene |
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Thursday December 14, 2006 9:28 pm |
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naenae52
Egg
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Texas |
| Amazing! |
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Just wanted to tell everyone what happened a minute ago.
When I was adopting Maui from a neighbor, she flew away. I contacted the animal shelter and Pet Finders that she was missing and the animal shelter contacted me two days later that they had her.
Well..a minute ago, I get a phone call from some man 15 miles away that was listing an African Gray FOUND Add on Petfinders and saw my LOST add.
He contacted me and was so dissapointed that his found bird was NOT my lost bird. His was a Congo and mine a Timneh. He said that he is NOT a bird person and wanted to know if I would take him. I told him, I didnt think that I could care for two at this time because I am still learning. He was very dissapointed because he said this bird talks too much and really freaks him out. He said that he bought a cage and toys and if i knew anyone that wanted him to call him back. He wanted no profits everything free to whomever would take him....
I just thought that was amazing...Im checking around for him. Just hope this is not a WACKO!!! LOL!
Rene |
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Thursday December 14, 2006 10:30 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: New TAG today! My first please help! |
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Hi naenae52,
that is great that you're taking in a grey and giving her another chance.
Do you have photos of her? |
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Thursday December 14, 2006 10:37 pm |
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Jrmno1
Flying tumbler
Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 2310
Location: Ohio, USA |
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There are a number of different schools of thought concerning train a bird. I was not there but it scares me to here the word "Boss". I come from the school of thought where you don't force the bird to do anything. however you can not show fear. They will use that against you true enough. But consider two things with your experence at the pet shop. 1. He was still getting settled in, you take him to a whole new and dangrous place, he will react just like he did. 2. He was on a strangers shoulder. They are very, very shy birds, and in order to fully realize the potinal of the relationship between you and him, you must gain his trust, unconditconal trust in you. You will not gain this trust by taking on the mantal of "Boss", it should be more along the lines of a partnership, a devoted compaion. Barbara Heidenreich is one of the nations top parrot experts, I would recomand you get one of her DVD's.
http://hometown.aol.com/gbirdinc/vidoes.html
She also has a web site
http://goodbirdinc.com/
This is where I would start. I hope I have not offended you by all this, and I hope I am wrong about your friend at the pet store. I am genuinely concerned about all birds and the people who love them such as your self...
John |
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Thursday December 14, 2006 10:45 pm |
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