Hi all. I have a question. How long does the growling last for? I understand Zakiya has only been with us for 3 weeks this Wednesday, but she growls sometimes when my son or hubby go near her. They can still get her to step up, and she takes treats from them, but it makes me feel so bad as they are so kind to her and want to be friends but she growls like she doesn't want to be friends. She never does this to my daughter or I. Can anyone enlighten me to this type of behavior? Did you all experience it with your greys? How long does it last? Will she always do that to them? I feel so bad for them! Thanks in advance all!

My comments in pink:

Hi all. I have a question. How long does the growling last for? Well, Echo would grey growl for up to three minutes at a time. She hasn't really stopped persay. She will still grey growl at me when she is insecure (then I hold her close and snuggle) or when we are around my brothers or dad at certain times.I understand Zakiya has only been with us for 3 weeks this Wednesday, but she growls sometimes when my son or hubby go near her. If you and your daughter are the main caretakers, she could be doing the 'grey bond' with you. Make sure she is getting handled and taken care of by your husband and son. You might also want to 'back off' by not lavishing her too much and let your hubby/son have a little more time. This was happening with Harley and my dad and this is what we did. It's helped her to become more well rounded with our family. They can still get her to step up, and she takes treats from them, but it makes me feel so bad as they are so kind to her and want to be friends but she growls like she doesn't want to be friends. She may not be growling because she doesn't like them. Many young greys, including Echo, growl because they want attention or food. Now, if she is showing aggressive behavior torwards them, then yes she doesn't want them near her. She never does this to my daughter or I. As previously stated, are you and your daughter the main caretakers of her? Do you spend the most time with her? Has anything bad (i.e yelling, crying, etc...) happened in front of her when your hubby/son were in the same room? Can anyone enlighten me to this type of behavior? Did you all experience it with your greys? How long does it last? Generally, the behavior will continue throughout their life, though it is more common in babies. However, I have seen adult greys still growl when they want attention, food or are uncomforable. Will she always do that to them? Well, that depends on her. If she is well rounde with all of you, she may stop, but, if she doesn't get handled by them as much as you and your daughter handle her, then it could continue. I feel so bad for them! Thanks in advance all!

Also, was she raised by women? Did she ever get handled by men?

Danielle I can't belive Z has been home 3 weeks already! It seems like yesterday that you were counting down the hours til she came home.
I can't offer any help (no greys here) but your in the right place for people to help you. How about some more piccies of that pretty girl? Hehehe. Just thought I would ask

That's weird that you mention this now, because lately Gracie has been growling at anyone except for Josh and I. I think it's a "I don't really know you that well, don't touch me" growl. lol I think if she was around my other family members and friends more often there would be less growling.

My Buddy is a rescue and is 6 years old. Ive had him 1 yr. I can honestly say, Ive never heard this from him. Im not sure I would know how to handle it if he did!

Id just like to add, Dominique, Im always impressed with your answers and comments hon. Youre a great role model for young people. Your response on this one was really good!

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for the info. I will for sure try to back off and let hubby and son try to do more for her. She does sit with hubby on a towel at night sometimes so he can pet her etc. But alas....at some point growling. Argh.
We will for sure work on it! Thank you all!

Dominique, you truly are a very special young lady. I always enjoy your posts and you make me have such faith in the future! Yes, Z's breeders were both women so as I have explained to hubby and son, she isn't sure of deep voices and very handsome faces! LOL

Here's some more pictures of my little grey football!

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Leigh, I used to take care of a breeder's birds. I didn't know about the Grey growl at the time. At first when I started working for this person, I just came in to clean cages. Most of the birds would retreat to their nest boxes and not bother me and I would go about my business of cleaning cages.

On my first day at the job, I get to the third room of birds and all of a sudden I hear this terrible growl. I swear there was a Rottweiler behind me. I look....nothing. Go back to cleaning, there's this terribly loud menacing growl again. I investigate further and it's coming from the nest box! I look and sure enough, it was a pair of Grey's defending their territory against the intruder!

I'm telling you, if I hadn't heard it and seen what was making this growl I would have never believed what they're capable of emitting.

I wonder if we could find a video on YouTube of anyone that's captured this growl?

Thank you and thank you Leigh! I truley love this board and the people here. It's been a place where I can confedently ask questions and know I will get answers that are from real experiances and aren't going to be made up. What can I say, I learn from the best!

Yep, Riley used to do this growl mainly to my Dad and my FIL and sometimes my Mom. Before they couldn't even walk into the same room with her and she would just growl like crazy at them. She never growled at my hubby or anyone else. Her breeders were men too, so go figure! About a month ago my FIL was over and him and my daughter were playing a board game on the living room floor, so my FIL layed on the floor right in front of Riley's cage and she did not like that at all! She growled at him like crazy until he moved. She even came crawling down her cage and got as close to him as possible and growled. That is when my FIL got the hint and moved over next to the couch. Maybe she senses he prefers cats over birds! I would say just like the others, involve your hubby and son more in the care taking. Maybe have them give her a favorite treat and talk all sweetly and softly to her and hopefully she will come around. It took Riley several months before she decided to stop growling at my Dad every day when he brought my daughter home from school. Now she only does it when the mood strikes.

Well Karen, I think that would simply freak me out!