Aggression towards wife and regurgitating next to me

arielscongo

New member
Apr 26, 2017
39
0
Lakewood NJ
Parrots
congo african gray
So my 5 year old African Gray that I got 4 weeks ago had been adjusting fine, fully fathered and we don’t know sex.
I got him from a person that had him for a few month from a store, I would say that it seems that for a long time he has not been handled out of his cage, its looks like that he is bonding with me, as of now he lets me touch him all over, mainly head and neck rubbing & scratching he will not step up yes to me yet, but it looks like it will happen soon, I’m taking my time with him, no rush.
When I spend time with him after work, for most of the time he is regurgitating next to me I know it’s a overall good sign, but should I try to make him stop, and if yes then how to do it?
Now to the main problem so far is that it looks like he is only into me, but to my wife that she is home all day and she dose spend time with him, and gives him treats that he does take from her, but at the same time he does not like her and will not let her touch him at all, I only spend 2 hours a night with him and he loves me being with him, and to mention that he is not into my 5 kids, I just don’t think he like a lot of people around him, so what will be you advise for my situation, I will like him to be a friendly parrot to all, and is 5 too old to change is habits and personality towards other people?

Thanks for all the help
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,669
10,064
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Yaaa, that can happen!

1: Make a New Parrot appointment with a Certified Avian or Avian Qualified Vet in your area! As part of the full blood screen have them do a DNA verification of sex. Yes, there maybe some visual clues, but I do not have that knowledge.

2: Your Parrot has picked you and is in the process of bond with you!!! It is critical that during the first couple of weeks, everyone in the household needs to be holding and interacting with the Parrot - its call socializing!

3: Since you are the 'one!' You need to be setting boundaries regarding what is and is not acceptable behavior toward other people! Like your dear wife.

4: This new arrival in your home needs at least 10 -12 hours of sleep to keep them from stress and displaying aggression! So, its early to sleep for your Parrot tonight and for at least the next month or more.

Remember, you need to be working on socializing your Parrot!

FYI: Your dear wife gets to provide all the goodies to the Parrot! When your wife is around your Parrot, try to be somewhere else far enough away to limit its what to keep her away from you!

Lots more, but this will get you started.
 

DerTier

New member
Jan 27, 2017
177
3
Pierce cty wa usa
A lot of us lurk if we are new to learn, i have nothing to offer to help other than best wishes but i am also interested in the advice you get ;)

Chalk it up to a good question ^_^
 

DRB

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2016
1,024
75
Ohio
Parrots
Perjo - Female CAG hatch Nov 2015
Welcome to the life of a CAG owner. My Perjo loves me, then all of sudden she wants nothing to do with me for a half a day.

Not even gonna worry about trying to figure it out.
 

trimblegirls

Member
Dec 30, 2016
183
1
Northern CA
Parrots
African Grey: Jasper
Blue and Gold Macaw: Lulu
Eclectus: Pickles
Since you're the chosen one, have the family give him the treats and feed/change his water. They shouldn't want anything in return and shouldn't try anything. Talking to him is ok but I wouldn't try to "get" anything out of it. The treats are just gifts. It's called bribbing and they keep doing it and doing it often. Since he's not stepping up for you, you can't really play pass the birdie yet.

I'm pretty new at this myself but someone gave me that advice and it worked.....like a charm.
 

Billdore

New member
Nov 12, 2016
900
17
Vermont
Parrots
African Grey Timneh
Just going to take some time. Try having your wife read to him at night. My Timneh is way more loving in the evening than she is during the day. Try having your wife hang out with him at night instead of you. Its going to take awhile for your CAG to trust your kids, but trust me he is working everything out in the house how it works peoples schedules all of that., Once he gets it figured out watch out for the practical jokes. So what is your CAGs name? Do you have any pictures for us to look at?
 
