Acappella

Here's another way to look at it. I know from experience that windows with those snap-in panes are a 'pain' to clean. Maybe Talon's trying to be helpful by removing them for you!:silly:

I don't think it's possible to be overly cautious when you're thinking of bringing home a new family member that will be totally dependant on you for it's, very long, life. By doing your homework you're helping to ensure both you and your grey will be happy. I got Dorian as an adult, but from reading other's experiences here I think that if you can find a breeder close enough to home that you can visit your baby a few times while it's being hand-fed, that would be the ideal situation. Good luck and have fun!

Reminds me of a sign I saw in a pet store "we got rid of the kids, the bird was allergic" Siobhan, the music is wonderful. I love to see kids taking part in music, although the boy playing fiddle against the wall looks like he's about to cry in his close-up. Hope that's a reaction to the camera, not the practise!!!

Glad she's going to be ok. Did the vet say what caused the problem?

Thanks guys. Johnny, he is clipped. It just wouldn't be safe for him to be flighted in my home the way it stands right now. We actually had a big step in the right direction yesterday. I was upstairs and he was in his cage with the door open. He suddenly got very quiet so I went down to check on him and he's climbing up the side of his small cage, the one I want to take him out in, which I've been moving closer to his cage so that he gets used to it. Guess he decided it was safer than the floor! Anyway, I asked him to step up and he did right away, proving once again the monkey does know what the command means! Anyway, I took him into another room where he couldn't see his cage and walked around with him, asking him to step from hand to hand. He did sooooo good and I praised the heck out of him. He was actually looking around and I can see him thinking 'so this is where she disapears to when she goes around the corner' He even preened a bit and was shaking his tail feathers which I think means 'happy bird' doesn't it? Then I took him into my office, and sat at my desk with him for a few minutes before I took him back to his cage and gave him a big treat. I'm hoping I'll make him curious enough about where I'm going when I leave the room that he'll be happy to come with me, and I think he's starting to feel more secure perching on my hand. Putting my thumb over his talons seems to help, which is a tip I got on this forum! All in all, a great afternoon. Now all I need is a good non-toxic way to get poop out of low pile carpet (the office wasn't ready for a visit from the poop machine!)

They're flock animals so they want to do what you're doing with you. I use this instinct when I'm trying to get Dorian to eat something new. Even if it still ends up getting flung away, he'll usually try it.

Dorian and I had a lovely winter with him and I spending most of the day in the same room, or me being in the room adjacent to his cage where my computer is, chatting back and forth. As the seasons change here I'll want to spend more time outside and I don't want to leave him alone feeling deserted. Problem is, for a breed known for stubborness, I think I have the ultimate! He still refuses to step up off his cage or a perch. He's even started to refuse to step-up from the floor, when getting down on the floor was his decision! When he has been startled onto the floor, I can get him to step-up and then walk around with him, sit in another room practicing (where he can't see his cage) and he's fine. But if he's on a perch or on his cage, he will litteraly shy away from my hand until he's lost balance and is hanging upside down from the perch. Also likes to 'move' my hand with his beak, always gently. It's very clear he knows what step-up means, but he loves his cage and apparently sees no need to be away from it. I have a smaller cage and stand that is all ready for him to have trips outside when the weather is warm enough, and right now I could put it by a window inside so he can see me working outside, but not if the monkey won't have anything to do with it. I need to solve this because right now he's in charge. I can't let this feathery tyrant keep both of us indoors through an Ontario spring and summer that is way too short! Short of simply grabbing him/prying him off, I don't know what to do, and I don't want to break his trust since he came to me totally hand shy. Some technical info: the previous owner made him terrified of sticks/perches, so using one to teach step up only causes growling, shaking and retreat. He loves, scratches, petting, even lets me trim his nails. He obviously trusts me and is bonded to me.

You're doing the research and looking at your lifestyle and that's a great thing. You'll make a great bird owner! I also have a cat and worried about his nose being out of joint when I brought Dorian home. It helps that he's an indoor only cat so he's never looked at birds as 'lunch' Also, he's well out of kittendom so spends much of the day sleeping, when Dorian's most active. I just make sure I pay both one on one attention, and they've been fine, although sometimes when Dorian's at his most vocal I swear I can see Jac thinking "don't you ever shut up?"

The fact that the vet says he gives it to a lot of birds, esp cockatoos who are notorious for being noisy, suggests to me that he is doing it for the comfort of the owners, not the birds. Some vets, just like human doctors, are quick to reach for the latest drug because it will stop the symptom that is causing the most worry, but I agree with others that your baby will be better off in the long run if you can address the cause of the behaviour change. Trust your instincts and wait till you move and have a chance to get a second opinion. Meanwhile, tell Makena that Marguerite and Dorian think he's still adorable and we hope he feels better soon!

