Chandler
Strolling the yard
- Joined
- 12/4/15
- Messages
- 90
We rescued a 16 YO African Grey named Budweiser about 5 months ago. My dad is technically the owner as I work and live about an hour away but come to visit on the weekends. He rescued Bud with the intent to pass him on to me in the future, seeing as how they can live to be 60+. Right now it is best he live with my dad though as he works from home and has the time and resources and I am at the busiest time in my life so switching homes isn't an option at this point.
The first four months of his transitional period he wouldn't let anyone touch him and wouldn't leave the top or area around his cage but he was eating well, not plucking, and being vocal. Two months ago he began allowing me (and only me) to walk up to his cage and scratch his nape. I received a few little warning bites because it was hard for me to decipher when he wanted one or when he wanted to be left alone (thank goodness I've got that figured out now). Anyways, the last two months he has been a completely different bird! He walks around the house freely (he is not clipped, just seems to prefer to walk) and follows me into any room I go. He will now step up on me and walk up to my shoulder and sit there for HOURS nuzzling into my neck, letting me scratch his head endlessly, and cooing in my ear.
I give you this background info because he seems to just "tolerate" my father, who is the one that feeds him, sits with him all day, cleans his cage, etc. It is very frustrating for my dad to watch how cuddly and sweet he is with me but he barely gives him the time of day. He has stepped up on my dad ONCE and as soon as he felt just a tiny bit unsteady he took a good sized chunk out of his hand. When I leave for the week apparently he will walk up to my bedroom door and knock on it with his head as if waiting for me to come out. I know that greys can sometimes be one-person birds so I guess this post comes with two questions: 1) does it seem like Bud has already chosen me as his "person"? and 2) am I doing any damage by leaving him for 5 days at a time?
(note: my dad said Bud doesn't seem to be depressed or distressed when I am not there, he doesn't pluck, stays vocal, eats normally, etc. he just seems to walk around looking for me and hanging around my room. Also, he had only been in one previous home for his first 16 years and they did tell us that he prefers women but he seemed to still have a decent relationship with the man in that house)
The first four months of his transitional period he wouldn't let anyone touch him and wouldn't leave the top or area around his cage but he was eating well, not plucking, and being vocal. Two months ago he began allowing me (and only me) to walk up to his cage and scratch his nape. I received a few little warning bites because it was hard for me to decipher when he wanted one or when he wanted to be left alone (thank goodness I've got that figured out now). Anyways, the last two months he has been a completely different bird! He walks around the house freely (he is not clipped, just seems to prefer to walk) and follows me into any room I go. He will now step up on me and walk up to my shoulder and sit there for HOURS nuzzling into my neck, letting me scratch his head endlessly, and cooing in my ear.
I give you this background info because he seems to just "tolerate" my father, who is the one that feeds him, sits with him all day, cleans his cage, etc. It is very frustrating for my dad to watch how cuddly and sweet he is with me but he barely gives him the time of day. He has stepped up on my dad ONCE and as soon as he felt just a tiny bit unsteady he took a good sized chunk out of his hand. When I leave for the week apparently he will walk up to my bedroom door and knock on it with his head as if waiting for me to come out. I know that greys can sometimes be one-person birds so I guess this post comes with two questions: 1) does it seem like Bud has already chosen me as his "person"? and 2) am I doing any damage by leaving him for 5 days at a time?
(note: my dad said Bud doesn't seem to be depressed or distressed when I am not there, he doesn't pluck, stays vocal, eats normally, etc. he just seems to walk around looking for me and hanging around my room. Also, he had only been in one previous home for his first 16 years and they did tell us that he prefers women but he seemed to still have a decent relationship with the man in that house)