African Grey Parrot Care

I adopted an African Grey that had reportedly been in a crack house prior to the person that I got her from. When I got her 2 years ago, she had almost no feathers and could not perch. She shook and growled all the time. Now – she has almost all of her feathers back, she not only perches but climbs all over swinging on her bells and ropes. She lets me do just about anything to her – I put her on her back and rub her belly and every morning she can’t wait to give me kisses. She is just a great bird. I have also rehabilitated a Senegal that was a biter – he almost bit my thumb off but no longer bites at all…persistence and love are my keys to success!

hi ther yr training seams 2 of worked and im guna try it but the problem i am having with my african gray parrot is that i spend hours with him and he is letting me touch him but as soon as i walk away from him he seams to go back to growling and wanting to bite me again its like he as forgot all we have dun and we have to start again i dont no why he is like this but would love to be able to tame him

Hi Chet,
I rescued a Patagonian Conure (I never wanted a bird) from a woman that was beating her over the head with a huge bell in a very small cage. That was almost 4 years ago. With your help, she has come a long way, but she still has many “issues”. Everytime we run water in the kitchen, she screams incessantly and the pitch is deafening. She refuses to step up on anything but her old cage that we use as a taxi. I feel like a complete failure and am wondering if she would be better off if I tried to find her a rescue person. She now lays eggs every spring (hence, she), and picks the feathers off her belly. Her shoulders are always bald. I feel so bad for her, and only want to do the best by her! Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Karen V

Chet:

My Chet, Chester, is a green-winged macaw, almost 5. I’ve had pretty good success managing some of his bad behaviors; not so much things I want him to do. Chester’s a “fully interactive” bird… we’re very affectionate with each other. He also has a mind of his own; if he doesn’t want to do something, I don’t push. My trouble is, he’s so spoiled, I can’t get him to say “Please” or “Thank you” or much of any prompt for a treat except that he’ll tap his toes several times on the counter.

He LOVES to please and I think that if I knew how to teach him more, HE would have a richer life. I’ll try smaller steps!

Thanks. Love your series…

Raymond

Wow Chet!

I am so impressed with the progress you were able to accomplish. I remember trying to teach our Amazon to step up wearing a glove and he freaked out with the glove… without the glove he calmed down and eventually learned to get from the step up phase to on… now I need to get back to work on his screaming and screeching

Thanks for the update
Jim

I have two greys and a macaw.
One grey, Taz, was a rescue via a family friend. He was abused by a man in the family because of his biting. To retaliate, the bird was exiled outside to a carport and had very little human contact, sometimes days between feedings. And to add to it, when he did get fed the guy would hit the bird when he went to eat.
I’ve had him for 5 years now and he gets his food from me every day. I talk to him and have tried the techniques in your training system to calm him down. He will approach my finger and hold it for a while before pushing it away. He is OK with other men and my wife but still afraid of me. When he gets fed he will not go to the food until I leave the room and treat-training doesn’t work. He just immediately drops anything I offer him.
My wife can gradually get to petting him. If I have to pick him up, he panics and screams and flutters all around the cage but when I get him into position, he reluctantly steps up and then is immediately quiet and whistles happily. But I cannot even gradually try to touch his toes or body.
Any ideas? I really love the guy and want him to be more socialized.
I should add he is quite happy, singing and talking while he ia alone.

WANT TO LEARN HOW THE SEMINAR WAS IN DETAILS OF THE DIFFERENT TOPICS AND SPEAKERS THERE.

IF WE HADN’T BEEN AWAY WE WOULD HAVE ATTENDED SINCE WE LIVE CLOSE ENOUGH IN The Villages / Ocala area.

WHEN AND WHERE WILL ANOTHER ONE EVER BE PLANNED ?

We adopted an African Grey named Clovis a few years ago. She bangs food containers and water bottle in her cage only when my husband is in the family room. He reacts by taking away her cups and water. After my surgery a couple years ago when I wasn’t able to be with her as much, she began to chew off her red tail feathers. She also has a spot on her breast and under her wings where she plucks feathers. How do I help her to stop this behavior? She’s a magnificant bird and I love her to pieces. Lisa

I have a young green cheeked Conure – Joey – he simply will not go back into his cage once he is out. It is Ok at night, I turn the lights out, but I have tried everything during daylight hours and am now reduced to tactics that frighten him. How do I use the Bean techniques? (I also have an African Grey, Buddy, who is very special and I am so thrilled to hear that you have adopted and helped such a scared bird as Bean.)

