African Grey - Please help!

Question
Chrys,

I hope I am not driving you crazy, but I have no one else that has been able to help me with my questions concerning Max.  

Max has not bitten anyone at the nursing home.  He will do what I call "nibbling" to me all the time.  It doesn't hurt and it is almost like he does it to let me know that he wants me to pick him up ( he will pull my hand close where he can step on it) or it is like he is showing affection.  Sometimes if he doesn't want to be petted he will fuss and do it and I know to leave him alone.  Is this normal?   When I walk him down the hall to my office, I usually stop along the way to let the residents talk to him and pet him.  When I let them pet him I usually hold my hand on his upper back so that he feels safe.

Yes, I have definately had thoughts about what would happen to Max should something happen to me knowing the potentially long life spans of parrots.  I live in a small rural community about 75 miles north of Pensacola Beach Florida.  Traffic doesn't worry me too much, thank goodness.  As far as me leaving the nursing home, that is not likely to happen any time soon as I have worked there 20 years.  I do feel that if for some reason I left, that I could take Max with me, even if I had to buy him, I would.  At our facility we unfortunately do not have any residents capable of caring for Max at the present.

Do you have any suggestions about his diet?  Do I need to give him any vitamins or supplements?  I give him fresh fruit and veggies every day.  I also give him some almonds once or twice a week.

One more question.  Is it ok to use a vacuum cleaner in the room where he is?  The day room has to be vacuumed due to the high volume of traffic in there.  I have warned our housekeepers not to spray any cleaners or disinfectants in the room with the birds  (We also have an aviary with goulian and society finches).  

Thank you again, but I am sure you will hear from me again in the future!

Robyn


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Followup To

Question -

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Followup To

Hi again, Robyn.

No, I'm sure Max will enjoy the change of scenary and the mental stimulation of going home with you on weekends, especially with your comment that you haven't seen anything negative about this so far.  

Many parrots tend to bond to 1 person, usually the main caregiver because they tend to spend more time with the bird, but this depends on how the parrot was socialized when it was a young bird and what type of experiences the bird has had in it's lifetime with humans.  If Max is comfortable with other people, then someone must have socialized him well when he was young and/or he is trusting of humans based on his past experiences with humans.  Therefore, as long as Max is OK with your coworker, it should not be a problem for him to care for Max.  Also, the fact that you haven't had any serious biting incidents with the patients at the nursing home (have you?), this is another sign that Max has been raised well.  As a matter of fact, you might even want to teach some of the patients over a period of time how to care for Max...those that show an interest in parrots.  What if something were to happen to you (heaven forbid, you were killed in a car accident on the way to work) or you moved on to a different job and couldn't take Max?  This will not only be good for the patients (to have something to care for...a lot of nursing home patients don't even have family that visit), but also for Max's continued socialization and welfare.

When I introduced parrots to nursing homes where I live, the birds dramatically changed some of the lives of the patients.  The patients became more vibrant, active, and responsive because they had something different, and alive, to work/play with every day that responded to them, and the birds loved all the attention.  The patients were allowed to clean cages, feed the birds, play with them, etc., etc., and they loved the responsibility and the love the birds gave in return.     

You are very welcome.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Robyn.  I don't mind the posts, as I love talking with others about parrots!

Yes, definitely, a parrot will let it's human know when s/he needs time alone.  Trick is for the human to recognize this information from the parrot.  Seems you have this down pat!  They have to have time to nap, usually early afternoons, and tend to their feathers and play on their own, etc.  Routine is what they like.

Diet - As long as Max eats a variety of foods, he should be just fine.  Pelleted foods are great, fresh/clean/raw veggies are best (although some veggies need to be cooked, but cooking burns off most of the vitamins), fruits are good, but most fruits are mainly water.  I think my website had info on the most nutritional foods (usually the dark green and dark orange veggies).  Melons are good (water, cantelope, honey dew), cooked beans are highly nutritious, pasta without sauce, etc., etc.  I give my birds no-no foods occasionally, like very small pieces of pizza or a few macs and cheese or similar...it doesn't hurt to spoil them some, but don't make a regular habit of it!  Parrots also love corn bread, multigrain muffins, whole wheat stuff, but avoid too much sugar, salt, caffeine, NO avocado, NO citrus seeds, NO chocolate (especially baking chocolate).  Nuts, yes, but watch quantities.  Seed is high in fat, low in nutrition (empty calories)...limit the amount of seed to just an occasional treat.  My parrots might get seed once a week.  Almonds are good as far as nuts go...one of the better nuts for parrots.  Once a week for the almonds is good...could feed more often if you wanted to (I'm only referring to 1 or 2 almonds at a time, not a whole dish full!).  I have to say this because some people would feed an entire dish full of almonds!  

Vacuum cleaner use is OK as long as you don't put something like Carpet Fresh down first (Carpet Fresh has been known to kill entire rooms of parrots).  If you have to use anything on carpeting, use baking soda.  You are absolutely correct in not allowing any type of aerosol sprays/disinfectant use around the birds.  Their respiratory systems are so sensitive, fumes from these products can kill them.  Also, overheated Teflon (pans or irons, etc.) has been known to kill birds.  You might need to warn the kitchen staff!  Don't be surprised if Max decides to take a bath when you run the vacuum cleaner.  The sound of a vacuum cleaner seems to represent water running to parrots and they tend to want to bathe when a vacuum is running!      

Come back when you need to.

Chrys