Personality

[april s]

Hi. I'm sorry if this is too much in one post.

We just got Enoch 8 days ago. We got him from a chain pet store. We had visited him 3 times before we bought him and he really seemed to like us when he was in the store.

The first time we went, I was with my friend, who was buying a Grey that night. We spent time with both of them, and the one I ended up buying bit her pretty hard, but seemed to want me to hold him and talk to him...he even "flew" off of the stand to try to get to me. My friend chose the other bird that night because Enoch bit her. When my husband and I went back, Enoch was very friendly and was letting us pet him on the back and head, and again when we went back and took our children...he let all of us pet him.

When we got him home, I knew it would take time to adjust, and I know he's not finished adjusting yet. I just have some questions because he is SO very different from my friend's Grey, who lived with mine at the pet store for 7 or 8 months.

Enoch steps up fine, most of the time...if he's in his cage or on top of his cage or on a shoulder, he sometimes bites when we try to get him to step up, but not always. However, he doesn't really seek to be held or try to get to any of us. He doesn't play with any of his toys or vocalize or whistle at all, aside from a growling noise when we first pick him up (it seems friendly, not aggressive, if that's possible), and a little squeaking noise when he tries to fly and flutters to the floor.

My friend's Grey, Chip, was vocalizing and whistling from the start. He started following them around and talking to them, calling for them when they left the room after only 2 days. He says new things almost daily. He is 10 months old, while mine is 9 months old. He plays and climbs all around their house.

I know all Greys are different, but I am wondering about this absolute complete difference, like they are different species.

I have a theory. The lady at the pet store said Chip (my friend's bird) was her favorite. She said they both talk, but when we got there, only Chip was out of the cage, and Enoch was in the cage. I suspect that she spent more time holding and talking to Chip, and that Enoch basically got left in the cage. She gave my friend baby pictures of her bird, but when I bought mine, she showed no interest in him at all. I know it is natural for people and birds to bond differently, but I am wondering if the way she treated them differently shaped their personality or caused the differences.

So, any advice or knowledge would be appreciated. Do we just have a quiet, unfriendly bird? I know at 9 months, it's normal to not talk much if at all, but he doesn't whistle or vocalize or anything. My only reference point is my friend's bird, who as I said before, seeks interaction and vocalizes constantly.

Is there any way I can encourage our bird to open up? I'm a stay at home mom and he's always with me and he gets plenty of attention, he just doens't seem interested.

Thanks!

PS-also, is it normal for a CAG to have a lighter colored beak? Mine's beak looks like a bone color is showing through a thin layer of black for the most part. He is also very small compared to my friend's bird...like a different build altogether. We've wondered if he's maybe a hybrid, as the woman at the pet store said she had some hybrids "at one time"...but his DNA certificate just says "African Grey".

[stefan]

Hmmm? Where to begin?

Enoch is Enoch. But 8 days is only 8 days. Parrots and especially Grey's don't handle change very well. It is simply too early to tell. Your initial interaction with Enoch was very positive and I am a firm believer in parrots choosing their humans.

Give him some time. Talk with him often while he is in his cage or out. Make eye contact. This is very important with Greys. I think he will respond to your encouragement. All that said, not all Greys are big talkers and some don't talk at all.

Patience is often handsomely rewarded with parrots.

Good luck

[greycloud]

I agree, you have only had Enoch a very short time. It takes a long time for them to adjust. I'm wondering if you may have a Timneh grey. What color is his tail? Red or more maroon? Timnehs have a horn colored beak and maroon tail and are smaller the Congo greys.
Your bird could have been greatly affected by the lack of attention he was given at the store. If he was ignored or use to notgetting attention he may be more independant and like it that way. He also might feel secure being in his cage because that is what he is use to. Sometimes it takes along time for greys to play with toys. I would let him see you play with a toy and make noise with it. They learn by watching. My greys love foot toys and foraging toys with treats in them.
Greys usually start talking at about 10-11 months. Timnehs a little latter, and this is just in general. Start by saying one or two words and repeat it often. They usually pick up sound effects first. The beeping microwave, telephone, water dripping and such.
I don't knowif you paid the same for your bird as your friend, but Timnehs are generally less expensive then Congos. I would love to see a piture of him so I can tell what species he is.
Please be patient as he is still a young baby who didn't get the attention he needed. Never force him to do something he doesn't want to do. If he refuses to step up, that's ok. Leave him alone and go back later and try again. The most important thing with birds is building that trust between you. So take your time.

