Unsure

Maighen

New member
Feb 18, 2011
45
0
New Hampshire
Parrots
Frankie-African Grey
Lately my CAG Frankie has been leaning down....puffing up and doing a little growl while on top of his cage. He doesn't try to get away from me anymore....but I wonder does he want to be touched? Is that what he is asking for when he leans down? I want to try and it feels like he would like me to but I am afraid of getting bit. He is hard to read sometimes because he still does a little type growl :confused:
 

greycloud

New member
Mar 21, 2010
1,034
1
Baltimore, MD
Parrots
Sammy-Umbrella Too-rescued,
Dexter-CAG-rehomed handicapped,
Sterling-CAG-rehomed retired breeder.
Sunshine-12 yo CAG-adopted
Well, the only way to find out is to gently try and touch his head. However, greys are know for the bait and switch action! They lure you in then bite when you try and pet them. But you need to learn to build a trust with eachother. Once he feels your gentleness he will trust you.
 

Thelly

New member
Feb 22, 2011
31
0
OMG I am in exactley the same situation as you. Coco is doing the same but I'm scared to try. I bet they're thinking "what's a bird got to do around here to get a scratch" lol
 

schristensen13

New member
Oct 6, 2010
70
0
Chico, CA
Parrots
Meyers (Kevin) and CAG (Mariah)
As far as my CAG Mariah is concerned, that is her "watch out or I will bite you" pose. This is when I know that it's not time to mess with her...if I need to pick her up I get her stick and get her that way.
 

Thelly

New member
Feb 22, 2011
31
0
Maighen. How have you got on? I was very brave today. I gave Coco a scratch. Well it was more like a quick touch lol but I'm so chuffed. :D
 
OP
M

Maighen

New member
Feb 18, 2011
45
0
New Hampshire
Parrots
Frankie-African Grey
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #6
Thelly you are braver then me.....I walk away now when he does this and he whistles at me....maybe he is trying to be affectionate....just so unsure!

Frankie said his first word.....he now says "what" and he plays a game as well! He will whistle and when we look at him he will stop....then a few seconds later he will say "what" lol He is a character...I just wish he would let me touch him or that I was brave enough to try!
 

Thelly

New member
Feb 22, 2011
31
0
Give him a scratch. I read somewhere that if your bird bites you instead of pulling away gently push toward the bird and he'll let go. I haven't tested this but sounds like it could work. Also I have been putting the back of my hand near coco whilst talking to her. She doesnt lunge for the hand like she would the fingers. When my hand has been near her beak for a few seconds I take it away and give her a treat. She doesn't mind my hand near her at all now. Anyway I'm by no means an expert, I only rescued my coco 3 weeks ago but these steps seem to be working for me. Good luck x
 

Thelly

New member
Feb 22, 2011
31
0
By the way, I think frankie and Coco are twins, her favourite word is WHAT. Every time I open the door she shouts WHAT. I just read your intro. Sounds like you've come a long way with frankie. Does he ever get spooked and fly off the cage. Coco does this. She crashes into the wall every time. She really scares me. But she just walks back to her cage looking a bit embarassed.
 
OP
M

Maighen

New member
Feb 18, 2011
45
0
New Hampshire
Parrots
Frankie-African Grey
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #9
Frankie and I have been trying......every day the trust gets a little bit more. Frankie used to jump from the top of his cage whenever me or my husband started moving toward him. Now he sits there and watches us to make sure we don't sneak up on him lol. How does Coco do with strangers? Frankie HATES strangers.....my father-in-law came to visit and he flipped out! The man didn't even pay any attention to Frankie but just the sight of him made Frankie growl very loudly and run around his cage. So now when strangers come over such as my sister or friends we do not stay in the livingroom where Frankie is....we sit in the kitchen and that seems to calm Frankie down. But on the other hand my 5 year old niece visits and Frankie has no problem with her sitting next to his cage....opening his cage door for him and even giving him treats!
 

Thelly

New member
Feb 22, 2011
31
0
Coco seems to be ok with strangers. She was hand reared but the woman that had her kept her in a small cage 24/7 for 13 years so she went kind of wild. I got her a nice big cage but it took her a few days to venture out. She takes treats from our hands but won't step up. I've had her for nearly 4 weeks and she is making progress. She can't fly because she had a broken wing. The vet said that it was an old injury. When she spreads her wings her left wing only opens half way. When she trys to fly she just crashes. Her feathers are all chewed up also. I'm sure if we both take little steps we will have 2 very happy birds. X ;)
 
OP
M

Maighen

New member
Feb 18, 2011
45
0
New Hampshire
Parrots
Frankie-African Grey
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Frankie will take treats also but will not step up. We were told by his foster parents that he had no problem stepping up onto a perch...well...someone forgot to tell Frankie that he had no problem with it! He does not like it at all.....he growls.....runs....and attacks the perch. So we don't push it! Frankie doesn't fly either....he actually has one wing that is clipped and one wing that isn't....so he kind of jumps and flutters to the floor. Frankie was strictly a breeder bird.....so he doesn't know much about human contact and he's older so he is pretty set in his ways. I love him so much and if I never hold him.....just having him here and listening to his funny sounds and teaching him words....is fine with me! But I agree if we both take little steps and gain their trust.....hopefully we'll both have the enjoyment of long time companions!
 

Most Reactions

Latest posts

Top