Chance flew

[GreenWing]

Don't worry, she's okay! But... wow. Also, since this post is more about Grey psychology than flight, I think I'm posting it in the appropriate place.

So after I got out of the shower, and was getting dressed, I think Chance was pissed at me (I usually take her into the shower with me, let her perch and she watches me, but I didn't this time). As I was getting dressed, Chance strutted on top of her cage and said (excuse the language, just repeating what my Grey said verbatim): "You're a slut" and when I said "Oh yeah?" and sat on the bed to text on my phone, she kept up the insults... "Shut up, bitch" and other things I couldn't make out. I'd say stuff back to her like, "Oh, well someone doesn't know her place" and "Be nice!" Suddenly she flew towards me from the top of her cage, across the room at the bed I was on, and landed on the floor next to the bed. She was okay, but she was clearly upset and REALLY wanted to be with me. I'm at the computer next to her now, and she's fine, preening.

So... call me captain obvious, do Greys really get THAT attached and are that needy?

Also, since I know she can fly across the room, my next sewing project are some curtains (we don't have a door from the bedroom to the living room but have a curtain rod ready.

[Weka]

Poor Chance! Sounds like she was around some rough characters before she came to you. While a bird as intelligent as a Grey might appear to "know" that she's calling you bad names, she might just have made the connection that certain sound combinations get more of an immediate and impassioned reaction from humans than others. So it might be hard, but try to ignore the bad stuff and/or teach her to pronounce her previously learned phrases more clearly -- such as "You're a nut!"

And yeah, I'd get up curtains ASAP.


Best,

Weka

[GreenWing]

Thanks for the kind reply Weka

Oh, I don't mind the insults, I find it amusing, actually.
Yeah, her background is sketchy. I was "told" her original owner went to jail. 'Not sure if that's true, but Chance did say "Jailbird" yesterday.

She was definitely having a tantrum because I didn't take her into the shower with me. She clearly wanted to be with me, as she, 90 percent of the time being a perch potato, FLEW across the room at me. But you could very well be right. She probably doesn't know what "slut" and "bitch" is/means, but she maybe associates it with negative feelings? Or, as you say, just wants a certain reaction.

And yes, I am going to try to change "slut" into "nut." My bird has class, I know it!

[cml]

Chance sounds like a real character ^^!

[GreenWing]

Chance sounds like a real character ^^!

Oh, you have no idea, lol. She is hilarious! I was cooking her dinner today and she asked "Hey! Whatcha doin'?" I told her "I'm cooking." She then said "Cook!" What a character. And she only cusses me out some of the time... her "I love yous" are definitely said far more often!

BTW: Chance has her own Google+ page, where actual statements said by her is posted daily.

[Rebellious]

Aw, that is sad that Chance learned that terrible language from her previous owners. It's good that your is in a loving and caring home now. African greys can get very attached to their human owners! My good friend has a TAG and that bird will literally follow her everywhere she goes. So it's not unusual for Chance to be possessive of you.

[Pajarita]

She was upset because you changed the routine. All parrots, but most especially grays which tend to be a bit more insecure than other species, like their routines. A LOT! It gives them comfort, a sense of belonging and of control over their own lives, something we take away from them when we keep them in captivity. You are better off waking them up a little bit earlier and following their routine, even if each activity is shorter than usual, than skipping anything.

[GreenWing]

Aw, that is sad that Chance learned that terrible language from her previous owners. It's good that your is in a loving and caring home now. African greys can get very attached to their human owners! My good friend has a TAG and that bird will literally follow her everywhere she goes. So it's not unusual for Chance to be possessive of you.

Thanks for the kind words. Chance does have a dirty "beak" on her with some of her, uh, how shall we say, colorful language, but I am trying to change those words to words that rhyme, as Michael suggested in the past. Some of it I don't mind and find amusing, but she also says some really bad words that I'm like... geeze, who taught her this stuff?

She was upset because you changed the routine. All parrots, but most especially grays which tend to be a bit more insecure than other species, like their routines. A LOT! It gives them comfort, a sense of belonging and of control over their own lives, something we take away from them when we keep them in captivity. You are better off waking them up a little bit earlier and following their routine, even if each activity is shorter than usual, than skipping anything.

This is wise advice. And it is VERY true that Greys are very routine-specific birds. She hates it when I do leave the house for a while. When I come home it's the "pretty please" wing fluttering and is utterly delighted I come home... it's so cute but I hope that it doesn't harm my Grey. Eventually I'd like to pick up a part time job of sorts... being a fine artist/soapmaker doesn't bring in a lot of cash, alas.

[cml]

This is wise advice. And it is VERY true that Greys are very routine-specific birds. She hates it when I do leave the house for a while. When I come home it's the "pretty please" wing fluttering and is utterly delighted I come home... it's so cute but I hope that it doesn't harm my Grey. Eventually I'd like to pick up a part time job of sorts... being a fine artist/soapmaker doesn't bring in a lot of cash, alas.

Maybe get her a friend if you do get a part time job ?

[GreenWing]

Maybe get her a friend if you do get a part time job ?

Well, any part-time job I find can be very part-time... ideally just weekends, so Chance has my spouse with her, then. Problem is, even part time jobs seem to be scarce in this economy.

Hypothetically, if I had to work full time, I would definitely get another bird.