Questions

[Pixburgh29]

I've recently read the sticky "socializing your baby grey" which was wonderfully informative. My question is about the way to socialize. I'm interning to be an avian specialist so that has me going around to various pet stores & other like places all the time. Do you think it would be a good idea (on my days off of course) to take our baby -when he/she's home- up there to be around people? If so, should I be allowing people to hold/touch her or should it just be from a distance type of deal. I've read various posts on the forum discussing greys that weren't socialized properly so I want to make sure I take all of the precautions to give him/her the best start in life with us.

 

My second question is about harness training. Is this something I should ask the breeder to get our baby used to (as in the harness itself and perhaps even putting it on a few times)? We plan to keep our baby fully flighted for the entirety of it's life so a harness would be necessary as I plan to take him/her outside.

[MiracleAces]

My breeder got Luna used to her harness while weening her and I can put it on her and lift her wings thru the loops without any problems. The one thing I would be worried about is people handling your bird with dirty hands.

[Dave007]

I've recently read the sticky "socializing your baby grey" which was wonderfully informative. My question is about the way to socialize. I'm interning to be an avian specialist so that has me going around to various pet stores & other like places all the time. Do you think it would be a good idea (on my days off of course) to take our baby -when he/she's home- up there to be around people? If so, should I be allowing people to hold/touch her or should it just be from a distance type of deal. I've read various posts on the forum discussing greys that weren't socialized properly so I want to make sure I take all of the precautions to give him/her the best start in life with us.

 

My second question is about harness training. Is this something I should ask the breeder to get our baby used to (as in the harness itself and perhaps even putting it on a few times)? We plan to keep our baby fully flighted for the entirety of it's life so a harness would be necessary as I plan to take him/her outside.

 

As far as your second question--it's fine to get the breeder or vet or any person trained in the art of flight harnesses. Many people do it and it can only make the job of handling your bird with a harness. It should be a the flght harness type.

 

As far as your first question---no, it's not a good idea to be taking your bird around so others can pet or handle him. That's especially true for any pet shops. The word *socializing* has to do with getting all members of a family to interact with the bird on a daily basis. That concerns feeding, cleaning, giving treats, any training. That bird relationship also means that one person bonds lessen. Only One-person bonds in a family is bad news. Work on that end of it. Forget the outside and strangers petting, handling him. That can also turn the bird against you because you're the one that put the grey in that uncomfortable situation. Greys are high strung birds. There's a big difference between different species of parrots.

Edited January 4, 2013 by Dave007

[judygram]

I too would be concerned about taking your grey to pet stores and the like for you never know what you may be exposing your bird to, some diseases and such are airborne so you really have to be careful about that.

[Pixburgh29]

Thank you all for the help, makes my decision a lot easier.