Oh my goodness….Granite is my rescued African Grey Parrot and she looks just like Bean….I want to try this with her….please pray for me! She hates me and hasn’t been out of the cage in years…thank God it is a very large cage!! Lynne

Hi Chet. I am so glad you were more patient with Bean. He was traumatized and different from normal parrots. Of course you need to do everything much slower and with more patience.

Did you need to start training Bean with a leather glove (I noticed in the pictures above)?

Chet we live in a small world.

My Mom’s neighbor helped your Mom with her computer. I think she use to live on Three Tree Point. My Mom lives right above Three Tree Point and I grew up there. I( live a few miles away from my Mom now.) Maybe you know Tom Swenson. We are old. Tom is 47 and I am 55. My sister might have gone to school with your Mom. She is almost 60.

Have a great day with Bean.

Barb

Chet, Wow, congratulations on the progress with Bean! I have an African Grey also, Sly, and he was very angry when I first got him. He attacked anyone that got near him. It took me a very long time working with him and now he steps up and kisses me and everything! It took very small steps, just like you said. I started by just touching him very gently but quickly to while avoid his bites, so he would understand that not all hands coming at him want to cause harm. I had to back off when he tried to bite, which I know is incorrect because that empowers the bite, but I persisted in touching him. In other words, I was trying to show him that I was not going away; that I would continue to touch him but I would not let myself be bit. He eventually liked being touched and now he can’t get enough – making up for lost time! Bean is a real cutie. You’re doing a wonderful thing for him. Thanks!

dude i can train u how to tame parrots cause i love them and made some serious tamming on my own, but this i must addmit i found ur emails really helpful in doing that, now my naphews who are 10 and 13 can deal with every parrot tammed or wild cause they are in love with parrots to, so pls feel free to ask me any questions or problems u have in this regard, what i feel and how i train my parrots is a secreat and i am going to tell u that, dont tell anybody or u will lose your business i.e ” TIME, CARE AND LOVE’ i am a private pet owner and just got in love with them 7-8 months back.

Chet!

What a wonderful story!! I lost my Gable last year, he was 14. I have been “patiently” waiting for a new little guy. Gable was a Timneh, but my new guy is a Congo. I have been avidly reading all of your material. Gable and I had a great relationship. I think my biggest problem will be to NOT compare Brinkley (new guy) to Gable. I think with your help though, Brinkley will become a wonderful companion too. You are such an inspiration and I am so thankful that I found you. I actually found you last year right after Gable died. I have been reading your information in preparation of getting Brinkley!! Thanks so much for all that you do!

I HAVE SMALL PARROT QUAQUER, SHE ONLY LIKE EAT CANARY SEED, AND , SWEET PEAS, FRESH I AM AFREID NO GOOD POR HER SHE IN BEATIFULL AND VERY HEALTY, SPEAK VERY LITTLE, BUT SOME BODY TALL ME THE QUAQUERS DON T LEARNM SPEAK, PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOU OPINION THANKS GOOD BLEES YOU JOSE

Chet – your videos have been very helpful. I have a Ringneck Parakeet that we found in our driveway and named Charley.. He/she was so scared. That was probably 6-8 months ago. For awhile, I didn’t know what kind of bird I had found. He/she has come so far – we do “how do we ask” for treats and he whistles, is letting me touch his beak, does step up, real well and loves to take baths. I find him in his small water cup a lot. Why do these birds have to dunk their food in water? I would like to know more about this kind of bird. I have 2 parakeets that talk, and a 20 yearold Cockatiel who talks. I love birds.

what is Atif on? or did his mom drop him on his head at birth

I live with two AFrican Greys and on Severe Macaw.
The female Grey and the Macaw are 9 years old. The Gey was chewing feathers on her chest and back since she was one but this winter she has stopped and I am so glad. The only thing is I think the feathers will never grow back on the chest unfortunately.
My other Grey is a boy and he is three.
I have had him since he was a few months old.
This guy has been almost perfect I would say until last december when during one night he started trashing in his cage and that night he pulled off all of the tail and chewed all feathers on one wing.
I took him to the vet and he had to be on antibiotics for a months because of intestins problems. He got better but gradually damaged the other wing and his neck.
A couple of weeks ago half of the tail grew back and about 5-6 feathers on the wings. I was happy until one night he pulled the tail again and the following days he damaged his wings and he is still doing it.
I never had problems of any sort with him until this happened.
He is quite loud and exhuberant. He almost never stops talking and making noises, even when the others go for a nap.

