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The odds that another grey would get along with Rudy are slim so don't get another grey just to be a companion but because you really want another one. I would suggest you get another species of bird, probably whatever you choose will not get along with Rudy either but just having another bird in the house to interact with will be company enough. My two birds, one is a grey and the other is a sun conure, do not get along but they are out at the same time, the conure stays on me and the grey loves her daddy so they do not get close to one another. What you choose depends on whether you want a smaller bird or a larger bird but just think of what you would like to have as a companion for yourself and not as a buddy for Rudy. Of course if it turns out they do get along then you hit the jackpot.

Okay, so I will be posting some pictures in a while, but I wanted to get the current status of affairs out there. This weekend, I brought a new grey into the home. Casper is just about 13 weeks and beginning to take his first flights. So at first, Isaac was pretty curious as expected. Slowly approaching. Then Isaac seemed to want to feed him. Then like....trying to nibble at his toes kind of...not playfully...but more like not even knowing what this new thing was and probing for a response. Then it looked like he wanted to pry the beak off of Casper. So.....so far have to keep them separate or under heavy supervision. I can;t figure out what Isaac thinks, but I feel like Casper needs to get his bearings more and well as Isaac getting comfortable with a new bird in the house. On all other fronts, Isaac seems like business as usual, the encounters are precarious. If anyone has any advice on how to get Isaac to play nice, pass it along. I'll post some pics when I get back from lunch.

Hi guys, I hope this thread belongs here. I adopted an African grey last night. He's 10 years old and his name is Diego. I was looking on craigslist for a bird cage, planned on getting a Quaker soon, and there in the ads was an African grey for $550. Call me crazy but that was my dream bird and I took the chance and emailed the seller. She said he was being bullied by the family dog and he needed a new home. Me and my husband knew that we were taking a chance but we went and met him. She brought him in a tiny cat carrier, he had to bend over in it. He smelled so bad of cigarette smoke and his cage was so dirty. I couldn't leave him. She handed me his food, which was a Tupperware container containing a mix of seed, what looked like cat food, and salted peanuts. We took him home and bleached and scrubbed his cage. We threw away all his toys that could have held cigarette residue and went and bought him new ones. Also bought him new food. After setting all this up we put him in his cage and talked to him. He whistled and made all kinds of noises and danced. I went to do some work in the office and my husband went to take a shower. My kids start laughing and upon checking, Diego is off his cage wandering around the living room calling out in a microwave beep. So I go in the bathroom and tell my husband that I think Diego is looking for him. My husband calls him and Diego goes in to the bathroom and waits for my husband until he is done in the shower. Anytime he leaves the room Diego beeps at him like a microwave. This morning Diego was talking to me, but so softly I couldn't make out what he was saying. But that's my story of finding Diego. Any advice? I'm scared of his beak and have been using a small dowel rod my husband cut to have him step up with to put him back in his cage. He doesn't like it at all. I do plan on getting him to the avian vet soon to make sure he is ok from all the smoke and salt. The closest one in in St. Louis though, we are in the country. That's a few hours away. Can I take him to the regular vet? His claws are so long they are curling back. Thank you all for any and all advice or how to's or anything you've got for me.

About 20 years ago a friend gave me their African Grey Parrots, one was about 5 years older than the other, they have always been caged seperately,but in one big cage. A few weeks my older grey, larry suddenly passed on, we figure he was about 40 or so. I notice My remaining grey, Rudy( probably about 30 or so)sometimes faces larrys side of the cage and either looking or sleeping, other than that he is active, eats, does scream more than normal, I think. My question is should I get Rudy a partner? Thank you

Thank you very much

Judy offers good advice! I second it.

Hello, thanks for reply He didn't change environment he bite at random time ussly . But when he tries to go off me he is not stable and he start.to fall and bites all around, if i try to hold or make him step up to go down he bite me also. I though that cage is maybe a problsm because is to small so i am planning to give him whole small room or bigger cage. When he came, all members of family were able to handle him, when he start to bite whey whete afraid so i was the only one who cam play with him without getting bitten. But now he is much strogner and the bites are more painful, i can even take that pain on my hands but when he bitesl my ear its really painful. Here are some pics how that looks when he is on my shoulder.

When he spreads his wings all the middle feather arw gone.some broke.

He is still trying to pick out all his favourite bits from the bowl. I haven't tried him on chop only yet as I suspect he will reject it if he can't see any tasty looking morsels in there.

You need to slow things down a bit, give Diego a chance to settle into his new home, remember we talk in "grey time" here which means go slow and be very patient with him, don't rush him to do something he is uncomfortable with and allow him to make choices, greys do not like being forced to do something, they want things on their terms. He will let you know when he is ready for more interaction. I sympathize with the sharp nails as my greys are like needles and I get scratches from her on my hands, some people have luck with pumice type perches but either my grey is not using hers in such a way to wear her nail points down or I have them improperly placed but I usually have to take her and have hers trimmed as she is not willing to let me file them down but some have greys that will allow them to file them, lucky them. He was probably clipped so that's why he doesn't fly but his wings will grow back though it takes time for a full set to grow in. In the meantime if he has a habit of trying to fly off his cage put some pillows, towels or blankets around so he will have soft landings for a hard one could break his keel bone. He looks a darling from the picture you shared, don't hesitate to share more of him as we love photos.

Is it just the flight feathers that are messed up or are the wings mangled?

thank you for the reply, are all your birds greys? Would another "type" bird be better? thank you

So the woman told me she had to re-home him because her dog was being aggressive to him. Last night Diego tried to fly and he couldn't. His wings were very messed up.

Thank you for the advice! He did step up last night. Even climbed up my husbands pants legs to get onto his shoulder. Don't worry, I used the bleach outside then sprayed off the cage really well. The cage was that dirty! I didn't even want it in the house. He is still trying to only eat peanuts and sunflower seeds. Adding in veggies but he is scared of them, even when they are in small peices.

There is absolutely no guarantee that Rudy will accept another bird. I have 12 birds, and only a few get along. If you decide to get another one, you need to go in with an open mind that he might not connect with him.

Congrats on rescuing this beautiful grey. He is very lucky. I would do away with the dowel, those are scary if they are not used to it. If you put you hand facing down and make a fist, when you ask him to step up, there really is nothing for him to latch onto. This will help gain trust. Does he know how to step up? Please be careful of the bleach, that’s toxic and very bad for them. They have delicate respiring sytems and can die very quickly from toxic fumes. No candles, air fresheners, self cleaning ovens or chemicals.