My "new" Adopted CAG

[Caitnah]

Some may recall a couple of threads I started asking for advice regarding the adoption of a 25 year old CAG.
Well, today I was fortunate enough to be handed the "go-ahead" from the adoption center and bring Morgan home.

This CAG is in excellent condition. Unfortunately he dislikes women but, as a male who lives alone this isn't a problem. For my girlfriend...welllll.

He acclimated quickly to his new surroundings which includes a new A&E cage with lots of toys. A new playground will be built shortly.
About an hour in his new home, I was relegated with some verbal "songs". Clucks, Hoots, Kisses, Ha-Ha's, Telephone Ringing, C'mon, Smoke Alarm Beeps and the proverbial man's belch...which he does better than me

His repertoire continued with - Hi, Good Morning, Hi Morgan, and my favorite...the answering of a telephone in both a mans and women's voice.

I discovered that he had been on an all seed diet which the adoption center began converting him to better foods. He will bite occasionally when startled but hopefully that will end with his new found trust. I have been able to give him some head scratches which he didn't like at our first meeting.

The comical thing is when I leave his room; he begins calling for me in all kinds of pop's and whistles. Then dances a bit when I enter the room.

I am writing a separate thread on the Rescue Center which turned out to be an amazing place.

Morgan -

 

[SilverSage]

Tsali says; “Congrats on your new home Morgan!”

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jen5200]

He is beautiful - and very lucky to have found you! Sounds like he’s got a pretty good repertoire of noises

 

[psychocircus91]

Great looking Grey. He sounds like quite the character.

 

[TiredOldMan]

He's beautiful. My hormonal CAG hen is drooling on the monitor.

I'm glad you found each other and wish ya'll many happy years together.

 

[Scott]

Congratulations to you and Morgan! Sounds (literally!) as if he is adjusting well and feels comfortable vocalizing. Beautiful cage set-up, he should be very happy. Good luck with dietary changes; important for a long and healthy life.

 

[Caitnah]

Unfortunately this morning things haven't gone well. He is biting me very hard and numerous times.
Yesterday he wasn't a problem at all. Would step up, play, talk and never once bite. In my 3 visits to him at the center, he only bit once when I touched the top of his feet.

Today, he is biting every chance he gets. He has drawn blood twice.

 

[Scott]

Sorry to hear this, two steps forward, one step back....

I'm sure you've seen these two threads, if not, well worth reading:
http://www.parrotforums.com/congo-timneh-greys/59366-cag-101-a.html
http://www.parrotforums.com/training/63988-bite-pressure-training.html

You and Morgan are beginning the "honeymoon" phase. Greys are sufficiently intelligent to benefit from careful and targeted training.

 

[psychocircus91]

look into stick/perch training for getting him to step up.
He is testing boundaries.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Congratulations, sympathy, encouragement, and more congratulations, all at once.

Great advice above, and more on the way, I'm sure.

First off, you're a hero for adopting a bird in need. I just know that we can help you work things out.

May I tell you my story?

I have reduced biting to almost zero over the decades... not because I've changed the bird, but I have changed me. And a lot of that has involved giving up on a lot of my desires/expectations. After years of battle, I "compromised". I don't do stuff that gets me bitten. I NEVER do stuff that makes him mad... I don't touch others when he's out; I rarely try to get him to step up onto my hand first. Hand-held perch first, then hand. In some ways, I swallow my disappointment at having such a little monster for a pet, but he is what he is. I ALWAYS wear my hair down when he's on my shoulder, so all he can bite is hair. Really, I don't involve hands much... he doesn't like them. He seems to think the real ME is my head, perched on a weird moveable tree with questionable appendages.

Since he's fully flighted, the ONLY way I get him into the cage is to toss a chile pepper in and he flaps in after it. Time-out doesn't exist in the Rb's kingdom.

I have had some success with using the "earthquake" technique for biting. When he bites, give your hand a swift shake... it should make him let go. The idea... every time he bites, a mysterious earthquske shakes him up. Some people feel this is mean and/or engenders lack of trust. The same can work for clothes biting... give your shoulder a shake, or jump! For me, it has helped.

But please... listen to and try all the good advice you'll get here. Chris is very wise.

Don't surrender until you know you've done your best. Then just accept and love whatever/whoever your bird turns out to be.

Parrots aren't always easy pets to understand and control, and your bird sounds ALL-PARROT!

My Rickeybird is in some ways kind of a worse-case scenario, but we have it all worked out between the two of us.