I have the feeling it could all be connected to hormones.
Any idea on this?
I say this because when he does this he also becomes very sexual with me. I decided to try to let him approach my female more often and he seems to like her a lot and she responds positively.
He is also more territorial when he feels like this.

Now I am scared to let him out because he might fall and hurt himself.
He plays a lot and he is very athletic and active et he tends to fall often and scares me everytime he does that.

I know this is not related to the topic but I am hoping to hear from someone who has had a similar experience.

It was very annoying when he did this since he always was such a good bird before overall.
This is why I tend to look at hormones in this case.

Hi Chet,

My father was an accomplished amateur parrot trainer. Over the years we had the privilege of sharing our lives wit several wonderful parrots. Since we live in the tropics there is a constant supply of these birds. Nowadays my grown son owns a beautiful blue and yellow macaw and about 80 parakeets. Your interesting mails help me to understand the psychology of these amazing pets. Thank you so much!

Hi Chet,

My father was an accomplished amateur parrot trainer. Over the years we had the privilege of sharing our lives wit several wonderful parrots. Since we live in the tropics there is a constant supply of these birds. Nowadays my grown son owns a beautiful blue and yellow macaw and about 80 parakeets. Your interesting mails help me to understand the psychology of these amazing pets. Thank you so much!

glad to see all the progress uve made,shame about me being in united kindim an you being in the states as i have no chance of gettin ova for your seminar,love all your wrk,my grey called martell is nearly fully feathered now and comes an does a twirl for me when he is on my knee thanks to ur trainung coarses and good advice from my vet mr prescott in morpeth all the best to chet and co,from paul an martell

Hello, and thanks for the address to your blog. I’ve been getting your emails for sometime, and I wish I could have attended your seminar.

I’ve been reading replies on your site, and it breaks my heart how many people have adopted mistreated birds. Good for them to try and rehabilitate, but it angers me how the initial pet owners are acting.

This situation, I think, is unique with birds. As you have said before, quite a lot of the training techniques are counter-intuitive. It takes a lot of dedication and patience, not to mention skill, to properly train these birds. Their lifespan is also a factor that you have with no other pet.

My Conure, who I have had for not quite a year, is at least 10 years old. This is his 3rd home. He has problems, but I think he’s a bit more scrappy then other rescued birds: doesn’t pick feathers, isn’t shy about vocalization, he’ll take food from my hand. I fear he’s just kinda set in his ways to be trained. But thanks to your advice, I will continue to try.

Anyway, good luck to all you other bird owners. I hope your love and dedication will make for more happy parrots.

I too rescued an African Grey (Congo) who is phobic! He is in better physical shape but afraid of new toys or bright colors and Will Not step up. Bites badly and won’t let me use a stick in the cage. If I get him to step up on a dowl after he flies off the cage from me working with him, he jumps off as soon as I move. It is frustrating! I have tried putting my hand in his cage but he bites. Out of the cage he is territorial too. He will however let me scratch his head through the cage when he Wants to. Talks a blue streak and learns everything I teach him. Just can’t handle him at all. So will keep working with him..is just disheartening!! Linda

I have had my African Grey for 23 years now and had gotten her at a reduced rate as No One could handle her including her breeder. She took to me immediately. However–she does keep me on my toes! Your tips and tricks have been wonderful and continue to give me new ideas on working with her. She is definately a 3-4 year old on vocabulary and personality. She is amazing my Winnie. Thanks so much for your tips!

I, too, adopted a grey…he was 19 and abandoned by a, “it’s him or me” wife. His bite is fierce and he doesn’t let go. The bites seem unprovoked (although I’m sure something triggers the sudden strikes) and without noticed warning from him. Seems to be when handing him off or putting him back to cage. I can no longer trust to hold him, but we touch, slowly increasing the areas of his body. I promised him that he would never be abandoned again, & I allow him to determine how close we will become. He’s finally coming around after 3 years and I can tell he “loves” me as I do him, but I cannot get past the fear of his vicious bite. I just keep giving him unconditional love & consistency in my actions. Glad you’re there to encourage me.

