EmmaApple

Thanks everyone, we have decided to leave him flighted, he was clipped by the breeder so once he gets new flight feathers we'll leave them. He absolutely adores being out of his cage but he doesn't fly anymore unless he is frightened or REALLY wants to get down and play on the floor. He's totally addicted to scratches and runs around the floor playing with the kids' toys, it is adorable! He amazes us everyday with how patient, tolerant, calm and gentle he is with the kids' (who are 5 and almost 3) and us, he's right at home after only a week and is even showing signs of trying to talk! We just adore him and he us, the concerns I had when I first posted this are all but gone. Thanks again for your advice and reassurance.

Thanks Jayd, you may, that's good to know.

Thanks so much Jayd, everything else seems fine so I suspect it's just a baby thing but had to be sure. He's happily eating some watermelon and broccoli now. And yes we definitely always keep an eye on eating and toileting habits and appearance

Hi Everyone We have a 4 month old Congo who's been at home with us a week tomorrow. He's very comfortable and trusting with us and seems very happy and healthy. He's eating, playing, drinking, bright, curious etc. He's sleeping at the moment in a way that seems a bit odd to me, he has perches and shelves at all different levels and since yesterday has been exploring the bottom of his cage, not sitting down there but exploring (he prefers to be out of his cage so he spends most his time out) and he's on a shelf now that is just above the bottom of the cage sleeping with his head turned back etc. but instead of standing on one foot or standing he is sort of resting on his stomach. Is this normal or worrying? If I disturb him he gets up and behaves normally, he isn't puffed, his tail isn't bobbing, he is behaving like a healthy, happy bird (I've had experience with healthy birds and sick birds but not really baby parrots). He doesn't like to be in his cage (he was in there so the balcony door could be open for a while) so could it be that? Thanks in advance.

Thanks Judy, that's exactly what I thought

Thanks so much everyone, your advice and anecdotes is really reassuring. He is doing great today on our second day together, he's very comfortable and we can see bonds being made already (I'm pretty sure he's figured I'm the mother) he definitely owns his cage (inside and the play area on top) and that's his safe place so I'm really pleased about that! He will step up for me and for my husband (a bit easier for me because he knows me better) but he doesn't like to be on us much so we just hold him a minute and then put him back on his play area and play with him there. He's very comfortable and happy playing with us while he isn't on us, ducks down for scratches, he's very vocal with us (responds to what we say vocally, I think he's going to be a talker), we can feed him, hold his toys etc. he's still a bit unsure of the kids (they're 5 and 2) but in general is just curious about them and loves to watch them, he isn't frightened of them though or aggressive. Is there anything else we can do to get him more comfortable with us handling him or just keep doing what we're doing and slowly try to increase the amount of time he spends on us (according to his comfort)? Excellent point! My husband and I discussed the whole clipping issue and probably won't get him clipped again unless we feel we have a good reason to do so. What have you done to make your home safer for your bird?

Good news, we left him for quite a big rest and to observe inside his cage, just talking to him and having the kids talk to him while he was comfy in his cage and now he's out with some toys and perfectly happy outside on his top-of-cage play area, not flying away! So he's getting more comfortable. Thanks again for the advice!

Judy, Sun Conures are gorgeous aren't they! We were very sad when he left and we couldn't find him, he only flew when spooked as well. Jayd, thanks for the information and links. I understand the difference in intelligence which is why I feel almost like a first time bird owner!

Thanks Jay and Judy, that's what I thought but just wanted to be sure, our last parrot was a Sun Conure and there is a lot that we can carry over from our experience with him but as I'm sure you know, Greys are quite different birds. As far as wing clipping goes, I've read compelling things on both sides of the fence as to whether or not it's the right thing to do, our Sun Conure was fully flighted (and fully flew away when someone forgot to close the balcony door, that was a horrible experience for us and the kids, we never found him), our Grey (just named Ash) already had his wings clipped when we got him and we lean towards clipping them for safety, we initially clipped our Conures wings though and when we decided it wasn't necessary we stopped clipping them, so really we're inclined to do what we feel is safest for that individual bird.

Hi everyone I'm new here and we're new Grey owning family (new to greys but not new to birds). We just got our baby yesterday, he's 4 months old, it was the first time we'd met and he is a very curious and friendly little boy. He's obviously a little bit nervous of the new surroundings but in general he is acting comfortable and happy, eating well, preening, playing, napping, vocalizing (doesn't talk yet), letting us scratch his neck and stroke his wings etc. I'm assuming it's just because he doesn't know us well yet, isn't used to us etc. but wanted to ask anyway. When we get him out of his cage (either to play with us or play on top of his cage where there's a perch, toys etc.) he will play for a minute or 2 and then take flight, last night he landed on the lamp and this morning he landed on the blinds and slid down to the floor (he wasn't hurt or anything either time) his wings are clipped but I wonder if we need to have them checked or re-done because he flies really well and definitely has lift, I don't want to subject him to that at this point though. What's the best way to teach him not to fly away like that or to approach him at this time? At the moment we've decided to leave him in his cage with the door open so he can observe and just sit close to him and talk gently to him and scratch him and play with him etc. through the door so we can build his trust, but I'm very aware of the need for them to be out of their cage a lot so not sure what the ideal approach is. Thanks.