African Greys Are NOT Cuddly Birds
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- Опубликовано: 9 авг 2014
- African Greys are often described as being independent birds. Some would go so far as saying that Greys do not enjoy being physically handled the way other large parrots do. But is this true? I'm here with Smokey to offer our take on this.
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"African Greys are not cuddly or affectionate birds" *shows the most cuddly and affectionate African Grey*
My African grey wasn't bought but instead found downstairs and since we live near a LOT of cats we decided to take it in, at first we thought it was wild because we found it downstairs but she had a metal bracelet on her, we never got to see what it says because she would bite us
@@georgesfridge Do you still have her?
@@ionut1455 yesh and she knows my name but sometimes calls us pangit Bobo which means ugly idiot
@@georgesfridge lmao
•Cherry Blossom• if the bracelet is orange it’s says it’s gender
My Grey is super cuddly and she has never bitten me. She's 17 years old. I'd say they're all individuals just like us, no need to label them as cuddly or non-cuddly.
How old do they get?
if judging by that larger birds can be 100 years, I'd think Greys can be too.
Raven Potato For some reason I highly doubt that...
Raven Potato I was right to doubt you. You were completely incorrect. African greys have a lifespan of 40-60 years and they're on the extreme side. No bird has 100 years.
your not far off the mark, they live to about 45 in the wild, the oldest recorded in captivity is 95. my grey will see me out just hope that one of my kids will take her on when i am gone!
I worked at a big box pet store for years. My grey was sold to a family and returned 3 days later because he bit their child. He was trying to kiss the bird. The store couldn't sell him again because he was "a known biter". So I bought him. I've had him for 22 years. He's an awesome bird and a great pet. He is the first bird I've ever owned and in perfect health. They are not hard to care for but do need lots of activity.
that just sounds like the family's fault for not teaching their kid
Money used to attack me for fun. He was an a hole 😂😂
Greys are a very moody species. It takes time for a handler to develop a feeling for understanding a bird's personality and moodiness. I find that if a Grey doesn't want to cuddle, it will not cuddle. Everything tends to be on their own terms.
They're also intelligent enough to know when you're trying to bribe or manipulate them. They're problem solving abilities are astounding. I put a dial-combination padlock near mine and rotated the dial back and forth to unlock it... While he isn't intelligent enough to know the combination, despite watching me enter it in front of him numerous times, he is intelligent enough to understand that you rotate the dial right, than left, than right again and try to pull the lock open.
They're fascinating creatures.
I was very surprised when one actually liked me. They can be pretty picky birds. If they trust you, then yeah they can be cuddely. Depends on the birds honestly.
I had a grey for some time as a kid that my parents bought named Barry.
I'm convinced that that parrot was definitely a thinking and reasoning creature; maybe not quite as quick a learner as I was, but he watched and learned and could put two and two together.
He knew sometimes when I was sad or happy I think, and one particular childhood memory had me coming home from a hard day at school crying and him walking up to my feet and telling me in my mother's voice "Don't cry baby", because he KNEW that's what my mother said when I was sad.
"Here [my birds name] have some tea"
I take it away from him
He never would of noticed that
So what about an African grey i can't keep away. Known this bird for a month, very few interactions aside from petting for some time whenever it bowed. Now it will give me kisses, rub along my fingers, run across the cage to perch on me. Seems like it's incredibly cool with males inly
Dominick Druet Some birds definitely prefer one sex or the other. Both my birds prefer females but for a while I had a bird that was bonded to me until I got a male roommate and then he started attacking me and bonded with my roommate, even though I'd had him for 7 years!! My roommate ended up adopting him from me and now I just have my other two that prefer females.
this was so awesome!!! my ex's family had a grey. I loved him. sadly, nobody took care of him or gave him attention so his behavior was aweful....until I moved in. It took months for him to trust me, but it was so worth it. everyday, hourly attention and talks. He became mine. only listened to me, played with me, talked to me. He was great. It was heartbreaking for me when me and my ex broke up and I left. He plucked all his feathers out and stopped eating. I asked for him but they wouldn't give him to me. This video is spot on with everything. It takes alot of time and patience. but it is great when they get close to you. keep up the great videos! two thumbs up!
Do you know what happend to the bird? :(
That’s heartbreaking :’
Did she ever change her mind after she saw that the bird was depressed???
Should have just killed them lol
So sad! That’s animal cruelty. Once an animal has found their human they are theirs forever. I would selflessly give up my pet if I thought they bonded with someone else and would be happier.
This guy is great with birds. We can see the result.
What?! That bird hates him!
Travis West why?
Travis West do you know what body language is in a bird he has trained her to know that he is friendly and does good things for her he researched about her and literally if he did anything she didn’t like he would stop immediately
Travis West no it doesn’t
Kyle Easton I mean I’m no expert but when I read his comment I immediately knew it was sarcasm so I dunno why you’re taking it so serious lol
One suggestion, some of the 'cuddling' you are doing with Smokey is not recommended for mature AG parrots (5+ years) as these can lead to sexual responses from the parrot. Avoid touching the back and under the wings; in the wild these are areas only accessed by mates, but scritching (allo-preening) the head and neck is done between any friendly non-mated flock-members.
