Here are some useful tips on parrot behaviour which is not necessarily relevant to all parrots but can make you understand the parrot species all the more...
The Previously owned African Grey Parrot
An adoption or resale grey parrot can be quite common in Dubai due to the number of expatriates coming and going into the country, what with strict import regulations into most western countries this can cause a problem for parrot owners.
>WAYS TO HELP THE NEW BIRD ADJUST
Most grey parrots are cautious, and changing homes can be unsettling. Every effort should be made to help the bird feel safe. It's probably a good idea to leave a towel or blanket, being careful of strings that might trap little toenails, over at least half the cage for the first few days. Try setting the cage at chest level first, and if the bird seems nervous, try either raising or lowering the cage until the bird seems more at ease. If there are no other established birds in the living area, situate the new grey in the living area, but well out of traffic areas.
The changes when encountered when coming to a new home usually provide a temporary window of opportunity for reinforcing good behaviour. This is similar to the "honeymoon period" experienced by baby-hand-feds coming into the first home, but the window of good behaviour may be very brief. Work quickly and consistently to make the most of this fleeting opportunity.
Mischievous Greys!!
Interactions
Begin interactions with a wary bird by playing eye games and approaching with a nonthreatening posture. It is best to establish contact with the bird first with games involving no eye contact and progress to games involving limited eye contact.
If the bird can be handled and is not too frightened, hold it as much as possible during the first 48 hours in the new home. If it can be accomplished productively, work on step up patterning for as long as you and the bird seem to enjoy doing it. Try to be nurtruting, supportive, and consistent. Handle the bird less if it seems to tire easily, perhaps providing a little extra heat and sleep time for the first few days.
Even though the relocated bird should have strongly developed insticts to defend new territory, be sure to practice step-ups in a contained area outside the bird's new home territory. Be sure also to pattern the bird to step up onto a hand-held perch as well as onto hands. The bird may be reluctant to step up from the cage, so don't attempt step-ups from the cage unless the bird is first well patterened to step-ups in familiary territory.
STEP-UP PRACTICE This encourages trust, cooperation and respect you must get this right from word go!!)
A successful companion grey must learn both cooperation and independence. A hand-fed bird first learns cooperation by being fed by humans. The weaned juvenile should be able to expect that food and water will always be available. How, then, are cooperation skills generated and reinforced.
Unless a bird is cooperative enough and well patterened enough to step up from an unfamiliar perch in unfamiliar territory, it may refuse to step up from the cage or other famliar perch. Step-up practice may initially have to take place outside the bird's established territory. A hallway is good as the bird will probably never spend much time in this type of area, and should therefore not develop territorial behaviour there. Good behaviour strategies for the future include practice stepping up the bird:
1. From the hand to and from an unfamiliary perch. 2. From hand to hand 3. From a hand-held perch to and from an unfamilary perch 4.From a hand-held perch to hand held perch 5. From a familiar perch to and from both hands and to and from hand-held perches.
Be sure to offer affection and praise after each completed step-up. Always discontinue step-up practice only after a successful completion of the command. This is crucial to good patterning. If the command is not successful, technique, approach, or prompting mannerisms must be altered. Do not continue with unsuccessful methods. Be careful not to reinforce unsuccessful patterns.
There is no substitute for warm, genuine human enthusiasm as a reward for the bird's success in stepping up, be consistent and sensitive.
Only a happy, safe and secure parrot will want to talk to you, play with you and generally wish to be a part of your group/family. If you do not have the time or will to give a parrot your utmost attention then don't get a parrot!!!!
How to Introduce Step-Up Practices
Teach your bird to step up by saying "up" or "up up" and gently pushing your hand into his lower belly. If he doesn't step up onto your hand, you can either pick up the front two toes on either foot, support his weight with your hand and lift the bird slowly and gently straight up. Repeat and praise him when he raises his other foot onto your hand. Say "up up" cheerfully, not loudly or sternly. When he is returned to his cage/table top etc, say "down down" or "down". Place the birds tail behind the perch/table let go of the second foot until the first foot is securely on the perch. He will step off in a backward fashion and he depends on you to see that he is safely on the perch before you pull your hand away. You need persistency, consistency, loads of praise and it will work if he does already know this.
If you work all day, you will not be a good parrot owner, parrots love to be apart of a group and hate being left on their own, think carefully before buying a parrot, help support the World Parrot Trust's thinking in worldwide conservation of parrots, for every 5 African Greys caught, only 1 will survive......
