birdwoman

Thanks a lot. I think he's a girlie. 'He' has been trying to sit on & feed a ping-pong ball this evening & enveloping it in his wings as he does when on a male shoulder. I read that greys are attracted to humans of the opposite sex & maybe it's true. I don't like birds in captivity, so I certainly don't want her to have little ones! I had an Alexandrine who sat on 9 eggs on & off for a year. She's now at the sanctuary & has a mate. if that's absolutely what Billy wants to do then 'he'll' have to go there too. If they want to have young how on earth can you put them off! It's only natural.

Thank you for your advice; good idea - I'll find an avian vet & see what s/he thinks.

Thanks for your helpful advice. Billy doesn't seem agitated when plucking; it looks more like a habit - nailbiting or hair twiddling. the previous keeper says he'll sprout lots of new ones, then pluck em all out.... As to the flirting - no, it's not initiated by petting; he just does it spontaneously if allowed to climb onto a shoulder. No one but me ever strokes him or encourages affectionate behaviour. It's accompanied by a strange cooing sound with wings encircling the target.

I've just acquired Billy, a 12 1/2 yr old CAG who's had 2 owners; the first, a lady who developed an allergy, the second a couple who had him for 2 yrs. When I saw him he was on a manmade perch in a large cage sitting silently; the room was immaculate - no signs of parrot destruction! Alarm bells rang & when I said, 'oh, poor thing' I was given him. He prefers men; in fact he didn't get on well with the wife. I suspect Billy's a girl. He rarely bites me, but he becomes animated when he sees a man. His feathers are plucked from chest, legs & shoulders. After 6 wks he grew 12, but they've gone again. He seems to display sexual behaviour when allowed to climb on male shoulders or behind necks. he interacts with me for short periods, but is happiest when gnawing or shredding wood. He prefers furniture to trees! Any advice please?