She al ready made some food giving motions...but for the rest its a good healthy happy looking bird
Well then I must be my grey's frigging boyfriend! She does lay 1 to 2 clutches a year but her vet says as long as she is eating calcium rich foods she is fine. She is 18 years old and has been with me since she was 6 weeks old when I started handfeeding her. I don't touch under her wings but pet her back while holding her all the time.
charlottesmom
Different birds are different. Yours sounds like she's coping really well. With other birds it can lead to problem behaviours.
www.anafricangrey.ca
D. Hale, It can definitely cause problems with cockatoos.......we learned the hard way....
He might want to fcuk it. Leave him alone. 😂😂😂😘
your bird was reggurigating, i think he's feeling the "love" :P
My boyfriend's two greys love to cuddle with him. On the other hand, my two do not like to be held at all. They would rather sit on my knee and see what's going on. Pet them too much, and they will grab your finger and direct you away from them. Grey's are awesome, but if they are upset about anything - you better be prepared for a bite.
My fb friend has a grey that loves to cuddle with her, be in a blanket, etc.
It is rare for cuddling greys, if you have one - appreciate every moment of cuddle time.
deanna morris I absolutely do appreciate every second of it :)
My Congo enjoys to be held on his back without protest for a half hour at a time but I wouldn't call it cuddling that & he LOVES LOVES LOVES to bite me .
I've jerked so hard from his bites sometimes that he gets thrown 20 feet .
Gary Dorgan
his two greys get along great. no jealousy for dad's attention.
my two greys would fight over me. unfortunately one of my greys died Dec 2015 due to heart attack at vet's office. she was 28 years old. had her for 5 years. she was awesome. still miss her.
Asif Ifas
Greys are little brats but he is SO FULL of personallity that we might keep him .
I've not owned a bird; but I read a book about Parrots. I was shocked to discover that many bird owners do not know about blankets and birds. Parrots think that the blanket takes them back to some fundamental need to be cuddled under their mother's wing, or so the book said. I've watched videos where the birds knew about how to play with a blanket and how to 'play' peek-a-boo, but the owners did not. As the Author of this video states, do your research before buying a bird!
I love this video! Thank you so much for sharing. As an African grey owner, I also want to chime in and say that greys can be fantastic pets. But they are not innately cuddly. My grey likes to spend time together, stand on my shoulder, and sometimes get his head scratched. He also loves spending hours alone in the bathroom on the shower rod. My grey loves his personal space and is not very cuddly, but he is also much less clingy than a cockatoo. All and all I think it is a good balance for us!
I'm semi-cuddly! :) But only when I'm in the mood. It's important to read your bird's body language. If she's not in the mood, don't push it... or you may get bitten. That's just the way we communicate when you have failed to read the other signs I'm giving you.
I couldn't have said it better.
I've recently started to watch your videos and enjoy them so. I just lost today my first and only African Grey. Her name was Harley and she lived to be 14 years old. My sister was at my house when she heard Harley scream and fall to the bottom of her cage. She was still alive when she called me to come home and take her to Exotic Bird vet ASAP. At first we thought she lost her footing, fell and hurt herself. But unfortunately when we arrive to the Vet Doctor she passed away. She thinks she either got a heart attack or a virus that killed her. She showed no physical ailment. The vet doctor stated that it isn't uncommon for them to only live for 10 to 15 years or so in captivity. Either way, my whole family and I are morning the loss of my great little girl that I brought home as a baby. Please people enjoy, love and care for your birds while they're alive.
God Bless.
I have an african grey, and personally my african grey is very cuddly. These birds are humans there have different personalities likes and dislikes. But different types of species will act similar, this bird gets attached emotionally to only 1 member of the household, personally its my mother. The grey will show most affection and comfort with only 1 member of the family and when he/she has then theres no going back. I used to have another in the past but it ran away, and I spotted the differences between the two parrots. My first was very intelligent and could pick up words very quickly, but was over protective and and sometimes nibbly. But my second that i currently have is the most sweetest bird in the world, she is very silly and fun, she is completely harmless, but she picks up words very late, so there is differences between all parents, but if u treat it well and spend enough time it will become like your own child.
Your opinion about getting a Grey and your example of what's possible is awesome. It's the most intelligent over view I've seen to date. Thank you.
Smokey is such an amazing bird! The love and care that you put in really shows!
I'm so glad that I came across this video! I have wanted a bird all my life and have taken it a little more serious lately by deciding I will save and spend the next two years learning what I can about greys, they are a fascinating species and can not wait to have my own to nurture, care and give my time to! I have subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing the rest of your videos!
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you for these wonderful videos. My grey, Mani, passed away last month and it has been so hard for me, but watching these videos reminds me of all the great times we had. He was super affectionate like Smokey. He was smart too. I never had him sexed and always thought he was a girl. I have a BGM who is a boy and used to call them "Mani girl" and "Lucky boy". Somehow, Mani differentiated the words by himself and refused to say "Mani girl" he always said "Hello Mani Boy". Sharing this story reminds me of how superbly intelligent these birds are. Thank you for encouraging owners to continually stimulate their minds.
Ah, forgot to mention that after he passed away, the vets found out he was indeed a boy!
Jin Mani sounds like quite a character! Thanks for sharing :)
My Grey is like your also. Everything you say is absolutely true. Mine is always wanting to be on my shoulders, loves to be inside my jacket and crawls up on top of my shoulders inside my jacket when we are traveling in the car. Often growls if I open my jacket because he wants to be let alone. This is an awesome video from start to the end. Thumbs up.
