Instructions
Place the cage in an appropriate area before you bring your bird home. In the wild, African Greys live in seclusion, so place the cage in an area where it will have adequate privacy. Do not situate the cage next to windows or doorways in which people may suddenly appear as this may cause stress for the bird.
Quarantine your bird until tests have been done. This is especially important if you have other pets in the household. Like all birds, there are many diseases and illnesses that an African Grey can carry and transmit to you and your pets. In fact, depending on the breed or pet store where you get the bird you may be able to have tests done before bringing the bird home.
Notice your bird's behavior and body language. Pay special attention to whether or not the bird is displaying behaviors indicating fear, such as widening of the eyes, heavy breathing, holding feathers to the chest or trembling. If the bird is indicating that it is happy it may outstretch its wings towards you or wag its tail from side to side. If you notice the bird seems unsure, anxious or scared it is important to back off from what you are doing. Again, African Greys lead secluded lives in the wild and even if your bird has been domesticated, its instincts are to be suspicious of its surroundings, especially new ones.
Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Greys are extremely intelligent birds, and will quickly learn that good behavior will be rewarded. Likewise, if you reward the bad behavior by giving them what they want, they will quickly learn this is a way to get what they want. For instance, if your bird is squawking incessantly for attention and you respond by giving it that attention, this is only teaching it that squawking works.
Introduce the bird to new people and surroundings slowly. When you first bring your bird home let it get used to its surroundings before you begin to introduce it to the rest of the house. Once it feels secure in its cage you may let it out and give it a tour of the rest of the house. The same goes for people. Wait until the bird is familiar with and trusts you before you begin introducing it to new people.
How to Bring Your African Grey Home
The docile nature and intelligence of the African Grey Parrot has made it a popular pet among bird enthusiasts. One of the most notable features of the African Grey is its ability to mimic speech. In 2008, one African Grey, found in a Japanese backyard, was able to talk its way home by repeating its address to animal clinic staff caring for the bird. Like other large birds, there are many precautions and steps you must take when bringing home an African Grey in order to properly socialize it and introduce it into your home.