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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
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I was told not to get an african for the family because the are one person birds...and get mean? |
Saturday June 3, 2006 3:56 am |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
It's not true for every single African grey, but generally it tends to be true. My Grey Loves only me, and will bite anyone else who tried to handle her. But there are Greys who if socialised from a very young age can get along with different people. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 4:12 am |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
I kinda figured that...seems to be true for most birds.
I just REALLY want an african  I still have a lot of research to do first!
Thanks for the input  |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 4:27 am |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
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ok this is what this person is telling me VIA yahoo messenger...
Nicole: no no no grey are that way no matter what
Nicole: they will be super sweet to who they pick and everyone else they will be like a pit bull waiting to attack
Nicole: theres alot of rules to owning a grey and someone whos not very used to birds in general will end up getting rid of them for behavior problems
stacy: there are rules to macaws too
Nicole: nothing like greys those are basic to most birds
Nicole: greys are a breed of their own they are very dominant
Nicole: they aren't good to have around kids either
Nicole: ours almost took Alekseis finger off
stacy: you had one
Nicole: he was used to him
Nicole: yes I lived and learned the hard way
stacy: did you have it from birth
stacy: well weaned
Nicole: it was on hand feedings when we got him I only fed him too
stacy: they let you take him on hand feedings?
Nicole: THEY choose who their owner is not you choosing the bird
Nicole: yes
Nicole: I was shown how and did it like 6 times before we left
I just copied the convo.... |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 4:44 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
The thing I would be concerned with Stacy is the major dust that comes from Greys.
At one time I wanted to get a Grey very bad, but was strongly discouraged becuz macaws have very sensitive respiratory systems & don't tolerate the dust well at all. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 11:30 am |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
ahhh see I thought that was just with too's. Thanks |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 11:34 am |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
'Toos also, for sure, becuz of the amount of dust they produce.
I know of quite a few people who do live with macaws & greys in the same household. Heck, my step daughter lives with a grey, 3 B&G macaws & 2 'toos! But I think that the accumulative effect on a macaw, over the years would cut his life span short quite a bit. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 11:57 am |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
I was thinking that Ive seen many people combine the two. Not saying that, that means Im disregarding the advice 
We have a few ok...2 birds we are considering for the future...so this isnt something Im jumping into anytime soon. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 12:02 pm |
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Cathy
Kamikaze pilot
Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 6673
Location: Omaha, NE USA |
In the end, I opted for a sennie instead of a grey & I don't regret making that decision. But of course the decision is each individuals own, so don't let ME discourage you, just want to bring it up as something for you to consider. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 12:08 pm |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
All advice is greatly appreciated! As I said we are just researching as of now... |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 12:16 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
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I think the person you spoke to is speaking from her own personal experience, and it sounds like she didn't socialize her grey very well. I know someone who has a rehomed Grey, and he was a mess when she got him, but now he's very social and happy. When I was at her house I saw her 7 year old daughter pick up the grey and kiss his beak and give him scritches and he loved it. Yes, generally they do gravitate towards one person, but they don't just pick a person at random, they bond with whomever spends the most time with them. My Grey is not very socialized, because I don't have any family, and none of my friends are bird people, but I truly believe that if your Grey is around a lot of people and handled by a lot of people from an early age then he will learn to tolerate people. To say that Greys are like pitbulls to everyone else is a bit over exagerated. I think her Grey just had behavioural problems. My Grey has never bit anyone hard enough to draw blood and has never taken anyone's finger off . She just nips their finger to say don't touch me. I also don't agree that Greys are very dominant. My Grey is a shy little thing. Birds only become dominant if they haven't been trained well. I'm wondering what happened to this person's Grey? Did she rehome him?
Now the dust that Cathy brought up, I totally agree with  When I wear balck and hug my Grey I get white powder all over me, as if I was baking a cake or something |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 1:52 pm |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
Thats what I figured...most birds need the same thing...love and attention.
She had 3 birds...a rose breasted too, a grey...and Im not sure the 3rd...she *rehomed* them all. |
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Saturday June 3, 2006 8:05 pm |
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kwazybirdz
Egg
Joined: 28 May 2006
Posts: 15
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shirin, while I agree with you, I have found with my grey, that she scenses fear & reacts accordingly with a pretentious nip. people back off reinforcing that behavior so she thinks she can do it to anyone. I tell my husband when he got bit the other day, stand over top of her & make her do step ups to show you aren't afraid as well as more dominant. no dice once bitten, twice shy. that appears to be the general scenario with most people, intimidated by the beak, show fear, bird senses, reacts & the cycle continues. I have tried to socialize tonka, but the only one brave enough to handle her is my eldest son & they get along well.
take care
t |
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Monday June 5, 2006 1:21 am |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Yes, you're totally right, showing a bird fear will make them feel superior to you. I have found this to be true with every species of parrots though, not just greys. |
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Monday June 5, 2006 2:08 am |
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StacyB
Bappie
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Michigan |
I totally understand that too! |
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Monday June 5, 2006 2:27 am |
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