Hi! New to the Board..Mommy to an 8 year old Congo African grey!

[Maiosameru]

Hiya, I just joined the boards. I'm the proud momma of an 8 year old Congo African Grey named Leonardo Di Pinchi (Leo) My parents adopted him when I was just a teenager, and now that mom and dad can no longer properly take care of the feather ball, he's now come to live with me and my husband! I'm finding out a lot of new things I had forgotten about taking care of a grey, or never learned to begin with and often have questions on how best to go about his training.

 

Unfortunatly the bird was forced to stay in a cage every day for about 7 years and had become very snippy and all around angry. Once I convinced my mom I could take better care of him..the work began. First was the 2 and a half hour car ride home..which he didn't take to very well and got carsick several times. Now its getting him socialized! He's allowed out of his cage everyday from when I wake up till its his bedtime (9ish when he's being very loud..neighbors don't think its very funny when he screams at night). He's been at my apartment almost a month now and has fully integrated into the 'flock'. Even stepping up to my husband and playing games with him on a daily basis..all this from a bird who couldn't stand men..and only stood me so long as I didn't try to make him get out of his cage. He gets to eat whatever we do..my husband and I both make sure he gets a taste of everything that he can actually eat and even has his own 'plate' to make him feel like he's one of us. My parents were entirely unable to care for his beak nails and feathers..and I finally plucked up the courage to clip his wings myself so he would stop flying into walls, and the day after took him to get a pedicure (his ankles were starting to look inflamed from not trimming his nails for YEARS.) Now he is doing beautifully, and this weekend we're upgrading his cage to one thats about 3 times larger, and putting him a play pen out on our porch so he can sit outside. All in all, I think he's doing great and is well on his way to being a mentally balanced birdie.

 

Since we're expecting in September, he's going to have a new little baby to imitate and love. Well..thats my story in a nutshell!

[Zoom]

Hi. It sounds like this was a good move for him. Congratulations on both your new babies! (I've heard that a lot of people give up their birds when they have their first baby. Sad.)

[katana600]

This is a great introduction, thanks for coming to join us. I love his name, that is a good one. Hopefully in his new surroundings he is getting so much more handling that he will get past the de Pinchi part. The time you spend socializing and chatting with him will pay off. I am glad he has time out of his cage with you and that you already are familiar with him.