| Experts on African Grays? - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| Michael M. Gindi |
Folks:
We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned that
it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.) Anyone
have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us? And is
it possible?
Thanks in advance
mmg
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| Steve |
"Michael M. Gindi" <mmgpsych@aol.compost> wrote in message
news:20040123204558.12748.00000693@mb-m29.aol.com...
> Folks:
>
> We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
that
> it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.)
Anyone
> have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us?
And is
> it possible?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> mmg
There are no experst here on african grays.
--
Steve
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| Michael M. Gindi |
>From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
>There are no experst here on african grays
Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
question, which is:
We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.)
Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us?
And is it possible?
Thanks in advance
mmg
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| Louis Boyd |
Michael M. Gindi wrote:
>>From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
>>There are no experst here on african grays
>
>
> Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
> question, which is:
>
> We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
> that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.)
> Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us?
> And is it possible?
>
> Thanks in advance
From my experience with one African Gray and several macaws and amazons
the African Gray is not more of a "one person" bird than other parrots.
They all have that tendency but how strong it is depends more on the
individual bird and how the humans around it behave than what kind it
is. If you want a bird to like both of you, you both have to treat it
like you are a member of it's flock, but not it's the bonded mate of
either of you. How else could it be? If you aren't a flock member you
are an enemy and potential predator or at best neutral. That's not a
pleasant relationship. If you bond closer than that the bird will
expect loyalty from it's mate and and will reject or even drive away any
interlopers in the relationship. That won't be a pleasant relationship
either. Don't try to make the bird be something which goes against
it's instincts. Two people cannot bond closly to one bird without
causing real problems. As with humans, "Three's a crowd".
The choices.
1. Don't get a bird and be content with being bonded with your spouse.
2. Be content with the bird bonding to one of you.
3. both of you work hard NOT to form a close bond with the bird but to
just be friendly. It's not an easy road to walk.
4. Get two birds (of different species but similar size and strength so
they're unlikly to injure each other). Each bird will bond to one of
you as they're unlikley to bond to each other.
--
Lou Boyd
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| jwallace |
We adopted a gray into our flock which include a macaw, conures and budgies.
It prefers females, but is slowly accepting me. As Lou said, paraphrasing
here, working with them makes all the difference.
Jim
"Louis Boyd" <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> wrote in message
news:401230FB.20808@apt0.sao.arizona.edu...
> Michael M. Gindi wrote:
> >>From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
> >>There are no experst here on african grays
> >
> >
> > Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
> > question, which is:
> >
> > We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
> > that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and
wife.)
> > Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both
of us?
> > And is it possible?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
>
> From my experience with one African Gray and several macaws and amazons
> the African Gray is not more of a "one person" bird than other parrots.
> They all have that tendency but how strong it is depends more on the
> individual bird and how the humans around it behave than what kind it
> is. If you want a bird to like both of you, you both have to treat it
> like you are a member of it's flock, but not it's the bonded mate of
> either of you. How else could it be? If you aren't a flock member you
> are an enemy and potential predator or at best neutral. That's not a
> pleasant relationship. If you bond closer than that the bird will
> expect loyalty from it's mate and and will reject or even drive away any
> interlopers in the relationship. That won't be a pleasant relationship
> either. Don't try to make the bird be something which goes against
> it's instincts. Two people cannot bond closly to one bird without
> causing real problems. As with humans, "Three's a crowd".
>
> The choices.
> 1. Don't get a bird and be content with being bonded with your spouse.
> 2. Be content with the bird bonding to one of you.
> 3. both of you work hard NOT to form a close bond with the bird but to
> just be friendly. It's not an easy road to walk.
> 4. Get two birds (of different species but similar size and strength so
> they're unlikly to injure each other). Each bird will bond to one of
> you as they're unlikley to bond to each other.
> --
> Lou Boyd
>
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| Vox |
On 24-Jan-2004, mmgpsych@aol.compost (Michael M. Gindi) wrote:
> From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
> >There are no experst here on african grays
>
> Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
> question, which is:
>
> We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
> that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and
> wife.)
> Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both
> of us?
> And is it possible?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> mmg
You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
All parrots with the exception of Vasas are monogamous and form
a lifelong bond with their chosen mate.
You want to know how to condition something which is monogamous
by instinct, to prefer the group thing?
Get real, it isn't possible. The bird will always prefer one party over
the other, but will tolerate the other party to a greater or lesser degree
depending on how it is handled by that party.
Understand now why you got no answers??
V.
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| Starlight |
On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 18:03:58 GMT, "Vox" <vox@dontryafrica.com> wrote:
>You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
>All parrots with the exception of Vasas are monogamous and form
>a lifelong bond with their chosen mate.
>You want to know how to condition something which is monogamous
>by instinct, to prefer the group thing?
