new biting grey

[tashacoyle]

We got a new african grey a few days ago, he is called Joey. He was great when we took him home he stepped out of the box and straight away said "hello, what ya doin" he went on to his cage and had a rest, we let him out later and straight away flew over and sat on my knee and let my fiance pet him, he went back to bed later and was great...two days on and we are going crazy, he still flies to us and lands on our hands but if we move slightly he attacks out hands and faces... I'm trying but I'm terrified, he's eating everything and when I say in a quiet but firm tone to stop he just looks at me, he's squealing at the top of his lungs now too, has any one got any advice for me?

[Pajarita]

Well, maybe you should have left him in his cage for a couple of days just so he could get used to his new home, humans, etc. But, what's done is done and we will take it from here. Personally, I think that the best thing is to avoid getting bit so, if I were you, I would not move my hands while he is on me. Have a stand or a T stick ready by your side and use it to have him perch on it. Watch his body language and learn it the signs of when he gets annoyed so you can avoid whatever it was that 'set him off'. Is he a baby or an adult? How old? Did he come from a breeder, a store, a previous owner? When are you interacting with him (time of the day, circumstances)? Do you have a busy or a calm household? Background and more info would be useful...
One thing that you need to keep in mind with parrots is that they will bite and, when it's a larger species (I noticed you have smaller species that tend to be quite sweet-tempered), the bite really hurts but you can't be afraid of them. They are much better than we are at reading our body language and they figure out pretty quick that you don't trust them and why should they trust us if we don't trust them?

[Wolf]

I just wanted to add that while watching you bird to learn its body language that you need to be aware that sometimes the body language can be pretty subtle, for instance the hint that she is about to bite given by my Grey is that she flattens her feathers closer to her body and since she came to me as a serious plucker it can be hard to see.

[tashacoyle]

He came from a previous owner, he's plucked also, I didn't let him back out of his cage last night and he's still in there now, I've made somewhat of a breakthrough, if I go to him on his eye level and whisper and talk to him and say tickles he will put his head down for me to rub his head, and stays there and enjoys it, so I give him a treat. We got him from a man who said he was a man's bird only but he seams to be taking to me a little more... our home is quiet with just me an my fiance. He has been talking over to me all morning and seems prety contented with a rub on the head every so often and a treat after, so I'll keep that up for a while... what are your opinions on clipping him until he settles in?

[Wolf]

NO! NO! NO! No clipping it is not good for them. I would not keep him locked away either, he needs some time out with you.