Dorian started out sort of attacking and yelling at the bottle and I thought he didn't like it. Now he opens up his wings wide and flaps around, really trying to get wet, but that took a few weeks of consistant misting. Sounds like Kenya might be play fighting with it.

Just shows that for every rule, there have to be exceptions. Enjoy!

Hooray!!!!!!!!!! Welcome home Jenna.

re:Did You Know ? - 2008/04/09 00:53 This is from another thread. It helped another member, maybe it will help you. You can appear friendly to a grey by looking at them sideways, squinting your eyes, and lowering your head a little. Big, round eyes can be frightening.

Don't you hate it when you ask a question you already know the answer to, and then people give you the answer you know is right but don't want to hear:P Besides, if you got the baby early I'll bet you'd feel guilty about not giving either your bird or your guest the attention you should. Hope the week goes fast!

Most of our birds aren't big fans of misting or showers, but you have to do it. How smelly would our kids have been if we didn't force them to bathe:laugh: Having the mist cold seems to be more popular with our babies. I keep my bottle in the fridge. Also, lots of praise and a favourite treat after seems to help with the sulking after, at least with Dorian! Good luck.

What perches do you have for him. If it's really smooth, like dowel or buffed wood, maybe you can score it lightly to make it easier to grip. Or maybe a perch of twisted multi-coloured rope that attaches at both ends so that he can sink his talons into it (keep it trimmed of stray strands though - I expect you're extra careful about that sort of thing now) Mayber a perch closer to the bottom of the cage like you would with a baby just learning to perch so that there's not far to fall. After all, he is kind of re-learning right now. I hope his talons heal.

I was in a really good dollar store with lots of stuff I could make toys out of. Small wooden cubes, ABC blocks, popsicle sticks, rafia, craft foam. The wooden cubes, popsicle sticks and blocks are coloured. Are they safe to use? What about craft foam letters and shapes. Large plastic beads. Coloured shoe laces. Dog collar chain? Wood coffee stir sticks? Where do some of you buy safe supplies?

Dorian becomes a statue whenever someone he doen't know comes into the room. As for speaking he says a little bit when I'm in the room with him but talks the most when I'm out of sight. I've actually heard him say "does he speak" a couple of times, which comes from his days in the pet store.

My problem is a low ceiling in the room where Dorian's cage is. There's only 15" between the top of his cage and the exposed rafters. I was going to buy the Avian floor lamp, but now you've got me thinking (never a good idea) I wouldn't want a light shining in my eyes either! Any suggestions on a safe way to solve this would be appreciated.

Wow, how many years did you lose off your life??? I'm so glad you got your baby back. I bet poor little Chico slept well that night safely back in his cage.

Hi. In searching around for Canadian info and suppliers I found a link for a free e-book called the Parrot Enrichment Activity Book. It's full of resources, research, project ideas and pictures, and lists lots of additional internet sites. I've just gotten to page ten and want to run to the hardware store tomorrow. Here's the link where you can download it. http://www.birdbrains.ca/en/about-us/news-events/p17054562.html

I am having a frustrating time finding sources for things like Harrisons, red palm oil, poop-off and other things I've heard about on this forum. I'd love to find a web site of a store on my side of the border so that I don't run the chance of getting dinged by customs, which has happened to me before when ordering from an American vendor. Any Canadians out there with good resources?

Ok, I've voted!

I grew up on a farm and always had animals around, although I was never allowed to have an animal in the home, not that I didn't beg! My only experience with birds was a nasty rooster we had who lived to be 13 and who would walk all the way from the barn to under my bedroom window every morning to crow, so I wasn't a fan of him. I never knew anyone who had a pet bird and never thought of owning one myself. Then the woman who opened a pet store in my small town joined the TOPS group where I was chapter leader and I got to know her. I started going in to the store for my cat supplies and met Dorian, her AG. He wasn't for sale. She'd brought him into the store because that's where she spent the majority of her time, and she'd had a 'store' bird at her last store who'd become such a fixture there she'd had to sell him when she sold that business. I was facinated by him and finding excuses to go into the store all the time. The first time he let me scratch his head I was thrilled, and my friend was telling me that he really liked me and that he only had a couple of people who he let touch him. After about a year my friend unfortunately had a series of health scares and wasn't at the store very much anymore, while I and another friend filled in to keep the business open. By the time she was well enough to work a few hours, Dorian wouldn't have anything to do with her. I guess from his perspective she'd just dissapeared. When she decided to sell the business because of her health, she asked me if I'd be interested in having Dorian because she could see that he was bonded to me. I didn't think it was possible for me to afford him, but we worked out a deal that I could handle. She could have sold him to any number of people in town who'd asked over the years if he was for sale, but she wanted him to go to a home where she knew he'd be well cared for. I actually just made my very last payment to her this week, so the grey goofball is now all mine!

Thank goodness. I'm so relieved for you.