new grey acting strange

[NICrosis]

My wife and I have been working with birds for a while now. We've worked with raising 2 cockatiels for a friend, and we are currently loving our young Eclectus. However, we have dreams of, when we own our own home, getting a cockatoo and a macaw (after years of working with our current birds, of course). In an attempt to step up the difficulty, we purchased a rehome tinmah from a local shelter. Unfortunately, I've run into some immediate problems. His cage is 5 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet thick, with plenty of perches. However, this five year old grey seems most at home on the bottom of the cage where he just sits there and chirps. He drank some water last night, but unless I hand feed him his special blend (hemp seeds, buck wheat, grain and a few others), he wont eat from his bowl, and he doesn't even touch the fruit pellets (He ate them at the shelter). I'm pretty sure he's just adjusting, but I'm a bit worried for him.

What do you guys think? Before anyone asks, I'm committed to Loki and wont take him back.

[Wolf]

I am glad that you have adopted this Grey an that you are committed to him, especially since it is going to be put to the test much too soon. You need to get this bird in to see an avian vet immediately as he is sick and has already gone to ground. This means that he is very sick and his life may be in danger. He needs to see the vet on an emergency basis, please don't waste any time.

[NICrosis]

I am glad that you have adopted this Grey an that you are committed to him, especially since it is going to be put to the test much too soon. You need to get this bird in to see an avian vet immediately as he is sick and has already gone to ground. This means that he is very sick and his life may be in danger. He needs to see the vet on an emergency basis, please don't waste any time.

I don't doubt you wolf, but I did just get off the phone with the rescue. Here's the cross reference.

Apparently, at the rescue he would occasionally chill at the bottom of the cage, but mostly to play with a toy that he'd knock down, or to dance. Last night, when I had him out of the cage, he was dancing up a storm while we watched Mulan, and he doesn't "sound sick". Plus, he spent the night on his perch.

I think what I was getting at, is I believe he was co-dependent. If the cage door is open, he'll immediately escape out and chill on the top of the cage.

Update: Just called the shelter. They said his first few days were spent at the bottom of the cage when he got dropped off and that he's just adjusting. I think we may be fine.

[NICrosis]

Misc update: Here's a pic of loki!

[Pajarita]

Well, I am not saying the information you received is not correct but did the rescue have the bird vetted? Was this done within the last six months? Did they give you a copy of the blood work results? (You need it to use as a baseline for future vetting) Because there are all kinds of rescues... I don't know this rescue and they might be the best rescue in the world, for all I know, but I do know of many rescues that are not up to standard and not even vet their birds when they come in (the best ones actually would not take in a bird unless it comes with a health certificate and negative disease testing for several contagious ones).

If the bird has not had a complete physical within the last six months, I would take him to a vet asap. This is not only for this bird's sake but also for the ekkie's. I don't know of a single bird that been distressed would go to ground. It goes against the nature of a prey animal to expose itself to predators when stressed out. Quite the contrary, they look for places to hide. But a bird with a subclinical condition would feel worse when stressed out and would go to ground when this happens. I rescue birds and ran my own rescue for 6 years with over 240 birds in it and I would never think that a grounded bird is just upset.

[NICrosis]

Well, I am not saying the information you received is not correct but did the rescue have the bird vetted? Was this done within the last six months? Did they give you a copy of the blood work results? (You need it to use as a baseline for future vetting) Because there are all kinds of rescues... I don't know this rescue and they might be the best rescue in the world, for all I know, but I do know of many rescues that are not up to standard and not even vet their birds when they come in (the best ones actually would not take in a bird unless it comes with a health certificate and negative disease testing for several contagious ones).

If the bird has not had a complete physical within the last six months, I would take him to a vet asap. This is not only for this bird's sake but also for the ekkie's. I don't know of a single bird that been distressed would go to ground. It goes against the nature of a prey animal to expose itself to predators when stressed out. Quite the contrary, they look for places to hide. But a bird with a subclinical condition would feel worse when stressed out and would go to ground when this happens. I rescue birds and ran my own rescue for 6 years with over 240 birds in it and I would never think that a grounded bird is just upset.

It's a rescue that specializes in larger breeds (they have waaaaaay too many toos for me to feel comfortable making the rookie mistake of owning them right now). When they receive a bird, they get them vetted with a local vet (initial vet fees get paid for when the new owner picks up the bird). He was only there for a month from the time I got him, and the previous owner was a kid who went off to college. I'm definitely going to take them to the doctor for a check up though.

