New Member

[THampton]

Hello, my wife recently bought me a Timneh. I have had several smaller parrots and a very friendly cockatiel that I rescued. He must have been sick when I got him because he died soon after I got him. I also had an Australian bourke that was a super bird. I didn’t realize when a friend gave me the bird that they didn’t have but around a 12 year life span. He was around 10 when he was given to me. He died within the year. I don’t know if I’ll ever have a bird as loving as the Bourke was.

 

My Timneh, Charlie, is reported to be 3 years old. I had been messing with the bird daily for about 8 days at a local pet store. I had been talking to my wife about how I was trying to get the bird to calm down and accept my hand to get him out. The local pet store had a good price on him and a cage since he was not very friendly at the time. On about the 10th day, my wife asked me to help her get some things out of the car and there he was, cage and all. I was speechless. We have come along way in the last month. He readily jumps up on my hand and says “what, hello and I believe it is I love you. He does the normal wolf whistle and clucks very loudly. He also makes a taser sound but he has recently picked up something I have no idea where it came from. It sounds like two cats mating; it is a hissing squall for lack of a better description. He doesn’t do it out of anger or anything, he just does it sometimes. He will eat out of my hand and now allows me to rub his beak and I will slightly push against the beak to let him know I am there but not hurting him. He will lick my fingers then try to dig on my finger nails which I have to stop him he gets a little deep..hehehee. Anyone else’s grey do this hissing squall? I wonder if it’s part of their usual or if it’s something he learned elsewhere and just brought it back.

 

I was also wondering how you would recommend going about moving towards rubbing him? I’ve heard of the overwhelming them with two dowel rods and rubbing one side and the other, just not sure that builds a trusting bond. I also know of rapping them I a towel and rubbing them. Once again I don’t like it. Is it just a matter of time and slow approaches? Just not sure where to go next.

[Eckobird]

Hello THampton and welcome to the forum! So glad you could join. What a great surprise your wife gave you, I bet you were soo happy! How lucky Charlie is to have found you guys. That is great that Charlie is starting to get used to you. All it takes is time and patience and you guys will soon be the best of friends! If you have any pics of Charlie we would love to see them. Anyways enjoy the site

[Luvparrots]

Hey, THampton, glad you and Charlie have decided to join the family. I don't believe using dowels or towels is going to help Charlie to trust or feel safe with you. The trick is the earn your grey's trust and confidence not force it on him because that definitely will not work. So take it slow. Hope to hear more about Charlie and your bonding. You give that wife of yours a big hug for giving you such a loving forever companion. Welcome to the family!!

[SchroedersJen]

Timnehs can be jealous attention whores. I would use that to your full advantage. Let your wife come up and interrupt Charlie you time by being sweet and begging for attention. You can reward her with a nice head scratch or neck rub. Charlie is going to figure out that the best way to get your focus is to be nice and allow you to touch him. It worked well with a rescue I have been working with, though it took a few days... You may want to have treats on hand to reward him when he lets you touch him.

[judygram]

Hello Thampton and welcome to the family, how wonderful of your wife to surprise you with this grey, knowing that you wanted it so bad, she is very thoughtful.

 

I think you will have to give up on the "rubbing" him too much, a lot of greys do not like to be handled much and as they go into sexual maturity you cannot just touch them anywhere on their body as it gives them the wrong signals. Charlie has not reached that yet but he is no baby at his age either.

 

In any case it will take time to gain his trust so go slow with him and do not rush him into anything or you risk losing what you have already gained. A grey is a very cautious creature and it will take much patience to bond with him.

 

Do read thru the many threads for lots of useful information and do ask questions if you have any and we will help you in any way we can.

 

We would love to see some pictures of Charlie is you have some you would share with us.

[Lyric]

Hi THampton, welcome here! It was a great surprise for your wife to bring home Charlie to you- what a lady! :laugh: As the others have already mentioned, you must take things slow, at Charlie's pace and win his trust. Eventually he may lower his head for you to scratch it. My 2 1/2 year old Timneh doesn't like a lot of cuddling or touching but usually right before bed time after his tummy is full, he likes his head scratched and preened for a short period of time. You'll figure out Charlie's preferences soon enough but don't force him to accept your handling- this can make things worse if he loses his trust of you. Good luck!