Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,
This is my first message here

On Saturday I adopted a 10 yr old Male African Grey called Jake. His last owner was an old lady who died (he does a good imitation of her cough which is very disturbing).

He is very friendly although he prefers my boyfriend to me. He will sit on our knees and watch television, and sat on my shoulder while I cooked dinner last night. He did refuse to go back into his cage last night, but i think he had too much excitement so was playing up a bit. We tepted him back with a peice of pepper in the end.

Anyway, he has settled in really well I think, but both of us are neww to parrot keeping. We have enough info about his diet, and his poo looks healthy, but i think he has had his wings clipped, and we would like him to be able to fly.

Can anyone tell me how long flight feathers take to grow back and if there is any other reason he may not be flying? his wings look a bit short and the feathers look a bit gappy when he flaps his wings.

Could this be because of his diet? he doesnt seem to be plucking them. is there anything else that could cause feather loss on his wings? All the rest of his feathers look fine, its just his wings....

also, does he need a cutlefish? i think he has predominantly been fed on seed mix and monkey nuts by his previous owner.

Any advice would be appreciated!!

Thanks
Blancs!

It is not from his diet,he has been clipped.All of my guys now are getting new flight feathers in and they molt and grow new ones about 3-4 times a year.It won't take long for them to grow back in.
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DEANA & FLOCK

yey! so it shouldnt take too long before he is flapping and actually getting somewhere!!

Its a shame the old ower died otherwise i could get more info about what he has been eating, but he doesnt seem picky anyway

from what I have read, i think i have been luck, he seems very even tempered. i cant wait to get home from work and play with him, and reassure him about his feathers...

Also I don't give mine a cuttlefish but I do give him alot of almonds cuz that gives him the calcium he needs.Mine won't take it in the shell but you can try that way first otherwise just crack it for him and give him the almond.
Hope this helps you.
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DEANA & FLOCK

i got him one at lunch time anyway, he can take it or leave it

hopefully his feathers will start looking a bit tidier soon......

Depending on how severe the clip was it may take as long as 6 months to regrow although usually 3-4 is the norm. Make sure you are offering a good variety for his diet. Another good source of calcium is in dark green leafy greens (collard, mustard, turnip) which also give good sources of many other vitamins as well. Some birds will nibble at greens clipped in their cage others like them better mixed in a salad. We also make birdie muffins which has greens chopped finely in it along with baby food mixed in which contains many vitamin.

Good luck with your new friend. Make sure you keep spending as much time with your new grey as your boyfriend is, some greys (and other birds as well)have a tendency to bond to one person and will become nippy with the others in their life especially if one person is their main caretaker or play source. You may be the main one to offer food, water, treats but if your boyfriend spends more time cuddling or holding your new grey may see him as the one to bond with. If you both share in the care and also the fun your bird "should" grow to bond with both of your or at least accept both of you. Even though we keep trying Lewy will only come to me and let me rub him (he will step up for others but no one else is allowed to touch him or he will nip) but Lolo will let anyone stroke her head (both CAGs).

I think he was just a bit more confident at first with him.
I got one good bite that drew blood, and then I was a little nervous which put him on edge. He was much better with me last night. He will come out of his cage for me, and go back in when i ask him to.

i think he can see i am a bit unconfident though. I am spending much more time with him than my partner because he works much longer hours.

He was sitting on my boyfriends shoulder last night and i was sitting next to him, he let me stroke his head and feed him bits of apple and did'nt nip or bite me at all. I dont think he dislikes me.

Good news about the feathers though
He flaps and flaps but isnt getting anywhere, i think its frustrating for him

thanks for your help

Blancs