looking for some details on african grey parrots.?

Question

i have been searching the net over the last few months for information on buying an african grey and i am going to see some breeders over the next few weeks. i "THINK" i know most things about them from what i have read on the net but im looking for some more info from real people who have owned these birds as pets. i hear they can be one person birds? i live with my partner, my labrador, my 6 year old son at weekends and my partner and i are expecting another baby anytime soon.
my main question is, what should i do withing the 1st 12 hours of purchasing the bird and bringing him/her home? and also what is the best things to do over the 1st week?

Answer 1

This was the advice given to me when I purchased one: For the first day it's home, you should leave it completely alone, let it adjust to the car ride, new home, etc. For the first few days: bring it out to where the family normally is, talk to it as you walk by, etc., but don't hold it. Then after a few days, start touching it and holding it. Let everyone hold it on a regular basis so it gets used to everyone and doesn't become a one person parrot. Congrats and good luck!

Answer 2

They can be one person birds if not socialized, so jsut make sure your partner and you both share the care of the bird and as the child gets older slowly introduce him to the bird. That way the bird is used to all 3 of you and will be less likely to just love one and none of the others. When you first bring the bird home I'd sit in the room with it with it just on your hand and jsut feed it treats and tlak to it slowly for a little while. An hour is fine. Then put the bird in the cage and leave him be to rest and try adn relax since birds can get stressed. You don't want to leave him in the cage for 2 or 3 days without interaction because this will make things WORSE. grey's are sensitive and being alone will not help them. True you don't want to spend ever minute with them only to make them feel abandoned later on when you cna't give them as much attention. but really if you were in a new place would you want to be alone? For days at a time with no interaction? No. Don't be too demanding though, don't do too many step ups, don't move around a lot jsut sit there with the bird for about 45 minutes the first day then put em' in the cage and let them in the cage and let them destress. I have have never had a bird react badly this way. People are entitled to their opinion but you will ahve a stronger bond with your bird if you sit with them some the first day adn the day after as well. You just don't want to try and handle the bird too much. But they do need to be with people, and they do need to be let out of the cage. Just make sure you are calm and move slowly the first few days to the first week so that the bird doesn't feel threatened. In the first week you will slowly see the bird become more relaxed, but be patient. You don't want strangers to be all voer you hugging and kissing you right? No! Then don't expect tha tout of your bird. Give them a couple days to judge you befor eyou do too much handling and or hugging. But they still need your interaction. You will have to decide how much is too much by reading your bird's body language. Over the first week they probably won't play too much so outside the cage get ont he floor with your bird and offer the toys adn ring the bells, and offer them the threads of rope on the toys. Tie knots in the leather and of them. Sometimes they need to be shown how to play with their toys, which you should do to encourage play so your bird learns to entertain tiself. But don't introduce any new toys within the first few weeks. Just stick with the toys you had int he cage when they first came home. In the first week or two: Be patient, tlak slowly and calmly, read books to him to help keep him calm, be consistant with the attention you will be able to give, and know when your bird has had enough to avoid being bitten. But also be firm and tell him No firmly when he bites. Don't shout, but give him The Eye and say No. After awhile they catch on. :)

Answer 3

hi...

the first 12 hours (or more) after your new bird arrives, he may feel a little leary or frightened. on the other end of the spectrum, the bird might act as if its always lived with you... they all have different personalities, and the truth is, some don't care and adjust rapidly, while others are shyer about things.

i assume you are getting a younger bird?

when you go to get a parrot, make sure you can select from several before you make one decision...and make sure it is an outgoing (but not a biter). a "social" bird is usually better than a "shy" one for a pet... sometimes shy animals don't do well with handling, and can quickly become a "one person bird" like you said, and lash out at others (by the way, many birds are like this -- some are very selective about the people they prefer, and they will let you know it -- especially after they are sexually mature -- something which we can't predict when they are babies.)

i would say that you could put your bird's cage and perch in an area of the house where he can easily observe and hear you, but not in the center of any chaos. let him settle in.

perhaps you and your wife can each spend time with the bird individually, at first, so he gets accustom to each of you. as for the 6 year old, it depends upon the bird, and i think you might want to supervise the child...not let him move too quickly toward the bird.. teach him to approach it slowly... kids mean well (mine did) but sometimes the are over-zealous... again, the bird's personality will predict the type of care you need to utilize while your son is interacting with the bird.

if any of your family members are afraid of the bird, dont' expect them to take care of the bird... it's not a pleasant experience for the person who is fearful, and isn't for the bird, either... sometimes birds who are cared for by people who are fearful, develop "attitudes". let the person who is afraid get used to the bird, if he or she wants to do so.

it seems you've done your research on grays. the are great talkers and demand a lot of personal attention and time. but if you love birds, you'll be happy with this choice.

the downside of grays, and many parrots are that they can become very noisy, and this is natural. mine used to scream and holler at certain times of the day, and i learned to tune them out. another thing, you might want to supervise the animal when he's out of his cage -- keep a good eye on him. sometimes they are curious and decide to chew things which are harmful for them, or which we'd rather keep in tact.

good luck and have fun!

Answer 4

the greys personality will make all the difference in your relationship. i was told to take it easy, i was told greys are distant and not cuddly, that they are nervous and neurotic. i was told he would be afraid of my kids and that he would need time to adjust. well not my grey!!!!! you would think i laid the egg my self this bird is so clingy!!!!! he is not nervous or neurotic and at 5 months he already talks a little and whistles a lot, knows a few noises too and i was told he wouldnt talk unyil he was 1. we bonded inmediately after he came home, is as if he had always known us. he does seem to be a 1 person bird(me!!) but i think thats because evryone besides my daughter and i is afraid to get bit. he sort of likes my 9 yr old and 3 yeard old girls, but hates my 5 yr old son and is not fond of my husband. he doesnt seem to like males that much. i think your grey will adjust to your lifestyle easily, they are very smart. he may not like everyone but make sure he respects them. the breeder told me not to aproach him with my hands above his head, but i do anyway and he doesnt mind. he headbutts me if im close and dont pet him, and he wont eat breakfast until is served on the table. my advice, meaning what has worked for me so far, is to get a fully weaned baby, to get to know his personality, pay attention to his likes and dislikes but make sure he respects everyone in the household. dont allow him to start biting, keep him off your head and shoulders until he is fully trained and besides being patient and brave(dont be afrais of him) follow your heart and do what feels right.raise him as if he was a child.play with him, love him talk/listen to him, observe them and set your guidelines in stone so he knows you mean bussines. goo luck and sorry for the long post.

Answer 5

Google "african parrot forums" There are LOADS of them on the net that can help you.