by merlin » Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:30 am
Dear Missy,
Congratulations! You are about to experience an incredible relationship!
The move of every 3-4 years will not be a problem. My greys have lived with me in about 8 homes over the past 20 years. The key is to help your grey become comfortable quickly. I usually take my guys to the new home before we move in and let them hang out on travel perches to get used to the energy before bringing furniture. That is when the new home is close by. Then I would talk about the place and how we are going to be happy there, and so on. You don't have to do it that way but it has worked for me. The key is to introduce things slowly and in a way that feels safe for your bird.
You will be a wonderful grey pet human, if your heart is into it. Be very careful about your daughter's interaction with the bird. Greys can get nervous around kids because kids' movements are so quick. A way to help the bird is to have the cage higher up or at least buffered in some way that your daughter cannot run up to the cage on her own. You can teach your child responsibility and give her a task for helping you with the bird. Be very careful about your child touching your new companion and remember that a grey can bite quickly if shaken by the quick movements and so on. Just be very careful and closely supervise.
Please stay in touch and let me know when you get your new companion.
Blessings,
Maggie-
www.AfricanGreys.com