>Get real, it isn't possible. The bird will always prefer one party over
>the other, but will tolerate the other party to a greater or lesser degree
>depending on how it is handled by that party.
>Understand now why you got no answers??
>V.
My gosh, you are an ornery ol' biddy.
His question wasn't dumb if he didn't know the answer. Why the
sarcasm and snooty tone?
His OP was sincere. You could have shared your vast knowledge
without putting him down.
Becky
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| Michael M. Gindi |
>From: "Vox" vox@dontryafrica.com
>You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
>Understand now why you got no answers??
But we *did* get more than one very good and very helpful answers. Regarding
yours, however, may I suggest you enroll in an intesive course in Hatha Yoga so
you may quickly become limber enough to screw yourself on a daily basis.
But do please have a very nice day :-)
mmg
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| Michael M. Gindi |
>From: Starlight homehealth_rnDELETE@yahoo.com
>His question wasn't dumb if he didn't know the answer. Why the
>sarcasm and snooty tone?
Thank you, Becky. I agree. It was an honest question and I did receive a
helpful answer. However, as you may have already read my response, I don't
suffer that sort of belligerent snot lightly no matter how knowledgable the
nose from which it came. :-).
Thanks again
mmg
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| oldmolly |
Michael M. Gindi wrote:
> Folks:
>
> We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned that
> it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.) Anyone
> have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us? And is
> it possible?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> mmg
There are no guarantees. You cannot dictate to which, if not both of
you your bird will form the greatest bond with. It is usual that the
bird will be closer to one tha the other but the bird should tolerate
the other parter to some extent.
Perhaps an african grey is not the bird for you?
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| oldmolly |
Starlight wrote:
> On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 18:03:58 GMT, "Vox" <vox@dontryafrica.com> wrote:
>
>
> >You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
> >All parrots with the exception of Vasas are monogamous and form
> >a lifelong bond with their chosen mate.
> >You want to know how to condition something which is monogamous
> >by instinct, to prefer the group thing?
> >Get real, it isn't possible. The bird will always prefer one party over
> >the other, but will tolerate the other party to a greater or lesser degree
> >depending on how it is handled by that party.
> >Understand now why you got no answers??
> >V.
>
>
> My gosh, you are an ornery ol' biddy.
I don't think vox is a biddy. I think he is a 'blokie'.
> His question wasn't dumb if he didn't know the answer. Why the
> sarcasm and snooty tone?
> His OP was sincere. You could have shared your vast knowledge
> without putting him down.
This is usenet Becky. You should be used to it by now.
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| oldmolly |
jwallace wrote:
> We adopted a gray into our flock which include a macaw, conures and budgies.
> It prefers females, but is slowly accepting me. As Lou said, paraphrasing
> here, working with them makes all the difference.
> Jim
I'm sorry but you are not allowed to mention macaws here. Nobody is
allowed to mention that they have a macaw until I have my long awaited
greenwing, then I will be able to boast about it and you can all post
about yours again. Until then, macaws are OT ;0)
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| Marco |
"oldmolly" <oldmolly@members.v21.co.uk> wrote in message
news:40131d68@news.greennet.net...
> jwallace wrote:
>
> > We adopted a gray into our flock which include a macaw, conures and
budgies.
> > It prefers females, but is slowly accepting me. As Lou said,
paraphrasing
> > here, working with them makes all the difference.
> > Jim
>
>
> I'm sorry but you are not allowed to mention macaws here. Nobody is
> allowed to mention that they have a macaw until I have my long awaited
> greenwing, then I will be able to boast about it and you can all post
> about yours again. Until then, macaws are OT ;0)
LOL.... still "hankering" for the gw, aren't you...
Ok... I'll be nice and will not mention the cute, LOUD but great looking
"bird" that I saw at a local aviary the other day ... not sure what kind it
was.. it was dark red, with green on the wings... big honker of a beak, "sad
puppy" eyes, long tail.... do you know what kind of bird this could be Pam?
:)
--
~Marco~
"Shoot'er Wardell, Shoot'er in the head!"
-Brother Boy
----------------------
chuck-underscore-marco-at-bellsouth-dot-net
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| Dawn |
Michael M. Gindi wrote:
> Folks:
> We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned that
> it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and wife.) Anyone
> have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both of us? And
is
> it possible?
As previously said, the bird will bond with one of you, but can "tolerate" the
other.
We have 2 African Grays. They're two years apart ( 8 & 6 yrs old), and we got
them at 5 wks old. My husband and I both handfed them, and socialized a great
deal with them. But who did they bond with??, my 2 sons.
They "tolerate" me, (cause they know better, VGB), but when they see my sons,
the wings drop, their eyes get all dreamy looking, and they make the cutest
little "eh-eh" sounds.
