Keri

Thanks for the reply @baileyspapa. No smokers here. We've had her about 4 months. This is definitely a new sound. My son just came home from college and I have heard him coughing a couple of mornings. I really think she is just mimicking. Just wanted to make sure they don't cough for real.

My grey has started making a coughing sound. I don't know if she is mimicking a human cough or if she is actually coughing. Do birds get sick and cough?

Oh my gosh Rick! That is exactly what Morgan does with my husband. And when she's out of her cage, if he is home, she is at his feet wanting to be picked up. She'll make this croaking/farting noise until he picks her up then she gets all excited and starts with the "love dance", as katana600 called it! Will Cosmo go to anyone else or just you?

I guess I was hoping that we could be friends like I am friends with my dogs. They welcome snuggling, kisses, petting, etc. from anyone ready and willing to provide them. Yes, she did come over to me on her own and she seemed fine, but I feel like she only came to attack me. I did not provoke her in any way. Now I'm scared that's what she'll do anytime she comes near me. I don't want to be scared of her.

Good point...I never thought that I might remind her of someone else. I am very happy that she loves my husband. At least she seems to be very happy and comfortable. And I do get much joy out of her even though I can't be hands on. She is very, very talkative, she has fun in and out of her cage. She even likes our two labs. She plays with them often. We are constantly laughing about the things she says and does. I hope that I will eventually find a way into her heart. I know not to try to hold her, but how do I let her come to me on her own without the fear of being bit? It's frustrating.

Oh no! I hope that Morgan will eventually come around and let me hold her. Sounds like you have a ton of patience. I hope I will too.

Hi everyone, some of you may remember me. I am rehoming 15 year old Morgan. It's been about 3 weeks now. I posted some questions in the first few days. Morgan had bitten me twice in the first day. The biggest response I got was be patient/grey time. After all the reading and advice I realized I was expecting too much too soon and accepted that it would take a while for her to get comfortable with me. No problem! Well... When I brought her home my husband was out of town. He came home on her 3rd day here. He walked in, went to her cage (she was hanging out on the outside of it). He was talking to her, put his hand on the cage and she walked right up to him, onto his hand and all the way up his arm. All the while chirping and bouncing like she was the happiest bird in the world! I couldn't believe it. Any time he is around she goes right up to him. She wants to be as close as possible. And she gets soooo excited. And yes, she tries to feed him her regurgitated food. She loves him! Me, not so much. I am so nice to her. I talk to her all the time. I feed her. I give her new toys. She growls at me! I haven't tried to touch her again, but one night we were watching tv. My husband was holding her. He put her down on the back of the couch. She slowly walked all the way over to where I was sitting. I just talked to her sweetly, didn't try to touch her. She was right behind me, just staring at me. When I turned my head away she got on my shoulder and bit my ear...hard! It didn't bleed but it hurt like heck for days! I don't get it. Will it always be this way? I get that she's "chosen" my husband. I don't have a problem with that. I'm glad she loves him. I just don't want her to hate me. I want us to be friends.

I'm looking for suggestions on the best kinds of toys. What should I be looking for when toy shopping? I don't want to end up with something that may be harmful to my bird. Does anyone know of a website that sells good quality toys? Thanks for your help.

My bird loves to hang out on the outside of her cage. I am constantly cleaning up poop off my hardwood floor. Is there anything made that attaches to the outside of the cage to catch droppings before they hit the floor?

Wow! That's great! I am 3 days into my new African Grey adventure. I am rehoming a 15 year old. I was bitten twice on the first day because I wanted her to step up. I learned to back off. Now I am practicing patience. My Morgan is a good girl, she's friendly, talks a lot, and loves to be around everyone in the family, even the dogs. She just doesn't want to step up or be touched yet. Your story gives me hope that with time and patience she will come around. Congratulations and Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a new owner of a rehomed 15 y/o grey...3 days now...this has helped me tremendously! I would be lost without this forum! Thanks to everyone!

This is probably a dumb question, but I'm only 3 days into this and still learning. I got Morgan from another family. The gave me everything they had for Morgan. A bag of seeds, which they told me should be her "main" food and to keep some in her cage at all times. I also got a container of Kung Fu Yum Crazy Corn, which they told me to feed her at night. There is also a bag of Bean Mix, which comes with boil/soak directions. They said they bought this but haven't given her any yet. And lastly there is a bag of (what looks like) pellets. The previous owners didn't give me any direction on this. There is no label on the bag. From all the reading I have been doing, it seems like I should be feeding more pellets and less seed. My question is do you feed the pellets dry, right out of the bag, or do they need to be cooked? All advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Keri

Awesome! Thanks so much for the response. I'm not quite so worried anymore. One thing tough, Baileyspapa said "you've only had her 3 days...you haven't seen too many of her droppings to compare." I actually feel like I've seen A LOT of droppings. She spends a lot of time on the outside of her cage so the droppings go onto the floor, which I try to clean up right away so my dogs don't get into it. I seem to be cleaning up quite a bit. Is this not normal? Should she not be pooping very much?

