TeriG

I don't know if he would get on a stick. I have never tried. I haven't had trouble getting him into the cage yet. All I have to do is give him a few seeds (we're in the process of weening him off of seed, so he loves them) and he goes right back in. I was just wanting to hold him and bond a little. I would like him to spend some time on the play stand we bought him, but he seems to be scared of it right now. I have it sitting near his cage so he can see it and hopefully he'll get used to it. Any suggestions for getting him used to it?

Thanks Timbersmom. I'm glad everything is working out for you. I hope it works out for me too. I'm going to just take it real slow. I'll continue rubbing his feet and legs and hopefully he will learn to trust and let me pet him more.

It's funny you mention the honeymoon. That's exactly how I felt. Like the honeymoon is over. How do you know what their body language is saying. He will act happy and excited when he sees me. And he will act the same way when he wants to come out. But he won't come to me. He will bite. I know his look when he wants what I'm eating or drinking. And he takes food and treats from me very nicely. Everyone has mentioned the eye pinning. The only time I have seen his eyes pinning is when he is eating something he really likes. They will pin like crazy. But when he goes to bite me, they are normal.

I have a question about my 25yr old grey that I recently adopted. I have had him a week now and I understand that it takes a while to build trust with a bird. When I first brought him home, he would step up to me from his cage. I would hold him for a few minutes and during that time he would look around, but seemed nervous. I wouldn't venture far from his cage cause I know that would scare him. He was fine for the first 4 days or so. Since then, if I ask him to step up he will bite pretty hard and beep. He has drawn blood now a couple times. I tell him no bite and walk away. As soon as I do he will start whistling to me. Now I don't want to even try to pick him up because I'm tired of getting bit. My poor finger has so many bites! Originally I was going to train him so that if he wanted out of his cage he had to step up. But since he was just getting used to us and the new house I figured I would let him come out on his own through the small flip down door at the top of his cage. And have him step up to come through the main door of the cage. I don't want to push training on him when he's still getting to know us, but I also don't want him to think it's ok to bite. I think he really wants to trust me. When he sees me he will chirp real cute and gets in this strange position that everyone says is a "mating" thing. I can rub his foot and leg and the side of his wing through the cage when he's in that "mating" position. I don't know about body language yet with him. I will sit by his cage when he is on his door and he will move all the way to the edge of the door and hold his wings out slightly and lean down like he wants to join me, but then he acts like he will bite. He just has me so confused! I know it will take time. It just hurts my feelings when he bites. I love him so much, but I don't think he knows it. Any advice would be great. Thanks in advanced!

Oh I almost forgot! I bought Harrison's High Potency Pellets for him and he LOVES them. Which is good since all he does with the fresh fruits and veggies is decorate the bottom of his cage. He will chew on the orange pieces and he likes carrots. He eats a little of the mixed frozen veggies I give him, but the peppers, green beans, zucchini, ect he just pulls out of the bowl. He did enjoy destroying the broccoli, but I don't think he ate any of it. And he didn't touch the kale. I know it will take some time, since for 25yrs all he knew were seeds. He will try something if he sees me eating it, so I try to pretend I'm eating what I want him to eat. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Virgil is doing great. He has come out of his cage once so far and he stepped up to me from on top of the cage without trying to bite. He has never done that before. He has always been very territorial of his cage. I'm hoping this good behavior will last. I have been giving him a sunflower seed every time he steps up. If he tries to bite I hold back the seed. I think he will get the picture pretty quick. He still dances for me and he still does the stretch thing. I got some video I will post up, so you can give me your opinion as to what he's doing. You can hear the little squeak in the one video that does for me too. I also have him blowing me kisses when I say I love you to him. Of course when ever I try to get it on video he won't do it. http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/genduso4195/Virgil/?action=view&current=Virgil.mp4 http://s1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj574/genduso4195/Virgil/?action=view&current=Virgil2.mp4

I love the variety you give them. Is that a once a day meal? Do you prepare enough in advance to have some for a couple days? If so, how long does it stay good? And how much do you give them per meal? Sorry for all the questions. I just picked up my Virgil this last weekend (he's 25yrs old) and I get confused when it comes to the food. I'm trying to ween him off of seeds onto pellets and I want to give him all the fruits and veggies he needs. I just don't know how much food I should be giving him each day. I have read the percentages, but how much is the total amount? Can you do pellets say in the morning and the big meal with fruits, veggies, pasta, beans, ect. in the evening as dinner? I also have a fruit and nut mix that I mix in with his pellets. He still prefers his seeds though. Thanks in advance and again I'm sorry for all the questions. Teri

Sarasota, that was cute! And I love the wave at the end.

Too cute! Thanks for sharing.

He's not fluffed up when he's dancing. He's bobbing his head and moving back and forth and chirping. Tonight he was going super crazy dancing and climbing all over the cage, so I decided to see if he wanted to step up. I asked him if he wanted to come out and he stepped right up to me. He got a little nervous after a minute and grabbed a hold of my finger pretty hard so I put him back in his cage. He's eating now and seems much calmer. I was thrilled that he stepped up to me from inside his cage. He never even did that way back when I was around all the time. I am so happy right now.

