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[Maighen]

Meighan, if you don't already have a copy, I suggest picking up "Parrots for Dummies". It's a great resource and will answer the great majority of your first-time bird-owner questions.. It's even a good refference for the experienced bird person!...

I will def check out the book....I bought an african grey book from my local pet store and I have been reading different information on different sites. I will hold off on spraying him.....I did put my hand in his cage and he was ok and I picked up a carrot that was on the floor of his cage and tried to offer it to him. No luck! He took it and threw it and then started to growl again. He is also making a sound that almost sounds like purring when I talk to him.....its not the same upset/angry sound that he makes when he growls. I have heard about the teflon pans and have checked my pans that I cook with and I don't have any! Thank goodness!!! The foster parents were forcing him out of his cage with a stick/perch.....is that a good way to handle him? I don't want to torture him or make him any more nervous then he already is.....when they did it he puffed up and opened his wings and growled really loud. Since he has been here the only time he has growled really loud was when we moved him into his cage! I'm really excited about having him and I know its going to take time for him to trust me

let him have his space for a while, don't force him to come out if you don't have to. If you must move him for some reason, the stick is the ticket... Tell him "step up" or some similar command and then praise him when he does.

keep working on just being near him, making him comfortable with you and getting him to take treats. (try fruit like apple slices, bannana or grapes...) Once he seems to be OK with that you can open the cage door and see if he'll come out on his own. Again; treats, praise and patience. Every bird is different, it could take weeks or days.

have fun! Birds like fun

So when I came out to see Frankie this morning....I said good morning Frankie and he made the purring type sound again But he hasn't touched any food at all.....I thought he would during the night when my husband and I were not in the same room.....but he didn't! Is that something I should worry about?

 

[Maighen]

Welcome to our forum and I am so happy that you have this little guy now. Sounds like a wonderful home. Greys to growl and please pay attention -- that is part of body language that says stay away. Breeders are not usually socialized much so that is what you should work on when he has settled down more. Keep a low profile for now and a calm demeanor. Here is a web site that has lots of good grey information.

Welcome to Africangreys.com

Thank you! I have basically just been sitting next to his cage and talking to him in a low calm voice and he has started making a sound that is almost like purring when I talk to him. He enjoys the video game Mario for Wii when my husband plays Frankie also gets excited!

 

[JawzX]

are you feeding him the same thing he got at his previous home? What is his diet? It's possible he just hasn't found it yet... It's sometimes worth the pain of eatting some bird food (though honestly, the Harrison's and Zupreem pellets are kinda tasty!) to show them where it is and that it's food... Just take a bit from the bowl (make sure he's watching), pop it in your mouth and make a bit of a show about how good it is "mmmmm, yummy, that's good" etc... If you can't bring yourself to swallow make sure he doesn't see you spit it out. A few sunflower seeds sprinkled in the bowl may also get him to check it out.

 

[Maighen]

are you feeding him the same thing he got at his previous home? What is his diet? It's possible he just hasn't found it yet... It's sometimes worth the pain of eatting some bird food (though honestly, the Harrison's and Zupreem pellets are kinda tasty!) to show them where it is and that it's food... Just take a bit from the bowl (make sure he's watching), pop it in your mouth and make a bit of a show about how good it is "mmmmm, yummy, that's good" etc... If you can't bring yourself to swallow make sure he doesn't see you spit it out. A few sunflower seeds sprinkled in the bowl may also get him to check it out.

I was given cockatiel food by the foster parents but I was VERY unsure about giving him that so I went to an exotic type pet store and picked up some Harrison's and Frankie shows no interest! I offered him carrot and he took it and threw it.....the foster parents didn't give me much information about what he likes or dislikes! I will try eating a little of his food

 

[Spiritbird]

Most greys like warm soft foods for part of the day. Oatmeal is a good one. I make a mash of the vegies and include all the good stuff like cooked grains, legumes, brown rice and others and it goes in the food processor. It comes out like baby food. For any new foods it is a good idea to teach them they are meant to eat and safe to eat. That means you eat them yourself if you can. The pellets will take a while but you did get the best.

 

[Maighen]

So I tried a little of his pellets and it wasn't too bad. But Frankie stared at me like I was crazy lol. I also took a bite of a carrot and told him how good it all was and I offered him the carrot and again he took it and threw it!

 

[JawzX]

Spiritbird has a great idea with warm mush foods... Ms. Beak loves her warm squash-bean-rice-spinach-carrot-ginger-cinimon mush... As a breeder he may be used to high potency foods like that and know what they are too... Have you tried any fruit yet?

definitely, if he's never had pellets before it may take a while to get him realizing they are food, but Harrison's are great for your bird and worth the effort.

 

[Maighen]

Spiritbird has a great idea with warm mush foods... Ms. Beak loves her warm squash-bean-rice-spinach-carrot-ginger-cinimon mush... As a breeder he may be used to high potency foods like that and know what they are too... Have you tried any fruit yet?

definitely, if he's never had pellets before it may take a while to get him realizing they are food, but Harrison's are great for your bird and worth the effort.

Does it matter what I mix together as far as fruits and veggies go in the mush mixture? I have researched what greys can eat and it seems like they can eat most fruits and veggies. I have tried an apple peeled because the foster parents did say he would eat apple but he took it and threw it again. Should I put it in his bowl instead of offering it to him by hand? He has peeked his head out a couple times and has almost looked like he was going to venture out of his cage.....I just sit quietly and watch him! His growling has been minimal today

 

[JawzX]

yeah, try leaving the apple in his bowl, you're still new and he has to trust you before he'l take things you offer... Keep trying with the hand offers, but let him have a little in his bowl, see if he eats it.

as far as mush goes, almost anything goes... Steamed carrots, squash, cooked beans, corn, spinach, peas, bannana, apple, rice, whole-wheat bread, broccoli, quinoa, sprouts, etc... As long as it's not on the toxic food lists. If you use canned veggies watch the salt content, and rinse them thoroughly before use if the can indicates they have salt in the packing liquid. Many birds also seem to like cinnimon, ginger and/or cayanne pepper as an additional seasoning. There are plenty of bird recipies online if you search, but just being creative often works well.

keep up the patient visiting, less growling is a good step

 

[Maighen]

Great! Thank you so much!!! So Frankie closed his cage door and started destroying his perch! All in a matter of minutes....I left the room to go take care of some stuff in the kitchen and he closed his door and started ripping his perch apart! When I came back in the room.....he stood there looking at me like nothing happened! He is very clever!!!

 

[Maighen]

I posted a picture of Frankie....he didn't like my phone and growled the whole time I was taking the picture!