Has my African grey gone mad?

Question

I have a 7 yr old african grey we have had him since easter and got him off my partners nan. But he has been acting a little strange for eg he has been doing things in a sequence like touching something then walking away then repeating it the same way over and over for ages at a time he does similar things to this too. We have put some new toys in recently could this be a way of telling us he does not like them as he wont go near them or is this just a game does any african grey owners know thanks.

Answer 1

African Greys are the smartest bird in the world, and they need more intellectual stimulation than other birds.  Try giving him puzzle-oriented toys, as well as more socialization.

Answer 2

Your bird is in trouble!

He is becoming Bored!! and cage crazy!!

Do you let him out ?was he used to being out?

It is not toys he is looking for it is your affection and attention!!!!

He is not getting the attention that his previous owner was giving him,start to speak to him and show interest,or else he will become stressed and start to pluck his feathers out.

Love is a many  splendid thing ,even to a Parrot.

Answer 3

Maybe, he doesn't like the new toys. With our budgies, I recall them acting really quiet and scared until I took a new toy back out of the cage. Why they are terrified of some toys, I don't know.

I wonder if your bird is touching things and walking away is a African Grey's way of  playing? Or is he pretending the toy or object  is another bird. Or is saying in bird language "I'm bored". Maybe he is scared of the new toys and that is his way of handling the stress. Maybe you should take the toys out to see what he does.

Why don't you go to a bird behaviour website and see what things

African grey's do? My cocktiel was hanging upside down and flapping her wings as hard as she could and apparently in  bird language this means, spray me I need a bath.She was trying to tell me but I couldn't read her bird language. She just loves me to spray under her armpits!  I say I will wash your stinky pits and she throws her wings up.Good luck.

Answer 4

sounds like he needs more company maybe. Spend more time with him. Also I changed my Grays food. She loves monkey chow and more fruits. But its the bird seeds that made her happy.

And leaving a bird bath in cage is great too, and fun to watch them play in the water.

                 Good Luck

Answer 5

African Greys are notorious for behaving this way at times.  As long as your bird has toys and plays with them in ANY way, this is ok.  You may get him a few "puzzle" toys where he has to activate them for them to work, or pull things out of holes, anything to work his brain.  When you are home with him, let him play on the outside of the cage.  It does not matter when you let him out, as long as you do it each day.   Our birds at my house are out as long as we are home.  We only put them in their cages if we go away, go outside, and at night we put them to bed in their night cages in a bedroom.  I don't think you have anything to worry about.  I have studied the behavior patterns of greys and many other birds, and this is very typical in many. Greys are by far one of the most intelligent birds, but it also can have some of the most bizarre behavior at times.  Please read my profile.