Keeks

Hey there! As stated in my profile and in my first Intro thread, there's an African Grey (Smokey) at my job. His story isn't too saddening; it's rather simple actually. His owner is the manager of the practice, and the reason Smokey lives at the vet and not the manager's house is because my manager didn't have much time or energy to give him the correct socialization. He thought bringing him to the vet and letting him live there would help relieve some of his stress -- and for a time, it did. My manager refuses to rehome him or give him to a rescue, though, and he's convinced that giving Smokey a bigger cage will somehow solve all his problems. My previous supervisor (who's moved jobs) connected most with Smokey. She could let him out, pick him up, perch him, clean him, etc, all without a problem. Unfortunately, she didn't have the money to completely take on the responsibility of caring for him and living with him. It's been about a month and half since she moved jobs for better opportunities. I might not know much about birds, but I know they're smart and understand a lot more than people give them credit for. Smokey knows she's not coming back. And he worries me because he's begun to pluck himself. No one can take him out of the cage because having to put him back in typically ends up getting someone bitten or Smokey getting so stressed with us trying that he tries to fly, and he's already (quite literally) slammed into the window across from his cage twice. He's still eating, he's still singing, and he does this adorable little happy growl and whistle when we spray him with the water bottle. I'd like to make it clear that literally no one knows what we're doing when it comes to Smokey. The best we've figured is that giving him something to destroy takes his attention off of his feathers for a bit of time. He has happy days when he plays with the toys hanging in his cage. And don't get me wrong -- he's not a complete menace. He's just better about not trying to snatch fingers when he's in his cage. It's clearly a safe spot for him, and he feels more confident and safe there. It's been that way since my prior supervisor left. It took us a while to notice him plucking -- the area that he's plucking at is just under his left wing and kind of on his side, near his back. It's completely obscured by his wings when he tucks them. There's no down or feathers there; it's completely naked, and now that I've begun to watch him more closely, I've noticed him hiding it. >__< He knows he shouldn't pluck, I'm convinced! But anyway -- I'd like to just get some tips. Smokey leaving the facility is not an option. I've spoken to my manager, and he's not interested in any attempts to rehome him.... I've been trying to get to the point where Smokey will at least let me take him out and put him away, and I've nearly lost several fingers in this endeavor. Any advice will be much appreciated!! Thank you all~

Hi~! Thanks for clicking me. First and foremost, I'm not technically a bird owner -- I work at a vet that has an African Grey as a permanent residence. His name is smokey, and he's why I joined. I don't really know much about birds, haha; I'm more of a dog/cat person. So please, lmao, have a bit of patience with my questions! Moving on, I don't have much to talk about besides Smokey. I don't like talking about myself much, and besides reading, writing, and working, I don't do a whole bunch! But I am friendly, so if you have questions or just want to talk, I have good ears and semi-entertaining answers. Have a good day, guys~!