Is Adopting "this guy" Adviseable?

I apologize for the long post but really need the help of the Grey owners here.

I am considering adopting a male Congo that is roughly 25 years in age. He currently resides at a rescue sanctuary. He is in amazing condition and had just one owner that passed away.

I have a few questions that hopefully can be addressed.

Although this Grey is almost "middle-aged", do older Greys slow down a bit like cats/dogs? Are they less active?

At this age, can their bad habits be changed? He "bites" if you touch his feet. Also not thrilled with head scratches. I realize that adopted birds need time/patience but was just wondering if, at his age, can he be shown that head scratches are o.k.

He HATES females. I know this can be a trait in birds and I'm a male that lives alone. Females can be right next to him, they just cannot hold him. Even the female owner of the sanctuary (a VERY experienced handler) will not hold him. This is just an FYI.

Last question (for now). When it comes to cages, the adage is the "bigger the better". I was considering an A&E cage that is 36x28 (dome). The bird specialty shop (only birds) said that they felt that size was too big. I was a little surprise to hear this as after you load up with toys and perches, the size diminishes. The "experts" say 34x24 and this is not that much larger BUT some say too large of a cage can cause behavior problems.
When I did see this cage in person I was surprised at how big it really is.
Technical Details
• Exterior Dimensions: 36"x28"x65"
• Interior Height: 50"
• Bar Spacing: 1"
• Bar Gauge: 5mm

On a side note - when I heard he was about 25 years old, I was a little disappointed as I was thinking about a younger bird. However, after holding him for a couple hours I was hooked on him. He gave me this look that just melted my heart. It was if there was a connection between us.

Thanks for any advice.

I'm no Grey expert, but I can make a few general remarks...

Age... my bird is 34. I've had him since he was a chick. I'm just hoping to outlive him! Your current age is important. I know some Greys live well into their 40s, and I'm sure the record is even longer. Parrots don't slow down much, if in good health. Mine hasn't!

Hates ladies? Well, they can be very persnickety. Same with the other habits. You might be able to change things... or if you're okay with the bird as is, that's what matters most. Some birds aren't cuddly, some are. My bird has lots of, shall we say, eccentricities, but we're great together.

Cage? Bigger IS better, I think. The important thing is bar-spacing. You want it big enough that they can grab and climb, but not big enough to get a head caught. My bird is about the size of Grey, and 3/4 inch to 1 inch is good. Domes... scary... the narrowing spaces can catch toes or feet. I wouldn't want one.

Good for you, for reaching out. And THANK YOU for looking into RESCUES!

Please take Ms. Gails' post to heart. She has been living with the RB for 34 years. She knows difficult.

Sounds like you made a connection. It is always best if the bird picks you.

Greys are stubborn, they can give stubborn lessons to a mule.(props to whoever I heard that from). It doesn't matter if they are babies or adults. You have to deal with a very intelligent and HEAD STRONG bird.

That said, they are absolutely wonderful companions. Some say they are arrogant and not as affectionate as other species. I call BS. Some may not show it like others species do and some are cuddly. It is up to the individual parront and the individual FID.

I join Ms. Gila in thanking you for looking at rescues!

That cage size 38x26 is IMO the perfect size for a single gray. Make sure it has no more than 1" bar spacing. The only thing I would do different is go with a flat style playtop. I believe the birds enjoy it more and I feel it is safer. Just MHO.

You have been chosen, savor the respect from this Grey!

Kudos for considering a sanctuary adoption. As with dogs, they often make the best companions. Birds don't always slow with age, though they are susceptible to arthritis. It may be possible to build sufficient trust to touch feet or possibly give head scritches. You just don't know the "baggage" a 25 year old parrot may have accumulated. With time, love, and commitment, it may be possible to modify many of these behaviors.

Totally agree with the previous guidance, and IMO a flat-top cage is best!

My Smokey was six months old when she came home with me (that was over thirty years ago ) and she passed away a few years ago at twenty-eight,from an enlarged heart and liver ( fairly common ailments of a Grey,according to Smokes CAV)

Smokers was also my first large fid. I did ZERO research cause I didn't know any better...I just WANTED an AG!
'till the day she went to Rainbow Bridge she detested hands..would NOT step up,unless it was her last resort. STUBBORN! It was her way or the highway!!
She was on a seed-only diet when I got her from a local pet store and WOULD NOT try ANYTHING new,that is,untill Amy came into the picture a year or so later. It then took less than six months for Smokey to try anything new.

When she died,she was eating everything.
corn nibs and sweet peas and chicken leg bones being five stars for her.
Loved scrambled egg's,mashed 'taters,sweet or regular..corn on the cob..like green grapes and not red,whereas Amy likes red and not green.Both will KILL for a piece of 'nana.
Anyway you get the picture lol.

She loved my mom and myself,tolerated my son ( he was in his twenties back then)

She talked/mimic'd very well,for a wild caught.

As with humans,she was her own fid and no one is/was going to change that.

Thank You for considering a sanctuary/rescue creature. IMHO they need,AND DESERVE.more lovin'and TLC than a youngster/baby



Jim

Hello and I also want to thank you for considering a rescue who is most definitely grieving the loss of his parront. :heart:
I’m going to take a guess here and say, he is probably going to have less baggage than a 25 yo Grey from 6 different homes. That fact alone to me, means he was well loved and cherished and not likely abused.
Sure he has likes and dislikes, don’t we all. I tend to respect my Levi’s wishes. If he doesn’t like something, I don’t do it.
However, I am trying my best to harness train him and he definitely does not like his wings touched from underneath. So, that’s where I am clearly going against his wishes.