[Tobysmom]

when i first brought toby home as a weaned baby i had to sit next to his cage and talk to him i would even read him books and slowly give him treats it took time patience cause now he is my cuddle bug at 3 years old as for potter i got him at 4 years old and he will step up only when he wants to but we made strides doing the reading the book

[april s]

Thanks for the input. I do understand that he is young and that I haven't had him long. I just was confused by the change in demeanor and the vast differences between Enoch and Chip.

He was presented as a CAG. His tail is more red than maroon and his beak is like a mixture of black and bone color....like a think layer of black overlaid over bone. Chip's is pitch black.

My friend brought Chip and her kids over for a playdate yesterday. She and I were talking and she told me that when she went in to the pet store where we bought our birds, the lady who was in charge of the birds basically bragged that she forced my bird to wean before he was ready, even though he was younger than Chip, because Chip was ready to wean and she didn't want to make Chip feel left out by continuing to syringe-feed Enoch, even though Enoch still needed to be syringe-fed.

I moved his cage to the corner and re-arranged a few other things and he seemed happier last night.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

[kellyjack]

that is very sad, the poor bird its just good to hear he has a good home now
good luck with him

[Elle]

You know, I was talking about this on another forum. If it can help Enoch to bond and feel better, my Greys at the age of 21 and 11 still like to be hand fed baby formula. I give it to them occasionally (the poop is soooo messy after they had formula!) and they both seem to revert to babyhood. They compete for the serynge and they become very mild tempered .

I don't think it would hurt Enoch to give him baby formula once in a while. It might make him feel good and it might be a bonding experience for you and him .

[april s]

Thanks for the advice. I actually went out and bought the formula and syringe before I read the suggestion because I figured a little formula couldn't hurt him.

As soon as I approached him with the bowl and syringe he came towards me...he knew what it was!!

It was messy but his personality immediately transformed. All day today he's been a doll. He hasn't bitten or run when we go to get him and he's said "Hello" very gravelly, quietly, and indistinctly about 3 times (but, hey, he's trying). He also wolf-whistled very quietly.

Anyway, I think this was the answer. I'm not really feeding him formula as his main nutrition, but do you know how much he can eat at a time or for one day? I've heard they'll eat formula until they burst.

Thanks again.

[Elle]

When I give some formula to my boys, they let me know when they're done. Because he is grown and should be weaned, I think you will need to play it by ear. I would also find a time of day to do it with him, kind of a ritual. You can, at some point, substitute the formula for baby food such as the small jars of apples or sweet potatoes. The goal is to have bonding experience

I was so glad to read your post. It really made me smile that you found something that makes your little baby all warm and fuzzy

[april s]

Thanks, Elle. He has been letting me know when he's done. He doesn't really eat much of it; maybe 2 teaspoons if that. He is so cute when he's eating it and he even lets me wipe his beak for him with a towel (the way I used to have to wipe my babies' faces when they ate baby food at first). He gobbles it down, then walks down my arm away from the bowl to let me know he's done. It's the cutest thing.

He has also started to "scream" for attention if we leave him playing on his cage for a while. Last night we had company. Enoch had been fed formula earlier and he had pellets in his cage as always. He jumped from the cage to the air purifier, then to then he tried to jump to the couch arm but missed and fluttered to the floor. He fluffed his feathers then walked over to my foot, hopped up, then climbed up my leg into my lap and tried to eat off of my plate. Since we were eating KFC, I thought it wasn't a great idea to share so I mixed a little formula and he ate all of it. THEN I got to eat my food. But I don't want to discourage him from seeking us out. My husband said when we had gone to pick up the food he had walked across the couch and climbed into his lap begging for cookies.

Apparently the way to Enoch's heart is through his stomach!

Thanks again.