TJ- Our African Gray Parrot
TJ came to us on a lark. OK, that was uncalled for. But we got a great bird via a fly-by-night comment from our veterinarian. OK, really, I'm done.TJ is our new African Gray Parrot, we received him a few months ago from an elderly woman that loved him but could no longer care for him like he needs. He is a fairly young (7 years old, they live to be up to 70) African Gray with a personality that only young children can rival. He's temperamental and smart and picky. He is picky about food, temperamental about who he likes and/or wants to bite, and smart enough to not "perform" unless he wants to.
He only eats certain foods and even the ones he seems to love only when he FEELS like it. Generally he's a meat and potatoes kind of a guy with a smattering of fruits and nuts (mmm, apples and almonds!) and crackers (especially goldfish) in there for good measure. And he likes sweets like cookies, but no chocolate (not good for him) and dum dums, but not all flavors. I believe grape is his favorite. TJ loves our office manager Cathy, dislikes most men (except our Friday volunteer/philosopher, John) and is lukewarm to just about everyone else. Some days he will let people touch him, other days, he bites. Hard.
African Grays can talk. Some know a lot of words, others seemingly few. TJ is somewhere inbetween, but he never talks unless he wants to. He's consistent with "See ya later" and "No bite" and "What?", many other words he mutters under his breath when you walk away. He makes a fascinating myriad of non-word sounds including a "truck backing up", what I can only describe as "building a railroad", as well as a darn good "drop of water" sound. He can also imitate lots of other species of birds; some days you'd think we were in the jungle, others in our own backyard. He whistles "Yoo Hoo" when Cathy leaves the room for any reason. When he likes music that is playing, he dances. When he wants to be annoying, he screeches. There are only two places he is quiet- his swing (I think because he hates it and is kind of freaked out there) and on Cathy's shoulder (because he LOVES her).
He is such a fun companion to have around and I am glad we were able to give him a new home. African Grays need a lot of attention and are not good in homes where people aren't there a lot or where people aren't willing to give them what they need. They have the intelligence of a 5-6 year old human and need to be stimulated. We are working with TJ to get him to be more personable and comfortable. When you stop up at Tanglewood, visit our gift shop, where TJ will likely be perched waiting for someone new to talk to, but don't pet him, did I mention he's temperamental?
posted by Elaine @ 10:55 AM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
I just got a 3 yr. gray, and he bits, wants his own way and I just can't bond with him or he with me. I had a 8 yr. gray and she was a doll but lost her 2 yrs. ago. How long have you had TJ? bauba talks and knows what he wants and lets you know it. He can be loveable and then he will Bite you. Any suggestions.
Hi Colleen!
We've had TJ for about 6 months. He didn't even talk at all for the first month, and has JUST started really bonding with our curator, so give him time. They are kind of like kids and take time to warm up to new people. I don't have suggestions for biting except make sure you let him know you don't like it when he does. TJ bites me less if I try and pet the top of his beak rather than anywhere else. Although he lets a few people actually pet his feathers. Good luck with Bauba and let me know if he gets better!
You're right on target on declaring African Gray's "picky".
Mine is a picky eater, picky about his "space", don't touch his toys inside the cage, don't wake him when he sleeping (He will growl), don't touch his cage unless he gives you permission. He is very very smart and knows his stuff.
He has a very large vocabulary, can do a lot of word association, he loves to dance, he does squats (now that is too funny for words), he barks when someone is knocking on the door, he does every sound that he has been exposed to, not to mention, exactly at appropriate time. One of my favorites was whenever you opened the door he went off like the house alarm (I guess we set it off one too many times). He can turn lights on and off (his cage now away from light switches) and says "light on" then he turns it on and "light off" and turns it off. He does not get bored with this game until all the bulbs are burned out.
Unlike my female Gray, this one bites. I have no clue why, but he does. I got Grey, that's his name, when he was 3 months old, hand fed him and he was so sweet. Then somewhere around 2 years old, he is 6 now, he started that biting and I can not break him of it. He does not pluck his feather. He seems very happy. He is very healthy.
We can be sitting around having a good old time and all of sudden (NO, nothing startles him or threatens him) he bites (usually very hard with a lot of blood) then says "Stop it Gray Stop it", then he flies back to his cage saying "go home Gray go home", climbs in his cage, sits on his swing and starts swinging and then he starts singing "hallelajuh". I really thinks he enjoys it.
I just love my bird and will figure out this biting issue. I just don't let him out of his cage as much as I use to. I just sit now next to his cage and we work on new stuff. He has mastered "Fere Jacques" so we will move on to something else.
Enjoyed your article. AND please warn people, if they are not true parrot lovers, stay away from African Greys - - only the tough survive African Greys.
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