Levi’s, large cage is that exact one from King’s Cages. It is a good size for him, but I wish I would have gotten him a play top or flat top cage. I just didn’t know at the time. His other two cages are playtops. So, I kinda made up for it. :01:

So, IMHO if you are going to rescue an older AG this is most likely your best case scenario.

Best of luck and please keep us posted.

It's a sweet thing you're doing... Adopting...

Age - don't feel that matters... I have friends who adopted older birds & they settled well into their families. Took a little Time investment but worked.

They are true characters...
Stubborn - yes
Intelligent - yes
Test your patience - yes
Verbal & non-verbal communication - excellent
Excellent takers - yes (haven't seen any older birds start talking so unsure of this)
Experiment on you - yes (could be anything from misbehaving to throwing food to doing cute stuff... Warning don't fall for it )
Love you to bits - yes
Jealous - yes (mine not so much but most of the Grey's I've seen are)

Cage size: general thumb rule - bigger the better... I don't subscribe to that. I have play perches for my birds all over the house & they go in only to sleep. So I'll say you consider your condition & decide based on that. Are you home a lot? Are you gonna let him stay out more than in the cage with or without visitors? Do you have a lot of money? So you can invest either in the cage or a bigger play area or both.

You have a wonderful time ahead of you. All the best.

PS: all my thoughts are based on my experience & my bird circle... Do your research on both ends as I might be biased about greys

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As far as your OP question goes, I say go for it !
it sounds like you made a connection with this guy and he wants to come home with you.

My AG was a rescue from a pet shop. She was left at the pet shop because she was no longer wanted and her condition was horrible. She has really come around and loves everyone in my family.


You may not have much luck in changing her behaviour about her feet and head/neck scratching. As previously mentioned AG can be stubborn. All birds are different and you never can tell so don't give up hope.


As for cage type.


I bought my first dome type cage about 6 months ago for my little Luna (green cheek amazon). She is the most active large bird I have and she loves to climb around it. My AG Bella has a play top cage. She enjoys hanging upside-down inside her cage and I think she would do the same if it was a dome type cage.

The play portion of the cage was removed because she never used it and was afraid of it. Also to make it easer for her to hang upside-down I flipped the tray that goes on top upside-down to giver her toes more room to grab the bars of the cage.


In the end I would recommend getting the same type of cage she is in at the rescue. Having something familiar to your adoptee will help smooth her transition to your home.


Bigger IS better. As much as my Bella wants to be part of the family and see what is going on she likes to have a corner she can go to "hide out". In a smaller cage this would not be possible.


Thanks for considering adopting an older bird.


texsize

I have another question that I forgot to ask in my original post. He has been at the rescue center for a couple months. There are at least 15 other parrots in this particular building.
They are mainly SCREAMING cockatoos that, for the two hours I was there, did not stop screaming VERY LOUDLY.

Is it possible that the Grey I am considering could pick up on mimicking that screaming?

A definite possibility...
You can always train him out of it...
He'll be keen to impress you... So guide him into talking or whistling.

Let's hope he doesn't continue the noises.

PS: did you hear him make the cockatoo noises?

Caitnah said:

I have another question that I forgot to ask in my original post. He has been at the rescue center for a couple months. There are at least 15 other parrots in this particular building.
They are mainly SCREAMING cockatoos that, for the two hours I was there, did not stop screaming VERY LOUDLY.

Is it possible that the Grey I am considering could pick up on mimicking that screaming?

Click to expand...

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maverickbull said:

A definite possibility...
You can always train him out of it...
He'll be keen to impress you... So guide him into talking or whistling.

Let's hope he doesn't continue the noises.

PS: did you hear him make the cockatoo noises?

Click to expand...

Sent from my XT1092 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]

No. Not at all. As he relaxed he began making mumbling noises. His favorite mimick was to whistle as if a bomb was dropping. What would have been hysterical was to have him poop after the whistle.

The rescue place is very strict in their policies. I have to have at least 3 visits before they approve. So this may take another month before they release him. So this worries me a little since the longer he's there the more the screaming mimick could get picked up.

Cockatoos that scream? Surely you jest!!

Seriously, it is possible but birds typically mimic sounds they choose, for whatever reason. I suspect this is unlikely, for any sensible grey would love to purge their ears of those neurotic shrieks!

Caitnah said:

I have another question that I forgot to ask in my original post. He has been at the rescue center for a couple months. There are at least 15 other parrots in this particular building.
They are mainly SCREAMING cockatoos that, for the two hours I was there, did not stop screaming VERY LOUDLY.

Is it possible that the Grey I am considering could pick up on mimicking that screaming?

Click to expand...

Just before I had to rehome Jonesy (Goffin 'Too) he was screaming from the moment he woke until after he got covered for the night. It was truly ear splitting and non stop I started to worry that Amy would pick up on it too. Amy is very quiet for an Amazon,doesn't do the typical 'zon screams,but can be loud in the am or early evening with human speech. (HELLO!! HOW ARE YOU??) or when she sees/hears kids outside.
During one of Jonesy's scream fests, Amy yelled out "SHUT UP!!" She couldn't take him either lol.
Amy never did pick up on the screaming thank God! And The Cockatoo Man is very happy in his new home.




Jim

Which rescue is it?

Yeah I find it unlikely he’ll pick up the cockatoo noises. Overall, the greys were pretty quiet in the screaming sense at the shelters compared to the cockatoos/amazons/macaws. They all had noises though and words that they liked to surprise people with. They usually have a vocabulary they hide until the best moments to share them. Like our foster grey that asked if it was good fatso when we fed him and made that dying noise from video games whenever I lost one haha