New baby is a girl and she hates me

[ZivaDiva]

DNA came back and she's a girl. She won't be home for about 2 more weeks.

 

I continue to visit 1-2 times a week. This past week she was a pain in the behind. She wants to get on my shoulder and I don't want her there. I am trying to teach her to perch on my hand and step up. All she did was bite me. She used to be a snuggle bird and now she's an attack bird. I have no idea what is going on with her. I'm hoping she's a little different this week.

 

She is having trouble with getting used to perching since she's missing so many talons. I'm sure she'll adjust with time.

 

I am having a lot of trouble coming up with a name. I had several boy names I liked but none for girls. We are Stevie Nicks fans in our family and my teen wants me to name her Stevie. I'm not thrilled with it but I don't have any other ideas as of now. I'm hoping something jumps out at me that fits.

[Zoom]

Why is she missing talons?

[ZivaDiva]

She was born that way. She's a "special" bird or as we refer to many of my birds - a spird. She's missing 50% of them including her "thumbs" so she's learning to grip and hold on.

[judygram]

Congrats on your baby girl but maybe she is having a little trouble adjusting to perching and getting around and it is making her frustrated then she takes it out on you. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it right now as I don't think it is directed at you so don't take it personal. She needs extra time to adjust but she will so be patient with her.

Since she doesn't have all her toes and can't grip fingers as well she is probably feeling like she can stand better on your shoulder but if you do not want her there then you will just have to keep her down from there, when she starts going for the shoulder put your arm higher and block her with the other arm, you may have to do this many, many time until she gets the message but she will eventually.

[ZivaDiva]

Thanks, Judy. I'm a little freaked out that I'm gettting a hand-fed baby and she's an attack bird. I do think some or most of it is because she can't grip all that well. She's quite mellow when she's sitting on my chest. She kind of sinks into my cleavage and chills out. But, she has been climbing up my chest and getting onto my shoulder. I don't want her there because she has already leaned over and bit me on my chin and cheek. They weren't bad bites but they did hurt. She seems to like to strike at my face. I don't wear my glasses when holding her and when she's close to my face, she looks like a grey blob and it's difficult for me to see what she's doing next.

 

She's also really pissed off that they clipped her nail and did labs. She goes after the woman who did it and growls and lunges at her when she approaches. Her biting seems to have started after the nail clipping. Her 2 clutchmates are doing the same thing when the woman approaches. She's done labs on thousands of birds and has never had this type of reaction. She's also a friend of mine and I know she's great with birds.

 

I'm hoping she'll chill out from all the trauma/drama. I know grey's are usually really cuddly and that's fine but I'd really like to be able to handle her without it being too difficult. Hopefully, with some training, we'll get there.

[judygram]

She seems to have the temperament to hold some grudges but thats not uncommon either, I think she will mellow out when she gets to your home and settles in. Most greys are not cuddly especially after weaning, a few are but its mostly when they are still being handfed, they usually get more independent as they get older.

I agree that she should not be allowed on your shoulder if she has struck at your face, some greys can be trusted on shoulders, I can trust mine but some just can't seem to leave the face and ears alone so they should not get shoulder priviledges, again she will have to be stopped from going there.

[katana600]

My little boy Kopi had crop surgery and was biting for a while. He never had a good grip and I found it helped to let him perch on my wrist instead of my hand and then I would curl my arm so he was close to my chest so he felt more secure. It also helped to get some fleece and wrap around my arm so he had a place to hang on that he couldn't get his toenails caught. It took a long time for him to learn how to stabilize himself if I was moving but he came around and it was wonderful. The right name will come and you will all know it.

[ZivaDiva]

Time for an update - we still haven't named her. Nothing feels right. At the moment, I'm leaning towards Phoebe. That might change in 32 seconds.

 

She will hopefully come home on the 17th. She's still being handfed small amounts. One of her sisters already went home and her other sister will leave this week.

 

I had decided 2 weeks ago that I probably wasn't going to take her because she was attacking me when I was holding her. She got a little worse after my last post and I just couldn't handle it. They told me it was probably just a phase, she's still trying to figure out how to perch, she's attached to her sisters and to my friend who is feeding her. My friend said that he would have her out more and with her sisters going home and her weening, that she will change. It has started to happen. The birds are kept out in the open on perches so they are well socialized and it has helped her.

 

She has nipped me a few times but I think it's out of frustration because she tries to perch on my hand and then wobbles since she is still trying to figure out how to grip without her talons. I let her sit on my arm which seems to be too big for her at this point and sometimes she will perch with one foot on my wrist and the other one on a finger.

 

I've been joking that I want to make some kind of necklace or baby sling for her that includes a piece of flat wood for her to perch on while I carry her.

 

I'm still visiting her several times a week and she is back to making baby sounds when she sees me and walking up to me. She put her foot up for me to pick her up for the first time last week. We've been working on "step up" and she's doing great. The "step down" thing isn't happening yet.

[Malikah]

I'm glad to hear she is coming around. Follow your heart as to whether or not you decide to adopt her in the end.