Can someone help me?? With my african grey

[Lucinda255]

I have a 2 year old african grey ,She likes my boyfriend and my son but she doesn't seem to like me,She'll climb all over them but if I try touch her she just bites me?
I am such an animal lover I own a horse,5 rabbits and have 2 cats(The cats are never ever near her)
Anyone help?

[Wolf]

While I am certain that we can help you with your Grey, I am not sure that anything needs to be done with this, even if it is possible to do so.
The situation that you have is part of a completely natural function of this bird and, indeed with all species of parrots. Your bird is two years old and this is the age that this species usually goes through puberty, it is the time that it looses its bonding with its parents in preparation to choosing and establishing a bond with its mate. There is nothing that can be done to change this process.
Can you alter the outcome? Maybe.
If you have had this bird for any length of time and had established a bond with this bird previously and you continue to treat the bird in the same manner that you have always done then it is possible that after the bird finishes examining its possible options for a mate that it may still choose you. If the bird does not then you should still be able to keep yourself established as a member of its flock and thereby reduce or eliminate any aggressiveness towards you. And although these birds often mate for life, this is not etched in stone and there is still a chance that it will rebond with you. But there is no guarantee on this.

[liz]

Rambo is mine and we were tightly bonded for quite a few years. When Rachel moved in he decided he liked her better. He still calls me when he needs something but when she is home I am just the giver of food and the clean up woman. When she is away he is mine until she comes home.
I take what I can get and am happy that he is happy.

[Wolf]

I hear that Liz! With Mimi, the Amazon, I am just the maid and caterer, too.

[Pajarita]

Welcome to the forum, Lucinda. Wolf is correct, grays are usually one-person birds but you can still have a flock mate relationship with them as long as their chosen one is not around. I have a Timneh grey that chose my husband over me years ago and, although she doesn't bite me, she would if I tried to interact with her when she is with him (and he doesn't even like birds! He is actually terrified of them).

I suggest that you don't take this personally, accept the situation as it is and be happy for her because she did find somebody to love even if it's not you. Mind you, even though this is my recommendation, I am very aware that this is not what you wanted when you got her, that your feelings are hurt and that it's a very bitter pill to swallow! I've kept parrots for over 20 years, love them to pieces and understand them a little bit better than most people so I know, on a rational level, that it's nothing personal against me but I still tell her all the time (and in a sulking tone of voice, too) that she chose the wrong human -as if she understood or even cared

[liz]

I hear that Liz! With Mimi, the Amazon, I am just the maid and caterer, too.

...and you love every minute of it.

[Lucinda255]

Thankyou so much everyone! She steps up now and again but il just be happy she does that!! Thankyou all:)

[liz]

You don't say how long you have had her or where she came from.
I have taken in many birds that I thought I would never be able to touch. Over the years most of my cockatiels came to me with a warning that they bite or that they are wild and would never be able to be touched. Some come to me for attention. Some only want to talk to me. I still have a couple who don't want anything from me (these are the ones who only let me scoop them up if they are tired of flying and ready to go back to cage.)
I never thought I would be able to touch Myrtle but she needed me so I brought her home. Within a year she was flying to me. I have had her 4 years now and she is like a big piece of jewelry attached to me. This is the first year that she has allowed me to touch her head.
Enjoy your grey and a child learning new things every day. Enjoy the progress.