Well Tinker is home. (Sad update post #865)

[BertAllen]

He is 19 do I need to look out for hormone issues? He is my first male.

I have no idea as this is the first gray I have ever had. All I know is it is a challenge to deal with these guys.
PS
I have no idea the sex of Tinker as I have not had him/her DNA tested.

 

[BertAllen]

Today Tinker was full of energy and drove me nuts getting into everything he shouldn't have LOL
He didn't bite me so that's a plus.

 

[Snowghost]

oh I thought Tinker was a male. Oops. Paco's previous owner said he was sexed and had blood work done from first owner but she didn't have any paper work. So all I can do is assume she is right.

 

[BertAllen]

oh I thought Tinker was a male. Oops.

No oops needed, as we have always presumed he is a male until otherwise proven.

 

[Snowghost]

LOL I understand!

 

[Begone]

No oops needed, as we have always presumed he is a male until otherwise proven.

I'm not sure about greys, but wings down on a Pi means girl.
But I have always thought he was a male from your description.
Pi girls don't have that hormonal aggressive way that males have, but perhaps female greys have?

I know I read somewhere that you can separate sex with comparing tail feather and eyes. (And also head shape)

 

[BertAllen]

I know I read somewhere that you can separate sex with comparing tail feather and eyes. (And also head shape)

Back some posts ago I showed a picture of Tinkers new tail feathers with the silver edge on the tips plus his three shades of gray under his wings say female.
The breeder says male because he was last to hatch and first to wean. He has been breading CAGs for 40 years now. He was going to retire with Tinker being the last but his pair laid another three eggs so he let then hatch and care for them. He is done now.
My avian vet tells me that she has seen all this in males and the only way is a good DNA test for Grays as there is no reliable outward physical difference.

 

[Begone]

I just found a great video of greys breeding behavior.
Both lay down their wings, but mostly the male.

 

[BertAllen]

I just found a great video of greys breeding behavior.
Both lay down their wings, but mostly the male.

Now that is very interesting. Thank You Eloy for the video.

 

[Snowghost]

For some reason, vids won't play here on my laptop. I can few them on other sites? I'm not worried about the sex of Paco, just don't want to find an egg one day at the bottom of the cage. I understand, laying eggs can become an issue.

 

[BertAllen]

For some reason, vids won't play here on my laptop.

Right click on the video and a little box will show up.
Left click on copy video URL.
Now open a new tab in your browser and then right click in the address bar and paste it, then hit enter.

 

[Irenedee]

Hi, I Adopted a 45 year old African Grey a month ago and he seems to like my Husband and son in law. He‘s not very fund of me and bites me most of the time. I’m the one that feed him, give him his favorite treat (which he does take from my hand) clean his cage and take care of 100% of the time. How can I get him to like me and accept me?

 

[Sodapop&Co.]

Hi, I Adopted a 45 year old African Grey a month ago and he seems to like my Husband and son in law. He‘s not very fund of me and bites me most of the time. I’m the one that feed him, give him his favorite treat (which he does take from my hand) clean his cage and take care of 100% of the time. How can I get him to like me and accept me?

Keep doing what you're doing and make sure you're communicating with him and reading him right and he'll hopefully come to accept you. Birds do choose their favourite people so you might just need to live with not being The Chosen One. Also, it sounds like maybe he likes men over women - he's older so he might have had bad experiences in his past that make him feel that way. This might also make gaining his trust a longer process. You're still very early in the game though - all these things will switch around as he settles in within the next years so don't give up.
I'd recommend starting your own thread with this question - you will get more help that way. Welcome to the forum!

 

[Irenedee]

Keep doing what you're doing and make sure you're communicating with him and reading him right and he'll hopefully come to accept you. Birds do choose their favourite people so you might just need to live with not being The Chosen One. Also, it sounds like maybe he likes men over women - he's older so he might have had bad experiences in his past that make him feel that way. This might also make gaining his trust a longer process. You're still very early in the game though - all these things will switch around as he settles in within the next years so don't give up.
I'd recommend starting your own thread with this question - you will get more help that way. Welcome to the forum!

Thank you for your quick response. you are correct. He was previous abuse by his first owners (for what i was told). I understand they do choose a favorite person. But i’m just hoping that he Will eventually like me too. I taught him A trick and my fathers favorite whistle. He learned them both within a week. He is sharp.

 

[Sodapop&Co.]

Thank you for your quick response. you are correct. He was previous abuse by his first owners (for what i was told).

That's sad about his past. Glad he's safe with you guys now. <3

I understand they do choose a favorite person. But i’m just hoping that he Will eventually like me too. I taught him A trick and my fathers favorite whistle. He learned them both within a week. He is sharp.

That's great! For only being with you for one month that sounds pretty good. I bet your future with him is going to be bright

 

[Begone]

But i’m just hoping that he Will eventually like me too.

He will. Just give him a reason to do so.
Be kind, be funny but calm, give him treats, don't demand anything at all, don't punish him, don't be angry at him, give him time and respect his personal area.
Play with toys so he can see it, if he comes near offer him that toy, sing to him, talk to him in a happy but calm voice.
All this to become his friend.

Very important! Avoid all bites!
He bites for a reason, if he bites just avoid that situation and it's telling him that you listen. That is a good start.
Good luck!

 

[Irenedee]

That's sad about his past. Glad he's safe with you guys now. <3

That's great! For only being with you for one month that sounds pretty good. I bet your future with him is going to be bright

Thank you!

 

[Irenedee]

He will. Just give him a reason to do so.
Be kind, be funny but calm, give him treats, don't demand anything at all, don't punish him, don't be angry at him, give him time and respect his personal area.
Play with toys so he can see it, if he comes near offer him that toy, sing to him, talk to him in a happy but calm voice.
All this to become his friend.

Very important! Avoid all bites!
He bites for a reason, if he bites just avoid that situation and it's telling him that you listen. That is a good start.
Good luck!

Thank you for your advice!

 

[BertAllen]

OH my I'm going crazy. Tinker demontrated his new noise today.

Alarm1.mp3 by kwahmah_02

Freesound: collaborative database of creative-commons licensed sound for musicians and sound lovers. Have you freed your sound today?

freesound.org

He also started saying this less than an hour ago.

"It's bed time" He is saying "it's bed tim" and sounding like the timer alarm right after.

 

[Begone]

I'm so sorry, I really am. (Not! )

Their is always worse sounds, perhaps it's not that comforting at the moment but after listen to this perhaps it is?