Where do I start?

[Mystic-B]

Hello and thank you for having this site available for newbies like me to look up to!

Long story short, we had been owners of two Quaker parrots that have passed away. An animal rescue friend of ours had mentioned his need to rehome a formerly rescued African Grey. He'd had this guy for about two years and he believes the former owner had him for maybe 2-3 years.. His first (known) home was not ideal and the man just needed to get himself together and not have such a responsibility with the bird. Our friend "John" who was already an animal control officer took him in, got him away from profanities and plucking but really didnt have much opportunity to TRAIN him or even have him out of cage often. We found ourselves wanting to adopt him as I'm always home with our youngest child and have time to devote to some training and patience. That being said, he's only been with us about 24 hours. John said he had not had him out of the cage for about a month and we have no idea if he knows typical commands like Step Up, Go Home, etc. I have read the beginner training article and its given me some good ideas to start with. We can approach the cage and he will not shy away but when we add the target stick he runs away. I realize this will take time and I'm okay with that. A lot of changes for an already leary birdie-- we dont want to traumatize him further.

1) we plan to rename him. He knows his current name but its pretty generic. We'd planned to use his current name at the same time with his new name and then gradually drop the first name. Does anyone have experience with this and does that sound like an acceptable method?

2) His cage was not covered in his previous home-- but it was a big open log cabin and only an older couple with no children in the home. They worked all day and did not interact with him until the evenings. They say he didnt need covered because he would be quiet when they went to bed. Because of our children's activities I wonder if I should try covering the cage eventually or not worry about it unless he seems over stimulated. Thoughts?

I'm sure I will have a zillion questions, but seeing how this is our "first day" I'm well aware there will be challenges and a need for patience. Do you have any other tips on rehoming?



~Mystie

[Polarn]

I'd say if he is not used to be covered I wouldnt do it, since he might find that scary or upsetting, and also if you got younger kids use the parrot to teach them to slow down during the evenings and go to bed if the parrots needs to sleep so do they. And they prolly want to be kind to the parrot and want to be still reading a book or whatever at night (something you can use to get your grey familliar with your voice and comfy with you as well, unless your kids go to bed way past the birdies bedtime, otherwise I'd read the book out load for the kids and the parrot) about him knowing step up etc... there is "unfortunitly" only one way to find out, if he seems calm try present your hand and ask him to step up. about the "go home" even if he does know it... i doubt he will listen to it straight away if he hasn't been out for a month, chanses are he wont even leave the cage if you open it. as for the target stick.. if your using a thick stick, try use a BBQ stick or something smaller see if he is less frighten of that, or a colorful stick, or whatever really, he might like a standard school pencil..(not to chew on tho).

About the renaiming, sorry can't provide any tips there, never actually renamed a pet. but should work to give him a doublename for a while I guess, but I'm pretty sure someone will have some pointers for this, also pretty sure someone will fill in or correct me on the suggestions ive given as well

Take care and good luck with your grey

[pennyandrocky]

hello, i'm not sure you can change the name of a parrot esp. if it already knows it. the man who fostered my cockatoo had a rescue he was told was female and later found out was male he tried to change the name but he would only respond to the female name, my male greencheek is named penny, it used to be evie and he responds to penny but he was still young when my cousin changed it.even though it is annoying that i have to explain that penny is a boy with a girls name it's what he's used to.

[Mystic-B]

Thanks! He's afraid of things at random.. The stick I used was half of a shish-kabob skewer so it was already very thin but I may try a colored pencil or something that doesnt have lead in it. I did open the catch and reach in today, approaching him slowly with the back of my hand.. he behaves the same as from the outside of the cage= touches me with his beak, taste-testing but will bite harder if I leave it for too long. I layed a leather glove on the cage for him to see before we ever needed to use it but he freaked out... but he loved my husbands cell phone. We're just taking it easy and hoping for some earned trust. Looking for pointers anywhere I can!

[Polarn]

as i sed sitting next to the cage reading a book out loud or soemthing is always good, gets em used to you being nearby, your voice etc without you being pushing, and if the cage is open he might even come down to sit next to you and listen outside the cage.

[Shelby]

I'm not sure what you meant by the "beginner training article" so I will give you a link to Michael's Taming article just in case you haven't read it.

I have read that Greys are sensitive birds that easily become phobic and are susceptible to becoming pluckers. Once you get your bird more comfortable with you, I suggest trying to introduce him to one new object or person a day. At first that might be too much so start with one a week, then one every few days, and work your way up. Eventually they will get more comfortable with change in their environment.

Also, they are VERY smart, so you will need to give him lots of toys and things to play with and destroy, otherwise he'll get bored. Do NOT give him a mirror. He'll become bonded to the mirror and not you.