African Grey needs home?

Question

I have a 15 year old African Grey. I want him to spend his life naturaly as possible in an aviary. Does anyone no of such a place who would take him in the south of England pls?
i know how valuble he is and i do not want anything for him, just an aviary so that he can fly and live how he should.

Thank you for your comments so far, i will re think the options as i want whats best for him and company of his own kind must be better for him?

Answer 1

Ummm, I believe you might want to rethink placing him in an aviary.
As I do not know the history of your Grey, I can't tell you specifically what decisions you should make regarding the rest of his life.
But if I was working with you on your case, I would ask the following questions. This might help you clarify in your own mind what might be best for your Grey.
Have you had him the entire 15 years?
If you have, he is well bonded to humans and really has no other way of life at the moment. This is not to say that he wouldn't learn from other parrots, but for now, he is unfamiliar with "Bird Flock" knowledge. The only "Flock Activity" he knows is his human flock. That has been his life and he knows no other.
To just place him in unfamiliar surroundings would be jarring for him. He doesn't know the rules and has no skills with a flock. It will be a hard lesson. He would eventually learn, but all he knows is human skills. This would be like you having to live with another species, say if you were dropped off with seals, or a troop of monkeys and you had to learn how to cope. It wouldn't be easy because you don't know how things are done.

Does he have behavioral problems, and is that why you want to place him somewhere other than your home?

If he does have behavioral issues and this is the core reason you no longer feel he should be with you, you might want to consider an adoption situation through a parrot rescue.

Simply because he doesn't know how to behave at this time does not mean he cannot learn. Sometimes a change of venue with another person does the trick. There is skill and knowledge involved in positive reinforcement training and it can be done. I've seen it happen over and over.
You say you want him to live "how he should". That is admirable of you and I appreciate the sentiment. I am unaware if your Grey is Wild-caught or Captive-raised, so I can't take this into consideration.
If he is captive raised, he is indeed living as he was raised to do.
Personally I'm not too thrilled about breeding at this time, (with the exception of endangered species, such as Blue-throat Macaws) simply because I think there are too many that need homes already.
He cannot be returned to the wild and he only knows humans.
Most parrots, especially Greys are not irretrievable. There are 2 good examples perched in my living room at this moment.

Please consider your decision carefully. Yes, if the facility is a good one and it has a stellar reputation, then it is something to consider.
But you are making a life decision for another being and you need to consider what he would like, rather than what you want for him. They might not be the same thing.
My 15 year old rescued Grey has made remarkable progress in under a month, and I am positive her situation was nothing like yours. She was the victim of circumstances: a death in the family left her with adult sons and daughters that did not want her. She had been neglected for years.
Plucked and basically abandoned, she was rehabilitated, and ended up with me. She is charming, a complete delight, with smarts, personality and a will to learn. She still has many years ahead of her and I am hoping to make them simply wonderful: full of fun, freedom from fear, a lot of learning, stuff to do and a good healthy diet. She deserves it.

Are you simply giving up?

If you are, please give him, and someone else a chance at a new chapter of the rest of his life. While I cannot begin to know all the circumstances, I am hoping that you consider all of these angles when making this very inportant decision.
I wish you luck and if I can be of service, please do not hesitate to ask.

Answer 2

Try www.parrotrescue.co.uk I have 2 African greys who fret when I'm not around them, one of the is 17 years old, have you thought how your bird may feel, even though you are trying to do the right thing. Ask yourself is it something you want to do, your bird knows no better than living with you.

Answer 3

I don't think that would be a good idea because he might not be able to find food or even live because he has been inside for so long. He may not even be able to defend himself in the wild. I think that it would be more dangerous for him if you turned him lose now. There would be a lot of people who would want him and would take good care of him. I would

Answer 4

Contact Longleat House, home of Lord Bath. They have a pets corner and have other parrotts. The animals are well cared for and then you can visit. Who knows, you might even see him on the tv show which is regularly filmed there(can't remember what it's called but it's on BBC).

Answer 5

I'd try a Zoo, call them and give them an idea of diplaying him in a indoor room

Answer 6

CALL AROUND AT THE ZOO'S, THEY'D TAKE IT. THEY HAVE HUGE AVARIES AND THEY FEED THEY'RE ANIMALS DIVINE DINNERS. IT WOULD BE LIKE BEING TOTALLY FREE, BUT STILL BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND AWAY FROM OTHER PREDATORS. THEY ARE LOVELY BIRDS!!!

Answer 7

it's probably best to contact your local RSPCA or vets surgery for advice on how to rehome him properly and make sure he gets a loving home.

Answer 8

seems to me if you had him for that long, he wouldnt be happy anywhere else.. Where he is now is the only home he's known..