What do you do when it needs to poop?
IGI yeah same question lol
Hahahhaha mine barks and growls i think its so funny
I am so excited! I am getting mine this Friday! She is 11 years old and the poor babies mom is very sick and old and unable to keep her. I feel so guilty because she’s going to be taken out of her norm, but I’m so excited to give her the best life possible! Your videos are so informative. Thank you!
I thank God that there's people like you to give others important information that will help others take care of there birds properly, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Mine is very cuddly, however I've had her for 26 years. If you grow some scruff they love to rub against it. I keep a small beard just for my birds haha.
OMG, if I tried to hold either of my greys upside down - I would be in the emergency room! Each grey has a different personality. I have been bitten hard by both of mine on different occasions.
Awesome birds, but not for the faint hearted. Btw - both of my greys were rehomed several times before coming home forever.
Even baby greys can have problems with attitudes.
If you can't provide them a permanent, loving forever home - don't get one!
You must get up every morning to make them FRESH VEGGIE AND FRUIT BOWLS and give them interactions.
Greys are not a hobby, they are a lifetime investment.
Oh, did I mention vet bills? Gracie has been ill and vet bills were over 1500 dollars.
I will always provide my various birds with the best care possible. Mind you, I have no car or mortgage payments. If you can't commit a lifetime and endless funds, please dont even think about getting a bird.
My parakeet got sick and vet bill was over 250.00. I paid it and am treating her. She has outlived the prognosis. Go Storm!
$25000? I am considering buying pet health care insurance.
That's awesome. Once I have good income and time I will have a bird too. Putting one in the cage and feeding it seeds is obivously just miserable for the bird
Misty has only drawn blood 1 time , She got scared and bit me . My bird use to love to flip over on her back in my lap or hands , she is not much of a flyer unless a sonic boom or explosion takes place . she climbs on everything in the house. never locked up open cage 24 - 7
deanna morris so condescending and delusional. It's your own fault that you adopted a problematic, traumatized bird who had been rehomed several times. That's not the norm.
Would never spend 250 on a 20 dollar bird
I like the way you support Smokey's head from beneath her chin to give deep scratches on top. My husband raised our Grey from a baby bird and she never liked me at all the first year. In fact, I received such a hard bite from her the first year that I became afraid of her. After a little while, I couldn't resist talking to her and giving her hands-off attention. After a little time, she and I bonded and became buddies. Now she's super cuddly with me and we really love each other. Slow and steady does it! Great video!!
Thank you for making this video!!Everyone who considers to buy a grey should watch it!! Your videos in general deserve way more views!
I have always wanted one of these birds; they are so gorgeous. But I completely agree with you. They take A LOT of time, patience, and research. Right now my job just doesn't call for bringing one of these wonderful birds into my life, so I have been waiting and doing a lot of reading on them in the mean time. Someday I hope to be blessed with their company.
+Connor Anderson Has nothing to do with how much my job pays, dumbass. Has to do with how much time I could spend with the bird. I live alone and these birds need constant companionship.
You aren't very bright, I can see that now. BECAUSE BEING THE ONLY WORKING PERSON IN THE HOUSE, I CAN JUST MAGICALLY GET ANOTHER JOB. c;= Go away now, thanks.
lmaoooo
TriptoAddict Awesome attitude ☺. Hope more people put as much thought about whether they can care for their pets as you do
LOL Connor Anderson you're a kid you don't even understand what getting a job actually is. Also, when your mom ain't paying for your food and roof, you gotta pay for those on your own and working 20 hours a week so you can take care of grey ain't gonna cut it.
I love grays, but I am an Amazon owner, same concepts for our birds,just harder bites and more stubbornness. These 2 birds are by FAR my favorite species :) Also, you remind me of my grandmother who loves cuddling with her grays, Ecclectus, and Amazons. Great video and your passion is awesome!
Thanks!
Amazons are harder to deal with so unpredictable i have one which is mild for behavior luckily. My severe macaw is the worst parrot in the house.
nat, I love my amazon! He's cute and playful and chill! He does have a very large homemade play stand that keeps him busy and stimulated. Plus he gets attention all day long as we are retired....
I love the last part you said about trust and not dominance. I couldn't agree more with you!
I love your videos. They have helped me with Riley. He’s very affectionate and bonded with me, other people, not so much. Using some of your teachings is helping me train him to be more accepting of other people
Also tey "Bird Tricks" she helps ALOT!
My Timneh is very cuddly, especially with children. He was extremely aggressive when I rescued him. He was my first bird ever, luckily I had lots of time to work with him. I took him to summer camps in the past, he even asked children if they wanna step up?😂 Sir Grey didn't care one bit what I had to say, he had one thing in his mind! Hanging out with the kids💕🐥💕
diane barker That's wonderful! You're very lucky because not many Greys are as fond of children. That's impressive, especially considering that the bird was a rescue :)
Oh, believe me! He was very aggressive when I first captured him. I worked with him quite a bit. I also have lots of nieces & nephews. He trusts children more than grownups actually😉 I've worked with quite a few aggressive birds in the past, helping them to feel comfortable & trusting is always the main goal, yet always treating them with respect, which is a very important.
This is so fascinating! I could read everyone's parrot stories all day. I like this in paticular,becacuse these 2 love kids, and I have not read that before. It really proves every bird is a different person.