When my son comes home, my oldest African Gray, Izzy, would actually climb down
his cage, waddle down the hall to my sons room, and scratch at his door!
But yet I'm the one that feeds them, cleans their cages, gives them portions
of MY dinner, and lets them out of their cages to "play".
Go figure.
""Birds are like potato chips, betcha can't have just one!""
Dawn, Baby, Izzy, Gabby, Rio, & ~Pierre~
Human- MSC2- CAG- CAG- B&G- & ~MOL~
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| Vox |
On 25-Jan-2004, mmgpsych@aol.compost (Michael M. Gindi) wrote:
> may I suggest you enroll in an intesive course in Hatha Yoga so
> you may quickly become limber enough to screw yourself on a daily basis.
You suggesting this after personal experience????
V.
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| Michael M. Gindi |
>From: "Vox" vox@dontryafrica.com
>You suggesting this after personal experience????
>
Well, no. I'm suggesting it as an entirely appropriate and helpful suggestion
to a gratuitously nasty ****** who'd likely find no other way to have sex save
with a blow-up doll who'd probably suicide from shame the day after.
Then again, on second thought, telling you to go screw yourself is patently
redundant since you obviously already have.
But do have a nice day, smegma-breath.
Over and out
mmg
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| Michael M. Gindi |
>From: dawn212@aol.com (Dawn)
> As previously said, the bird will bond with one of you, but can "tolerate"
>the
>other.
Thanks Dawn. That's useful. But your sig line even more so.
> ""Birds are like potato chips, betcha can't have just one!""
We just might do 'his and hers'!
be well
mmg
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| Vox |
On 25-Jan-2004, mmgpsych@aol.compost (Michael M. Gindi) wrote:
> >You suggesting this after personal experience????
> >
>
> Well, no. I'm suggesting it as an entirely appropriate and helpful
> suggestion
> to a gratuitously nasty ****** who'd likely find no other way to have sex
> save
> with a blow-up doll who'd probably suicide from shame the day after.
>
> Then again, on second thought, telling you to go screw yourself is
> patently
> redundant since you obviously already have.
>
> But do have a nice day, smegma-breath.
>
> Over and out
>
> mmg
Jeezus !!!! You obviously have a serious psychological problem with
regard to sex.
If you progress to thinking up this conglomeration of sick filth simply
because someone pointed out to you that you were dumb, perhaps
dumb was the wrong assessment.
You are mentally ill. Were you sexually abused as a child, or is
your problem genetic? It does happen sometimes as a result of
first-cousin marriages.
Get ye to a shrink soon.
V.
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| jwallace |
Sorry oldmolly, but Minty (our B&G) has been with us ten years now. She's
just part of the family and speaking of her is just normal and routine.
Besides I've got a macaw and you don't. phfffffffffffff
"oldmolly" <oldmolly@members.v21.co.uk> wrote in message
news:40131d68@news.greennet.net...
> jwallace wrote:
>
> > We adopted a gray into our flock which include a macaw, conures and
budgies.
> > It prefers females, but is slowly accepting me. As Lou said,
paraphrasing
> > here, working with them makes all the difference.
> > Jim
>
>
> I'm sorry but you are not allowed to mention macaws here. Nobody is
> allowed to mention that they have a macaw until I have my long awaited
> greenwing, then I will be able to boast about it and you can all post
> about yours again. Until then, macaws are OT ;0)
>
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| oldmolly |
jwallace wrote:
> Sorry oldmolly, but Minty (our B&G) has been with us ten years now. She's
> just part of the family and speaking of her is just normal and routine.
>
> Besides I've got a macaw and you don't. phfffffffffffff
>
(sticks fingers in ears) lalalallalalalalaalala a lalala I can't *hear*
you. :0)
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| Louis Boyd |
Vox wrote:
> On 24-Jan-2004, mmgpsych@aol.compost (Michael M. Gindi) wrote:
>
>
>>From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
>>
>>>There are no experst here on african grays
>>
>>Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
>>question, which is:
>>
>>We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
>>that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and
>>wife.)
>>Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both
>>of us?
>>And is it possible?
>>
>>Thanks in advance
>>
>>mmg
>
>
> You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
> All parrots with the exception of Vasas are monogamous and form
> a lifelong bond with their chosen mate.
> You want to know how to condition something which is monogamous
> by instinct, to prefer the group thing?
> Get real, it isn't possible. The bird will always prefer one party over
> the other, but will tolerate the other party to a greater or lesser degree
> depending on how it is handled by that party.
> Understand now why you got no answers??
> V.
