African Grey - Friend Or Foe?

I have an African Grey which I bought about 9 years ago. I went to the pet shop for a tub of fish food for over the Christmas Period and saw the bird which was six years old at the time. I asked the shop keeper what was going to happen to the bird when the shop was shut over Christmas and he said that the bird will stay in the store on his own as someone would be in everyday to feed the fish in any event. I couldn't bear the thought of this this so I begged my dad to let me buy him and he finally relented.

He is a great talker and sends my four dogs up the wall calling them all by name and then telling them to lie down! They run to him every time. The only problem I have with him is that he hates me!!!! I have several scars off him with him literally diving for me if I get too close unless I am cleaning him out and then he loves me and will even let me climb in his cage to clean it. The moment I put him back where he goes he goes for me again.

On the other hand my dad can hold him by his feet and tickle his belly as well as feed him from his mouth and much more. I'm just the mug who rescued him from a lonely Christmas and came out £600.00 lighter.!!!!
I wouldn't be without him though - he is entertainment itself.

 

hehehe cool story. My daughter has one and they seem to attach themselves to one person. He LOVES her but the rest of us are just menial servants
Carol

 

HI Carol. I notice from your tank set up that you ave micky mouse platys. I have one of these and thought I'd just made the name up cause I bought it in a lot of mixed platys. Is it a natural marking on them or are they somehow bred that way. I haven't seen them again since I got her and would like to know more and maybe get another few.

Thanks.

Heather

 

I think the markings were natural and they were bred to enhance those markings. They are cute little devils.
Carol

 

Here's a pic of the little angel!!!!!!!!

 

Oh goodness .... what a beautiful parrot! I absolutely LOVE it LOL, it's funny how it will like only one person (your dad in this case)!

 

Beautiful bird!!!
Carol

 

It is a beautiful parrot.

 

Cute!!!!!! Is it a timneh or a congo?

 

He's a Congo - bred and reared in England from British bred parents

 

You know what??? you little friend could be female, could be the reason he/she loves your dad and not you, they tend to love people of the opposite sex! the parrot is beautiful! since the pet shop incident with my husband been bitten ive managed to get a breeding pair, female hates me loves gavin the male loves me hates gavin. the only true way to tell is to get them sexed, its risky though cos they have to anethitise your little one and its not good for such a tiny thing. good luck, maybe you should get your parrot a friend that loves you too... company for your parrot and you?

 

You know what??? you little friend could be female, could be the reason he/she loves your dad and not you, they tend to love people of the opposite sex! the parrot is beautiful! since the pet shop incident with my husband been bitten ive managed to get a breeding pair, female hates me loves gavin the male loves me hates gavin.  the only true way to tell is to get them sexed, its risky though cos they have to anethitise your little one and its not good for such a tiny thing.  good luck, maybe you should get your parrot a friend that loves you too... company for your parrot and you?

 

oops, howd that happen? posted twice, oh well.

 

you only have to get it anesthetized for surgical sexing, where they look inside the bird with an endoscope. There is also DNA sexing, where they either take a feather, or take a blood sample from his toenail, and I think now they can just take a cotton swab and use that. It is like 99.99% accurate and it's usually about $25 or so, depending where you get it done.

 

African Greys are usually but not always a one person bird, this can happen with any parrot but greys tend to flock to one person. Try setting up his/her breakfast and give him/her a favorite treat every day. You don't have to handle a bird to make special time with it, I have a female eclectus who can at times be hormanal and I just spend quality time with her by teaching her colors and shapes. Greys are super smart and require loads of input, so teaching him/her tricks and colors and shapes and even new words will keep your parrot a happy bird who will appreciate all your attention and "distant love".

Bronx Mom