nikhilesh

Hello Everyone, I got myself and African Grey and named him Pzero. He is one hell of a bird and a good company as I stay alone. I want to be honest and explain the history of his presence with me. I got him around 2 months back and he should be around 3-5 years old which I am yet to find out. When i got him, he was not that loud and didn't scream at me much. He was not kept in the best of surroundings at the pet store. When he came over he was very inquisitive about the place and in 2 - 3 weeks into staying with me, he started coming down from his cage and walking around a bit. If i am correct, he must have done it not more than 4 - 5 times in 3 - 4 weeks. One of his excellent character is that he does not bite at all. The person at the pet store told me that he had 'trained' him not to do so, and he has learned well. Eventually, i became assertive and honestly a bit pushy about having him step up and interact with me, like any other rookie. In time he started screaming much more and did not enjoy me touching him at all. He was also a bit comfortable about me touching/caressing his chest. If i approach him he just grabs my finger with his beak and moves it away. Well, now he also screams at me and clings on to the corner of the cage and hangs from the outside. He doesn't sit inside his cage at all either. Only when he wants to eat or drink, he goes down, eats/drinks from his bowl and comes back on the top and perches on. He even sleeps on top of the cage. Another fact is that his cage is in the corner of the house where he can see everything thats happening around. Just so you know, i stay in a studio flat where the kitchen, living room and my bed is completely open and adjacent. The cage sits next to a window and he keeps looking out every now and then. He doesn't talk yet, but when he looks out the window he makes hooting noises like an owl! Else he is quiet as stone. One more thing is that the cage is not at a considerable height and his perch reaches approximately my waist. Would i be right in understanding that this makes him scared and subdued since he doesn't reach my eye level? Even with toys, he doesnt respond too well. I tried putting a set of wooden blocks tied onto the top of his cage and he feels scared and does not touch it at all. Instead he dodges it in order to reach his water and food. He clings onto the inside of his cage instead of perching on to the rods placed in front of his food bowl to eat. So i have removed his toy as well to avoid any discomfort towards him. I know i have taken a wrong turn initially but i would like to correct this now. I have taken a back step and always give him a lot of personal space and do no touch him AT ALL. But he still screams when i approach too close. I definitely do not intend to give up and would highly appreciate your expertise and help. Thanks guys! Nik

Hi Dave, Its a very firm and to the point facts. Things that make you think twice. I definitely has made me. But with so many things to worry about, what about the joys of having a Grey. I'm sure its a delicate balance between good and bad. Everything out there, no matter how brilliant, has its flaws and its only about realizing and recognizing them and choosing whats best for you. I still am in two minds but reading about what people have to write about their Greys and how they are around them really makes me want to have one. Also adding to the fact that how much i adore creatures of feather. But putting it honestly, considering what i had written prior to your comment, what would be your honest opinion?

Hello All, My name is Nikhil and i'm a photographer by passion; and one of my most loved selection is birds. I just adore how they are and their behavior out free. My passion for birds have been for a long time and i always wanted a bird to keep with me. But i never liked the concept of keeping them caged and clipping their wings. I like them free and hence never moved forward to get one. But as i have learned about Greys over the day, i like the way they enjoy being around humans as well as reside in a cage as well out of sheer choice. So i was looking forward to get myself one. Just to be honest to myself and everyone here so i can get a fair opinion, i had gotten myself 2 tortoises years back and they stay now with my parents as i have moved out. I thought, as i was quite young then, that i would always take care and love them. But slowly i seem to have lost a sense of touch towards them. I truly felt in time, as i grew, that its because they are reptilians and are cold blooded in nature and do not gel with humans (ofcourse). Now this guilt of disconnection stays with me and sometime i feel i may not be a good pet owner towards a Grey. I love animals extensively but do not want to neglect them nor be a bad pet owner. If they get a better place than my own i would not want to spoil their coming years. But at the same time i do know that i will love a pet that ill have, as i always seem to gel well with other people's pets (cats, dogs etc) and even stray ones outside. So its a sort of a fight internally regarding how i feel and would want to be a honest and loving pet owner. Greys excite me and birds hold a different place in my perspective of fauna. Could you guys please advice? Would appreciate any kind and honest words. Thanks! PS: there is a person selling a Grey for AED 1800 (approx USD 450) for a 2 year old one. I can't seem to find one to adopt even though i would love to.