JulieinVA Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Hello! I'm new here, and wrote a post in the Welcome Room for introductions. I have what I'm sure is a very common question, in regards to a Grey that bites when you reach into the cage to get him. I just keep hearing very different answers, and wanted to hear from those who have actually corrected this problem with a bird. The Grey I (almost) have is in a store, is a year old, and has not been paid much attention to during his lifetime, although he was handfed. He is alone in a cage among other birds. Although we are close to bringing him home, we are still have to wait approx. 1-2 weeks to do so, so I visit him in the store often to get him used to me beforehand. He is visibly nervous interacting with people (I can see his abdomen shaking), although out of the cage he is not aggressive. I am very careful to spend time with him outside the cage, just by talking to him, speaking softly and making slow movements, but the staff feels he should be out to visit... more on that in a minute.... Anyway, he will perch on my hand or arm, and even the shoulder (if I let him) when he is out and will eventually relax, but I cannot get him out of the cage. The staff can, but if I try he will bite me quite hard. They told me that I should not let him push me around and need to persist, but I have also read that you should not force a Grey to get on your hand in the cage. Not only that, but if he is biting HARD, then how long am I supposed to keep pressing on? (it hurts!!) I'm just very confused as to whether forcing him to step onto my hand is the right thing, or whether I should either use a handheld perch, or not do it at all and wait until he seems more comfortable and comes out on his own... Please write with successful solutions! Thanks, Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 I would stick train this bird. Then later on after you two build trust I would just make the stick shorter and shorter till it is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricky Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 My grey usually bites when I try to get him out of his cage too. When he does, I put on a glove and he steps up, you could try this but many of the members here say their greys are afraid of gloves... (The abdomen shaking isn't necessarily a sign of nervousness or fear, it's just something they do. It can often mean they're quite content.)<br><br>Post edited by: Tricky, at: 2007/07/27 20:40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieinVA Posted July 28, 2007 Author Share Posted July 28, 2007 Oh, that's interesting about the shaking... I had not heard of that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tari Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Mine does that shaking off and on. There is nothing I can find that causes it. She does just does it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 The shaking, quivering of the abdomen is common among greys, they just do it. Your grey is acting territorial about his cage, maybe you need to allow him to come out on his own or entice him out with some sort of treat, or like someone else mentioned you may have to just get him out, bite or no bite so he knows who is boss. My Josey is easy and I can get her out, no problem, she is a very sweet bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeasarsDad Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 Hi Julie, Good luck with that Grey.. You've come to the right place.. I think what we tend to forget sometimes is Greys mostly only bite for one reason.. They are AFRAID.. Inside your birds cage it feels safe.. When you try to remove him the only place in this whole word he feels safe in is being violated. This is why he bites.. He is trying to defend his ONLY PLACE he can ever call HIS... So that being said.. How can you stop it? Well, you stop it by allowing the bird TIME to learn that YOU are no threat. How long does that take? It could take MONTHS.. But don't worry about it.. Understand where the biting comes from and you can feel better about it.. Ceasar is so well adjusted that I don't think he really considers his cage is only SAFE PLACE.. I can pretty much have him step up from inside his cage very easily.. In fact, wherever we go near Ceasar's cage he wants to come out of it.. He spends most of his day on his play tree in the kitchen. Very much near all the family activity.. This might be something you would want to try too.. If you can that is.. You might find it helpful if you got a table top play stand for you bird. Teach him that there are LOTS of safe places in your home.. In time.. and I do mean TIME.. You will see major changes to your birds personality. They don't want to live in fear as much as you don't want them to.. Good luck and we all look forward to reading about your new baby.. Don't forget to post lots and lots of photos... We love photos.. Cd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieinVA Posted July 30, 2007 Author Share Posted July 30, 2007 Thanks for the great advice and insight... it certainly makes sense that this bird would be afraid and consider his cage the only safe place he has, since he is still at the store. His life consists of strangers staring at him and someone he doesn't know very well (me) taking him away from his cage every day for an hour... but I think it's important for him to get to know me before taking him home, as it may alleviate a little bit of the rehoming stress. He will soon be getting a new, larger, cage full of interesting toys, and I will just give him the time he needs to become comfortable. We are also working on making a playstand out of a natural tree (birch), so we can have our birds spend time someplace safe & interesting in the main area of the house between the kitchen/living room. I have definitely seen some improvement in our relationship as I have visited him over the last couple weeks, and I am trying to teach him to 'kiss' instead of 'bite' when he is uncomfortable. He seems okay to sit on my arm and be held close while we walk around or sit and talk together, I just can't pet him or make movements over his head at this point without making him nervous. When he starts to settle in at home, perhaps we will try the towel game (anybody done this??). Thanks again, Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Like CD said, greys get territorial about their cage and they feel safe in it and don't want anyone taking them out of it. When you bring him home, leave the door open to his cage and encourage him to come out on his own, and then maybe he will step up more readily. Since he was in a store for quite a while, he does not trust anyone and you will have to spend considerable time and effort to earn that trust. But when you do, it will be worth it and the time and patience you spent will pay off in the relationship you built with him. Try to come at him below his head level, they perceive anything over the head as danger lurking and if you think about it, in the wild that is just where danger is, in the sky. I live in Eagle Rock, that is about 30 miles north of Roanoke if you know where that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieinVA Posted July 30, 2007 Author Share Posted July 30, 2007 What an interesting bird, celery -- I had not heard of that species before. Will check out that book, too - thanks! Julie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Celery, you be sure and keep us posted on Vinnie, you see more and more people are interested in your vasa. You have a gem there in Vinnie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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