Adopted TAG scared in his new home

[leelee]

Just got my 6 yo TAG this past weekend. He is beautiful!! In his previous owner's presence he did step up for me and said a few words. Now that he is in his new home he will not step up - instead he BITES and LUNGES!!! We open his cage door and he comes out and sits on top of cage. He will take food from us. I know he needs time to learn about us and trust us. I talk to him constantly and his cage is in our kitchen/dining room where we sit at the table and eat, do homework, work on the computer, etc so we are near him and he can look at us. He has not spoken or made any sound since we have had him at home. How do I know when he trusts me enough to step up? Do I try each day to get him to step up? I just want to show him love and attention without causing him too much stress!! I'm afraid if I keep attempting to step up that I will frighten him more.

[Tom L.]

I took in a six year old Amazon about six weeks or so. It took awhile for her to trust me and stepping up was hit or miss. In my case I couldn't not make her because it was at the time when it was time for her to go to bed at night. Luckily she isn't a biter although she did come close a few times letting me know she was very unhappy. It didn't last long though. Maybe just a couple of days to a week after it began. The thing is, they will challenge you to see what they can get away with but, like you, I would be unsure how to proceed knowing he is new and adjusting to major upheaval in his life. My advice isn't that qualified but what I would do is back off when you see he is really upset and then return. Possibly start giving him a food reward for stepping up and doing what you want. It's better to work with positive reinforcement with African Greys than negative.

Hopefully LisaB will be on soon and can help you. She really knows her stuff and I am sure will give you some better support than me. Mine is more like moral support because it will get better and easier. Annie, the Amazon, is still feeling me out but I have noticed if she is scared or nervous she wants me so I see the beginnings of trust and bonding. You will too. He was good at his former house so you know you got a good guy. It's just a matter of him adjusting, relaxing, and realizing he can trust you.

[parrotforlife]

could be testing you finding his boundry. You asked him to step up, he lunges and bites and you back off result in bird mind hey i bite lunge he goes away. if u continue to back off may not be good.
you do have to eaaarn his trust but he has to learn his boundry. when you ask him to step up and he tries to lunge you going to have to tolerate his bite and say no bite. dont force him but dont back away either
remmber in bird eyes: He offers hand i lunge/bite,he does not back off end result to bird is hey he does not go away
offer treats through bars of cage if u have to and start him on clicker training

[parrotforlife]

let me tell you a story that true. My friend/breeder and i went to look at this gray. The owners were afraid of this gray. said she bites. they never tought her biting not okay. acted friendly towards my frien and I
my friend brought her home
this bird not only bite me but took a chunk out of my hand. this bird was unhandlable.
That did not go over for my friend. My friend refused to allow it and preseded to teach the bird biting was not accessable.
thhis parrot soon learned that biting brought bad things like bad birdy room, being put onto the flooor(gently) and other methods
today this gray does not bite and is a friendly loving parrot

[vee]

I took in Habib and he was exactly the same. Lunging, biting and hissing at me. There were times when I was ready to just give up, but thanks to this bird forum, Lisa B and Tom L, I persisted. It took approx. 3 months for him to trust me enough to sit on a chair behind me and another 5 months to allow me to touch him. So don't worry too much, it takes time, patience and love. Once you have his trust everything changes. I can't wait to get up in the mornings to begin my day with Habib. Hang in there!