When breeding an African grey or any other parrot, the relationship between the bird and its owner will likely go through the taming phase, the attachment phase, and finally the socialization phase with other people. In this article, we will learn how to make an African grey love you and become attached to you.
So, how do you get an African grey to love you?
For an African grey to love you, you must provide it with everything it needs to stay happy and “fulfilled”. Simple things like play, toys, social interaction and food are essential.
Owners must never let the African grey feel alone, as this is the most important thing for this breed of parrot.
However, some owners may overlook something that their greys really love, aside from the things mentioned above. And in this article, we will dive into everything you can do to build a strong bond with your African grey.
How to make an African grey love you?
After providing food, safety, and interaction to your African grey parrot, you may be surprised that your bird does not enjoy spending time with you, or prefers to stay in its cage. And this is perfectly normal as African greys are shy parrots and prefer to be alone to express themselves, even more than other breeds.
However, if your African grey is tamed and is not afraid to approach you, it is time to cuddle your parrot. And this can be done by scratching the head and neck of the bird for 5 to 10 minutes, and if you can do it longer, go ahead. Don’t be surprised if your parrot asks for more scratches… It loves it! And this way of cuddling will make your parrot closer to you, and it will seek more and more interaction and scratches.
A long-term relationship like with a human
Day after day, the parrot will grow attached and bond with you and will be excited and happy when you present yourself in front of its cage the next morning. Although African greys are not great at cuddling, this gesture will make them fall in love with their owners.
After establishing a strong bond with your African grey, the next step is to socialize the parrot. And without a strong bond, the results can be very disappointing, as socializing parrots requires the constant presence of a source of security, which is usually the owner (or its caregiver).
The relationship between a parrot and its owner typically goes through 3 phases which are:
- Taming phase, where owners begin to gain the trust of the parrot and discourage instinctive and defensive aggression.
- Attachment phase, during which the parrot begins to develop emotions towards its owners. This phase is a bit more challenging and is the essence of our article’s topic.
- Socialization phase, where the parrot meets new people without worrying about its safety.
Why do African greys love to scratch their neck and head?
The African greys are capable of scratching any place on their body with their claws, except for their head and neck, which are out of their reach. So, if you offer them this, and they love it, your African grey will literally fall in love with you and will want more.
In fact, scratching the head of an African grey is a good first step to gaining its trust.
In conclusion, scratching the head and neck of your African grey parrots will lead the bird to develop a love for you, because the head and neck of African greys are out of their reach, and always seem to itch. And no matter how they feel, African greys will always appreciate scratches and will ask for more.
This is how to start this attachment phase with your wonderful parrot.
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