Hi Chet,
I adopted a 30 year old Timneh last April. I discovered that he hd not been tamed in all that time. The first lesson I received from you helped me and Chuckle tremendously. Offering my fist, clicking and then walking away worked right away. I also wrapped him up in a towel and just cuddled him every day for a few minutes in the evening.He has come a very long way and continues to improve daily. He will now step up onto my bare hand from his cage. He was very confused and angry when he came to live with us and I made some mistakes with him like putting him in a new cage too soon. I do everything with him in slo mo and love him to pieces.It is a testimony to his intelligence that he has allowed himself to trust and love us. Very best wishes to you, Mickie Ratel

Hi Chet,
I adopted a 30 year old Timneh last April. I discovered that he hd not been tamed in all that time. The first lesson I received from you helped me and Chuckle tremendously. Offering my fist, clicking and then walking away worked right away. I also wrapped him up in a towel and just cuddled him every day for a few minutes in the evening.He has come a very long way and continues to improve daily. He will now step up onto my bare hand from his cage. He was very confused and angry when he came to live with us and I made some mistakes with him like putting him in a new cage too soon. I do everything with him in slo mo and love him to pieces.It is a testimony to his intelligence that he has allowed himself to trust and love us. Very best wishes to you, Mickie Ratel

My dear Paco of the difficult one has more confusion than he has ever had as I have had a congo grey for 10 years, also adopted and it took her some long time to be affectionate. The first time she allowed me to touch her through the cage was to rub her ear feathers and I discovered a tiny millet seed on the edge of her ear. I used my pinkie to flick it off and she has been mine ever since.

Jealousy is an issue for Paco as his cage is next to my computer and he is very verbal. He always asks, but not lately, ” Are we okay, are we really okay?” I always reassure him that we are all hunky-dunky, okay and really okay. If I go to Alpha (female congo) ’s cage and say anything sweet to her, he hisses like a snake. I can go on and on. Alpha is in “heat” having a boy in the house. A few weeks ago I could smell his pherenomes and she is a little behind the time and is very aggresive and scares the holy patooties out of him. We have made progress. He will give me long tongue kisses and puts up his right foot lightly and once or twice his left foot alone and much more lightly. I think he may arthritis in his left foot. he was roughly wild-caught in Africa and roughly banded in customs before that was ended. He is at least 30 years old and probably more. He loves to watch elephants on my computer on the edge of the jungle. Dang, maybe I need an elephant! heh. We are working on the trust issue while Alpha is rude and aggrssive and wants to breed and does not know how. I have this question…. Paco has 2 feathers that are the same color as alpha’s bright red tail. One is on his throat and one is on his shoulder. He has shed the both and they come back red. His tail is a much darker red. So the question is, do they cross breed? I have no idea. Alpha has been obsessed with him since she finally knew he was staying. their cages are across the room from each other. She comes to sit on a chair-back next to me on the other side. Today she stayed in my bedroom for several hours letting me help her neck grooming of new feathers. Paco likes a stainless steel half teaspoon and uses it with his foot to groom his neck. He will not hold food in his foot except for a raw peanut in the shell. He will hold an accordian pleated paper plate, otherwise, he has to have mashed and small food and prefers to be fed from my hand. For example, he adores grapes and can only take one bite and drop it. If I catch it, he will have more bites. He will eat bits of green peppers and soforth from my bare hand. When he ever bites, now it is much lighter and not life-threatening. I still do not accept bites. He is covered when that happens. I do not make a sound except to say okey-dokey, time out for you. I was a kindergarten and first grade teacher. I do have patience and persistence. An enormous amount of patience. Thanks for your e-mail. I have set up a neutral zone in my office/art studio with a king size sheet on the floor and 2 fabulous live oak twisty branches. Yesterday was the first time for them. Alpha reluctantly perched on a branch and Paco raced around the room looking for a way out in the mirrored closet door. He did not escape. He did not like it. I have to move him around with a small blue towel from his former life. He will be so happy to perch and flap his wings. cheers all.

