geoff Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I have just (three days ago) inherited Coco (9 years old) from his Mum who is just to old and ill to look after him. He has always holidayed with us for at least one week a year. For the last few months he has been confined to his cage and often says 'be quite Coco, Mummy's poorly'. We have a busy house with a grandson who often stays and three dogs (very laid back). I would appreciate knowing who long I should leave it before I try to handle him so it's a happy move for him. When should I let him out of his cage and should I just let him explore his new home on his own or walk him round on my hand? He is not an aggressive bird but will try for a sucker bite when I scratch his neck, which I believe is normal. Any help welcomed. He is moulting at the moment but appears to be happy apart from the odd new experience, such as new toys in his cage although he soon investiagtes them and plays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray P Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hi geoff and welcome to you and Coco to the grey forum and family. It sounds like you and Coco are off to a good start. Give Coco time to settle in. If he will step up to your hand you could take him around your home so he can see what will be his new home You said he has spent time in your home so he might be OK with the move because it`s not new to him. Take the time to talk to him and give him some treats and let him know he is part of the family. OH, We love pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Welcome to our family! Sounds like Geoff is a lucky bird. Ray has given you excellent advice, not much to add, just let him take the lead as to how much he will allow you to handle him. It can take time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hi geoff. Pretty much everything you've said sounds encouraging. At 9yo Coco might have been resistant to this change. But just because he's been in his new home for 3 days & is willing to play w/new toys actually says good things about his temperament. You've already formed a relationship w/Coco & his transition is likely to go all the more smoothly because of it. Good for you both that he's already familiar w/his new surroundings from his previous stays. Maybe let him come out of the cage on his own & once he does & you think he's not stressed about it, then give him the guided tour. Don't push him into anything. Just encourage interaction & work w/the feedback he's giving you. Sounds like this should go pretty well. The only thing you might want to plan for is the (usually inevitable) end of the honeymoon period & a possible mourning reaction. He's used to your house being a vacation experience. He may or may not change his attitude when he's been there long enough to realize he's not going home. Depending on how bonded he was to his Mum, he could go into a little emotional mood swing. So you might want to be aware to keep an eye out, be sensitive & supportive. Other than that, it all sounds good. Congratulations on your new parronthood. Please keep posting & let us know how it goes. There's a lot of greyt information on this website & people to help or share with. We do love stories & pic, too. Welcome to Grey Forums!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Hi Geoff, it's wonderful that you have given a Coco a new forever home. He sounds like he has been very loved and is a relatively happy guy. I look forward to learning more and hearing more about him. Welcome to the Grey family! Pictures when you get a chance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 things are going OK he came over to me today and raised one leg asking for a tickle. He has also been really having a great time with his toys. How many grapes should I feed in a day, they are his favourite treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvparrots Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Grapes contain a lot of juice/water so be sparse with the grapes or your grey will get the runs and not much else. I give my parrots unsalted roasted pistachios, slices of fresh carrot and other fresh veggies. There are oodles of ideas in the Bird Food Room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Coco seems to be testing the water, when I was changing his toys he had a go, luckily my hand was in a fist and he could not get a good grip. Is this normal to 'push the boundary' and how do I best deal with this behaviour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Testing parronts is encoded in a grey's DNA. As is the life long mission to keep us off balance. lol Find a consistent phrase to use when you tell Coco that you don't want him to bite. Use a quiet, firm & disappointed tone whenever you say it. But try to keep everything understated. No really big reactions because that may become a source of amusement. Then Coco will start to do it for the fun of getting a rise out of you. After you've told him to stop, you should continue on as though nothing important happened. Try to end on a positive note if possible. Also, you may be able to avoid some, maybe many such episodes once you understand Coco's body language better. There's quite a lot that's been written about it. So it may be easier to do some research rather than trying to piece things together episode to episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for that Birdhouse, For all Coco has visited before it was always in his holiday cage and I think he's realised he is here for good. He has been quiet since this mornings misunderstanding and apart from ripping his carboard on a chain toy apart he's just sitting there. He's coming over for a treat and behaving himself and thinking about it after the event I was taking his favourite toy out the cage (peanut rubber ball). Funny to say the bite was not a sore as I thought. Thanks for the reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Lot's of times the bird just wants to warn you not actually hurt you. Once a grey trusts you & has a rapport w/you, they don't generally go out of their way to do damage. That doesn't apply when the bird is afraid, angry or hormonal though. So you're kind of going to have to learn to play it by ear. I was wondering if Coco may be starting to suspect something was different about this trip. I'd think you're acting differently towards him & greys pick up on the littlest things incredibly quickly. Coco's young but not a youngster. He's old enough to be past that manic energy that younger birds have. So he should still be active, just not all the time. Keep an eye out that he's eating & pooping normally. But it is normal to have a quiet day or two. At my house everyone's normally subdued on rainy days for instance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I've noticed he seems to be a grumpy parrot in the morning, however, once the curtains are drawn on an evening he really wants to socialise and have a scratch and a stroke along his back. Saying that he seems to enjoy the breakfast ritual with the family and really enjoys a treat of cereal (no milk). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdhouse Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 A lot of fids enjoy eating w/the flock. A little dry breakfast cereal is okay. But not too much because many brands have a high sugar content or even fat. Another yummy breakfast treat that Coco might enjoy is whole grain toast w/w/o some red palm oil on it. Most fids really like oatmeal, hot or cold, too. Or, if you get to where you might want to do a little cooking for him, breakfast might be a good time to give him some birdie bread. If Coco's grumpy in the morning, he may not be getting as much sleep as he's used to. Odds are, he was going to bed early since his Mum wasn't well. Also, he & Mum may have had a morning ritual that he misses. It doesn't sound like you guys are having any major issues overall. And what you said about breakfast is encouraging. Coco sounds like he's got a very decent temperament & will likely adjust to his new life in a little while. Greys are usually really slow movers when it comes to change. But Coco sounds like he's coming along very nicely, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thank for all your help, we both appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblivion Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 he really wants to socialise and have a scratch and a stroke along his back. Hey, welcome! I just wanted to trow in that you should be careful about the strokes along the back. Anything below the shoulders can be sexually stimulating and that could bring about some negative reactions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thanks Oblivion, I could imagine the problems that could lead to. We seem to be doing OK, I would like to give him the opportunity to come out his cage, he's been in to for a week. Should I just open the door, or should I carry him out, if he wants to. What happens if he does not want go go back in his cage. Should we remove all ornaments from shelves and the mantlepiece. How long should he be out of his cage before we ask him to go back. Any and all advice very welcomed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I would allow him to come out of his cage on his own, greys can be territorial about their cages and defend them vigoriously so let it be his decision to come out and join the family. You can entice him back in by putting a treat inside the cage for him to get, make sure he sees you put it there. He needs or should spend several hours minimum out of the cage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 Just a quick report, COCO is settling in well and comes out his cage every day now. He loves a game of football and a walk around the house. He will follow me into the bathroom and likes to sit on my foot. He is a little charmer, although he still likes to try for a quick nip if he's in a grumpy mode, a bit like my wife. He also loves to be on my arm and be spoken to and loved. I'm bequiled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oblivion Posted March 1, 2012 Share Posted March 1, 2012 Awesome. Remember the honeymoon period will end and usually bring some changes, but enjoy the heck out of it just the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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