Help needed with my grey

[worried]

Hi I have a grey that i was given he was 8 years old, he is now almost 11 and was hand reared, the lady that i had him from had a long bought of ill health and could not keep up with him coming out and being handled. So I have had him now for close on 3 years but I really am worried he will never build a relationship with me.
He talks he laughs he sings, he is healthy. He once came out of his cage everyday but because of some building work he could not come out near as much as he needed. Now all of this upset is over I need to win him back. He will lunge at me if I try to touch him out of the cage, he has been this way for the whole time I have had him, yet I can pet him endlessly through the bars. He does rarely sit on my shoulder but he has given me a couple of nasty face bites which has made me very wary of him. The only time he will allow me to pick him up is if he flys and has a bad floor landing then I can put my hand to him he will step up and go to my shoulder then fly back to his cage.

I really am making a huge effort to win his trust but it seems it will never happen, I have read endless books on training and taming and tried several different things with him but he shows little interest. I sit and talk to him feed him titbits but I really am worried I am never going to win him over. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks

[pennyandrocky]

how long has it been since you started letting him out again?it could be he's just punishing you for having to keep him in the cage.do you reach for him?if so you might want to back off let him come to you rebuild the trust.i do this with new birds i just sit and talk to them making no attempt at touching,i feed them favorite treats when they come near,sit in a chair or couch and let them come to my hand without moving to touch eventually they will hop on or try to cuddle with my hand. then i move to touching while reading body language to make sure i don't get bit.you have to try to avoid bites sounds like a bad habit he's got.if he does bite don't yell,walk away to calm both of you down then come right back and show him you aren't upset or intimidated by his bite.
this has helped with all mine i hope it helps you keep us up on your progress.

[worried]

[quote][/quote]He started coming out the weekend just gone and yes he probably is punishing me due to circumstances with builders etc he has been caged for quite some time. But I am trying to be patient with him, I have sat talking to him without eye contact, he does come towards me in the cage and most of the time I can give him a scratch through the bars. But outside of the cage he just lunges at me

[ljeanne]

i was told greys don't like to be touched much. i like to think of them as aloof.