I thought he might want a head rub too, but then he tries to bite. I don't know. I'll have to see if he keeps doing it. How should I go about the bath thing? I doubt he was ever sprayed or put in the shower.

Here is the picture of his tail. Maybe it will look better over time after have a better diet. I also want to get him something he can bathe in. I know he has never had a shower and he use to try and bathe in his water bowl.

We're Home!! We brought Virgil home on Saturday. It was a long trip, but he did very well. (It was originally thought that Virgil was a boy. Then I was told he was a she. When I went to pick HER up I was told they think she IS a he. So I think I will have a DNA test done to find out for sure. So until then I will call Virgil a boy since that's what he is use to.) Anyway, we brought him home and he is doing really good. He is taking to his cage, eating well, and talking up a storm. He even asked me yesterday when I was in the kitchen "what are you doing out there". I was getting some apple for him, so I told him that and he mumbled something and then was quiet. He is so cute. Everytime he see's me, he whistles this cute little whistle and then does this strange stretch where he grabs a hold of his perch with one foot and the cage with the other and puts his head way down and stretches! He won't do it for my husband. I think he is still afraid of him. He fluffs up and does this high pitch beep when he gets to close to his cage. But he will prance around and dance for me. He won't let me hold him yet. He will bite if I try, but I know with time he will warm up. He acts like he really wants to trust me, but he's just not sure yet. He looks to be in decent shape. I will be slowly weening him off of seed only to pellet. Once he is comfortable I am going to take him in to the vet for a complete check up. His tail feathers look a little frayed. I don't know if this is normal? When he preens he tugs pretty good on the ends of the feathers. Almost nibbling. I will post a picture for you to see. Here he is in his new cage: He loves his new bell!

That's what I was thinking, but I was getting conflicted ideas on the subject. It makes more sense though if we both work with him together. Thanks! I'm really loving this forum!

I will be happy as long as he is.

I'm sure this question has probably been asked before, but what is the best way to get a Grey used to us? I know they will usually bond with one person and just tolerate the rest of the family. I have known him for about 21yrs, so he knows me but never bonded with me. I'm hoping he will once he settles into our home. Should we both work with him equally or should we let him get used to us one at a time? Will he want to bond with both of us? Or is it a good idea me to work with him first and then let my husband work with him. I know it is going to take time and I don't want him to be overwhelmed. Thanks!

I was just talking to my husband about this. We are rehoming a 25yr old CAG and will be picking him up next week. He has a band and we were at a bird store yesterday and while we were there a Macaw got his band caught on a toy. He was pretty freaked out. So I think I will have it removed.

That's how I thought they were. I know that in her previous home, she didn't get a lot of attention. So I don't think things were ever explained to her as she recieved them. I'm new to Greys and so I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so that I can give her a good home. Thanks for all the advice.

I understand that they learn by us teaching them. By showing them things they learn what they are. I was just unsure as to how they learn to say "I" when asking thinks instead of repeating when we ask "You". I hope this is coming out right Virgil will say "you hungry" because her previous owner would ask her "are you hungry". I love when I hear other members talk about their Greys saying things like I'm hungry and can I have a treat and things like that. I know they are very smart and can learn. I just wanted to make sure I was teaching her correctly.

I am rehoming a 25yr old grey and I have a question about how they learn words and phrases. She talks quite a bit, but it's mostly things she hears everyone say. How do I get her to ask questions such as "can I come out" in stead of repeating me asking her "do you want to come out"? She doesn't say this yet, but I would like to know how you go about things like this before she starts saying it. I have read on here where other Greys ask "Can I have..." Do you just say the phrase like they would?

Thanks everyone! Here are a few pictures that were sent to me. Once I get her home I will take lots more. Here is her new cage. I still have a bunch of stuff coming, so it's not complete yet.

I will be picking her up in 2 weeks. We do have a 10hr drive ahead of us, so I'm a little worried about that. What is the best way to transport a Grey. I have a small dog crate that I have put a perch in. I was hoping it would work. I have always loved Virgil and always wanted a Grey of my own. I can't wait to have her home. I bought her a new bigger cage, since the one she has is as old as she is and quite rusty. I also bought a good quality food to slowly switch her over to, since she has been on a mostly seed only diet. I also bought her a ton of toys. She still has the same 2 toys that she has had since I've known her. I've been all over the internet trying to find out as much as I can before she comes home. I'm really glad I found this forum! Thanks for all the advice!!

Just joined and thought I would introduce myself. My name is Teri and I am inheriting a 25yr old African Grey. I have never owned one, but I have known this one for about 21 years. Her name is Virgil (originally she was thought to be a boy). Her owner passed away and I didn't want her to go to just anyone. So I'm going to take her and I'm hoping she will eventually bond with me. She would let me hold her and pet her whenever I was around, but not much else. I'm a little nervous and just want to make her as happy as possible. She was kind of neglected for the last few years, and I want her to know that she won't be neglected again. Any advice would be greatly appriciated. Oh, I haven't seen her in a few years. Will she remember me? Thanks, Teri