My lovely little girl Lily is very affectionate. She is 1 year old and is disabled. We bonded together at the bird store when she was very young were they kept her in a cage by herself. I didn't purchase her for speech capabilities but rather to give her a home considering her future was going to be pretty lonely. Not too many people want to pay $$ for a disabled bird (just stubs for toes). I was very nervous about my inexperience with such an advanced bird but we are doing very well together. Thank goodness for the internet... learning on the run. Your videos are very helpful. Thanks!
jakibros This made my day! Thank you!! :)
Wow the way your able to cuddle and handle your grey like that is amazing to see! the sheer amount of time, love and effort you put into allowing your parrot to get that affectionate and cuddly with you is truly inspiring~
I hope I can get my new cockatiel this cuddly with me as they are apparently alot easier to tame and feel safe around their owner then greys. Here is hoping anyway, all I can do is be super patient and let him grow on me as I grow on him, i'm assuming that's the best way to do it.
I'm going to become a crazy bird lover at this rate if I do reach my taming goals lol.
I got my grey 3 weeks ago. He was 12 weeks old. I wasn't bothered if he spoke or not. Today he said his name and hello. Made my day. We all in family speak to him but me more so. He is very affectionate and loves his cuddles. As u said u need to spend time with them. If your not willing to do this then dnt get one. If we go out we leave the radio on for him. As soon as we get bac he is fussed and cage open straight away. He has loads of toys. Love him to bits.
The end of the video, it makes so clear that he knows how to handle this lovely fellows! Great video!
The fact that wild animals are affectionate and enjoy human interaction is a miracle plain and simple.
I got my first grey (rehomed) 3 months ago and he has made so much progress and he will let me cuddle him but nothing like your bird...it's nice to see what is possible, great video...that's for posting!
Thanks for the vid. I am considering getting a bird and as you suggested I am doing my research.It was very informative and helpful, thanks again.
I know this video is over a year old but I just came across this. I'm so glad you did this video. I always deter people from getting an African Grey or larger parrot If they cannot give them the attention that they need. I have an African Grey his name is Gavin he's 15 years old. I love him dearly me or my husband are home everyday, he is never put his cage unless we are not here or at night. he does different things with me then he does my husband. My husband seems to be his love and I seem to be the mom. my husband can pick him up and do more with him where is with me he likes to just lay back or sit on the bed and take a nap with me. it takes years for you to get a parrot especially an African Grey to do what you want them to do work be who they are. each one has their own personality. thing is African grays will bite if they're not in the mood. For instance we were going to take a nap yesterday and I started to play a little bit and I got nailed in the finger. I know he does this every now and then but if someone were to come over my house and want to pick him up and they bite that person could throw my bird so nobody else pics him up. if you have no patience you do not need an African Grey because your patience could gets in and you could hurt the bird. I've seen a few birds where they ended up getting left in the cage, that is so very cruel. so listen to this video and do your homework, African Greys are not for everybody. if you don't want a nice bite every now and then, get a smaller parrot like a ringneck, when they bite they just kind of pinch maybe draw a little bit of blood but it's not that big a deal. great job with this video
Everyone who enters my house is free to handle my greys, if they are willing and show it (parrots and humans alike) ;) They are smart: teaching not to bite (draw blood) is so easy... So sorry to hear you still get bit once in a while.
I'd have to disagree with that. My son's African grey loves to cuddle. Each bird has their own personality.
Excellent video! I have never owned an African Grey (nor any other large parrot, just budgies - and they have their needs as well), but I have done in-depth research online on the needs of large parrots and what properly caring for them would involve, and I agree with everything that you said.
It is a pleasure seeing the wonderful relationship you have with Smokey. She is one well looked after, not to mention happy, bird. Congratulations.
You offered a lot of great insight! I'm glad I found this :)
I love how the video is titled "greys are NOT cuddles birds" but you totally said that they were XP but I still liked this video
In general.
naturally they are not cuddly birds. He also said, that it takes a lot of effort to create a cuddly african grey.
Thanks so much for what you've said in this video. As someone who's lived with a Grey for 10 years, I can tell you it's true that they are not the bird for most people. And honestly, considering how many I've seen out there with behavior problems, it makes me pretty sad that there is even a market for them. That said, my Grey, whom I adopted, has become the sweetest thing and is cuddly in a similar way to yours. I can hold her like a baby and she even 'hugs' now. She loves messages and just being with me. But she's not cuddly in the way that my Nanday conure (who is her pal, surprisingly) is. One has to enter a relationship with a Grey as a lifetime commitment, with a huge amount of patience, tolerance, and understanding. Most importantly, and this is the thing I think many people don't understand about parrots, is that they need respect. Respect their intelligence, their need for 'a life' and their need to be included in your life--not just sitting as an object in a cage. Lastly, an interesting side note is that my Grey and my cat have a very loving relationship. It's subtle, yet clearly they like each other's company. Again, thanks for this video.
You are spot on here. They are mostly not meant for captivity, unless, you make the lifetime, full, commitment.
He's very knowledgeable, isn't he??. (The Owner).
I subscribe & look for your videos & others who have this positive reinforcement training. I admit u get frustrated because the process is slow, but I do see progress, & it is very rewarding! Thank you!
Oh thank you.
Beautiful memories: my grandfather had an African grey.Clever fellow, great vocabulary, his pièce de résistance: he could sing Que sera,sera in Doris Day's voice.