It's not that cut and dried. As with humans not all birds want to form
monogamous bonds. My houshold has a CAG (named Goose) who is now about
10 years old. She gets along well with both me and my wife. She's been
introduced to two different male CAGS and rejected both of them. She
seems to be a confirmed spinster. She does spend more time with me than
my wife, but she shows no signs of jealousy. She's just content to be a
member of our "flock"
From my experience there is more variation in the individual
personalites of birds (and people) than the differences in the
sterotypes that are attributed to various "types". No, I'm not an
expert on Grays or any other kind of bird. I'd be skeptical of anyone
who says the are, at least in there abilty to predict what a particular
bird you happen to end up with will be like.
--
Lou Boyd
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| Louis |
Louis Boyd <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> writes:
> As with humans not all birds want to form monogamous bonds. My
> houshold has a CAG (named Goose) who is now about 10 years old. She
> gets along well with both me and my wife. She's been introduced to
> two different male CAGS and rejected both of them.
I'm trying to pair up a couple of birds, but I don't want them to
damage each other so I'm wondering what you mean by the female
rejecting one of the males.
What do you mean by 'rejecting' both male greys? Does this mean you
cant have them together in one cage, does it mean she wont let them
get close, or does it mean she fights / attacks them when they're
near?
Thanks, Louis.
--
Linux pmud.com 2.6.1-rc1 #1 Fri Jan 9 01:37:51 UTC 2004 i686 Pentium
III (Coppermine) GenuineIntel GNU/Linux
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| Prater |
"Louis Boyd" <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> wrote in message
news:bv7jt3$3fa$1@oasis.ccit.arizona.edu...
> Vox wrote:
> > On 24-Jan-2004, mmgpsych@aol.compost (Michael M. Gindi) wrote:
> >
> >
> >>From: "Steve" mstrjnx@htmail.complusvowe
> >>
> >>>There are no experst here on african grays
> >>
> >>Okay then. How about...er..uh.. anyone with a *clue* how to answer the
> >>question, which is:
> >>
> >>We're thinking about getting an African Gray but are a little concerned
> >>that it's a one-person bird. (There are two of us, as in husband and
> >>wife.)
> >>Anyone have experience to share about how to help the bird bond to both
> >>of us?
> >>And is it possible?
> >>
> >>Thanks in advance
> >>
> >>mmg
I am by no means an "expert" on anything concerning birds, but my answer is
YES. It can be done. My daughter has Glacie, the year and a half old
Cockatoo. She loves us all. She interacts with all of us differently,
though. With me, she's a cuddlebug. With my husband, she's a flirt. And
with my daughter, she's a clown. There's no doubt she loves our daughter
more, since she hand fed her from a baby, but she has bonded with all of us
in her certain way.
> >
> > You are unlikely to get any intelligent answers to a ' dumb' question.
> > All parrots with the exception of Vasas are monogamous and form
> > a lifelong bond with their chosen mate.
> > You want to know how to condition something which is monogamous
> > by instinct, to prefer the group thing?
> > Get real, it isn't possible. The bird will always prefer one party over
> > the other, but will tolerate the other party to a greater or lesser
degree
> > depending on how it is handled by that party.
> > Understand now why you got no answers??
> > V.
> It's not that cut and dried. As with humans not all birds want to form
> monogamous bonds. My houshold has a CAG (named Goose) who is now about
> 10 years old. She gets along well with both me and my wife. She's been
> introduced to two different male CAGS and rejected both of them. She
> seems to be a confirmed spinster. She does spend more time with me than
> my wife, but she shows no signs of jealousy. She's just content to be a
> member of our "flock"
>
> From my experience there is more variation in the individual
> personalites of birds (and people) than the differences in the
> sterotypes that are attributed to various "types". No, I'm not an
> expert on Grays or any other kind of bird. I'd be skeptical of anyone
> who says the are, at least in there abilty to predict what a particular
> bird you happen to end up with will be like.
> --
> Lou Boyd
Great answer, Lou.
Toni
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| Louis Boyd |
Louis wrote:
> Louis Boyd <boyd@apt0.sao.arizona.edu> writes:
>
>
>>As with humans not all birds want to form monogamous bonds. My
>>houshold has a CAG (named Goose) who is now about 10 years old. She
>>gets along well with both me and my wife. She's been introduced to
>>two different male CAGS and rejected both of them.
>
>
> I'm trying to pair up a couple of birds, but I don't want them to
> damage each other so I'm wondering what you mean by the female
> rejecting one of the males.
>
> What do you mean by 'rejecting' both male greys? Does this mean you
> cant have them together in one cage, does it mean she wont let them
> get close, or does it mean she fights / attacks them when they're
> near?
>
The male would try to make typical advances and she would simply peck at
them (not violently) to keep them away. While that might seem like the
normal start of a relationship she would persist in keeping them away.
In both cases the male was paired with other females and and raised
families. No damage was done. No bonding either.
--
Lou Boyd
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