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Post by trustnjah4ever on Jun 9, 2012 19:20:10 GMT -7
Hello, I just brought home a rescue African Grey. He is 10 years old. He has feather barbering issues. The lady I got him from said that the vet said that it was a nervous habit like biting nails. She also said that she was told that he came from a daycare where kids use to bang on his cage  . I could use all the advice I can get because I want to be the best mom possible. This is his last home and I want to make sure it is a good one. Thank you all for your time. |
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Post by Jane on Jun 10, 2012 1:55:01 GMT -7
Hello and welcome to the forum. It is wonderful that you are giving him a permanent loving home. Greys are sensitive and can be nervous so go at his pace and don't introduce too many new things at once. Keep talking to him and reassuring him. Greys are very intelligent, they develop a different relationship with each person and they respond to the way they are treated.
Regarding the feather issues, has he got clipped wings?
Jane
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Post by trustnjah4ever on Jun 10, 2012 4:27:02 GMT -7
Thank you so much for replying. His wings are not clipped. I am so grateful to have someone to talk to!  |
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Post by trustnjah4ever on Jun 10, 2012 4:31:22 GMT -7
I also would like to introduce some foraging toys. Is this a good idea? How would I go about it? Also, I was reading last night about an aloe spray and using powder cuttle bone on his food. Are these good ideas? If so, are there any products that are better than others?
Thanks Again,
Donna
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Post by Jane on Jun 10, 2012 5:01:05 GMT -7
Foraging toys are a good idea. You can just wrap things up in paper, put things in boxes, or they like cardboard tubes, rolls of paper etc. Greys can be very nervous of anything new so you might need to introduce toys gradually, depending on what he is used to.
You can use plain aloe vera juice in water to spray him. Not all Greys enjoy being sprayed so you might have to go carefully to start with.
Cuttle bone is often used for the calcium but it tends not to be absorbed very well in that form. Give him green veg such as broccoli, kale, also almonds, a little bit of hard cheese every now and then.
Jane
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Post by Sue A on Jun 10, 2012 8:04:48 GMT -7
Good for you and great for your new grey. When the grey allows you close try feeding him or her some foods it may like. I did that with my Eclectus when he sat next to me and now he loves to sit as he got to know me. Good luck. Sue
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Post by trustnjah4ever on Jun 19, 2012 18:14:25 GMT -7
Hello,
Thank you all so much for your support and help. I am so excited to tell you all that today he took a treat from my hand! I cried.
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Post by greybaby on Jun 19, 2012 22:38:16 GMT -7
Congratulations on your new grey - and welcome to the forum. You are among friends here and will have support from all of us. We have had the joy of rescuing two greys and patience is the key. He is very lucky to have you in his life.
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Post by welovedj on Jun 20, 2012 5:05:37 GMT -7
How wonderful Donna!!
I'm so glad you gave him a loving forever home, sounds like you are making progress.
I don't think that biting nails is necessarily nerves ?? DJ plays/bites his nails all the time and he's generally not a nervous bird.
What is your new baby's name???
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Post by Haz on Jun 20, 2012 6:31:35 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum. It is wonderful that he is now in his forever home.
Most greys are nervous of new toys. Introduce new toys slowly. He should especially enjoy toys he can destroy. Chyloe enjoys a preening brush toy and lots of wooden toys she can chomp.
We are here if you have questions. Enjoy your new baby.
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Post by DF on Jun 20, 2012 8:15:45 GMT -7
Congrats on your new grey - and welcome to another Donna!
Donna F
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Post by beakertrout on Jun 20, 2012 9:28:47 GMT -7
Congrats on the new addition.
Hope for the best.
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Post by lenke on Jun 21, 2012 1:49:34 GMT -7
hey donna
welcome and well done!
take it nice and slow. let your boy show you how much or how little he wants to do.
as jane says, talk to him ALL THE TIME, or hum, or sing or read out loud....
my lucky, also a rescue, took about 3 weeks to decide my fingers weren't edible
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Post by loyce on Jun 21, 2012 7:46:37 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum. I have my girls clipped so that no accidents like flying out the door or into a hot kitchen happen.
Leave the door of his cage open and let him explore his area. Slowly introduce new things to him including foods. Our girls love Ramon noodles soaked in water or juice, Shirl and Michael get the credit for those, which the girls love.
Watch his body language, if he fluffs up and or puts his head down, then back off. That is usually a sign they will strike. Just putting their heads down without the fluffed feathers mean they want to be touched, but as Lenks will tell you Lucky is a sly little devil and will do that to fool you into trying to pet him.
Over time you will recognize the body language and things will be good between you.
Are you alone or are there others in the house to include pets?
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Sylvie
Weaned Todd
Joined: June 2012
Posts: 57
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Post by Sylvie on Jun 25, 2012 7:09:53 GMT -7
A little foraging thing I thought of this morning was the empty paracetamol boxes....can be filled with bits and pieces...and come in many colours too!!
I grow my own veg and mine seems to love the whole carrot with the stalks and all wrapped around his cage bars!! The carrot are baby ones so are really sweet and juicy!
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. I could use all the advice I can get because I want to be the best mom possible. This is his last home and I want to make sure it is a good one. Thank you all for your time.
