Hi Everyone...

[dreeves]

I'm having a problem with my African Grey and need help...
His name is Gavin...Actually he is a she but we didn't find out till he laid an egg after 10 years...
I've had her since a bb...26 yrs. She's been thru a lot with me and I'm not sure what to do.
If I accidently type him...You know why. lol
My hubby and I loved him so much...Hubby died 9 yrs ago...That was his bb. The first year, it was rough.
Then other things happened...I had cancer. I'm cancer free now but couldn't give the attention he needed for a while.
Other things happened...So a year ago, I moved. My mom, 2 sisters all sold out houses and moved into a large home.
I have a very large BR, I share the down stairs with my 21 yr old nephew. My bird has fallen in love with him.
So, He's constantly after him wanting attention...He's in and out working and college and he goes to the gym.
My bird is constantly wanting him if he's here or not. He pays attention to Gavin when he can...but.
He has a large cage in my room, a stand in the down stairs living room and a cage outside that he goes when it's nice.
He is constantly flying toward his br...I put up a rod and sheers which works but he won't be still. It's stressful as hell.
He constantly has his wings out like he wants to fly...even if he hears him upstairs. When he knows my nephew is in the house, he won't stop and I can't do anything to grab his attention. sHe won't eat if she knows nephew is home...just wants to be with him.
I have made it my mission to spend more 1 on 1 time but that doesn't work...I have been getting bit.
I have NO Clue what to do. Help
Thanks In ADvance...

 

[rheashard2]

Sorry to hear about the problems. Sadly larger parrots are intelligent. They choose to accept and reject on their own. This is not uncommon. A new move, person, baby or even pet enters the situation. Then a dramatic positive or negative response happens. First you have to take a step back and evaluate the situation. What are you doing when things are going on. That means your voice tone and body language. All animals and especially parrots are excellent at reading body language. They will do whatever to get the reaction wanted. Take a deep breath, step back and quadruple your patience. Set realistic for the two of you goals. Does your nephew have any interest? Or is he like my daughter...hello, good bye and she's off. My grey calls her all rthe time. But in my case it's to annoy my daughter. If your nephew doesn't want to be involved he needs keep contact to a minimum. He needs to ignore her as completely as possible. Look at diet. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere hormone season is approaching, Her behaviors may be hormone related. Unfortunately each bird reacts in his or her way to that. You want high sugar and carbohydrates to a minimum. Fruits, pasta, and similar. Sadly this is not a one kind fits all. You want a regular routine. I've been told by two avian vets in two states that I lived in. For larger parrots especially CAG, distraction, Distraction and even more DISTRACTION. The distraction can be a variety of toys, different textures, colors and features. Some to be distracted easily. Sone to take effort and thought. TV, radio, audiobooks, reading aloud, bouncing a tennis ball to name a few. There is a thread here about shunning. You should read it. If done correctly it is a great way to train your bird no matter the age. It is especially helpful with biting. Patience is your number one asset. Setting realistic goals is number two.

 

[dreeves]

Sorry to hear about the problems. Sadly larger parrots are intelligent. They choose to accept and reject on their own. This is not uncommon. A new move, person, baby or even pet enters the situation. Then a dramatic positive or negative response happens. First you have to take a step back and evaluate the situation. What are you doing when things are going on. That means your voice tone and body language. All animals and especially parrots are excellent at reading body language. They will do whatever to get the reaction wanted. Take a deep breath, step back and quadruple your patience. Set realistic for the two of you goals. Does your nephew have any interest? Or is he like my daughter...hello, good bye and she's off. My grey calls her all rthe time. But in my case it's to annoy my daughter. If your nephew doesn't want to be involved he needs keep contact to a minimum. He needs to ignore her as completely as possible. Look at diet. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere hormone season is approaching, Her behaviors may be hormone related. Unfortunately each bird reacts in his or her way to that. You want high sugar and carbohydrates to a minimum. Fruits, pasta, and similar. Sadly this is not a one kind fits all. You want a regular routine. I've been told by two avian vets in two states that I lived in. For larger parrots especially CAG, distraction, Distraction and even more DISTRACTION. The distraction can be a variety of toys, different textures, colors and features. Some to be distracted easily. Sone to take effort and thought. TV, radio, audiobooks, reading aloud, bouncing a tennis ball to name a few. There is a thread here about shunning. You should read it. If done correctly it is a great way to train your bird no matter the age. It is especially helpful with biting. Patience is your number one asset. Setting realistic goals is number two.

Thank You...The distraction, my husbands harmonica...it works pretty good.
I am spending more one on one with her, staying off my phone. I forgot too, just lost my cat Ruby several months ago...they always had each other. She didn't get to say good bye to Ruby, she misses her. Nephew is in and out. As he's ignoring, I'm paying more attention to her. She is more calm...
I do put cartoons on or music...or anything with a whistle.
She will absolutely Not play with anything I buy her...she's scared of everything or stubborn. I hate that too. She's in a nice cage for larger birds...with no play things...except a swing which she hasn't used yet. I try to play with her with bird stuff...I'll keep trying.
Her favorite thing...looking into drawers or cabinets lol, so we do that too.
Thank You for the advice...It seems to be helping.

 

[saxguy64]

My grey, Avery, is in his early 50s, and his absolute favorite thing is shredding cardboard. Give him a new little box on the bottom of the cage and he's busy most of the day turning it into tiny pieces. Regular toys, he'll chew on once in a while, but it's all about the cardboard. Oh, and the cup holders like you get with multiple coffees. Actually got a pack of 100 of those on Amazon a while back and he got a new one every day for months. They never get old

 

[rheashard2]

A majority of parrots seem to dislike toys. Reaction can range from apparent terror to aggression beyond anything except bird reasoning. Use your birds natural flock motivation. Sometimes you as flock member have to play with toys or pretend to eat anything new. (I make sure that I can and will eat it). Do it gradually. Rotate them. Ignoring today may change to playing in the future. Don't be surprised or upset at failures. I recently removed a 10+ year old hand made and not inexpensive birdie swing from my CAG's cage. It didn't even have birdie poo on it. In the beginning she was determined to ignore it. I was determined after the money spent she wouldn't. It took a decade but she won! Watch her.

 

[HarleY 06]

try, if possible, to replace toys with natural wood, cut twigs into lengths (30-40mm) , then find, by experimenting how to introduce them to your bird, I give mine a twig each after the breakfast, they share with me. In my case this is extremely successful in arresting temperaments/ agressive natures!!!