Very Strange CAG?

Question

Hello everyone I thought I would put this post out of confusion with my CAG. He is only 7 months old. I bought this bird from a pet store and he cost me a fortune. After 1 week I finally herd him speak for the first time his vocabulary is very good but only speaks when he feels like it. This bird hardly speaks, he hardly makes any loud noise, He is very, very quiet I can leave to go to work and no noise. I have no problem communicating with the bird as I speak to him he watches me but never talks back. He is very clean hardly makes a mess. In 1 week I had him in a harness no problem. Basically he lets me rub his head and give me kisses on command, he knows the step up step down command, this bird seams so smart it frightens me. Is this normal behavior from a African Grey and one so young we are bonding very well together he is my best friend I am so happy I found him. Also anyone has any info on potty training info that is effective thanks guys for reading my post and for your help..

Answer 1

Hi there

I feel your african grey is just in the settling in stages hence the hardly speaking etc.. just give him a few months lol, African greys are very intelligent birds i used to have one and he could undo a padlock by turning the key then went out of his cage for a while and went back in when he heard someone coming.

Even from a very young age they can pick stuff up and someone at the petstore probably spent a great deal of time with him to learn him stuff. so no i dont think it strange. good luck with your bird

Answer 2

This sounds like typical Grey behavior, a very well mannered CAG, too. It's great that the two of you are bonding so well. As far as speaking goes, the more that you talk to your bird, the more words he'll learn to speak. That's great that he is so well trained to step up and down for you. He wants to spend as much time with you as possible. Your "scritches" must be just right, that he lets you rub his head. Your bird is a good one, so don't worry so much. Just enjoy being a new parront, and keep doing what you are doing now. Congratulations on your new fid (feathered kid).

Answer 3

Your bird is still getting used to all the new things and people around him.  Give him time.  Normally Greys start to talk around one year old.  Birds never speak when you want them to, and then sometimes it's hard to get them to shut up.  Your grey will most likely be the same way.  Normally, they will not talk in front of strangers unless the people stay for a half hour or so.  Greys can be shy when they want to.  Greys are extremely intellegent, don't be surprised, there will be many things that he does and says that will make you wonder if there isn't some kind of alien in there.  Potty training can be hard with some birds.  I never had to train mine, they just do it.  They never p**p in their cages, they alway hang their butts over the edge, and if they are locked in the cage, they will hold it as long as possible.  I put my birds in sleeping cages at night, and they have never pooped in them.  They wait until I take them out to their day time cages and rip a huge one on the paper I put down.  Enjoy your bird, and remember to keep his wings clipped for his safety and good health, and also make sure he has 9 hours of undisturbed (no tv) sleep, in a darkened room, with his cage covered each night.  Sleep deprivation is a very big cause of bad behavior. Please read my profile