I have an african grey, I have had him about 2 years now. I got him from an older lady, a friend of mine, and she told me he was 4 years old then, but she bought him when he was tiny, and never held him, and he will bend stainless steel feeders and try to take a persons finger off, he has a very large vocabulary, and is cool, but you better keep fingers totally away. I s there anyway to tame him down, or anything I can do to keep him from being soo mean? I have seen this bird bite through a leather glove like it was a piece of paper. Any suggestions will be appreciated.........
2007-02-01 14:50:18 · 9 answers · asked by Nicky J 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
Yes, there is a way to tame him, can I ask what state you're in? You might need help from someone who's has a lot of background bird training to help you with this. It's not going to be an overnight project, and you may even consider getting a behaviorist's help for it.
This is something that if you want to do it, is going to take a few hours a day for at least the next three months to happen. If you are in Michigan, I can help you. If your not, you'll want to get a hold of a breeder or a behaviorist that will work with you.
At worst case scenario, if you get a hold of someone for help and they want to charge you an arm and a leg, email me and I'll give you my phone number. I'll help you get the fundamentals down and give you some safe tips on getting him to the point he'll let you handle him.
The problem is, Grey's are ridiculously intelligent. With that, they know when they're being screwed, and spending 99.9% of his life in his cage, not interacting with the rest of his flock (you and that lady) qualifies as being screwed. Now, to avoid you and your training, he will be very manipulative.
You'll need patience and a LOT of forgiveness because it's not going to be easy to accomplish, but if you get the right person to help you, you can have a good bird that wants to hang out with you, that likes to be touched and held, and that likes to be out with everyone else.
The key ingredient is trust. And, since you're terrified of his beak, there isn't any from you, and he doesn't trust you either. I'll help the best I can, but you're probably going to need some in house training with this guy.
I don't charge for services, I volunteer my time with families with large exotics to educate them and help them BEFORE having to get rid of the pet becomes a problem. Even if you're not in Michigan, I'll still talk you through the best I can, but if you can swing it, find a behaviorist near you.
2007-02-01 23:22:15 · answer #1 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spend a lot of time with him. Birds generally bond with only one person, in this case it might be you. Birds are very loyal which is the one trait that I really enjoy.
Since you mentioned that he wasn't handled by the previous owner, you will have to work with him slowly, and take each day at a time. He has to be able to trust you, and with birds it's a very slow process, but quite worth it in the end, if you accomplish your goal!
He could have possibly been mistreated prior at some point, so he is always on the defense.
I have an Orange Winged Amazon parrot that came from an abusive environment. I worked for several months with him, and now he is a changed parrot. I've had him for about 8 years now. I was patient, and I built up my trust with him. Now we are buds!
Parrots are very smart, and have good memories. Just be patient, and don't be too afraid of him, because he will sense that, and act like he is the boss. Talk sweet to him, and he will learn your voice when you enter the room.
Parrots are also very sociable creatures. The like to be in a room with people and where all the activities are occuring. They are very curious. Go to bird store and experiment with special toys he may enjoy to play with in his cage.
Also don't let anyone be mean to him, and NEVER NEVER hit a bird. Just love him, and you will eventually reap from the benefits.
2007-02-01 15:33:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We also had a very mean African grey. It is a long process, but they are tamable. First of all, they love UNsalted peanuts in the shell. We had his wings clipped and would open his cage door so he could come out and play with toys on top the cage. After he got used to us handing him peanuts, we got a wood dowel that resembled his perch, but longer. we held this under his belly and offered a nut which would make him step on it to reach the treat. after some time, he naturally would step on the stick and let us hold him on that. Eventually moving hand closer to bird, then using just hand to step on. He would still hiss and act like he was going to bite, but he wouldnt.
2007-02-01 16:16:02 · answer #3 · answered by yellow2012 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason why your bird does this is because he is scared. First of all you should finger train him(teach him to go on your finger). If he bites you, you should calmly say "be nice." Eventually your bird will learn to trust you, and will stop biting you.
2007-02-03 15:10:13 · answer #4 · answered by т郃αич 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
attempt and choose why he's biting. Is he scared by how vast human beings are in comparison to him? Is he under pressure? Injured? shop working with him, get him used to you, don't be demanding of a few bites through fact they're probable to ensue, and undergo in strategies,do not panic while you're bitten and fling the poultry off. look up a thank you to eliminate a poultry that has bit you and refuses to enable pass. :D Goodluck!
2016-10-16 10:43:12 · answer #5 · answered by tegtmeier 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
training a neglected bird is no easy task. first of what is your birds favorite treadt well frim now on i want you to **** up next to him and talk to him in a colm comfprting voice, complement him and watch him poof up and groom himself then you keep on talking andd slip in the treat.
continue this on and on. eventually in the rutine when you would normally drop in the treat have him take it from your hand continue this on and on until he is no longer scared of you hand at this point when yould normallyhave him take the treat between the bars slip your hand into the cage and let him take it like that eventually you will gain eachothers trust.
be patient this will take a long long time this bird has to learn that humand wont hurt him he is scared of you asmuch as you are as scared of him i need you to atleast try this ok it will be very rewarding if it workd out if you give him this love you will get it back ten fold
2007-02-01 15:04:08 · answer #6 · answered by Here i am 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
try luring his eyes away by moving your pointer finger up and down then try to pet him with your other hand, if he likes to be pet he might let you do it more often. I had a bird like that, and now he's loves to cuddle with anyone who will let him.
2007-02-02 00:14:29 · answer #7 · answered by squishy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a bird is usually a one person pet and yes if spend enough time with him and be very patient he'll begin to trust you.
2007-02-01 14:58:28 · answer #8 · answered by allison w 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://www.birdwhisperer.com/ This bird has issues it can be helped but,requires research, maybe money.
2007-02-01 15:02:06 · answer #9 · answered by thresher 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