r/AfricanGrey

I previously saw a talking bird on TikTok, so I chose the relatively intelligent African Grey Parrot as a pet. But I've noticed that my bird doesn't like to talk.

Just wanted to share a few pictures of Ruby absolutely going to town on her toy while enjoying the weather outside. She’s been so content just hanging out and getting some sunshine.
Disclaimer right up front: this is strictly her outdoor-only cage and not her everyday setup! Since she's an older lady, we are really working on getting her comfortable with going into a smaller space so that future vet visits aren't such a stressful ordeal.
Using it for fun patio time seems to be doing the trick. She just happily chews on her blocks and watches the world go by!

This is Chica, my um, little sister(?)

She’s 20 — I am not. Our Mom passed in November and our Dad is very ill and unable to care for her so she moved down south to live with me about 3 weeks ago. Mom raised her from little peepdom.

She knew me from visiting but I had never handled her before. She had always been very bonded to Mom. Mom fought cancer for about 7 years before leaving in November 2025 and Dad has LBD.

My parents always had several birds. With the exception of Chica, all were taken in as rescues (another CAG, GSC Cockatoo, conure, several cockatiels, bourkes, finches, parakeets etc). When Mom passed, Chica and Cody (a rescued 28 year old Bare Eyed Cockatoo) were the only two left. My parents stopped taking birds in when their health began to decline.

Chica and Cody had a lot of alone time over the last decade and other than their cages occupying the same room, never interacted. They would compete for attention. Chica always looked annoyed because Cody could be (was very) loud and obnoxious. And Cody would do her pterodactyl impressions and smash things in her cage if Chica was impressing the humans with her repertoire of words, sounds and songs.

I promised Mom I would take both girls but in my assessment, Cody (and Chica) really needed individual time and attention. Chica was Mom’s baby so if I was only keep one of them, it would be her. So I went about finding Cody something she always wanted — a human to call her own.

I’m happy to say that Cody now lives with Jim, a lifelong bird guardian and within 24 hours was sitting on his shoulder (something I had never seen her do).

I thought Chica would take longer to get adjusted to the big move and lifestyle change. She had begun plucking from stress after Mom passed. Thankfully when I got her home, much to my surprise (and relief) seemed to take to me almost immediately. (The feeling is mutual)

I was a vet tech for the four-legged furry and sometimes slithery creatures for around 20 years, and have had smaller birds throughout my life, but CAGs are very new to me. So I just started by trying to empathize with her. I let her lead and set the pace and I continue to read as much as I can on CAG specific needs.

I work at home, so I put her cage in my office so she’s not alone.

I saw that she seemed to eat her new veggie chop better when I ate some and shared it — Yknow to make sure it wasn’t poisonous 🤣 — and then read that they like to eat with us. So we have two meals together each day. Her cage is open for most of the day. On day 3, she insisted on participating in a zoom meeting.

I let her explore when I am watching. She loves breaking down boxes (lol). She has a head massage appointment at 7 pm every evening before bed. And she goes to sleep around 8pm.

We’ve been through a lot of the same trauma so I think we’re uniquely qualified to help each other. She keeps me laughing all day and gives me purpose and I am her loyal servant. 😉

….Calcifer’s favorite breakfast phrase 😅🙏💕

hello! just to begin, im very aware of his deprived situation of a grossly small cage and little toys. ill begin on my problem and give some more background information.

i dont normally use reddit but i need to help my guy here where i can, his name is mumbo and i think he's around 7 years old. he belongs to my grandmother but unfortunately shes more of a closed off stay at home wife, thus she doesn’t really enrich him nor understands how to. I’ve tried many many times in the past to try and save up to buy him a new cage, ive bought him toys again and again but over time my grandmother began to refuse them to try and be humble and leaves the bird alone. no one else helps me as im just a 16 year old kid and everyone already has become used to it.

my problem is that as i play with him (the only form of interaction i can do with him is kissing him through the cage and sticking my fingers through the bar to give him head pats as he, i assume, nibbles on my fingers) he begins to huff and wheeze, his eyes stay at a normal dilated size and he continues like normal. when i called my grandma over he just stopped and was normal before he continued again. i really dont want anything bad to happen to him, i plan to take him home one day and give him the proper care but for now i just need help on this! sorry for my crusty hands lol, thank you for reading! if more videos and photos r needed feel free to ask! please, i dont want to disservice him!

Is this a big enough cage?

Hi, so I adopted this boy yesterday from a bird store. He is going to be 10 years old next week. His original owner was a man, and I was told that he passed away and this bird got passed to his niece. But she was young and couldn’t care for him so he ended up at the store which is where he was originally sold. They say he prefers men, but was in a home with multiple people. I was told technically anybody can hold him if you try and get him to step up, he does nip and hold your finger, but he doesn’t bite hard enough to draw blood. It’s just a strong hold with a lot of pressure. But they told me and showed me at the store that if you push past him and his biting, you can force him to step up. I don’t agree with that and won’t be doing that with him.

I am looking for advice and to see if anyone has experienced anything similar. I want to know if anyone has successfully bonded with a grey that has a preference for one gender that you are not. I am not a man and so he does not want to step up or want any pets. He does take treats, but I have to go slow because some of the times he has bit my fingers instead of the treat. I’ve only had him for one full day and I understand he does need time to settle and get used to me. He is talking a lot and interacting with me as I talk to him. He does still seem nervous and occasionally shakes a little bit. He does hang out outside of the cage and just kind of watch me.

I do plan on target training and clicker training to work with him and see if we can start the bond that way. Also to see if I can train him to step up without biting using target training.

Does anyone have any good advice on how to approach this? Any methods or things I should or should not be doing? And what are some good ways to help bond with him and have a good relationship? I eventually want to be able to trick train him and do some flight recall. As well as getting him used to a harness and going on walks outside and things like that. Does anyone have any similar stories or experience like this?

Thank you for your replies in advance!

I’m staying at a hotel in upstate New York (USA) and they have a parrot in the lobby as kind of an “attraction.” I don’t know much about parrot care, but I’m feeling a little concerned about its living situation and wanted to get opinions from people who actually know birds.

The cage seems pretty small for a parrot of its size, and there don’t appear to be many toys or things for enrichment. The bird is in the lobby all day with constant noise, people walking by, etc.

I don’t want to jump to conclusions but something about it feels off to me.

What should I do? Can anyone help connect me to professionals who can assess the situation if you think it’s worth it?

Is he ok?

Question

We have been to the vet already! I need help! I got so scared today (5 mins ago) because I thought he was choking. After a little research I believe it to me mating behaviour, please confirm ny suspicions! We just got him a week ago, I have never touched him on his belly or back only the head , he isn't friendly he doesn't step up. We rescued him a week ago as I said, we took him to the vet and are waiting bloodwork results. As far as we know he's been plucking for the past 4 years since his owner died. Please tell me if this is mating behaviour or what is going on.

I did clean his cage after this