Just got 2 African Greys can you help?

Question

I just got 2 African Greys they were raised up together the woman that I got them from said that the older one will take food from your hand but if you try to touch him he will bite you but is very talkative so I just talk to him alot and feed him out of my hand and than the younger one she said that he is very loving talks alot will get on you shoulder and is a very good bird it's been three days and I been spending most of my time with them the first day they were here I spent like 6 hours straight just going up to there cage opening it up hand feeding them talking the younger one will come out I'll try to get him to step up but he won't when he's on or in his cage but when he flies to the floor he'll step up onto my arm so my question is can you tell me is this a good sign is he getting used to me how long will it take them to start talking and letting me give him lovins and as for the older one what can I do about his biting

Answer 1

Looks like your birds are warming up to you nicely...

Here's a link to try and stop that biting:

http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/bit...

Birds are naturally territorial around their cage, so don't be surprised if the bird doesn't want to cooperate with you around it's cage.

Good Luck with your new fids! ^_~

Answer 2

Aw, African Grey's are great!  I would say just give him some more time...sometimes it takes them a little longer to get used to someplace new.  Mine will sometimes do the thing where he will not step up when he is in his cage...i guess he ust wants to be left alone right then.  If not, then I turn on the radio and just go through a couple of songs and sing real loud and dance with them.  All my birds love it and they get real loud and start dancing.  Just get him used to you in ways like that! :)

About the biting...bc nothing else seems to work for me....I have a conure that used to have a problem with that...she'd bite me really hard when I try and get her to step up or just play with her (but i know the difference between mean biting and playful biting) but i firmly tap her on the beak with my finger (not hard but just letting her know that she does not need to do that) and firmly say "NO, Bella."  Just make sure you get everyone to follow up with that bc when my mom plays with her and the bird bites, she just laughs it off and lets her do it...so she does it all the time to her, bc she knows she can...but with me, she is just playful biting now and very rarely meanly biting me.  Also, make sure you follow up with the tapping of the beak and telling him or her no by giving her a kiss and be loving to let them know that it was wrong but you do still love them and are not just being mean.

I hope this helps!! :)