Hello Everyone! Meet Winston....

[Winston Destroyer Of Toys]

Hi,

 

Long ago I fell in love with African Greys. I planned go get one as soon as I bought a house after graduating from university in 2000. For a variety of reasons it never happened- still always wanted one though.

 

Fifteen years later my wife (a veterinarian) comes home and says "Do you want an African Grey?". She really knew the answer already... Turns out a client has taken on some as a rescue case and they need homes. I'd pretty much come to the conclusion I'd never be getting a grey, but the fact there was one in need of a home, I couldn't say no..

 

In something of a rush a cage was purchased in the Internet, and delivery eagerly anticipated. I was able to borrow a small cage while the new one made its way here. Soon the new cage arrived though, so he has much more space. 42"x34"x45" inside dimensions if I remember rightly, so plenty of room for toys as we both work.

 

His history is somewhat unclear, but he's about 15 years old, has eaten mostly peanuts, seeds and some veggies. His previous owner started off with two greys which bred, Winston is one of the offspring I believe, then got identified as a 'bird person' and ended up taking on a bunch of other birds. This got too much and he didn't have time for them all, and they lived in a heated garage.. He seems pretty healthy, and I don't think he suffered abuse, just lack of attention.

 

After two months he now talks somewhat when you're in the other room, will come out of his cage occasionally if he thinks you're not looking, and will take food from my hand most of the time. If he's outside the cage he will also step up quite readily. My attempts to positively reinforce this are somewhat thwarted by the fact he'll take the treat and throw it away. What can I say - he's his own bird!

He's also eating his way through every toy I give him.. The lady who rescued him says that she's hearing the same about the others, she thinks that they've been so bored before that now they have toys they've just gone nuts..

 

Anyway, this is Winston..

[Luvparrots]

Thank you for the great introduction. Winston sounds like a very lucky guy to have found a prefect forever home. Looking forward to learning more about Winston. Welcome to the Grey family.

[Greywings]

Lucky you and very fortunate birdy boy, Winston is quite handsome as well. If you will read through Gilberts thread you can follow the progress of a little Grey girl who had an overwhelming amount of baggage she carried forward from her previous home or homes. I think you will find out about Grey time and a view of building trust one moment at a time. It is among our sticky threads, link to thread

[h=3] Sticky: Gilbert is home[/h]

[SRSeedBurners]

Winston looks like a healthy boy. He looks like a nice birdy.

[Winston Destroyer Of Toys]

Thanks everyone for the welcome, I'm kind of surprised how well he's settling in. He does seem pretty healthy, and I'm surprised how little baggage I've had to deal with so far. He is also incredibly gentle when it comes to taking food from your hand.

I spent yesterday making a cover for his cage so he can get a decent amount of sleep, and not wake us up at 5:30 every morning.

I was paranoid about some of the cage cover horror stories so I built it to hang from the play top on his cage and it has a frame which makes it hang away from the cage and outside the seed catcher so there's no way he can get to it and try to eat/destroy it. He slept right through till 8 this morning..

[Dave007]

Hi,

 

Long ago I fell in love with African Greys. I planned go get one as soon as I bought a house after graduating from university in 2000. For a variety of reasons it never happened- still always wanted one though.

 

Fifteen years later my wife (a veterinarian) comes home and says "Do you want an African Grey?". She really knew the answer already... Turns out a client has taken on some as a rescue case and they need homes. I'd pretty much come to the conclusion I'd never be getting a grey, but the fact there was one in need of a home, I couldn't say no..

 

In something of a rush a cage was purchased in the Internet, and delivery eagerly anticipated. I was able to borrow a small cage while the new one made its way here. Soon the new cage arrived though, so he has much more space. 42"x34"x45" inside dimensions if I remember rightly, so plenty of room for toys as we both work.

 

His history is somewhat unclear, but he's about 15 years old, has eaten mostly peanuts, seeds and some veggies. His previous owner started off with two greys which bred, Winston is one of the offspring I believe, then got identified as a 'bird person' and ended up taking on a bunch of other birds.

 

Anyway, this is Winston..

 

To say the least, you greatly lucked out. Lots of rehomed birds make a transition difficult both on the bird and the new owners. There's just a few things to remember here and those things have to do with his age. Throughout 15 yrs of life, your bird has picked habits which are now ingrained. There's no way to change those habits or attitudes. Luckily, he's very friendly, likes to mix with people, seems to have a good appetite and seems to like his environment. You did a good thing with that new cage. It's a great size. As time goes on, you'll be able to see his attitude when he's out of the cage.

