Behavior questions

[africandreams]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about the CAG we just adopted that was starting to pluck and bite. I did take him to the vet and he got a clean bill of health. He is still plucking some I think, its hard to tell. All of the feathers are gone with just the down remaining and it looks "mangled". He still seems to be doing well otherwise, eating, talking etc. My questions now are....Regurgitation? I know this is supposed to be a sign of love and he has done this a couple of times now. Once in his cage when I was talking to him and today when he was setting on the couch. He bobs his head up and down and regurgitates a little in his mouth. I am hoping this is a good sign, that he likes me, but he is still biting me. He obviously wants my attention. He comes over to me and lets me scratch is neck for a long time and always lifts his foot like he wants to step up. Even when I am scratching his neck he will always raise his foot way up around trying to get my hand. The first few times he bit me he was in his cage and acted like he was going to step up and then would bite me really hard. The next time he was seting next to me on the couch eating some treats, he walked over to me and just bit me on the arm really hard. Then the other day he was on the couch and I was siting in the floor. He acted as though he wanted down there with me so I held my hand out for him to step up and he got me again, each time hard enough to lightly break the skin. I dont nderstand if he loves me enough to regurgitate, why does he keep biting me? And if HE is actively trying to reach out to me to step up on his own, why does he then bite me when I try to let him?

 

[Spiritbird]

Welcome to our forum. It sounds like you have more than one issue going on. First of all we should be taking any new bird to an avain vet for an examination. Feather plucking can be from stress, nutritional deficiets or something in the environment like cigarette smoke. I would move slowly with your new bird and establish trust first before anything else. Greys are little complex treasures and I am sure you have read up on what their needs are. Lots of one on one time and stimulation. They like puzzles and foraging as in the wild they are ground feeders. How old is he? One thing that may help is to spritz the bird with warm water and a little aloe veta get in the water. This may help if the cause if from itching. Be aware some birds do not like to be sprayed. Good luck and let us know what happens.

Red palm oil or hemp seed oil may also help with feather health. I put a few drops of hemp seed oil in my birds food a couple times a week. Flax seed oil is not recommended for females as it contributes to egg laying.

 

[willist]

My Yellow Collar Macaw used to pluck until I hung a feather duster in his cage, you might give that a try. Also is your grey really biting you, like drawing blood, or is he just grabbing you with his beak? Remember birds use their beaks like a hand. Many people who interact with my Greenwing Macaw think they just got bit when all he did was grab their finger with his beak, nothing malicious at all.

 

[africandreams]

As I said in the post, I did take him to the vet and he was said to be healthy. I know birds can pluck from stress. I am sure he is stressed after spending the first 12 years in the same home and now being moved. He is 12 years old.

Yes, I am SURE he is biting me. It does break the skin or bruise each time. There is either grinding or just clamping down, each time hard enought to break the skin.

Just wondering why if he likes me enough to regurgitate, which is supposed to mean love, why is he still biting me at the same time? He does like me.....if I leave the room he walks down the hall after me saying "hello hello". He comes over to me on the couch for me to sctratch his head, will try to step up and then just bite...for no reason

 

[HRH Di]

I wonder if he's beginning to see you as his care-giver and loves you for providing food and a good home, but is just still freaked out about the new situation in his living arrangements.

From everything I've heard and read, parrots are more complex than other animals in our homes, such as dogs. Most dogs have little problem accepting a new "pack leader" - just look at all of the successful adoptions from rescues and shelters. But I think it's harder for birds. They get so attached to their "flock" that a change can be very difficult for them.

I may be personifying them too much, but could it possibly be a mourning period due to the change of the people in his life? He wants to love, and does, but it still just a bit scared.

 

[africandreams]

I hope that is the case. I want him to love and accept me. I want to spend time holding him but when he bites me its hard. He wants attention, he really does. HE comes to me, he lowers his head to be sctratched, he lifts his foot to step, he walks to the next room looking for me.....but then bites me......I just dont get it. He is getting to where every time I let him out ad sctratch his head he starts the bobbing and regurgitation, its not a lot, just a little in his own mouth. I hope that soon stops and the feather plucking stops as well. He is not plucking alot anymore, But I did find 2 wing feathers in his cage yesterday

 

[antoinette]

Welcome to a great forum !!!!!
I reckon he is still settling down, getting used to his new environment.
You mentioned that the feather plucking is not a lot anymore, that's a great sign.
As for the biting, perhaps he is testing you, just like a child does. Maybe he is just looking for attention. I can imagine your fear of him biting you EINA. A suggestion, when you want to pick him up, try picking him up with a stick, for a while, when he tries biting him reprimand him. Let him know, you will not tolerate that behavior.
When you see a change, then try starting picking him up again, with your hand.
Walking into the room looking for you, how sweet.
12 years is a long long time, with one guardian. You seem to be doing everything according to the book.
Let us know how it's going.
Good luck