That being said, I do feel a bit odd. He's super active and happy out of the cage, I'm just not sure he likes being IN the cage. When I adopted him he'd be at the top of the adoption cage, and seemed healthy and active enough.

Regardless, I'll take him to the vet for his check up tomorrow.

[Wolf]

OK! I don't know this bird and you are my eyes and ears into his world and I can only respond to what you tell me. I hopefully am able to listen and not make any assumptions, especially by trying to read between the lines. But, wrong or not, I get very concerned when a tree dwelling bird goes to ground. It is not natural for them to do so.
I can't dispute the rescue's word, I know nothing about them. Your bird may, indeed be fine, but I would still take him to see the vet as I would rather be safe than sorry.
I can't help with the Eclectus as I simply don't know enough about them. And although I don't have a Timneh Grey Parrot, I do have a Congo Grey.
I don't know what you mean by co dependent in regards to your Grey, but I do know that they require a lot of one on one time with their human friend and usually want nothing to do with anyone else.

[NICrosis]

OK! I don't know this bird and you are my eyes and ears into his world and I can only respond to what you tell me. I hopefully am able to listen and not make any assumptions, especially by trying to read between the lines. But, wrong or not, I get very concerned when a tree dwelling bird goes to ground. It is not natural for them to do so.
I can't dispute the rescue's word, I know nothing about them. Your bird may, indeed be fine, but I would still take him to see the vet as I would rather be safe than sorry.
I can't help with the Eclectus as I simply don't know enough about them. And although I don't have a Timneh Grey Parrot, I do have a Congo Grey.
I don't know what you mean by co dependent in regards to your Grey, but I do know that they require a lot of one on one time with their human friend and usually want nothing to do with anyone else.

We're trying to train out birds to be a bit more independent. We allow them a set period of "cuddle time" each day. meaning for an hour to two hours we baby the crap out of them, scratch their necks, feed them treats for doing silly things, etc. We have a sparratic training schedule that changes day to day so they don't ever expect it (we do this for all things so that the bird doesn't figure out a schedule). Then, we put them back for an hour so they can play with their toys and whatnot. Then, throughout the day in distributed bursts, we let them out of the cage for a while to sit by us while she works on her animation, and I work on my programming.

By co-dependent I simply meant that he seems to want nothing else than human affection 24/7. I've made the mistake of having a bird that was completely codependent before, and I don't want to make it again. I'm trying to train Loki and sakura to enjoy being in their cage as much as outside the cage. This is how I want them to see it.

In the cage: I get to play with toys, sleep, and eat my meals. For some reason, I don't get meals out of the cage.

Out of the cage: Human plays with me, I watch human do stuff, and human gives me food outside of my meals, and trains me.

edit: THANK YOU for the input. I'm not trying to contradict you, I'm just trying to look at things rationally. Apparently he was vetted before being brought in and came in with a clean bill of health.

[Wolf]

I don't see it as you contradicting me at all. Basically you ask, I answer, you do what you will with that answer. No problem.

You have an interesting choice of birds for not wanting a bird that is co dependent as Greys are known for being unhappy and resorting to screaming, biting, plucking and self mutilation if they do not get enough one on one time with their special person. This is due to them being highly intelligent as well as highly emotional in their nature. I really hope that you can avoid these behaviors as Greys also do better with schedules than without as they tend to also be creatures of habit. Good luck.

[NICrosis]

I don't see it as you contradicting me at all. Basically you ask, I answer, you do what you will with that answer. No problem.

You have an interesting choice of birds for not wanting a bird that is co dependent as Greys are known for being unhappy and resorting to screaming, biting, plucking and self mutilation if they do not get enough one on one time with their special person. This is due to them being highly intelligent as well as highly emotional in their nature. I really hope that you can avoid these behaviors as Greys also do better with schedules than without as they tend to also be creatures of habit. Good luck.

Oh really? Thanks for the advice dude. I'll talk to my wife about getting him on a clear schedule. I just really want him to not end up like my buddy's tiel and scream at the top of his lungs if he's not out of his cage every waking moment.

TBH, I went into the shelter wanting a rehome/rescue to work on, and this is Loki. I had a choice between him, about 12 umbrellas, and 3 Blue and Golds. Like I said, just because he wasn't "the perfect bird for me (my wife is convinced that'd be a black lory), I'm not the kind of person to give up because of one thing. I really do appreciate the input.