Recently adopted African grey

[Akcollins8]

So long story short this lady I work with was going to get rid of her father’s grey(euthanize) after he passed and her housing situation is changing. I did a lot of research into African greys and knew he would be a lot to handle, but he’s in a bad situation and truly needs love and help,so I decided to take him in , but I know the internet isn’t always right and I figured coming on here asking for tips would 100% be more beneficial to me and my grey!! He came to me in bad shape, he’s missing all his claws on his left foot and plucked his chest bare!! I’ve gotten use to the bird to the point he reaches out to let me pick him up and he’s very vocal when he sees me,but he still trembles when I pick him up (I’m also kinda scared of him lol). So basically to wrap this up I’m just looking for basic tips on anything!! Food down to even bathing him!! I forgot to mention he was abused and passed around homes for years I hope to finally bring him that loving and caring home he deserves

 

[Respect]

I’m sure as time passes, you’ll both gain trust in and find comfort in each other.

I’m not sure about the dietary requirements of greys in particular, but in general most parrots do well on a diet consisting of a variety of vegetables, fruits, seeds, and pellets. However, many parrots may become extremely picky or stuck in their ways, making dietary changes difficult or even dangerous. Knowing what he currently eats can help someone guide you towards your next steps.

When it comes to bathing I’ve seen larger birds enjoy bathing in the sink, in the shower, in a dish/tray, or with a spray mist bottle. Plain water only, no soaps. Some birds will even bathe with their water dish, despite it being too small for them
It’s important to be slow when introducing baths so as to avoid scaring them away — don’t force it. Let him see the water and approach it himself when he’s ready. If he reacts positively or even starts engaging in bathing behavior (fluffing out his feathers, flapping his wings, shaking his head) make sure to give him a treat. Usually they’ll bathe for as long as they like, then move away from the water source when they’re done.

Feather plucking is a complicated issue. It is often caused by a combination of environmental and/or health factors. If at all possible, I would recommend taking him to an avian vet to have a general wellness exam. Many avian vets can also answer questions and give you resources to learn more.

The Association of Avian Veterinarians has some great resources for parrot owners you can find here. Depending on where you’re located, you may also be able to use their Find-A-Vet tool.

Wishing you luck with your grey. Would love to see some pictures as well!

 

[Shannan]

Oh my goodness. It is so good of you to rescue him from an obviously rough situation. there is a ton of information on here and we are here to help. I second getting him to a vet and getting him checked out. Next key is diet. What was he eating before and what are you currently feeding him. Grays tend to dislike any changes and changing his diet suddenly may not be the best option. Ultimately you would want to get him on a diet of pellets and fresh veggies with some fruit but it must be done slowly. I have a sweet spot for grays and wish you all the best. Patience will pay off in the long run. They also like to take in the world slowly and are generally suspicious. They also seem to understand a lot of what you say and like to know what's going to happen as you do things. So talk to them and tell them what you are doing and what you expect. Oh and by the way, they are famous for their bait and switch. They will lower their head like they want head skritches and then bite you.... Ask lots of questions, some pictures would be nice when you can and keep us posted. One more thing.... what is his cage situation? We can give you suggestions about that too. Does he have different size perches (not dowel rods), toys? etc. You mentioned some foot injuries so he may need an accommodated cage situation (and we can help with that too). Welcome aboard!!!!!

 

[Sparkles99]

 

[Coco's Dad]

These are the staples in my house, including fresh fruit and veggies. The dry food is self explanatory, the frozen he gets 1/4 cup heated for 75 seconds in the microwave. Nuts for snacks(and bribes). If your bird came from a bad situation, it probably ate bad too. And take him/her to a vet for a check-up for a baseline health check and revisit as needed.

 

[Tyrion]

and ... Living with a Grey is a very rewarding experience..I have had my guy Tyrion for about 12 yrs now and I love him so much he is a never ending jokester ... Feeding a good pellet and fruit and veggies will hopefully help regrow his feathers ..Lots of toys and a big cage will help as well ... Would love to see pics and know what type of cage he is in this would help us to help you ..also what are you feeding now can give us a lil knowledge on how to make his diet better ... Like everyone has said getting a vet exam with an avian specialist will help as well so you know where you stand with him ...Talking and singing with some whistling will keep him entertained .. Best of Luck

 

[Clueless]

Thanks for taking him in, feathered friends are awesome.

 

[Akcollins8]

I’m sure as time passes, you’ll both gain trust in and find comfort in each other.

I’m not sure about the dietary requirements of greys in particular, but in general most parrots do well on a diet consisting of a variety of vegetables, fruits, seeds, and pellets. However, many parrots may become extremely picky or stuck in their ways, making dietary changes difficult or even dangerous. Knowing what he currently eats can help someone guide you towards your next steps.