Parrot-owners usually wind up determining their own personal comfort level with various behaviors.

Good luck, and good for you for reaching out.

 

[Tami2]

Congratulations wonderful News. I’m very happy for you both.

I was actually shocked reading your OP.
He needs time to process so many changes all at once.
I brought Levi home as a baby & couldn’t get near him for an entire month.
I wore my fireplace leather gloves & used a wooden perch. He lunged at me constantly.
I let him be for a few days to settle in. Than I sat next to his cage & read, played perk-a-boo. Offered him treats he loved and I never gave up. Eventually, instead of running to the back of the cage when I entered the room he started moving towards the front.
I wish I had been on this forum back than, there is such great insight here to help with the bonding phase.

I see Scott posted CAG 101, so here’s another great one.
http://www.parrotforums.com/general-parrot-information/49144-tips-bonding-building-trust.html

Best of luck to you both. He’ll come around. Remember he chose you.
:heart:

 

[Caitnah]

Thanks all for the great advice. To impose once more... What does it mean when a Grey semi flaps his wings. He is in a prone position (as if taking off) and flaps a little than more but his wings do not even go 1/2 way up. He is doing this frequently. He doesn't stand like that but he does somewhat flap.
A nervous behavior? Have video but cannot post it here. A couple stills.

 

[Scott]

Thanks all for the great advice. To impose once more... What does it mean when a Grey semi flaps his wings. He is in a prone position (as if taking off) and flaps a little than more but his wings do not even go 1/2 way up. He is doing this frequently. He doesn't stand like that but he does somewhat flap.
A nervous behavior? Have video but cannot post it here. A couple stills.

Assuming Morgan is capable of flight in normal manner, I'm going to take a wild guess it is a show of aggression or dominance? Perhaps other members can offer advice?

Easiest way to post videos is via YouTube. Create an account, and insert link after selecting the blue icon with yellow "chain" located in the grey task bar above the post window. (second row, below the "smiley" selector)

 

[maverickbull]

congratulations

galleriagila has put it so well...

CAGs are complicated birds... be patient... give him time to settle in... give yourself time to understand him.

there are a lot of techniques here in this forum that can help you to start this relationship. Keep us posted.

 

[maverickbull]

Thanks all for the great advice. To impose once more... What does it mean when a Grey semi flaps his wings. He is in a prone position (as if taking off) and flaps a little than more but his wings do not even go 1/2 way up. He is doing this frequently. He doesn't stand like that but he does somewhat flap.
A nervous behavior? Have video but cannot post it here. A couple stills.

Based on the pics... I'd say
Not nervous... this is soliciting... could be for attention/ treat/ food/ scratch...

 

[Dopey]

Thanks all for the great advice. To impose once more... What does it mean when a Grey semi flaps his wings. He is in a prone position (as if taking off) and flaps a little than more but his wings do not even go 1/2 way up. He is doing this frequently. He doesn't stand like that but he does somewhat flap.
A nervous behavior? Have video but cannot post it here. A couple stills.

Mine does that. I thought it meant he liked me. I stop by and have him step up. I usually put him on his play area and I talk to him a lot from my living room seat.

 

[Caitnah]

Assuming Morgan is capable of flight in normal manner, I'm going to take a wild guess it is a show of aggression or dominance? Perhaps other members can offer advice?

Easiest way to post videos is via YouTube. Create an account, and insert link after selecting the blue icon with yellow "chain" located in the grey task bar above the post window. (second row, below the "smiley" selector)

Sorry Scott... I should have thought if that; especially since I have posted YouTube videos in the past. Getting older is kind of taking it's toll.

Here is the video.

[ame="https://youtu.be/S6PBXdYf0S8"]https://youtu.be/S6PBXdYf0S8[/ame]

 

[texsize]

Assuming Morgan is capable of flight in normal manner, I'm going to take a wild guess it is a show of aggression or dominance? Perhaps other members can offer advice?

Easiest way to post videos is via YouTube. Create an account, and insert link after selecting the blue icon with yellow "chain" located in the grey task bar above the post window. (second row, below the "smiley" selector)

Sorry Scott... I should have thought if that; especially since I have posted YouTube videos in the past. Getting older is kind of taking it's toll.

Here is the video.[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6PBXdYf0S8&feature=youtu.be"]YouTube[/ame]

video is unavailable

 

[Caitnah]

Here is the video.YouTube

video is unavailable

Try again and let me know.

Thanks

 

[Scott]

Based on the video, it might be a "soliciting" gesture as previously mentioned.