Lizzypants

Well this afternoon will be 1 week since we took in Koko and Eggbert (cockatiel). We moved Koko to a much larger cage, which provided to be a bit difficult. It was the first time we opened her cage. We pushed the two cages together thinking she could just walk in. After several hours she found the 1 tiny space that she was able to squeeze through and managed to get out of both cages and on top of the old one. It was the first time she came out. She hung out for a bit, looking around and "beeping" (the only noises she makes are beeping and ringing noises). We were just chatting - wondering if she knew how to fly or if her wings were clipped as we watched her and it was as if she knew what we were talking about and took off flying around the house. Once she found a place to sit quietly, my dad went over and she stepped up on his hand immediately and we put her safely in to the new cage. Since then we have opened the cage every night, but has only come out 1 other time. Again, flying around the room until she landed on the ground and when I went over to her, she gently stepped up on to my hand. I held her for a few minutes, but am still very nervous with her. Since we know nothing of her background - I don't know if she is used to being handled. So I put her back in her cage. So we're slowly letting her out (and only when the fans are off, doors are closed and locked and the dogs are in their crates). I've seen recommendations of putting their favorite treat in your hand to encourage them to step up - but Koko seems to hate everything - except carbs. I give her a bowl of fresh food twice a day and she won't touch the kale, blueberries, blackberries, almonds, carrots, broccoli but will taste the whole wheat noodles, wheat bread, wheat Chex and brown rice we've offered. I know that can't be healthy! I've started using a spray bottle of "bathe" them twice a week - and wow she hates that. Biting at the cage/bottle (I do it through the bars, I won't open her cage to do it because she is so angry). She also seems to have no interest in toys. We bought some new items this weekend, and she won't even go near them in her cage. She only plays with this one bell (that's actually missing the inside that makes the bell ring). I know it's only been a week, but I just feel like I am not doing something right - or that maybe I'm forcing it. I don't want to upset her any more than she already is. Here's a picture from the first time she got out of her cage (when she was moved in to her bigger home)

Ordered! Definitely need all the help I can get!

Thank you all for the advice! I definitely agree that Koko's cage is too small and have been researching cages online. I have a good feeling about this, just need our dogs to calm down and move on (they were a bit freaked out) but after a few days I think everything should start falling in to place... Keep the advice coming!!

My mother had a co-worker suddenly pass away on Monday - and he left behind two birds. So my family decided we would take then in. One is an African Grey (Koko) - the other a cockatiel (Eggbert). We don't know much about either bird - we know that we're at least the 3rd owner for Koko (the co-worker had received it from his grandfather). And as much research as we can do online, we're still pretty clueless about the birds. I was browsing the forums yesterday and reading all the new Grey parents threads and got some useful information, but still would appreciate all the support and advice you can give. One thing I have noticed is that the Grey tends to puff up when we try to talk to her (him? We don't know if it's a boy or a girl, or how old it is!). So I don't know if this is a defense mechanism - trying to make her seem bigger and try to scare us off? Or is this something normal and not meant to intimidate us? We're leaving both birds in their cages right now, and just letting them get used to us and their new surroundings, but how long should we let that go on? I don't want to just leave them in the cage for so long that they never want to come out, but I don't want to rush anything. The only time Koko has been aggressive was when we first went to pick them up, and we saw they had no water and when we tried to take out the water bowl she nipped at my mom, but since then we've changed their water and food several times and she has been fine. I also noticed he had them on a seed mix diet, and I know from reading the threads that it's not the best thing for them - so suggestions on food welcomed! We gave them broccoli and carrots last night (both raw) but they didn't seem to know what to do with them. Also - any toy suggestions? Looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say! I've attached a picture I was able to take of Koko last night...