alex2014

Back from the vets, good news is Alex is healthy and he was fine with the diet I have him on and recommended 70% pellets, 20% veggies (have to keep trying until i find some he likes), 10% fruit. Occasional treat (use for training at first) and seed once in awhile. He said Alex has some bad habits that he wants me to break like only doing the basic step-up command from the floor and his biting. He feels the previous owner just opened the cage and let him come and go to the play area as he desired and i have to admit that's what i was doing. He wants me to keep him in cage bound and teach him to take food gently from the perch i just put in by the cage door after i open the door, no lunging then work on the step-up command from the perch. Don't let him on the play area on top the cage until he masters the step-up from the perch. Use the play area as a treat/reward. Then continue doing this until he will step-up from the play area on command. ok to use a treat as incentive at first. Also to start wrapping treats in kleenex and get him to forage from my hand, the progress to making it harder by wrapping food pellets some treats in some empty kleenex in masking tape and hanging them around the cage. Then move onto foraging toys. He also recommended a stand alone perch lower than the one on top the cage play area (he shows his dominance there towards me that I need to break him of) that i could put him on once he learns the step-up from his cage and to work with him there also to re enforce learning and commands. So I guess the vet visit was as much of a learning experience for me as it was to make sure Alex was healthy. Ok everyone with much more experience than me, does this sound like good advice?

Does anyone know what type of rope I should buy to string some of the broken toys together to make new ones? I don't want to get something harmful or the wrong type.

Our vet adventure is at 3pm today 5/23

Inara, Thanks for your helpful and encouraging reply. My biggest concern was getting him to the vet the first time knowing he is not stepping-up yet from outside his cage. I only plan to ever towel him as a last resort. A little background: The owner had to move out of state and she was not sure she could take Alex with her so she left him with a friend, She had him from the time he was weened. After 2 weeks she new her new living arrangement and job would not allow her to give him the time and attention her deserved. So i purchased him to re-home. The encouraging thing for me when I met him was after only 2 weeks with the temporary home he would step-up to her. I took that as a good sign. The bad thing was the friend did not put any toys in the cage. I have remedied that and he loves his toys. I have not been able to get in touch with his original owner yet but have asked the friend to please contact her and give her my phone and email as I would like to talk with her to find out more about Alex. I have now given him both the pellets and some premium seed as a choice of food, he eats both. Still working on the veggies each morning. Thanks to everyone for your replies and helpfulness.

Here are some Pictures, if this upload works

Today i was able to put my hand on the outside perch and hold a walnut just far enough away so he would have to step-up to get it, he wouldn't step-up but the good thing is (I think) he only nipped at my wrist instead if biting, I did use the no bite command. After a few minutes i moved my hand away and he came right to my other hand and took his treat. He is potty trained but not for me yet.

a few last questions. I read he should get 12 hrs of sleep a night? I was coaxing him into his cage about 9pm but since I get up early and go downstairs at 7am, I change his water and food and give him veggies and grapes in a bowl that time of the morning. Should i be putting him in his cage earlier? Also I do have a cat carrier that came with him to take him to the vet. The vet told me to just put a towel over him when he is outside the cage, then pick him up and put him on the floor then into the carrier. Is this the way to do it since he will not step-up from outside his cage yet?

Thanks everyone, I bought the unsalted ones shelled in the bag. I will post some Pictures. I have scheduled a vet appointment for Friday. Figured that's the best place to start. He was on a diet of seed and i noticed the first thing he ate was the sunflower seeds and have been reading how they are not good for him. I bought a bag of Harrison pellets and he took right to it, guess i lucked out there. I am still experimenting with the fresh veggies, he picks the broccoli out of the bowl and throws it but i have been getting him to eat a few bites of fresh carrots. He does like seedless grapes. He will only step-up when he flies off the cage and he is on the floor. Have not been able to get him to step-up from his cage yet. He bit me a few time pretty good at first but now just nips and i am trying the no-bite command. I know this will take time and am more than willing to give him the time and home he deserves.

Hi everyone, reading through this site and looks like I have a lot to learn and it will definable be easier with all the information and help posted. My African grey is Alex, 4 years old and re-homed to me. I look forward to working with him, learning about greys and giving him a great home. I have only had him 4 days and he is still getting used to me. I do have one quick question, His previous owner gave him shelled walnuts as a treat. Is this harmful? If not then I was planning to use the walnuts as a treat when I work with him. Thanks everyone. --john--