When my grandfather got old and ill (Parkinson's, depression, dementia...) Jaquot's language quickly deteriorated. He used to be able to say his address( long and complicated) in case he escaped: he still pronounced it well, but only the first vowels.
Months after my grandfather's death one could still hear his voice... but it was Jaquot. Moving.
As is your video. Thank you.
My Hewie is nothing like all the sweet, adorable African Greys on RUclips. He belches at people, tells them they smell, and he won't hesitate to steal food. Although he does have the cutest laugh and loves to give kisses! And he loves to whistle his messed up rendition of the Andy Griffith theme. :)
it took me a while to realise that he was speaking over the cuddling session hahaha XD i was so in to looking at the cuddling time :3
Thank you so much for taking your time to teach us about Greys, they truly
are amazing birds.
Just got an African grey. Come to us from a unhappy home. Never raised a bird before. But 3days in he out of his cage stepping up. Letting me tickle his head and calming down with biting. Before us he "never" came out of his cage. (when I met him on his small front door was open and he was in a corner behind all attention out of sight) his top is open all day side and front door also. And has his place at the side of our sofa so is always in view. He part of the family. He was biting and aggressive. We read him a book which he seems to love and in my opinion relaxed him for a head rub. (attention talking and love?)these videos have helped alot thank you. Now to deal with plucking which seems to have calmed down with a clean cage fresh water (warm sometimes) and a shower now he just preening but he still got a way to go. Any advice on next steps of training (I didn't get him to talk although im using the "rival" model technique he my buddy not a show toy) I dont want to push my little guy too much he been through a fire and a couple of owners that we know of before coming to us. So progressive training would be better (how to introduce new toys maybe) thank you again. You and Smokey been a big help in me getting to my little guy.
Awesome! Keep spreading the word. I love your take on how to treat parrots. The dog world has discovered the outdated dominance-based theories of training are incorrect and not how dogs actually operate, so it makes sense to me that birds aren't that way, either. It's sad how many birds are mistreated. I have had 4 budgies, which most people just consider beginner birds that sit in their cages or bite. All of mine have been affectionate, playful, and funny--plus 2 of them have talked. My current little guy is learning to play fetch and loves playing ball with me and giving kisses. He's about 2 and continues learning new words and phrases. I never force him to do things and just work on building trust and meeting his needs. :)
angel2000317 Thanks for sharing! I totally agree with you that budgies are so mistreated because they are so easily accessible (being a lot less expensive than any of the other parrots) and that leads people to think that they aren't as of value when they are just as capable as any of the large parrots and could probably out-talk most large parrots. Although the dominance theory as it relates to dogs has been proven to be invalid, I still don't feel it is catching on with many dog owners as it should and many are still very reluctant to accept it.
***** Like all bird owners, I love talking about my bird. :) Many of my coworkers are enthralled by the stories and videos I share. My budgie, Brizzie (nickname for Brisbane) makes me laugh every day and sometimes seems to know what's saying, like when he comes over to me and says, "Whatcha doin'?" or calls out, "Hey, cutie!" Lately he's taken to giving me kisses and saying "happy!" Hopefully the word gets out more about the value of budgies, the best care for all pet birds, and accurate canine behavioral science. You're doing your part to help, and I appreciate the work that you're doing with your channel.
My African Grey Wilson can be the most tempermental little beast or so sweet he brings tears to your eyes. The thing I love about him the most is he chooses who he trusts, he is one of the family. He has good days and bad! just like us ! I love the fact that he has a mind of his own. I try very hard not to be his person as I want the whole family to share him we all take turns feeding him and tidying his cage. He is more female orientated as he was hand reared by a woman but nearly a year old and he is developing a good relationship with my son and husband. He talks in my sons voice! He is the most complicated animal I have ever had but also the most compelling. He can be cuddly, loves a neck scratch and wiggles around on his back for me playing. He also likes his space and quiet time. You need to learn how to read African greys they tell you everything with their bodies respect them and they will learn to trust you. It is not a dominant relationship but an equal one built on trust.....With the occasional day off!
You are correct and I am glad you explained how much work it takes to develop affection and trust. You have spent hours with your bird and it shows. He is so loving and trusting. He has a very good life because you took the time to love him dearly. Congratulations my friend!
I really like the overall messages you are sharing. They are all so true even for a human adding a wee budgie like me into their lives. Research, Time, Patience, Trust-building, Commitment, Animal-welfare etc
At my dad's, we have 2 greys. One of them we had since he was a baby (Theo) and the other one we got 2 years ago (Coquette) because the owner passed away. Theo has been very aggressive and plucking since we got Coquette, probably out of jealousy and my Dad isnt really at home often which leaves Theo alone alot. I try to pet him in his cage, sometimes he lets me take him out of it but I can never seem to have a good interaction without him being scared and I don't know why. On the other hand, Coquette has "chosen" me as her person. She is realllllly attached to me and trusts me like my dad could never do with Theo. When I go away in the house, she flies to me, she lets me take her on her back like a baby and basically falls asleep in my hands.
It just makes me so sad that Theo is isolated. I really try hard and sometimes I feel desperate about it. Would you have any tricks to make my bitter Theo a bit more sweet? They're both 21 by the way.
