bobby2007

Haven't been on for a while but just read this whole story, you're amazing! Thank God for kind hearted people who rescue animals. My grey who has had a very rough couple of years being moved from pillar to post is making progress all the time...just takes a lot of love and time. Happy New Year! X X

Many thanks for all your answers! I didn't realise about the grapes...will peel them from now on! He's addicted to them...i've tried loads of different fruit and veg but thats the only one he really likes!! Kat, how do I go about using a towel...I have heard this method before. Do you think I should just give it more time and not push things? I don't want to step back with him. I will give it all the time in the world, we just want him to be as happy as possible with us and for us to be able to handle him out of his cage. For the moment he's got millions of toys and lots of love and company from us. Another thing thats been mentioned is nail clipping.....I know theres other posts on it. I don't think hes had it done before....his claws don't look overly long, can it wait as I don't wanna stress him out? Thanks from a FREEZING and WET UK!!! Helen (and Bob)

Good evening all! Well, I have posted before under "angy boy!" I have a 7 year old grey called Bobby. He came to us from a family who had fell apart which must have been awful for him, he lived for a month in a horrible pet store until I took him home. As far as i'm aware he hasn't been mistreated. He was tame to the female of his last family. He's definitely getting more settled with us. We have him in the living room so he's at the centre of everything and we love him dearly; apart from him trying to chew the furniture opposed to his toys!! He lets us itch his head through the bars of his cage and sometimes when hes out on his perch; we think that it's because he feels safe in his cage? He comes on the floor quite a lot but won't come up to us unless we have a grape or something else he likes, he seems very cautious of us otherwise. He will step on my partners hand if he has to but he doesn't really want to, if i put my hand there he bites!! I think thats cause he senses my otherhalf is the boss as he's quite loud where-as i am a soft touch!!! He definitely is fond of us both...he gets so excited when either of us come in the house and he regurgitates his food for me! We've had him 8 months now and I'm just worried he'll be like this forever. I want to do things at his pace like people have kindly advised but what if he's always scared? Has anyone else had similar experiences with an older grey, I really don't know the best way forward...I got a clicker for training but it makes him jump!!!!! Many Thanks Helen Photo is when we first got him

Morning, I'm finding this forum really helpful. I just bought a clicker to try and train him, however it just seems to make him jump! He did start to get the message that a 'click' means a treat but when I put a stick near him he gets really scared. I feel I'm hitting my head against a brick wall!! I think he's feels like he's top bird in the flock and can do what he wants including biting me. As mentioned before he can show affection when he's on the top of his cage, only occasionaly though! He doesn't bite my partner but then again he won't let my partner itch his head like he does me. I have tried not reacting but if i keep my hand there he just keeps biting!! He definitely knows who i am and has his own little wistle for me. Any sugestions what I can do and if anyone else has had an older bird? Im so frustrated, I love him to bits....(well most of the time!) Many Thanks, Helen and Bobby

Thanks for your posts. What does that mean when he throws his food up.....hes not aggressive when doing this he stands on my hand and rubs his beak all over me? Does anyone else have this? I'll get some photos of him posted!! Helen

Hello to all! Firstly I'll introduce myself. I'm Helen and I live in Portsmouth, England with my partner and our African Grey 'Bobby.' We got given him about 7 months ago from a couple who had split up. He would step up on his previous owners hand....but only when he was off his cage on the floor. He seems fairly comfortable around me; he will put his head down so i can stroke him and will throw his food up!! Nice! But I can only assume thats a good thing?! However, he will often bite me, really hard, depending on his mood.He really fluffs himself up and goes out of his way to get me; I try not to give a reaction.Then the next minute he wants me to stroke him! He won't step up for me though so i'm a bit stuck what to do next! Bobby won't bite my partner, he seems quite timmid around him. We're not really sure where to go from here. Any ideas? He hasn't been DNA tested, so could be a girl!! He's 7 years old and has always been treated well from what we can gather. Many Thanks, Helen