Another African Grey - Orchid Board

caseydoll · #1 11-30-2007, 08:12 PM

Since Graehstone kindly showed his bird pics I thought i would show mine. Her name is Baby and I've had her for about 7 years or so. Before that she was for sale at the pet shop where I worked so I've known her since she was a baby. She started plucking her feathers at the pet shop. I believe that she was poorly socialized as a baby and she definately didn't take well to living at a pet shop. People that she doesn't know make her nervous and she was constantly exposed to that. I've tried all the tricks to make her stop but she is just doomed to look like a plucked chicken.

But I love her just as she is. Unfortunately she doesn't care for me too much. Baby prefers males, especially my boyfriend. I try and try but she still is a stinker! Strangely enough, she only speaks in my voice. She laughs like me, coughs like me, you name it! Okay, I'll end this because I'm sure it's getting long and boring by now!

Another African Grey-100807-013-medium-jpg

Another African Grey-100807-016-medium-jpg

p.s. She's in her brand new cage so it's looks a little bare in the pic. I have to slowly introduce each toy as not to upset her.

flhiker · #2 11-30-2007, 08:46 PM

I love Grey's they are my favorite. My friend had a yellow nap that plucked his feather when he would leave him for a week or more. Then would stop after he returned. They can be wierd! Real nice cage maybe the new digs will help

Gin · #3 11-30-2007, 08:54 PM

Pretty bird and a nice cage . I had a Blue and Gold Macaw when she hit breeding age started to feather pick , a hormone thing, I finally let a friend have her that had 2 males , in the end she bought Tango from me . Gin

caseydoll · #4 11-30-2007, 09:01 PM

Thank you Dave and Gin! I was hoping maybe the cage would help too. She looks so little in there! Usually she freaks out about new things but when my boyfriend was putting the cage together she was really interested in it. We put her in it the next day and she was completely fine. Weird. She does go through stages with her feather plucking. Baby actually is letting some pin feathers grow in so I can only hope!

gerneveyn · #5 11-30-2007, 09:17 PM

If you're interested, there are veterinary behavior consultants, who can help with animal behavior problems including feather picking. Here are two links with info: International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants at IAABC.org
Animal Behavior Society Web Site

OrchidTess · #6 11-30-2007, 10:06 PM

Hi Sarah! Your Baby is adorable.
I love Greys. I have 2 of them. Rocky Burd who we adopted several months ago....he curses like a sailor. And Billy Burd who got very ill in the Spring and hasn't spoke a word since, but has recovered from his illness.

caseydoll · #7 12-01-2007, 07:48 PM

Thank you Sarah for the links. I will definately check them out.

OrchidTess, I love your Greys! I'm glad to hear that Billy Burd is okay. I wonder why he hasn't spoken since? Parrots are so complex! Just like people.

It's funny that Rocky curses! Hopefully it doesn't pose any problems for you.

Did you know that when you bought him or was it a surprise? Can you tell I love bird stories? I also have a lovebird but still need to take a picture of him. Baby and the lovebird always have to be close enough to see each other otherwise they make birdie calls back and forth.

OrchidTess · #8 12-01-2007, 08:06 PM

I don't know why he hasn't spoken...the vet stuck a needle in his neck to draw blood and we suspect that. He's healthy now, plays, makes noises but does not talk. His health is all that matter, I don't care that he doesn't talk. I have 7 others that do (Yes I was nuts)
As for Rocky cursing, yes we knew he cursed when we adopted him. He drops the "F" bomb a lot and sadly I laugh almost every time. (I'm no saint LOL) He says "Are you gonna sing to me?" and then sings "Who let the dogs out" Woof woof woof and says tons of other things....he has a huge vocabulary.
As you, I love bird stories too.

DebsC · #9 12-01-2007, 08:28 PM

Sarah, Baby is a lovely girl! I bet as she grows older and adjusts to her humans and surroundings, she'll begin to care for you.

My son (grown) brought home an AG he rescued from a dog trader. She was in a little bitty cage with no toys and barely any food. She had plucked herself bare and was quite pitiful.

She lives with me and speaks mostly in my husband's voice. Does the coughing thing, calls the cats by name and says pretty much any thing she wants to.

After buying her a large cage similar to yours and providing lots of different toys, she stopped pickimg her feathers. The toys that have rope and "hair' that she can pick helped the most.

I feed Bird, clean her cage, talk to her and keep her company the most but my son is still her favorite. She worships him! Tries to feed him and all that. It's disgusting!!! I just can't get any respect around here.

The most important thing in the world with parrots is patience. Good luck with Baby!

Graehstone · #10 12-01-2007, 09:18 PM

Caseydoll, your bird is just gorgeous. Parrots are special creatures and Grey's are at the head of the class.
I stopped looking at them as Parrots a long time ago and finally saw them for what they truly are and treated them accordingly with great results.
They are in reality little people in feather suits, plain and simple.
The terrifying thing about that realization is that sometimes they are smarter than you

and do things that just defy ... logic let alone physics.

I couldn't imagine a life without a Grey in it ... ever.