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Author Topic: Introducing Bella and myself  (Read 53 times)

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Bellas owner

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Introducing Bella and myself
« on: December 16, 2011, 07:32:19 PM »
Hi
My name is Craig and before picking Bella (female african grey) i did a few weeks of late night reading and spent hours on youtube learning about these birds. The biggest leson for me was when on tuesday, when i picked her up, relised how little i know! You only start learning when you are face to face with your grey!
She took two days to settle down in the cage and start eating again ... Which concerned me terribly! She now allows me to come a lot closer than she allowed two days ago, and each day seems closer to getting her on my hand. She gave my wife a serious little nip this morning, but no blood on the floor = 1 point human 0 point bird! ;-)
Bella is extremely active in the cage and either eats, sleeps or climbs like a chimpanzee! She is only 10 weeks old so she would be active i guess! CLUMSY! My word! She hasnt a clue how to direct he feet! ;-) but all to cute.

One question! At this age, what should i be doing with her? Just the usual getting to know her bit ... To early for any sort of training?

Enough waffling from me! Thanks guys!

lisarn3

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Re: Introducing Bella and myself
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2011, 12:43:46 AM »
Is she still receiving formula feeds from you?  10 weeks seems very young to be weaned.  I will let some of the folks more knowledgable with infant birds to pipe in
Welcome!
I have graduated from crazy cat lady to crazy bird lady.  Mommy to Cody (grey)  Sonny (citron) Cher(U2) Chicken (Ducorp) Sunny and Maggie (quakers)  4 kids, and an entire menagerie of other critters.

jules

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Re: Introducing Bella and myself
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2011, 10:07:36 PM »
hello craig and bella,welcome to you both  :)

i've no experience with very young birds,but i would think at this stage start by getting to know bella,to early for training imo. as she's learning to perch more and get her balance,i would keep her perches and food bowls low down in her cage for a good few weeks yet  :)

feika

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Re: Introducing Bella and myself
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2011, 07:07:18 AM »
Since she is over 14 weeks old, she will be testing her boundaries and set the pecking order. At this time you are needed to bond with her as her companions, training will follow and honestly speaking you'll find that you don't need to train her to do things. Try and build a relationship with her based on trust, both you and the bird should trust each other. You may watch the TV sitting beside her (ok about 1 or 2 feet away), or may read a book or just sit and relax, let her accustomed to you being close.

When she nips or bites you, she is actually trying to tell you that she's the boss and also she's trying to know how powerful she is (physically). If I were you, I wouldn't offer her my fingers to practice, but you have devised the right plan by offering her seeds. Occasionally try to touch her beak (upper mandible) gently and, when you're assured that she does't mind that, hold her beak with your fingers, and give it a gentle shake and let go in about a second or two, this will teach her that your fingers and hands are not for chewing.

Good Luck