picking up my grey today

Hello and welcome to the forum. We will look forward to hearing about your new Grey.

Jane

Hold on, this is the ride of a lifetime; very rewarding. ask away we can and will help.

Hi Rich,
There is your Avavtar ENJOY! You need to learn the first thing about a Grey. They live longer than you considering your old enough to own one. This boils down to: there is plenty of time for things to happen and most will not be on your schedule but theirs. That's the fun part! This is a wild animal you are bonding with. They can be trained but the trust has to be firmly established first. Like the old time train crossing signs: Stop, Look, and Listen! Read the FAQ section and ask away, this isn't my first rodeo and there is a collective here that will get you through it. Welcome. OH and the "cool sounds" haven't even started yet.

There's lots I need to know just to address the first part.
How old is the lil guy?
is the gage closed when this happens?
If the cage is open and there is nowhere for him to go and he is too young to have learned to climb to the top you'll get that reaction. If the door is closed; he simply wants the freedom to climb about. He just stares at you is a good sign that he is attentive noticing your different than what he is used to. Pete used to stratify to females but knew where the water and treats came from, and you want him to enjoy everyone as it creates a more socialized bird. It is very early to tell what is going on without detailed descriptions of each question. this should give you some bullet points to observe while forming more detail. Greys are unlike "lesser parrots" and usually will not fly away when you leave the door open, unless spooked they will climb and explore the cage and settle in for a nap in a comfortable position. Bird proof the place first. Ceiling fans off, toilet seats down, stove cool; window shades drawn until you know his excitability. You know the drill, you allready have a bird so it's the same protective precautions as when you learned it's quirks. I see my ISP is being rebooted so I hope this posts.

As he/she is only 6 months old rubbing the beak on the bars is quite typical, they often dig and scratch on the floor of the cage as well. Rubbing the beak on the perches is usually to clean it or to help keep it in trim, it is probably an instinctive thing.

They can also sometimes react differently to men and women.
Mitzi much prefers women and always has done. In fact she can be very intolerant of men although she has no reason to be. Some people think that Greys prefer humans of the opposite sex but I don't think this has ever been scientifically proven and with Mitzi it doesn't apply anyway because she is a DNA sexed female.

Jane

hi,thanx for the replys.my little guy is 6 months old.he rubs his beak across the bars on the inside of the cage and the outside of the cage.sometimes when i ask him to step up he pushes my fingers away with his beak.he is a very nice bird and chatters alot so i hope one day he will talk.


thanx,
rich

Forgot to mention something -- he IS watching you. He is sizing you up like you've never been sized up before. Greys know what mood you're in before you realize it yourself. They are so amazing. He will study you hard at first. Trust will grow. You will feel like your heart isn't big enough to hold all the love. Vicky