New to forum. Just rescued a grey.

[Tierhog]

Hi everyone, just rescued a terrific but terrified CAG. Previous owner died a month ago, family was terrified of the bird. I'll have my hands full. Glad this site is available.

Thanks again, and Hi

 

[TessieB]

Howdy! I'm sure with patience your new family member will come around.

 

[MikeyTN]

Welcome to the forum!!!!

 

[Terry57]

Hello and welcome!What's your cag's name? Do you have any pictures you can post? We all love pictures here

 

[Tierhog]

Casper is his name. He's almost 15. No pictures yet. He fell of his perch and took a walk around the house. Probably best to wait on that photo anyway, his feathers are a mess and he was plucking to the down feathers. Had been cage bound for over a month. He's been out ten hours now, and is preening instead of plucking. He ate well.

I pulled his food and put it in a forage feeder. I also hand feed him treats. Still debating sole use of the forager feeder. What's your guys take? I'll have a photo up soon.

 

[MikeyTN]

Whatever that keep him happy right now. Find the treat that he likes and put it in the forage feeder. What diet is he on right now???

 

[antoinette]

Hi and welcome Tierhog
How are you and the new bird getting along?
What is the bird's name?

 

[Anansi]

Hello, Tierhog, and welcome to the forum! Do you know if Casper's plucking began in the period after the death of his owner? And what is the current level of his socialization? Is he step-up trained?

 

[lotosha]

Hello, welcome, Thanks for taking care of that poor Grey.

 

[Tierhog]

I was told the plucking started after the death of the owner. Apparently a lot of people in and out of the house crying and everything sent the bird overboard. He is step trained and I've laddered him a few times successfully. Nobody let him out or touched him after his owner passed due to fear. His old cage was in a sad state. I have his door open all the time, but like some career felon, he hangs out by his food bowl and watches me. No interaction with his toys. And he has plenty of em.

He is eating vita pro mixed AG seed with some hemp seed mixed at 20%. He has a vitamin block, and has bottled water. His wings aren't clipped but he can only fly a few feet. He seems to be improving. He started preening and grinding last night.

He is not interested in stepping up when I put my hand in his cage. When out after a hour or so he will drop his head to prevent me from putting my hand in the step up position, hoping to stay out all night. When I distract with the other hand he flies from cage and steps up immediately when on floor.

Thanks everyone. I have Eclectus experience, but this grey has had it rough and I never rescued one before. Oh, by the way, Vet says he is in good shape medically, but shows some atrophy.

 

[Tierhog]

One more thing about diet. He is rejecting hand feeding of apples, broccoli, oranges etc at the moment.

 

[lotosha]

Well, he is new to your house. In a while he'll adjust and get out of the cage and will take food from you.

 

[Tierhog]

Well Lotosha, funny you mention that... After staring at an open cage all morning, he ventured out after I dropped a almond in his third dish. Once on top of the cage, he took two additional almonds from my hand. He's grinding on the shell now. Maybe he simply wants to be fed by hand... Bizarre. He was stretching his little head out so far to get the nut.

 

[MikeyTN]

He's liking the nut, not necessarily likeing to be hand fed. I have mean birds but they know what treats is and they still do accept it regardless of them not liking me. But it sounds like your making progress.

 

[Tierhog]

Hey, I'll take it. Id make him a lobster dinner if i thought it would help. Now hes playing with a bell.