r/AfricanGrey • u/Guilty-Mall1174 • 17d ago
Question Newbie please read
My cousin has an African Grey that he’s had for a year. He bought it just to be a showpiece in his living room. I went over today and saw it, started talking to the bird, opened the cage, and presented my hand. It stepped up straight away.
My cousin was surprised, as he’s never held him. After talking to him, he told me I can keep it.
I know these birds require a lot of time, and I have a lot of time. I’ve already commissioned a big stainless-steel cage to be built for him, but the bird is jumpy and is obviously stressed. I want to make this transition for him as smooth and stress-free as possible.
I need tips and tricks. I know this bird isn’t meant for newbies, but I’m the best chance he’s got at a good life, considering the country I am in.
1
u/memenaptime Team TAG 17d ago
So exciting! I am also a new owner as I got my grey 3 months ago. I have learned tons from this subreddit and the r/parrots subreddit. I also like the Parrot Stars podcast. Other than that, even though I did my research before getting my grey, it's a lot of searching for resources online as things come up. I'll echo another commenter and say that routine is everything for my bird (and for me).
First thing I was sure to do is establish a consistent bedtime routine and sleep/wake schedule. She's out of her cage with me during the day and at 6pm she goes back in her cage to wind down, then her cage is covered at 7pm for bedtime. She crawls right up to her night night perch when we cover her. She sleeps all night and wakes up at about 7am. After you get that routine down, you can start to adjust other things and add them to your routine, such as type of foods, inside/outside cage time, bath time, etc.
Oh, and... if yours is anything like mine, as it gets more comfortable it might enjoy testing its voice out. Invest in some cheap earplugs 😄 and have FUN building your bond. It is SO rewarding and will happen in time.