When it comes to bathing I’ve seen larger birds enjoy bathing in the sink, in the shower, in a dish/tray, or with a spray mist bottle. Plain water only, no soaps. Some birds will even bathe with their water dish, despite it being too small for them
It’s important to be slow when introducing baths so as to avoid scaring them away — don’t force it. Let him see the water and approach it himself when he’s ready. If he reacts positively or even starts engaging in bathing behavior (fluffing out his feathers, flapping his wings, shaking his head) make sure to give him a treat. Usually they’ll bathe for as long as they like, then move away from the water source when they’re done.

Feather plucking is a complicated issue. It is often caused by a combination of environmental and/or health factors. If at all possible, I would recommend taking him to an avian vet to have a general wellness exam. Many avian vets can also answer questions and give you resources to learn more.

The Association of Avian Veterinarians has some great resources for parrot owners you can find here. Depending on where you’re located, you may also be able to use their Find-A-Vet tool.

Wishing you luck with your grey. Would love to see some pictures as well!

Thank you so much for this, the past week has been a lot of trial and error and honestly have been enjoying my time with him!!?

 

[Akcollins8]

and ... Living with a Grey is a very rewarding experience..I have had my guy Tyrion for about 12 yrs now and I love him so much he is a never ending jokester ... Feeding a good pellet and fruit and veggies will hopefully help regrow his feathers ..Lots of toys and a big cage will help as well ... Would love to see pics and know what type of cage he is in this would help us to help you ..also what are you feeding now can give us a lil knowledge on how to make his diet better ... Like everyone has said getting a vet exam with an avian specialist will help as well so you know where you stand with him ...Talking and singing with some whistling will keep him entertained .. Best of Luck

I recently got him off of sunflower seeds (which his old owners only fed him) and he’s been eating zupreem and seeds only occasionally!!

 

[Akcollins8]

Oh my goodness. It is so good of you to rescue him from an obviously rough situation. there is a ton of information on here and we are here to help. I second getting him to a vet and getting him checked out. Next key is diet. What was he eating before and what are you currently feeding him. Grays tend to dislike any changes and changing his diet suddenly may not be the best option. Ultimately you would want to get him on a diet of pellets and fresh veggies with some fruit but it must be done slowly. I have a sweet spot for grays and wish you all the best. Patience will pay off in the long run. They also like to take in the world slowly and are generally suspicious. They also seem to understand a lot of what you say and like to know what's going to happen as you do things. So talk to them and tell them what you are doing and what you expect. Oh and by the way, they are famous for their bait and switch. They will lower their head like they want head skritches and then bite you.... Ask lots of questions, some pictures would be nice when you can and keep us posted. One more thing.... what is his cage situation? We can give you suggestions about that too. Does he have different size perches (not dowel rods), toys? etc. You mentioned some foot injuries so he may need an accommodated cage situation (and we can help with that too). Welcome aboard!!!!!

He only ate seeds and bird mix before I currently have him eating zupreem daily and seeds as a treat and my family eats a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables so gets those as snacks too!! He’s seems to like me I haven’t had him truly try to bite me yet only warns me when I’m over pushing which I respect! I’m worried of taking him to a vet since he was abused and wrapped in towels and he came to me locked in a small dog cage so I don’t want to stress him out anymore than he is !!

 

[Akcollins8]

His name is Charlie!! This week was the first week I cleaned his cage and let him bathe in the sink he was scared of the sink so let him perch on the shower rod while I cleaned his cage and he seemed to enjoy it!! He loves Latin music come to find out

 

[greys4u]

Thank you so much for saying yes and giving him a home

 

[Clueless]

Sounds like you're going to have a buddy!!

 

[Shannan]

Oh my goodness you two sound like a match made in heaven. They are so much fun!!!!! As far as the vet, let the vet know his background and they may. be able to handle him gently and perhaps just do minimal the first time. Also sometimes they will let you just stop by and visit for a few minutes so his first experience is a good one. I am so happy for both of you! We can't get enough pictures....

 

[conurehrdr]

I, too, am getting a new African Grey. Mine comes home in 2 weeks. He's 17 years old .

 

[Emma&pico]

So gorgeous

 

[BrianB]

I've met a lot of Greys named Charlie. They have all been quiet, dignified birds with a bit of a trickster personality that shows when you least expect it. He seems to be settling in well. That he sits on your shoulder and lets you scratch his head says a lot, and it sounds like you've made excellent progress with him so far. Greys can be amazing; when they love you, there is nothing like it. His plucking doesn't look that bad. I've seen Greys that were much worse. Hopefully, now that he feels safe, he will leave those feathers alone, and some may grow back. Keep us updated on his progress.

 

[TheBirds]

Oh I love all those natural perches you have in his cage. He's lucky to have landed with you, at last!