Chet
Im so impressed with all the work you do. I just became a owner of a African Grey. She is named Einstein, and is about 3 almost 4 months old. I have been told that they don’t speak until around 9months to a year. Im sure she is trying to speak but its very growly if thats a word..lol. Very deep sound. She steps up but yells like its frightening to her. She was hand raised and very shy. Loves to play with toys. She gives kisses with a clicking sound.. I spend alot of time with her as Im disable. I just don’t want to give her any bad habits because Im not sure what I doing..lol. Thanks for the tips I really need them.. Good luck in all you do.. Bonnie

I was impressed with the training on Bean. Great job! I too had a problem with my amazon stepping up, all he would do is growl and bite me. I actually did what you did with Bean, baby steps. It actually took me 30 days for him to finally step up and let me pet him and kiss him. I still don’t trust him on my shoulder he tends to bite into my sweater or tries to grab my glasses. So not there yet. Would love any suggestions you have.

Ginny

i need some help on feather plucking my african grey has got a spot on his chest exactly as the foto u got on one of your parrots.
he his turning 9 months now it looks to me that he doesn’t pluck anymore
but its feathers doesn’t grow back or get any better
i’m new in the parrot world now and need some info if possible
thanks tersius

Chet:
I have enrolled in your ongoing parrot training seminars and have really enjoyed your email updates, especially this account of the Life and Times of Bean. I am a new owner of a young (14 months old) Congo Grey, and have several questions concerning our little girl (DNA tested). I have tried to contact you before, but haven’t heard back. I really could use some input if you have the time. She is a real sweetheart, but seems to respond better to my husband, who is rarely home (and she was his gift to me. I had been visiting her for almost a year at a pet store, hoping to persuade my husband to give her a home.)

Ive got a african grey aswell. He is almost 1 and a half years old. He used to follow me around where ever i went, but now days i don’t spend much time at home, mostly working. So when he hears me he would go mad for attention, but if i reach out to him he would only look at me without moving, and turn around and walk away. I love my bird and he gives me a lot of plesure, but if you dont understand them, they get annoying.
And thats the problem with most parrot owners, they get a pet but doesn’t know how to treat them. I feel bad not to be around the most of the time for my bird, but atleast i know he is happy although he wouldn’t let me touch him.

Give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done and give Bean a kiss from me.

I have a Sun Conure named Connie and she was a tough nut to crack because I could hardly touch her without her biting me when I got her. But through patience and a lot of TLC we are inseparable now.

Keep up the good work.

Diane

I will have to keep this in mind with my grey..I’ve tried so many ways to try and get her to step up. I finally had a small break through, but I feel that it is only luck.

I’ve had her since sept. 08. She is 10yrs old, and has had two owners. The second owner had her cage bound for 2yrs. We have been sucessfully clicker training. She knows how to spin, and how to wave. We’ve been working really hard on target training. (shes phobic of anything that resembles a stick when you hold it b/c she was chased with a broom) But she’s been touching the stick here and there, so we’re making progress!

I tried working on stepping up while she was on her cage. I broke it down into the steps, where I would click and treat if she’d look at my arm, then every time she got closer ect. But when we finally got to the “getting close to my arm” part, she threw a tantrum. She nipped my arm, went to one of her toys, played with it aggressively, sat on her perch and said “NO”.

But the day after that had happened, while I was cleaning out my reptile cages, she had decided to get down off of her cage and walk into the living room. She usually steps up when she’s not in my room (but she hardly leaves it b/c shes phobic of new places), and she did. So I set her on the back of a chair. Went and grabbed my treat bag, and the clicker, and asked if she would step up. And she did! She can be a little difficult, sometimes she’ll put her head down and wont look up unless i give her a little scratch and then step up…but anywho, we’ve done this twice in the last week. I try for every day training, but alot of times she doen’t want to step up.

It’s just difficult at times with her because she trusts me enough to let me pet her, and some days she will let me pet her and then randomly lash out and give me a warning. I remembered what you had said about the pin feathers on tiko, but I payed attention to that, and that doesn’t appear to be the problem. Especially on days where she seems like she wants attention, but when I get closer, she nips my finger before I ever get the chance of touching her! lol, I’m sure all will get better with time.

