Question about Grey Lunging

[Vampiric_Conure]

So Yvons is starting to lunge more frequently around me. He's missed so far, but I'm just counting the days before his first bite, ye know? It's been 8 weeks since I brought him home. My conure, Charlie, lunges, too, if I go in or around his cage, but he's easy to work around. Yvons is... bigger. Smaller cage in comparison to the conure. And he's QUICK. Any tips on how I can handle this? I need to clean Yv's cage and rearrange some things, but he gets aggressive around me if I do more than just feed him through the bars. Puffing out, large eyes, side-eyed stink eye... the whole nine yards. Would placing him on a stand he's not been on help? He's been staring at the new stand beside his cage for a week, but hasn't explored it on his terms. Once in a while, he'll reach out for it, but really seems uncertain.

Then again, maybe I'm just being paranoid, LOL!

 

[TiredOldMan]

Well if you can get him in another cage or a travel cage where he can watch might help. My CAG likes to supervise her cage cleaning. She generally stays out of the way but has to be right there watching my every move. If he will go on the stand and stay that would be good but it doesn't sound like he trusts it yet

CAGs generally take a LONG time to accept anything new to them and that includes people. Eight weeks is nothing to them. Every new thing is radioactive and not to be trusted. As mine learned to trust me the new things presented were accepted faster.

With the lunging I wouldn't back off but in a quiet even voice say "gentle". This works for me but it took a couple of years. She now "bites" with different amounts of pressure to communicate her level of displeasure. These vary from just a light touch to painful. She doesn't draw blood or bruise me but still communicates her feelings. However she takes great delight in chasing the BOSS(wife) around the house to bite her toes. The Boss makes the most wonderful screams according to Gracie.

CAGs are IMO much different from any other species I've ever interacted with. I think they are just too intelligent for OUR own good.

Also try to find a very "special treat". The Boss has made great progress in their relationship using Reese's Peanut Butter Baking Chips. Gracie now calls the Boss with a wolf whistle and stands on the prescribed perch to be hand fed a couple at a time.

These are just my observations and experiences, your mileage may vary.

 

[rheashard2]

As above. Grey's lunge and simply hack for their own reasons. They can be territorial about their space. It can be living or not. Being a human, female and retired RN, I've given it a name. WFS, Wild Feather Syndrome. My CAG will lunge, hack when I put food in/out, rearrange toys, cleaning etc. I talk to her in a soft voice and watch for her signs. I'll do something to distract. Waiting. I DO NOT SHOW FEAR, ANNOYANCE OR BEING IN A RUSH. This seems to encourage her to misbehave. Find that favorite treat, inexpensive easy to keep handy treat. Mine loves Triscuits *lo salt* with organic almond butter. I keep the triscuits divided in freezer bags, in freezer. They will keep for months. The almond butter is in fridge. Always handy. Do not go straight to cage for what you want. Take your time. I believe Greys believe that human training and setting limits is always a priority. Yvonn has had upheaval in his living situation. Being a parrot breed in addition to being intelligent are labeled as emotional, neurotic, temperamental to name a few. There's a grain of truth in this. I'm willing to bet a pound of in shell pecans that he's evaluating you, your reactions. Looking for your buttons to push or your nerve to get on. Be consistent. I grew up near and in the ghetto. I respond to undesirable behavior with a soft...tsk, really, come now, you KNOW better. Then I say ok later, go do something else before returning. Nameliss knows she's ultra alpha. But she grudgingly admits cooperation is a must. You have to be alert. Sometimes they look for 'legitimate' things to vent on. Last night it was my service dog. He was wagging his long tail and it brushed against her cage! She went into full attack mode. I ignored her, called dog.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Thank you, everyone, for your words of knowledge and encouragement! Yvons is a mastery of patience, I feel. If I wasn't patient before, I will be!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It must be so frustrating to have a beautiful bird that seems to want to kill you! Are you sure hes not just bluffing? How much do you know about Yvons history? Why was Yvons rehomed? Did he behave like this with the person he was with begore you got him? Did they even tell you much about him? What was her past life like? At his age, he msy have been through a lot. With such a sensitive intelligent bird their past must have an impact on their behavior.
I know nothing about how to deal with the problem since I've never had a bird like Yvons. I admire you for giving him a home and not giving up.