lmarinukjr Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 ok first im am new to the forum but ive had multiplebirds as pets.my bird is a possible 20 plus year old grey rescue. he was kept in a flight cage with a wid caught goffin cockatoo also 20 plus years old.my neighbor rescued them the goffin is slightly agressive but has been almost completly broken but the grey is extremely timid. i believe the agressiveness contributes to the timidness of the grey is it too late to break him? she took the goffin to a place called bird paradise the lady there broke him in about 6 hrs.she also took the grey and she said he'll break in like 6 to 12 hours but i talked to my vet said itll take years but the vet said the goffin would never take to training and it did. any advise on training or other options? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darth_mint Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Hi Imarinukjr and welcome to the forum. It's great that you are taking in a rescue, although I hope you mean "break" as in "train" or "settle in"... I would say please let the grey settle in at his own pace for a few days, weeks, months, however long it takes. Your vet is correct in that it will take time for this grey to trust you, especially at his age and if he's had no human interaction before. Even if the Bird Paradise place is able to socialize him and teach him basic commands within 12 hours, he will still need time to become accustomed to YOU. Maybe you could give us more details about him? Many forum members have experience with rescued birds and they can offer lots of very helpful advice.<br><br>Post edited by: darth_mint, at: 2008/08/28 08:39 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Hello and welcome to the forum. First of all I would like to congratulate you on taking in an older grey. If he has never had any socialisation with humans he is understandably nervous. As Dan said it may take months or years for him to learn to trust you and to be relaxed around you. Given time, I am sure you will have wonderful pet Siobhan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darth_mint Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Ack! I didn't know I'd turned into Dan! :evil: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siobha9 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 :blush: Sorry!!! Typo! I was thinking one thing and my fingers typed another Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darth_mint Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 hahaha I must put a photo of myself up soon so people can tell us apart! Speaking of Dan by the way, I think this thread could use his input *hint hint* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Welcome to the forum lmarinukjr . I dread to think what methods bird paradise use to break a bird ? It will take time,dedication & patience for you to win this guys trust.He will need time to settle in his new environment,adjust to his surroundings & yourself.Everything will feel totally alien to him. You don't say if you have him or your considering getting him ? Re homing an older bird can be very rewarding but miracles wont happen overnight,be sure you are 100% committed to him . As a forum we will offer all our collective advice & support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzzique Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Welcome to the forums! As has been said time is what is best for your new grey. Just take everything slow don't push anything to fast and let him set the pace. Oh and no question is to silly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmarinukjr Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 he has a scare on his breast bone that i was told not to worry about possibly an older injury he also does a weird thing where he appears to be yawning for no apparent reason is that something to worry about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 If the scar is from an old wound & has healed then it's nothing to worry about.Greys Parrots do yawn when they are tired or after waking up from a nap.What's so strange about his yawn ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzzique Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 They can also yawn to clear out a feather in thier ear. Nothing to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Hello Imarinukjr and welcome to the family, so glad you could join us and we look forward to hearing more about you and this grey. I don't know what you are talking about when you are saying "breaking" a grey, I have never heard of such a thing, no one breaks a grey, you have to gain their trust to bond with them, you never use force or punishment. Time and patience will be what is required to win him over, being a rescue he is very set in his ways and he has been thrust into a new situation with new owners, no wonder he is a little timid right now. Give him some space and lots of love and attention and he will let you know when he is ready for more. Please read thru the many threads for lots of useful information and do ask any and all questions you may have and we will do all we can to help you. If you would like to share some pictures of him with us we would love to see him. BTW, what is his name? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Welcome lmarinukjr!! Rescuing is a wonderful and challenging thing to do. I am not certain what is meant by being "Broke", but must assume you are referring to the process of "Breaking" a horse. I would suspect the Cockatoo had been hand fed and previously used to close and consistent human interaction. It may not be the case for your Grey. You can not put a specific time limit as Bird Paradise seems to in hours of how long this process may take. It is by no means a forced and bad experience for the bird, with disregard for it's interactions, emotional damage and loss of trust. It is a slow process of first allowing both your birds to become comfortable in their new home, surroundings, cage and family members. Once they are feeling comfortable enough to come out of their cage, they are feeling a bit more trust of the environment. The next trust level is feeling comfortable with you being close to them and eventually them stepping up for you or allowing a head scratch etc. I hope all is going well and look forward to an update on you two new birds. :-)<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2008/08/29 14:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 darth_mint wrote: Ack! I didn't know I'd turned into Dan! :evil: LOL!! Stranger things have happened on this forum. :-) Glad we are back to ourselves now. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 lmarinukjr, welcome here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tycos_mom Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 I rescued a Grey last October and have worked with her on a daily basis. its only been the last month or so that she has finally allowed me to give her scritches. She trusts me now and is turning into the most wonderful companion I could ever hope or want to have. It has taken time, love, and patients to arrive at this point it has also taken commitment I work with her daily playing with her teaching her knew thing. reading to her what ever it take to show her that I love her and that I'm harmless. this paradise place sounds like some kind of tortcher chamber and I would never try this with a Grey they are exstreamly intelegent and may never be the same again if you put them through something like that. Its so much better and way more rewarding to realize that your grey trust you and loves you because of the efforts you put into it. You never force a grey to do something against its will. that is not what you want you want to make that bird love you. so you know when it does what you ask its out of the love he has for you not because its scared to death not too. I would hope that you don't even consider this as a viable option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acappella Posted August 30, 2008 Share Posted August 30, 2008 Welcome. Karma to you for taking on these older rescue second (or third or fourth) hand birds. My grey came out of a neglectful environment and he's been home with me for a year. I agree with others who have cautioned you against any tempting quick fix methods of behaviour modification. Just like a small child, he may learn to perform or obey out of fear or intimidation, but you won't ever see him develop the full personality that greys who are secure and bonded with their people, do. These birds can become the most loving, rewarding and entertaining animal companions, but only when they feel like safe and loved members of their flock. If your desire in the end is to have a grey that chatters, mimics, plays, and maybe even learns tricks or games with you, that trust and sense of safety has to be there first. It takes time and patience but it is sooo worth it. After all, like many here have said before, what's a few months in the life of a grey:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittykittykitty Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Welcome! I, too, wondered about the word "break." As you can tell from all of the experienced individuals it takes a lot of time and even more patience. These birds are very intelligent with unbelievable memories. The time spent is worth every minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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