The one thing I wanna mention has to do with the toys. You should try different pieces and strengths of plain wood. Nothing fancy. Just wood that can be hung in the cage. After a while, they will love wood. They'll wanna destroy it which is a good thing. Another thing to get is a heavy duty cowbell. That's another thing that they love to fight with. They love to be very aggressive with that bell, but in the evening, you'll see the bird snuggle up to his friend which is that cowbell.

 

There is one thing in your post that I don't understand what you mean

 

**********Winston is one of the offspring I believe, then got identified as a 'bird person' and ended up taking on a bunch of other birds. This got too much and he didn't have time for them all, and they lived in a heated garage.. He seems pretty healthy, and I don't think he suffered abuse, just lack of attention.**********

[Timbersmom]

Hello and welcome to you and Winston! He's a beautiful bird. Good luck and God bless

[Winston Destroyer Of Toys]

There is one thing in your post that I don't understand what you mean

 

**********Winston is one of the offspring I believe, then got identified as a 'bird person' and ended up taking on a bunch of other birds. This got too much and he didn't have time for them all, and they lived in a heated garage.. He seems pretty healthy, and I don't think he suffered abuse, just lack of attention.**********

 

Ok, a little confusing in retrospect, but made perfect sense in my head when I wrote it!

 

Basically the guy got two greys which then bred resulting in Winston and others. I guess that word got around that he was a bird person, and people started giving him their birds, resulting in him having too many to look after. Hope that made more sense...

 

I'm really aware I've lucked out with Winston, so far I've seen no really bad habits, but he's not been brave enough to come out of his cage much yet. I'm prepared for a bumpy road ahead though. Things seem too good to be true so far! the cowbell is an interesting idea I'll have to look into...

 

Rob.

[Acappella]

You do need to get him a good, big, bell that he can go to war with. It's the rare grey that doesn't like to beat the snot out of a good heavy duty bell. Especially if he's been toy deprived. Welcome to you and Winston.

[katana600]

Hi Rob! Congratulations on finding Winston and making him part of your family, you won't regret it. Thanks for joining our forum so we can watch how he changes your life. He is a beautiful boy and looks remarkably well. You have the best wife! I love that she has been hearing your wishes for a grey "someday" and took the initiative to help bring you together with Winston. You are off to such a great start. Your introduction is very well done and I believe you are going to get along just fine. Winston is a lucky boy to be joining your home for a wonderful grey journey.

[judygram]

Hello Winston Destroyer of Toys and welcome to our family.

 

Winston is adorable and looks as sweet as you say he is but just one word of warning that as he fully settles into his new home some behaviors may make their appearance as you two are going thru the honeymoon phase of the relationship.

 

Most greys love to destroy toys especially wooden ones and I have to echo the other's suggestion of adding a heavy stainless steel bell, I know my grey loves to bang that thing at times, I think they work their frustrations out on it and the noise is a bonus.

[chezron]

Congratulations on your new grey! I wish my grey liked bells. My Amazon loves his bells and really goes to town on them. Brutus loves to chew wood though.

You have an exciting adventure ahead of you. Please post more.

[Winston Destroyer Of Toys]

It's been a while since I updated - there's been a lot going on other than Winston related stuff. We went on vacation for a week, leaving Winston in the care of my sister in law. She's a veterinary technician, and one of my Wife's colleagues lives just down the street, so no worries there.. I really am spoilt to have such well qualified parrot sitters!

 

I was expecting that being away for a week would set things back, but he took it all in his stride and seemed to be genuinely happy to come to me and take a peanut when I got back. He is now clambering out of his cage and sitting on his door surveying the scenery. This morning I was clearing up after last nights concrete nightmare outside and I got called in to help dislodge him from my Wife's shoulder, where he'd just decided he wanted to sit. I think he quite likes the ladies - much showing off whenever females are around. Curiously though he won't sit on my shoulder or her hand, but will fairly happily sit on my hand, but not my shoulder..

 

He's beginning to say more words and sentences that he must've learned elsewhere, fortunately no profanity, which is nice.. I've made him a coconut 'cowbell' since that'll be rather quieter when it comes to early morning 'silly hour' (and I mean early). When I suggested a cowbell the Wife went pale! Can't blame her when she's often out on calls until the early hours!

 

And he seems to like Bob Marley...