Dominique Labelle St-Onge
Hi sorry this is very late but greys are monogamous in the wild, meaning they find one mate for life. From his perspective, the new bird has stolen all of the attention that he used to have for himself. Just be careful and supervise them when they are together because greys may kill other birds that take too much of their favorite human’s attention.
I have 2, one of mine is called Theo, they are totally different personalities , the one is totally passive all the time & I can do anything with him, Theo is very skittish most of the time except when it gets dark & he is tired, the night he will let me cuddle him upside down like a baby , he won’t do it during the day though
I have a CAG she is my best friend and I am the only one she will give a kiss to without bribery lol. She came from a Rescue.
I was working with her gaining her trust one day on her cage when i was working with her something startled her and she leaped backwards on to my bare hand lol I don't know who was more shocked and scared me or her lol. But every since that day she has always got on my hand and never once tried to bite me. I went to the UK to be with a now Ex GF for 6 months and she stayed with my mother. When I was coming home my mom was telling me don't be surprised if she wants nothing to do with you, i laughed said she will remember me. I walked in and opened the cage door and she couldn't get on my hand fast enough or give me a kiss fast enough.
She is a very Cuddly bird and loves to be held close and have her neck and head scratched and rubbed under her wings.
One thing she will raise a fuss about is bath time she screams like she is being killed but she gets out onto my hand and gives me kisses right away. The water is not hot or cold it is room temp like you would bath a baby in and it is never to deep. Even with a spray mist bottle she screams. I don't if she was punished with water in the past since she came from a rescue or what so I try not to bath her more then at the very most 1 time a week in the summer and she always gets a reward for it which she promptly tosses down out of anger but I always get the kisses when it is done lol .
Patriot Prepper @
OMG, what a beautiful bird! I currently have a Blue Indian Ring Neck and I totally ADORE her and she is just as cuddley as Oscar is! will be getting a Grey in a couple of month's as she/he is still being bottle fed! I love your video's keep them coming lol
Thank you for sharing this video.. I had a grey but unfortunately he had a brain tumor at the age of 5 yrs old and I had to put him down. Austin was like my son. He went everywhere I went including vacations. He was so sweet but as you explained in your video it was because I spend hrs and months to build this bond and trust with me.. I miss him dearly but opted not to purchase another because I feel that it's not fair that the bird would spend hrs alone while I'm at work.. I hope that people that choose one of the magnificent animals to be a part of their lives realize that they live for many,many yrs. They don't generally bond with the entire family and are likely to only bond with one person. They could possibly out live you so make plans for the rest of its life when your gone. Thank you again for sharing.
This guy is amazing!
That was adorable 🐦😍
Fallon Turnboo Thanks for the comment Fallon! :)
I am looking into get a parrot but I do not know which kind to start researching. Do you have any advice on which parrot are good for someone who enjoys being with their animals when they are home?
Great video! We adopted a 48 year old grey a couple of months ago, she is semi-sweet I would say, she has her fussy moments but calms down quickly usually. She especially bonded with my wife and loves for her to carry her around the house on her shoulder.
These birds are too smart to be tamed (smarter than any dog).
You are right about their intelligence, and it's that intelligence that makes them easily trained and tamed. At the same time, they are perceptive and sensitive about other people. Point is they are tame for those they bond with.
Hi, I wanted to ask you about your bird Smokey, I've been trying to track down an African Gray parrot my mother owned when I was small, she sold him when I was little, and I've been looking for him for a very long time, because he and I were very close and I was heartbroken when he was gone, since African grays have long lives I've been hoping to perhaps see him and have him in my life again if I can convince whoever has him now to part with him or at least have a chance to say goodbye. Smokey, my Smokey would be around 40 years old, he was captive bred in the U.S., in either West Virginia or Lexington Kentucky and he was DNA sexed as male and could whistle Dixie. He was also incredibly accurate at mimicking sounds. I know it's probably stupid to still be searching for him, but I loved him....my first word was his name and if you have any suggestions on how I might find out what happened to him, please let me know.
Zeynab Uthman Hate to brake it, but you have little chance. It's a big world for a small world. He could be shipped across the other side of the world for all we know. I'm sorry. My mom did that to my favoirte cat when I was a kid. That cat loved me to tears. Then, my mom traded him for a kitten. The kitten was a shit ass whole. He scratched and hissed and hated me. Everytime I think about it I tear up. I loved the cat so much. But, its called Life, we just got to deal with these things. Sorry for you loss
+Zeynab Uthman Get your next parrot. Forget about that parrot. Yesterday i went to a parrot shop and there was about 80 greys. I told the guy to put out about 6. There was only one who did not bite as much (he is 5 months old) and was used to hand. In one day he or she is comfortable with me. He/she was not taught how to step on hands, I taught him how to step on my hand and get off in matter of hours. Im amazed on how smart these birds are. Just get your next parrot. I had cokatiels when I was younger. My mom decided to let them fly away. There was one parrot i bonded alot with him, He actually was waiting on the road to be picked up, he never flew away. My mom ended up selling him because he would never want to fly away. As much it saddens me, I never was angry at mom or upset. I moved on to 8 years later with this parrot. I love him so far haha
+010zayed I've never heard of anything like a parrot shop.....I've never even heard of anybody, even a zoo or breeder keeping that many African grays. Ever. They take HUGE amounts of time to care for and caring for that many would be nearly impossible. I don't want a next parrot. I wanted my friend, who I loved. A parrot isn't a toy that you can just...replace, especially a gray. They're individuals with their own little personalities and quirks.
