depblondie
Just Hatched
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 5
Pets: CAG, U2, Great Dane, 2 cats, 3 bearded dragons, redfoot tortoise, leopard gecko, fish tank
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Post by depblondie on Dec 23, 2014 19:02:53 GMT -7
I am having problems with my new grey. She is 9 months old and i got her in october. She still will not let us touch her if she is in or on her cage. She growls and tries to bite. I can handdfed her treats but no touching. Today when i got up i noticed she had shredded all her beautiful tail feathers. Now there is just raggedy nubs. I have never had these kinds of problems with a bird before. I dont know what to do with her. She has plenty of toys to occupy her as well. Any ideas would be helpful.
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Post by Haz on Dec 23, 2014 20:08:02 GMT -7
When I got my first grey, the breeder warned me to expect attitude at around 9 months, that they become nippy around then. I did get a couple of nips from him. He soon grew out of that. I just gave him a toy to play with instead of my fingers.
My current grey has never had attitude except verbally. She likes to talk back with attitude but that is not painful.
It is not unusual for greys to become possessive of their cage. That is their territory. Let her come out first before attempting to touch her.
I'm not sure what happened to her tail. Max often had raggedy tail feathers from rough play.
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depblondie
Just Hatched
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 5
Pets: CAG, U2, Great Dane, 2 cats, 3 bearded dragons, redfoot tortoise, leopard gecko, fish tank
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Post by depblondie on Dec 23, 2014 20:51:10 GMT -7
Her tail feathers are beyond raggedy, they are all but gone. She did not pluck them because there are nubs left, she shredded them to pieces.
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Post by Grant on Dec 23, 2014 21:01:34 GMT -7
Is your Grey's name U2? That is pretty cool name!
Regarding the feather shredding, is there anything surrounding her cage that may be creating a potential stress?
Many greys do not want to be touched but they can change and learn to love head scratches, beak rubs and mandible massages. Since she is accepting treats you will be able to earn her trust and touch her but it will take time. Start by just holding your hand with a treat near her beak and over time begin to touch it. It is a slow process but well worth it. If you have had that interaction with your other birds then you know how special that can be.
Grant
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depblondie
Just Hatched
Joined: October 2014
Posts: 5
Pets: CAG, U2, Great Dane, 2 cats, 3 bearded dragons, redfoot tortoise, leopard gecko, fish tank
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Post by depblondie on Dec 23, 2014 22:55:42 GMT -7
Her name is Lexi. I have a U2 (umbrella cockatoo) named Cady as well.
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Post by Jane on Dec 24, 2014 5:23:54 GMT -7
Hello and welcome to the forum.
Young Greys do sometimes shred or pluck their tail feathers but grow out of it in the end. Sometimes if one gets damaged it can lead to them overpreening the others in their attempts to sort out the damaged one.
Also, she might be starting her first molt and that can cause irritation as the new feathers come in.
Jane
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