Worried about holding and handling my parrot - Help needed

[cathy1]

Milo is an African Grey 11 months of age (+/-) had one owner before us - who didn't want him & left him in his cage at a sawmill with all the noise & dust & hundreds of workers milling about. He was very traumatised.

We have had him now for 2 months & he seems to be happier. Chats away (noises no words) & eats well. His red feathers are growing as well.

He hates to be covered at night (we were told to cover the cage with a sheet to stop him getting a chill?? Are we right)? We live at the coast in Kenya.

We desperately want to let him out during the day (under supervision, as we have cats & dogs) and do not know how to go about this as he goes for you when you try to touch him.

Any advice would be so welcome.

Many thanks

Cathy

[MarcusCAG]

Milo is an African Grey 11 months of age (+/-) had one owner before us - who didn't want him & left him in his cage at a sawmill with all the noise & dust & hundreds of workers milling about. He was very traumatised.

We have had him now for 2 months & he seems to be happier. Chats away (noises no words) & eats well. His red feathers are growing as well.

He hates to be covered at night (we were told to cover the cage with a sheet to stop him getting a chill?? Are we right)? We live at the coast in Kenya.

We desperately want to let him out during the day (under supervision, as we have cats & dogs) and do not know how to go about this as he goes for you when you try to touch him.

Any advice would be so welcome.

Many thanks

Cathy

 

First off, wow, what a sad place for such a sensitive baby to be! A loud saw mill! I am so happy your Milo is with you now...

 

Secondly, are you right on the water? I've never been to Kenya, but I've never gotten the impression it's exceptionally cold (I could be wrong though, haha). We don't cover our parrots' cages unless it's deep winter and the temperature drops below 70 at night in the house, but there are many members here who cover their parrots' cages regularly, year-round. So it seems to be a personal choice, and sometimes one that is dictated by the parrot, themselves. If your Milo doesn't like the cover and you don't mind his normal waking hours without one, if it's not too chill, I don't see why you'd need to cover him.

 

Lastly, sometimes it takes parrots--Greys in particular--a long time to really get used to their household and feel comfortable enough to want to come out of their cage and explore their surroundings. If Milo can be in a room by himself when he's let out, if it's parrot-proofed and he can be supervised by someone, then he could conceivably come and go from his cage at will and yet remain out of the dangers of the rest of the household--even if there is some trouble getting him back in his cage when the rest of his family wants him to. Just an idea. Either way, I'm just so glad Milo is with you now and hopefully someone else will post in this thread, too, and give you some more (and better!) ideas as well.

[judygram]

Some birds do not like to be covered at night and if he doesn't like it then leave him uncovered.

Milo has been with you now for 2 months but some just need more time to adjust to a new home so be patient with him and some greys do not like being touched very much but what you can do is open his cage and let him come out on his own, let him come to you when he is ready, do things at his pace and don't push him for more than he is willing to give. He will more than likely come out and want to be where the family is and spends their time and then when it is time for him to go back to his cage just put some treat in his cage, make sure he sees you put it in the cage and he should be willing to go back in to get it then you can close the door.

Just relax and let him decide when he is ready to come closer and be a part of the flock.