Zeynab Uthman Well, I don't have any reason to be lying. I saw it with my own eyes. I'm sure I was not dreaming because I bought a grey from the shop. Good luck searching. High chance you won't, your choice if you want to spend the time looking, when you don't find him/her, you wasted your life doing so. Again, your choice. Good luck.
+Zeynab Uthman Try asking the media in that area! And get the word out to any bird clubs there too.
Thank you for a very thoughtful video. You show a lot of understanding and respect for the intelligent parrot species.
hi, i have an african grey for few weeks now. i absolutely love your perch. would you share from where you got it?
Well my african grey is 2 years old now and i’ve had him since he was about two months old.
The way i raised the bird he was always on my lap wether i was feeding him or petting him, and right now i find the bird to be super cuddly and interactive with me exclusively lol
He doesn’t like strangers at all but he is quite happy and loving with me and my family members.
So i think that its the way the bird was raised that shapes its actions and behavior not the breed of the bird only.
oh my godddd that waa the most cutest thing EVERRR got my daily does of cute thanks smokey and human pet lol
Such a pleasure watching you interact with your bird!
Smokey reminds me on my own African Grey which passed away nearly one year ago. He was such a sweet, loving bird. I can't remember Jako bit me once. When he sat in his door of his cage and I gave him my hand, if he didn't like to come, I wouldn't force him, then he made a special noise to tell me he was grateful to be left on his own
I love what you are trying to say (the end of you video) and of course you and your bird are wonderfull to watch BUT you will get into trouble if you keep 'sexing up' your bird.
Maybe not you personally, but she will start te defend her 'mate' aka "biting/ attacking other people out of the blue".
Headscratches are wonderfull, paying attention is great - stroking the back (esp all the way to the tail) in combination with al the attention and scratches etc. is foreplay.
She is already showing signs of 'this is not just a friendly cuddle, it the leading up to something else kind of cudle'.
It is difficult but there is 'just touching' and there is "Touching" - so be carefull please.
muurrarium Do u have any studies or evidence that petting your bird in such a way leads to a sexually crazed animal? What are these "signs" u are seeing? I don't ask to be confrontational, but rather to learn, as I have NEVER heard of this before and it seems this would be pretty important information to have in bird care books somewhere.
Sorry- completely missed your request (I turned those beeps of) - there is at the moment a lot of information on the internet (not like when i met my first grey one almost 38 years ago) and now people are more interested in 'natural behaviour' versus "look how tame/ bonded this bird is to me"- and as a flockbird they will never go outside the social zones when interacting with not-their-partner (Its like handshakes and maybe hugs @ your friends for us humans, but never deeply frenchkissing them or touching their genitals). Maybe this idea will change again (we've been wrong about them many times in the past) but for now it's : don't touch anything a fellow parrot would not do (in a social setting / don't force you bird in a romantic one ;D ). Of course we will cross social accepted boundries- because of medical check-ups etc. but don't make it a daily 'thing' for your bird. We may act as parents (when the birds are young) and flockmates, but never their-love-interests if you want to avoid problems between your bird and other humans/ pets/ birds. It is very tempting to be "the one" (I *know*, everyone wants to be special) but it will get them into trouble sociably (and its cruel- I asume/hope all my birds will eventually outlive me, so it's not fair to them to make them soley dependent on me- they should have a HUGE flock of humans/ birds etc. as possible to be happy with).
If your bird starts wanting to regurgitate food for you of hangs it's wings and starts squatting and wimpering for you it's a signal that you should lay off with whatever you did to make it like that lol. You're triggering it's mating instincts. There's a lot of info on the subject. Every bird is different though.
I agree... any creature, human or animal... Does not respond to 'I am the boss'!
Wolves work like that. They have pack leaders, these leaders are the only ones allowed to breed within the pack and the rest of the pack takes care of the leader's babies. Also, a lot of humans respond to that, but that's a whole other subject lol.
The Burgungdy Network-So true. And sinse wolves work like that,dogs work like that,too. Its not like you have to be all mean about the process,to show them you are a pack leader,its just basically using calm assertive energy,to let them know you're the pack leader. If this is not established,then behavior problems will arise.
Thank you for this honest informative video. It had really helped me.
You're so lucky. What a beautiful friendship. Your hard work has paid off.
TigerRacing10 Thank you!
Excellent video and great advice.
We've had both a CAG (rescued from a very poor situation) that took 4 years to socialize enough for adoption by a loving family, and a TAG who is my (occasional) cuddle-buddy (when he feels like it) and permanent friend. forum.anafricangrey.ca
When I was a teen I had 'Petie', he was a Cockatiel. I sold him to a chef. I did love him, I'm guessing not enough, or I wouldn't have sold him. He made such a mess with his bird seeds, I know I became too lazy to clean. I know it's sad. I missed him too.
Thanks so much for sharing. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about African Greys, as I have a family friend who may be giving me her bird (She is in her 60s and her bird is only ~13 years old). I think this is another good point to bring up to potential owners of large parrots - many, like the greys, macaws, and cockatoos, tend to have lifespans as long as our own and unlike smaller birds, dogs, cats, etc, may be with us for the rest of our lives or beyond.
a very well made and informative video! thanks for teaching me about Greys.
Hi! I was just wondering how you compare greys with amazons. I have a lot of bird experience, and would like to get one of these, but am torn between the two.