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arielscongo

New member
Apr 26, 2017
39
0
Lakewood NJ
Parrots
congo african gray
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The name is Ruby and here are some pictures
 

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GaleriaGila

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Parrot of the Month 🏆
May 14, 2016
15,067
8,801
Cleveland area
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The Rickeybird, 38-year-old Patagonian Conure
I'm so glad you found us.
Welcome!
You're already getting great advice.

Thanks for taking this darling on!
 

Billdore

New member
Nov 12, 2016
900
17
Vermont
Parrots
African Grey Timneh
awesome looking Cag, Ruby is beautiful. I wish my timneh liked swings like that. I think we have the same cage but mines black, I like the white.
 
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Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,792
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
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arielscongo

New member
Apr 26, 2017
39
0
Lakewood NJ
Parrots
congo african gray
  • Thread Starter
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  • #14
Hi to all, so my 5 year old CAF that I had for the past 2 months is over all going grate, she come to me and to my oldest son only so far, I’m able to touch her all over and cuddle with her close to my chest, she is definitely craving my attention all the time, regurgitating when I’m next to her and rubbing her beak agents my fingers, I think she is a female, because she will not even let my wife get close to her, only if she has a treat to give her.
On the food side it seem like I got her of the seed food and know I cook for her a mix of rice, pasta, vegetables beans and barley with a mix of pellets and fresh vegetables, eggs and egg shells, and she loves carrots.
What I will like to know is how much of regurgitating is good after all, she does it only when I’m next to her, with the regurgitating she make small chirps sounds, defiantly sounds like overall affection and love but should I try to get her to stop, or with time it will stop.
 

bigfellasdad

New member
Sep 21, 2017
925
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8
20
NorthWest England
Parrots
Enzo - adopted Female CAG circa 2004. A truly amazing young lady!
Apologies for dragging an old post back, but how are you getting on with the aggression towards your wife, has your parrot accepted her yet? Your story sounds quite familiar to mine
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
CAG'S operate in their comfort zone.

You have to gradually get them to expand their comfort zone.

Your bird is comfortable with you, and is trying to be a one person bird.

They are stubborn. Sometimes you have to wait them out.

Once this bird gets used to interaction, and learns to like it, the bird will probably accept it.

The hard part is getting them to accept it the first few times.

Disfavored person training, i.e. where you take the bird into another room, and leave, then the disfavored person comes in, feeds favorite treats, and does basic step up training... USUALLY works. Then you come back and take the bird back.
 

clark_conure

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Jul 14, 2017
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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
arielscongo I'd bet 20 bucks that you bird is female and that's why she doesn't like your adoring beautiful wife, but is fine with your son. Birds can tell human gender, and if she's regurgitating a lot, then she must think you are one handsome son of a gun.

you have two choices, pick a fight with your wife, (extremely not recommended) or I'd recommend only your wife can give treats, and human food for a while. Probably not the best parrot psychology but might work.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
That male/female thing is also generally speaking a myth....

Although it's true that birds sometimes have a preference for males or females, it doesn't go by the sex of the birds, it goes by which sex they have had positive or negative interactions with in the past.
 

DRB

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2016
1,024
75
Ohio
Parrots
Perjo - Female CAG hatch Nov 2015
That male/female thing is also generally speaking a myth....

Although it's true that birds sometimes have a preference for males or females, it doesn't go by the sex of the birds, it goes by which sex they have had positive or negative interactions with in the past.

I just noticed your list of FIDs, somebody likes green parrots huh?
 

clark_conure

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2017
3,943
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Minnesota
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A crossover Quaker Scuti (F), A Sun conure named AC, A Cinnamon Green Cheek conure Kent, and 6 budgies, Scuti Jr. (f), yellow (m), clark Jr. (m), Dot (f), Zebra(f), Machine (m).
Birdman666 i'm not convinced it's a myth, when I was young I had a female caockatiel and then a male....both knew I was the ...well the pet to the them. But each chose the other gender parent to prefer to sit on, the female preferred my dad, the male liked sitting on my mom. People debate about is it biology or environment.....at some point I think there has to be a biology factor. Oh and this wasn't at the same time female first then the male after the female got sick and passed.
 

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