Chet;
I have what I believe is a green amazon parrot named Stevie. He was given to our son about 6 years ago, but promptly buddied up to me. I am the only one he will let touch him, and he will step up to my fingers, and follows me all around the house some days. He will cuddle on the couch while I sit and read a book and he quietly sits or does his low little growl thing until he decides that is enough and leaves. I have clipped his wings but wonder if this is such a good thing. I’m rambling! The long and short is we are having some difficulties (including pooping on the floor, screaming when the guys talk and no luck with talking). I have read through alot of your stuff but not sure what would be the most effective plan of pursuit. Suggestions.

thanx for your comments on bean, my grey skippy is 8 yrs. old i’ve had him a year and a half, he’s learned all the whistles and said “hello” for a while but stopped. he will step up, get on my hand and cluck to me however he has seizures has been vet checked, bloodwork, nothing showed up. i’m blaming the seizures for his lack of a larger vocabulary, i have read that greys can grow out of thier seizures so i guess i’ll be patient for another year. any thoughts on this? his diet is right on, i’ve reasearched all that, and the house is free of all that can bother a grey. dawn

wow this is so amazing even if i have 2 budgies the pics are totally awsome good jooob

Hi , That was great . I just did exactly that with a Grey African, that was given to us Christm time. The previuos owner saved her from a petshop, she had no feathers. she then had it for 5 years, the bird looks fine but she could never get it to sit on her hand. When we got her, we took it very easy with her. First I just sat in front of the cage, then I would sort of stick my head in the cage and then I did , what you did with Bean. She now can’t wait for me to come to her cage and sit on my hand!!!! It’s amazing!!!! Thanks again for all your wonderfull information. Mia

Very nice post, I share the same position about this.

I tried to signup for your RSS feed but it didn’t work. How can I do this?

i have a rosebreasted cocktoo,she will be a year old in march,i can hold her,rub her neck and head,i can”t sit down with her,or do others thing cause she gets scare and jumps out of your hands and does her crazy flips.that scares me to dead cause i”m afriad she will break her neck,she likes to play on her playpen on top of her cage,but she will forget what she is doing and falls down and flips some more.why in the world do theses birds flip like that,i have never had a bird to do that.if she don”t like me doing something to her she will bit me,sometime hard.i have looked on the net but there is nothing that i have found about theses birds,to do the things they like.and i did hand feed her for 6-8 weeks. jeanie

Hi Chet,

Thanks for your story about Bean. I guess we need to be more patient with our 27 yr old cocky who doesn’t suffer from low self-esteem as opposed to too much as he is very arrogant and stubborn. However we are making slow and steady progress with him and are teaching him numbers now so he performs for the higher number of seeds and will shake hands for the most amount of seeds. Thanks again for your story.
Cheers, Margaret

This is a reply to Jose Bahamonde, dated 2/9/09

I have a Quaker Parrot named Gracie who was three years old this past December. I adopted her last September from a lady who had owned her since she was a baby. Gracie talks a lot. A few nights ago, we could hear her playing in her cage (her cage was covered) and it was around 10:00 at night. My daughter told her “Gracie, It’s time to go night nights”. Gracie said “I don’t want to.” Gracie repeated the same thing to me the following night when I told her it was time to go to sleep. This morning I had moved her cage over a few feet away from the wall to clean the floor under her cage. I forgot to move her cage back until a little later. When I came back into the room, she was muttering real low, and I asked her what was wrong, was she upset because I had forgotten to move her cage back? She replied “I don’t like it”. Gracie uses a lot of words in context.

Gracie calls my husband “Billie” which is not my husband’s name. When she want’s him, she’ll call “Billie, Billieeeee, where’s Billie”. One day I heard her ask our dog, “Lil Bit, where’s Billie?”

My husband and I will be out in another room and she will say “What are you two doing?” Right now she is calling “Peek-a-boo to you”

Whoever told you Quakers do not talk obviously was not familiar with Quaker Parrots.

A few months ago, I switched Gracie over to a pellet diet. Her feathers seem to be brighter in color and she is much more playful. We do give her sunflower seeds but only as a treat. She is such a joy and we feel so lucky to have become her adoptive parents.

Marge B.

Hi i have a gray timneh name baby he just bites like crazy i like what u did with bean i will work hard with baby to see if i can get him to stop biting i will give u updates to let u know what progress if any i get with baby thank u for ur advice on biting birds

Hi Chet
I have an Amazon that I’m at my witts end with. He’s about 11 years old. I rescued him last year from a pet store. Every day, all the time, he screams when I’m not in the room or if I’m giving my other birds attention. I feel so bad for him. It took him about 8 months, but he’s now finally playing with toys. I have a difficult time getting him out of his cage. he doesn’t step up any more. he gets fresh food and water daily, and I give him new toys to play with, but now he’s spending more time on the bottom of his cage, and he’s starting to pick at his leg feathers. Can you help?