themechanic Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 My wife and I recently adopted a 10 year old grey from a couple who is moving and could not take the bird. The grey is a female, and very intelligent in the fact that she has a fairly good vocab. At first we visited the bird several times at the owners house to see how she was, all good there right...Well we get her to our home and all set up in her cage. Now it is nearly impossible to remove her from her cage without getting the crap bit out of me. I have read all about being confident and assertive. I also do not pull back or show emotion when she bites. But when she bites it gets bad sometimes like she knaws my finger!! I can only take so much pain, and she has made me bleed pretty good several times. Im not really sure were to go with this grey, but i know that it isnt good for the bird or my wife and I for the relationship to be this way. Any help or advice would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah_Rae Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I fostered a 23 year old CAG that reacted a very similar way. I had bite bruises all over my arms. What I did is put a towel on my arm when I needed to get her out of her cage, and she seemed less intimidated by that than my bare hand, and rarely bit it. Once she was out of the cage she was fine. I just don't think she was a morning bird. Hope this helps. Hannah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themechanic Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share Posted October 19, 2007 Yes, when she is out of her cage she is not as bad....still not great. We have tried the towel arm/glove method, as well as the wood purch retrieval. It totally freeks her out though. And im afraid it stresses her out to much.....is it possible that she is just to set in her ways?????? I hope not, she is such a pretty smart bird.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 how old is she? it seems like she's just haveing a hard time adjusting to new surroundings. don't push her. have you tried leaving the cage door open for her to come out of her own accord? maybe just leaving her to her own devices for a little while. providing she cant hurt herself. in the mean time just be the best parrot parents you can be, shower her with praise when she's good and give her lots of attention and treats. it could take anything from a couple of weeks to a good few months for a grey to adapt to new surroundings. she's probably feeling a bit scared and it showing you what a big tough girl she is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 This being a 10-year old bird she is set in her ways and you have taken her and put her in a strange situation so it is expected that she will be fearful and bite. She needs time to adjust to her new home so don't rush her, let her come out of the cage on her own and see if she reacts differently. An older mature bird has baggage from where it has spent the first part of their life and this has a lot to do with her reactions. There is a difference in being confident and being pushy, give her lots of time to settle in, plus she probably views the cage as her sanctuary and is maybe a little territorial about it also so she does not like a hand coming in to get her. Sit beside her cage and talk to her, let her get used to your voice and let her want to come out and socialize with you and your family. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Why don't you introduce yourself in the welcome room and tell us a little more about you and this grey you have adopted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanka917 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I adopted a Quaker that was cage aggressive. We just left the cage open and had fun in front of him! We ate dinner in front of him, sang, danced, you name it! If it was fun, we did it! He comes out on his own now and will get off the cage to join us and he goes home when he's ready. Birds are so independent, yet dependent! I think this is the time to allow her to do it herself. Good Luck! :cheer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 whooops, missed the age bit before, sorry hope some of this helps, keep us posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconeer Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Hi, There is no such thing as a set mind, in my opinion. As these birds are known to be so intelligent that they learn all their lives. IO think it is just the new environment that is making it nervous. How long have you had it? Leave it alone a month to bond with you first and to know the place. It might know your face from your visits to it's ex-home, but now it is on your turf. It is like a shy kid. When you were at her home, she was playing and all, now it is missing her mommy and is in a new place. Think like the bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARIR Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Have you tried to let the bird come out on her own? and try telling her in a calm soft voice exactly what your doing...its great that your not showing fear but have you told her no, no bite, (don't yell just be stern) make a face (mad) and turn your back on her...walk away and stay where she can see you, after a few minutes talk w/ her then go to the cage softly talk to her, and then try again, the cage is her safe haven, your house is new,give it time, but keep trying...don't give up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themechanic Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 awesome advice yall. She has only been here a short while so im going to give her some more space and come up with a game plan. She will come out of her cage on her own sometimes but more often then not she stays there, even though the door is open. I think im going to figure out what types of treats she really likes, and intice her this way...thanks again for all yalls help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Yes, I would give this bird LOTS of space. I always remember, these birds live 50-60 years, so 5 days, or 5 weeks, or 5 months is not very long for them to take getting used to something. (Just an opinion of course, I'm a rookie myself so what do I know?) So, just a theory. Hopefully the cage has little doors so you can get the food & water dishes without disturbing her too much & also a slide-out bottom so you can clean as well without "invading" her space. Good luck to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdgranna Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Keep your hands out of her space till she is more comfortable. Good advice from all the others. I have a bird that is hand fearful. I sat by her open cage day after day and eventually she came out and at first perched on the back, then the arm of the chair and eventually on my shoulder. She will let me work in her cage now but still will not step up on my hand. She is 7. she is a blue crowned conure. She is much better now, 6 months later. Don't give up. Everything is so strange to her after having no upsets for 10 years.She will come around. I have two amazons that are 27. they came to me at age 25, seed eating and nervous. they now are lovely friendly birds that eat pellets;) Patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwibarb12 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Is your bird a TAG or a CAG? It will make a difference in how fast she adapts to your home. I have had both, and the TAG is way more adaptive IMO. Even so, when I first got Beck as an eleven year old, she had a panic attack when we first bought her into the house. I thought she was having a seizure! Scared me to death. Leaving her physically alone is a great idea, and bribing her with favourite foods is a great idea. I have a new couple of greencheek conure that are the same way as your girl, and this was the advice I was given, and so far it seems to be working. A lot less skittish , even in a couple of days. Beckette was ten when I got her, a year and a half ago, and she is now a sweet loving bird, and I really didn't realise how much she had progressed until I actually sat down and thought about it. Progress tends to be really subtle, so don't get discouraged if you think there is none. It may be in her head, adn just hasn't reached the outside yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themechanic Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 She is a CAG which I have also read are harder to get to adapt. Well the fact that she will live longer than me means that Ill just be patient...its just a matter of time ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Our Radar was confined to his cage for years when we got him. He hadn't spoken in a few years. He was fed, but that was about it. Not very much interaction. We were told he would bite, that he hated men & a few other negative things. We didn't try to get him out of his cage at first, because we were a little scared of him & he was certainly scared of us. We talked to him, let him eat what we were having, I would break off food & feed him through his cage. Within 3 days he was talking again and now he lets me cuddle, kiss, rub, you name it. And yes, my husband can do just about anything with him too. Just take your time, let her get comfortable with her new surroundings, just don't pressure her & everything will work out just fine. Good Luck!!!<br><br>Post edited by: radar, at: 2007/10/22 14:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acappella Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Hi. Maybe we can support each other, as I just moved a grey named Dorian to my home yesterday, and I don't know who is more stressed about it, me or him. In the store where he's from he was cage bound, but I could open his cage and pet, scratch, and play with him. Since I'm the one who moved him into the travel cage and then again once he got here, now he's afraid of my hand and the trust we had is damaged. I just keep reminding myself that it took a long time in the store before he trusted me. He has let me scratch his head and feed him peanuts through the bars, so that's hopeful. I'm sure that just like Dorian, your new baby sees her cage as her safe place. Grey's intelligence is a double edged sword. It makes them wonderful companions, but you have to prove to them that you're worthy of their trust and love. I'm sure if we're both patient they'll both figure out they're safe and their curiosity will get the better of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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