about bonding

What is the consensus about African Greys and bonding? Do they
bond only to one person or two? My wife and I have a one year old
African Grey since she was 7 weeks old. We both weened her when she was
a baby, and we both spend equal time with her now. We take her with us
for walks and drives and she loves it. She also eats dinner with us at
the same time on her own little table next to us. Some people have told
us that by the time she reaches the age of 2 or so, that she will pick
only one of us to bond with, and she will probably hate the other
person. Is this true? Is there any training that we can apply so that
she does bond to both of us. One of us is surely to be heartbroken
should one be left out of this wonderfull bird's afection.
We named her Crack-Crack because that's the sound she used to make when
she was a baby and was telling us she was full; we were using the
syringe method at the time. She is more cuddly and loveable at night.
In the daytime she talks a lot and laughs and mimics coughs and all
types of amusing sounds.


Andre

We got our CAG almost two years ago. "We", consists of myself, my wife and
our 18 year old son. I was the one that wanted the bird .. my son didn't
care one way or the other and my wife almost threatened divorce. She loves
the bird now and wouldn't give him up for anything. I have always been the
primary care giver, cage cleaner and handler. Andy, our CAG, gives me the
least nips but only, I think, because I don't instantly pull back when he
acts like he is about to. My son and wife get scared ... pull back and then
quickly stick their finger back out and then pull back again ... so on and
so forth. I tell them that Andy feels as though he is being taunted and
jabbed at. They have each tried to stop pulling back but only till the blood
starts to flow. When Andy is on a perch, he does tricks for my wife, takes
treats from her without biting and seems to enjoy her company. I don't think
that he is bonded to me and me alone. It's just that he and I have a better
understanding when it comes to physical contact and handling. He shows no
signs of actually disliking either of them. He is very temperamental about
being petted. Some times he bites and other times he almost begs to have his
head and neck scratched. As I have told my wife and son, can't take it
personal ... he's a wild animal not domesticated like a cat or dog. Just
gotta keep trying and hope that he mellows with age ... you know, like Old
Molly has. :')

<Deadbugs.DeleteThis@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:1103848021.902961.98150@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> What is the consensus about African Greys and bonding? Do they
> bond only to one person or two? My wife and I have a one year old
> African Grey since she was 7 weeks old. We both weened her when she was
> a baby, and we both spend equal time with her now. We take her with us
> for walks and drives and she loves it. She also eats dinner with us at
> the same time on her own little table next to us. Some people have told
> us that by the time she reaches the age of 2 or so, that she will pick
> only one of us to bond with, and she will probably hate the other
> person. Is this true? Is there any training that we can apply so that
> she does bond to both of us. One of us is surely to be heartbroken
> should one be left out of this wonderfull bird's afection.
> We named her Crack-Crack because that's the sound she used to make when
> she was a baby and was telling us she was full; we were using the
> syringe method at the time. She is more cuddly and loveable at night.
> In the daytime she talks a lot and laughs and mimics coughs and all
> types of amusing sounds.
>
>
> Andre
>