It is day 3 with my rehomed grey. I'm a bit concerned. Her poop has been white with green/black squiggles. Today her poop is white with yellow/orange and more runny than usual. :confused: Is this caused by something she ate? Is it normal? Should I be concerned? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much, Keri

Hi Parrot Lady, thanks for your post. It's great to hear stories of how others are progressing. I wish Morgan would just turn away from me when I asked him to step up. The only two times I did she just reached down and bit me...hard. Drew blood each time. I know now that I was trying too soon. I'm going to give her some space for a while, let her get comfortable in her new environment and learn to trust me. My Morgan had plucked all of his under feathers before I got him. I'm hoping this will not continue. Is eating veggies something that should help with that? Also, when you give him a bath where and when do you do it. And how much do you spray him? Do you spray him from behind, overhead, straight on?? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to learn as much as possible. Thanks so much for your support. I really appreciate it.

Thanks Dave! Someone else had mentioned using an extra perch and I thought that was a great idea. Your post with the details of how to has been extremely helpful. Thank you so much! I am definitely going to use this method. And thanks for the tip on aiming the perch upward. I didn't know they prefer to go higher. Great tip! Thanks again for your support. I really appreciate it!

Thank you! I'm working on it, keeping my eyes on the prize...that loving grey relationship you all are talking about. t Thats what I want.

Hi Aerial, thank you so much for sharing your story about Marco. It helps me to not lose hope. It's very new for me and I am learning more everyday. I love the idea of using an extra perch, thanks for that. I'm sure it will happen, I just need to work on my own patience. I want that great relationship now, but I know that's not reality. I just have to keep reminding myself. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.

Thank you murfchck! Everyone is saying the same thing...be patient it takes time! Ok, ok, I get it. I was just to eager on day one. I saw her former owner hold her and he let me hold her (while still at his house) and she was fine so I had a false sense of hope. Now I know thanks to all of the wonderful, experienced grey owners in this forum. I truly appreciate the support. I'm sure ill need many more questions answered. Starting with... Yesterday (her first day with me) she ate everything I offered her. Today she spit out or turned away from almost everything even the things she seemed to love yesterday. I'm confused. Also, is it normal for the majority of their food to end up on the bottom of the cage/floor? I feel like she's not eating enough. On the upside, my daughter and I spent all evening talking, singing and dancing with her. She seemed very happy! Yay Thanks again, I really appreciate your support.

Thank you Ray! Yes, I'm hearing a lot about this "grey time" you speak of. seems to be the common message. I guess I'm just more eager than she is right now. My daughter and I sat in the living room with her tonight and just talked and sang and danced with/for her all night. Not only is it quality bonding time with Morgan, but also very rare quality time with my 25 year old daughter...priceless! Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.

Thank you danmcq. Morgan is 15 Years old, which I'm realizing needs as much patience as a 15 month old. I feel like the hardest part will be learning to understand her body language. Right now I have no idea what she's saying. Thanks for your support.

Thank you @kittykittykitty. I am trying to read as much as possible. I'm so excited about this bird, I am determined to be successful in building a lifetime relationship.

Hi everyone, My name is Keri, I am the new proud and very excited owner of a 15 y/o African Grey. I got her today from a very nice family that had rescued her from a bad situation 8 months ago. She had plucked most of her under? feathers off. They are now growing back in. The family that I got her from has 2 small children and when one of them recently got bitten they decided they were not the right family for her. I think mom was just very worried about it happening again. "Morgan" we think is a girl, never DNA tested, has bitten me twice already. Once when I was holding before I took her home and once after I got her home. I had opened the cage door to let her move about and when it was time to go to bed I tried to get her to step up so I could put her back in her cage and she was having none of it. I didn't know how I was going to get her in her cage so I finally put a grape in her bowl and she went in to get it. I don't want to be afraid of her, but I feel like I'm going to get bit every time I try to hold her. Any suggestions? Also, I noticed her picking at he feathers tonight. I'm hoping this is just due to the stress of being in a new place and will pass. Is there anything I should do for her? This is my first bird so I am going to have so many questions. I hope y'all don't get sick of me.

As of TODAY, I am the new owner of a 15 y/o African Grey and unfortunately, I've been bit twice already. Both times drawing blood. Hoping for better results tomorrow.