Struggling to bond with my African Grey – any tips from experienced owners?

[africangrey]

Hi guys,

I’m pretty new here and also fairly new to owning an African Grey. I’ve had my grey for a few weeks now, and I’m really trying to build trust and bond properly, but honestly… it’s harder than I expected

Some days he seems curious and relaxed, and other days he’s super cautious and backs away when I try to get close or offer treats. I don’t want to rush him or scare him, so I’ve been talking softly, moving slowly, and just sitting near the cage so he can get used to me.

I keep reading about clicker training and target training, but I’m not sure when the “right time” is to start. Should I wait until he’s fully comfortable with my hands? Or can I start small even if he’s still a bit nervous?

If anyone here has gone through this stage, I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for you:
– How long did bonding take with your grey?
– Did you use clicker training early on?
– Any small daily habits that helped build trust faster?

Would love to learn from your experiences. Thanks in advance

 

[TiktokParrot]

Hey, you’re doing great already just by being patient with him. What you’re describing is totally normal, especially in the first few weeks. African Greys are super intelligent but also very sensitive, so the “hot and cold” behavior is pretty common while they’re still figuring you out.

You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect before starting training. Starting small with target or clicker training can actually help build trust, as long as you keep sessions short and calm. Even a few minutes a day makes a big difference.

Honestly, the best thing is what you’re already doing: moving slowly, talking softly, and letting him come to you on his own time. That consistency builds trust faster than anything else.

Just keep at it, it really does get better with time and do keep us posted here on the progress.

 

[africangrey]

Hey, you’re doing great already just by being patient with him. What you’re describing is totally normal, especially in the first few weeks. African Greys are super intelligent but also very sensitive, so the “hot and cold” behavior is pretty common while they’re still figuring you out.

You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect before starting training. Starting small with target or clicker training can actually help build trust, as long as you keep sessions short and calm. Even a few minutes a day makes a big difference.

Honestly, the best thing is what you’re already doing: moving slowly, talking softly, and letting him come to you on his own time. That consistency builds trust faster than anything else.

Just keep at it, it really does get better with time and do keep us posted here on the progress.

thank you so much, much appreciated.