Thanks!
is there any way to get in contact with you i have a few questions on my grey i know this video is old but you still upload on the channel
Hi, thank you so much for your video. I find it to be very helpful and I think you are absolutely right. Most parrots are very sensitive birds that need a lot of care and love, and if you cannot provide that you should not adopt one. What you put in is what you get back. I am currently orienting which parrot to adopt, but I really hope and believe that the bird will pick me in some way. Whatever kind, I will give it all it needs and I will be grateful to be in its presence.
IrieAllDay88 Thanks for the positive feedback :)
What a wonderfully informative and articulate video!
Awesome video. How long have you had smokey? How much time daily do you spend with smokey, and how long did it take to get to this point in the video? Beautiful bird, love your videos. I have had multiple parakeets over the years and love birds. A family member of mine recently got a grey, his name is Lenny, he is a good bird. She purchased her bird and it went thru a period of time where it stayed at the pet store and she would visit him everyday before she could bring it home.
my grey is now just over 3 months. I wonder should she be cuddly now or do you train that into them maybe?? she's not aggressive and doesn't bite. my gran hand raises them so I've visited almost everyday for 3 months. she's very excited and is not like "calm" if compared to say smokey, just curious to know how to notice bond build progress
Well explained, this will help many people understanding their grey better.
hey I have a really huge question that I need help on and the internet doesn't really seem to help. I have an amazon parrot who is 14. She loves cuddles and being petted but its hard to find a good time to pet her because whenever I do, it wants to mate. and she gets aggressive with others if I pay too much attention to it. I want it to get along with my parents who visit me and the bird often. how do I address this issue?
Hey i was thinking about getting an affrican grey but im not really sure if its a good choice and i would really like your input and if you respond to this ill let you know my situation and see what you think
Excellent videos! You do such a great job!
Great video thank you..we find our Grey is very loving and interacts with tenderness when we do..
This is an old post, but I have a question. Does your Grey get along or at least not mind smaller birds or tiels? I have 2 tiels
(They are my LIFE), both adopted a year a part from craigslist ads of people who didn't want them anymore.
I am a very strong believer in
ADOPT, DON'T SHOP❤
Anyways there is a 4 yr old male grey in need of a home & I would love to adopt him, but only if he gets along with my tiels enough that they can have their own space but all be out of the cage at the same time.
They are out free flying the house 12-14hrs a day & I want to keep it that way. They have an enormous cage & I built the a huge play gym out of bird safe branches & toys. It goes from the floor to the ceiling, about 45sq ft. I would provide the grey with a very large cage & build him is own play gym & perches away from the tiels, but I'd like them all to be out together at the same time.
Can this work?
Any advice greatly appreciated!
your bird is really sweet and it's clear you have a lot of wisdom to impart. Thank you for sharing this, I have decades of years with birds. I truly believe that Greys can be the biggest challenge but the rewards are huge.
Hi dude, great video ! You are the best with african gray, I would so like to reach the same result with mines ! Georgeous perch, where can you buy it please ?
Hey so I wanna get a grey just I look everywhere for them and don’t know where to get one from do you know any where it’s easier to get one from ?
This was a very informative video. I know people who own African Greys and have wondered about why, despite their great talking abilities, they don't enjoy being physically handled. Though I have a much smaller bird, my cockatiel Chipper, another bird species who also "doesn't like to be cuddled," as an expert put it--quite possibly because of his size and fragility--I too have had to take the time and take very small steps when it came to Chipper allowing me to handle him...he's going on thirteen years young, loves his "beaky kisses" and "head pets"--very high crest!--as well as preening his owner's hair and yes, does have a repertoire of whistles, sings and talks...most recently added "smiling for the camera" to his little bag of tricks! I think that because much focus is put on owning cats and dogs, parrots--of all sizes--have become underrated as pets.
I have a 4 month old queen of Bavaria... He is super active and crazy, but cuddly after playing for a while!.. I would like to start training him.. What is a good age to start? (I fee he doesn't listen or pay any attention right now)! Please help!
Just wondering what kind of bird should I get, an African grey or an orange winged Amazon
I just got my grey she’s 4. It’s exciting. Love your knowledge. Definitely a lot to learn and want to do this right. She will step up on males and females she was handled a lot. I am new to greys. I have a green cheek I work with daily and has come along way. Any advice on the grey first things I should do ? I have my grey on my shoulder a hr to two hrs a day and she sits on my leg on the couch I got bit trying to get her to step up and she maybe didn’t want to.
You are so right. Mine just turned a year old. It's taken all that time to get her to be loving. Everyone that visits says how docile she is.
You are so gentle and sweet with your bird! No wonder your bird is sweet and gentle herself :)
Hi, we have a Grey that we got from a friend when he was about 15. We have had him for about 4 years and can tell he loves us, but his foot is also hurt and he has a hard time trusting us. He prefers to stay on his cage. Do you have any advice for second owners of a bird?
Please give me a suggestion- I want to buy a bird which bird is best for me african grey, amazon, ecelectus, or cockatoo?
Where did you buy the mamzanita branch stand?
Hi,I'm getting a Grey soon and just wanted to kno something. With all different types of birds the males can be more friendly than females but can also be agressive,and with different types the females are agressive. I just wanted to know what gender of Grey is best to make a friendly buddy.or does it just depend on the individual bird itself? Thank you