I have a question, and need everyones imput.

We have heard and been told over the years that greys are one person birds.
I have not found this to be true. I see no difference between my greys or any other species I have lived with. I want your opinions.

Do you find greys to be one person birds?


I have 3 greys that want to feed me all the time. Emma and Sydney will also feed George. They are both wonderfully socialized birds. Stirling likes who he likes. He will either offer his tootsie and step up or sucker punch ya. He hates George.
Sampson would go to anyone.
Otis preferd not to be handled, but did not give anyone any birdycrap and would hop up on anyone if asked.
Bubba liked anyone BUT me.

so I have had 6 greys and not one has ever been a one person bird. 2 of them were babies when I got them, one under a year, and 3 were adoptions and had so many homes I cant even begin to count.

What are your greys like?

Ollie loves me and tolerates others. Dakota loves my mom and tolerates others. I don't have a lot of experience with other greys, but I would say Ollie and Dakota are no different. Of course they're going to feel more comfortable around the person who spends the most time with them, and that comfort level is going to decrease from other family members, to aquaintances, to strangers.

I think a lot of it also depends on socialization. I have noticed that as Ollie is getting older, she is more willing to go to other people. The other weekend my brother and some of his friends came over. She willingly flew to him and one of his friends. Actually, the friend wasn't even expecting it. He was in shock when she landed on his head!

I guess it would depend on the definition of the term "One person bird". Favoring one person, or liking one person exclusively and no others.

Tully was six when we got him, so it's hard to say what his life was before us. Now that he's here I know, and we all know, that he loves me more then anyone. However, he does like other people too. But if I walk into the room he dumps them for me. He only likes females and little kids too. Teen boys and grown men, he doesn't want anything to do with. So in my opinion he's not a one person bird. Though he does favor one person. I agree totally with Camille, I think the key is socialization. And really, just like people they are all so different.

Schroeder definantly prefers me to other people because he trusts me and we know eachother and have bonded. However, he'll step up for anyone, ask for scratches from anyone, and if anyone asks him for a kiss he'll usually oblige.

When I think of "one person birds" I think that the bird will only behave reliably, accept or act friendly towards one person and ignore, not listen to, or maybe even be aggressive to others.

I definantly don't think african greys are doomed to be one person birds though their genetic wiring or anything of the sort, but certainly any bird can become that way if not properly socialized.

Obviously he's still just a baby so time will tell but I'm working on keeping him very well socialized with all kinds of different people in safe and happy terms ^^

depends on the bird i suppose but when he was younger zup would go to anyone, i tried keeping it that was by socalizing him to new people but nope im the only one who can cuddle him now and my dad is the only one apart from me who can rub him, my mum can go near him IF shes got a walnut or banana in her hand but she cant actually touch him and if she gos near him without food....theres no fingers left after lol

Pepper and Slinky have certainly bonded with me.
They both take treats and toys out of my childrens hands, but they don't climb up on them or enjoy sitting on their shoulders.
Slinky is terrified of strangers or even a dog he does not know when they first approach him. He does this I'm afraid sceach/growl (that makes me feel like I have to run over to him and save him - lol)
But he loves my husband. If they both are on the couch Slinky always walks over to him and hops on his shoulder.
My husband does not interact with them at all. He has never pet him or given him treats. He will however pick them up from the floor or put them in their cage when I ask him to do so.
Pepper can be handled by others but if I am close enough she will hop/fly to me.
Overall I say that my two TAGs favor me over anyone and will sometimes tolerate others. Strangers are far away from being accepted.
Insa

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Interesting Poll,
Sammy, was raised by both the wife and I, he prefers me but will come to both of us, he basically loves us both,he calls to my wife to come and get him, but when he sees me, well...he wants to be with me, Sammy is by all means a 2 person bird.
Athena, Raised by others, again comes to both of us, she prefers the wife but again she is a 2 person child.
We done extensive reading on this issue and when deciding to BUY a new bird we requested the bird be very young (un-wiened) hand feeding helps concerning this issue.
Now Tanks our Quaker, he's a mommas and only a mommas boy.
I would have to say, all birds can be multiple person birds, this depends on the trainer (caregivers).

Big Bird definitely has a preference. I am his pet. Though he will go to others in the family, he sort of seems to be granting them the honor of his momentary company .

When I go out of town for more than a few days, he will begin to pluck his chest feathers. I have not noticed him plucking when anyone else goes out of town. Many days he will not come out of cage for anyone but me though once he is out he will allow others to hold him or feed him treats.

Changes in the "flock" bother him. Whether the change is in a furred or feathered flock member does not seem important. We recently lost a dog that big bird had grown up with...he still calls Rosie by name and has been doing some light plucking of his chest feathers. This is not unusual for him. I have found him to be very sensitive about all changes in the flock, but, there is one member (in this case me) that is HIS.

So far Scarlett will got to just about anyone. But only when she feels like stepping up or being handle, lol. I think that is the grey part of her coming out. Little diva!

I have four Greys and all of them have their preferred person, but will allow anyone to ask them to step up. Eddie is the most neurotic. She really only trusts me to handle her and even then I am limited to what I can do with her to stay within her comfort zone (mostly just snuggle and love her). She will step up for a stranger if they insist but will proceed to clip feathers off until they set her back down. Zeke is in love with Jerry and tolerates anyone else. Smokie LOVES everyone but me and tolerates me to get her what she wants and needs. She does prefer Jerry best. Ben LOVES ME and will bite the tar out of anyone else that tries to get near him. Of course, he is new to the house and I have not had the opportunity to socialize him yet. But he loves to chase Jerry through the house and try to get his toes! He loves me unconditionally and I can do whatever I want with him. So, I guess what I am trying to say is they are all VERY different in personalities and I have found they can be tolerant of strangers/other family members, but they do have their single strongly preferred person.