Greys don't like red?

[roxynoodle]

The vet told me today that Greys don't like red. I had a red shirt in the carrier. This is the first time I've heard that. Well, as it turns out, Merlin can't see it anyway, but I thought I'd pass that along to the rest of you.

 

[cockatielfan17]

wow never heard about that heard about bulls and ostriches hating red but never grey thats a first for me

 

[HalfInsane]

I think I read something about parrots not liking their "flash color". Their flash color being the color they display when frightened/being territorial, etc. Seeing this color therefore, theoretically, triggers a fight or flight response. I though this more applied to birds with bright shoulder patches (namely, amazons) or other generally hidden areas of color, only visible in flight/when displaying. I never thought of the greys tail that way, but I guess that make sense. It is very bright, afterall, and presumably plays a heavy roll in communication. I guess it'd only apply to CAGs, not TAGs.

 

[Mamanda]

I've never heard that either. Interesting.

 

[lene1949]

Don't they have a red tail? I thought the colours of the birds themselves were 'safe'...

I know - with Max - if I wear a new piece of clothing in a colour he's not used to, he'll attack it a few times, before he's comfortable.

 

[antoinette]

Wow first time I have ever heard that.....
I often wear red (my fav colour) and have never had a problem with Mishka
Thank goodness, otherwise I would have to buy a new wardrobe.

 

[roxynoodle]

Yeah, I also thought since she has a red tail, it would be an ok color for her. But, we got to the vet and Merlin didn't want to come out of the carrier and the vet remarked, "Your new Grey Mom doesn't know you don't like red." And she told me Greys hate red. I also have a ton of red shirts, lol!

Well, we found out Merlin is nearly blind, so I doubt she even knew it was red, but just decided to tell the rest of you in case, like me, you weren't aware of that.

I was told Pete, the zon, doesn't like red, but so far I haven't seen any evidence of that. I did ask Merlin's former owners if there were any colors she didn't like, and they didn't think so.

But, it turned out Merlin has very severe cataracts, which none of us knew, I'm pretty sure. She probably only sees shadows, and probably only with one eye.

She did come out of the carrier when I asked her to. So she does at least know I'm her new mom. She must know my voice and probably my smell. The vet showed me how she is always "tasting the air" by sticking out her tongue to learn who/what is around her.

I started last night talking every time I moved around so she would know where I was. And no more hiding in the corner when frightened, so I think that helps her.

She hasn't had any more night frights either since I put on that little lamp for her. We will keep using that.

 

[roxynoodle]

My Blue Crown conure hated orange. Or at least she would not eat anything orange. I never saw her react badly to me for wearing an orange shirt though. If she didn't like it, she didn't say anything.

 

[KBEquine]

Interestingly (well, to me) Gilbert the Greyt, who is generally afraid of toys & new things, is attracted to red. He plays with red toys & loves his little red food dish.

 

[usamimi]

I've been playing devil's advocate to try and test this. I've spent the last few days in a red sweatshirt and red shirts. He still flies (divebombs is a little more accurate) into my lap.

 

[roxynoodle]

Ok, it probably doesn't apply to all birds. It was just what she told me and I was surprised. I didn't have any crappy grey shirts to throw in the carrier to be pooped on, but I had a red one, lol! Usually I use a green towel for the green birds.

 

[KBEquine]

See, that's an approach I'd never have even considered (color-coding the towels to the bird).

I'm generally more likely to try to match the floor-cover to bird poop. Mine are green & white striped towels . . .

I did do a quick bit of internet research because the question interested me. But everything I found about birds with color preference was posted purely as an opinion or a 'I heard someone say' comment, no scientific research. The suggestion that a bird will go 'on alert' to its own flash color makes sense - but again, I'd love to see some scientific research or long-time antedotal evidence because my only observation is a CAG who loves red & an amazon who is attracted to maroon. And I love 'em, but don't believe they speak for all their feathered kin.

 

[roxynoodle]

I knew my BC didn't like orange because she wouldn't eat anything orange, including her orange pellets. That got me thinking so I looked over her toys and discovered she had never chewed on any of the orange colored wood parts.

Now Pete's former owner told me he hated red. But, he ate all the red parts of his toys first. I have noticed he seems attracted to purple.

And Rowdy doesn't seem to hate any color. She does eat all the orange and purple pellets first so I assume those are her favorite colors. But, after that she pretty much takes turns with the other colors. And her toys are pretty much equally chewed.

And no, I had not come across the info on Greys hating red on any of the websites I read about Greys. It was just what the vet said in a tone like, "Oh, bad mommy gave her birdie a terrible color, how could she?"

 

[sssaucey]

I would think that parrots are to individual to all hate a certain colour. To me it seems to be more a personal preference.

but it is interesting