aslterp59

I've found myself having to "chew" a toy myself if Gemma isn't interested at first. Sometimes I'll turn away with it a bit, having lots of fun and making laughing noises and soon she (like a typical toddler) wants a chance at it herself. I understand why you want your Zak to chew because it is good for their beaks, their self-esteem and it's what parrots do! Good luck, keep us updated!

Great slideshow, beautiful and obviously happy birds! The "shower bird" was my favorite!

OK! Fids! I get it now! Thanks!

Great toy! Where do you find the bells that are bird-safe?

To anyone on this forum who has experience making toys: I have a couple of questions. 1. How do you make the straws into spirals? I saw reference to a pencil sharpener but don't know how that would work. 2. Has anyone made your own "boing" toy? If so, how did you do it? Also, what does "fid" mean? I've racked my brain and can't figure out what it means!! In a world of initials, I'm a word person! :-) Thanks to ALL of you who have posted with your ideas, pictures, and responses. I could sit here by the hour and just read all the ideas (OK, maybe I already have....).

This is a great idea!! I'm new to this forum and there are so many incredibly creative ideas here! Every time I'm at the store I'm looking for things that Gemma (9 month-old CAG) would enjoy, or for parts to make cool toys. One thing I'd ask about the tube sock idea - I read somewhere that uncooked beans are not safe for birds. Has anyone else heard or read that?

Eshana, is your bank account chewed up because your bird got to the statement and chewed it, or is it "chewed to shreds" because you want to buy everything you see for your baby? ....like me.... We used to have a cockatoo that destroyed a valuable antique wooden clock that my dad had spent many hours repairing and refinishing, a large wooden antique radio that my husband had repaired. He could get out of ANY lock we put on his cage until we finally resorted to a padlock and key. He was a brilliant escape artist. Once we were staying in a dorm room of a small college while our house was being built - just for a week or two. We returned home after work to find the large mirror over the sink shattered all over the floor, a HUGE hole (at least 2' by 2') chewed into the wall, and significant chewing on the joists behind the wall. We scrambled around and found another mirror to cover the hole. That was about 20 years ago, we don't know if anyone has discovered yet what is behind that mirror!!

We were given a 13 y-o CAG several years ago. Due to a tragic and totally unforeseen accident he is gone and we now have a 9 month-old CAG. Our former Grey, Sam, would say, "It's alright!" when he was scared by something. We knew that the wife of the couple who previously owned him was the one who would reassure him when he got scared of something, because it was always a woman's voice. And yes, he used it appropriately all the time! It was never part of his chatting-for-the-sake-of-making-noise routine.

So glad you are happy with yours. I just ordered one a couple days ago and can't want to try it with Gemma! She's nearly 9 months old and curious, energetic and I believe she'll like going outside with me. I'm new to this forum so don't know if other can see this reply, but someone asked where you got yours. I ordered mine from AvianWeb and the price was considerably lower than I've seen in other places. http://www.avianweb.com It comes with the instructional DVD. I received a very quick confirmation email when I ordered, and it was shipped the next day, and I received a confirmation email for that with a tracking number. Can't wait to try it!

Glad to hear how much some of you like the Aviator Harness. I just ordered one from AvianWeb. It was considerably less expensive than many places. I can't wait to get it and try it with Gemma! She's young (nearly 9 months) and I feel like this will be a good time to introduce her to it and let her start spreading her wings and explore new territory (pun intended).

Gemma is a CAG - she's not quite 9 months old and I've had her for about 4 months, so some things may change with time, but here goes: Please start by stating whether your parrot is a TAG or CAG. Then follow to the questions: 1. Does he/she get on well with more than one member in the family? She's primarily a one-person bird but is starting to tolerate my husband 2. Is he/she receptive to strangers? As long as they don't try to touch her. She doesn't growl if they are just nearby or talking to her. 3. Is he/she receptive to change / new things? No, pretty cautious, but if I show her how to play with something new, she will try it, too. 4. Is he/she cuddly? Very! 5. Is he/she aggressive? No 6. Is he/she playful / energetic? OH, yeah! 7. Is he/she moody / grumpy? Rarely 8. Does he/she speak? She's young, but starting to talk 9. Is he/she loud, noisy? Very rarely 10. Does he/she damage household objects they shouldn't? Given the chance she probably would but she's watched carefully when out.

We recently acquired an african grey, Sammy, a couple months ago. Some of you may remember I posted about him a few times. He's very tame, very talkative, and absolutely amazing to us! Sometimes when we're playing with him (when he's on top of his cage), he lifts up one leg and tries to roll over on this back. I know this is a very vulnerable position for him and he must really love us! Ha. The problem is that I don't know what to do -- try to scratch his stomach, try to get a hand under his back... it's like he's not sure and I'm not sure what to do! I'm afraid of doing something that would scare him, and as he's really putting himself out there for us, we don't want to startle him in any way He gets nippy at times. He loves to snuggle, but getting him from the cage (inside or from on top) onto my arms is a study in psychology. He won't just step up onto my hand. If he's on top, he thinks we're going to put him back inside the cage. If he's inside, he wants to be scratched but then will bite. He was doing "step up" really well for a while, but seems to have lost that. Any ideas?

Hi! I just put a picture of Sammy on the Photo Album. It's called "evening snuggles." He loves to sit on my stomach in the evenings. I sit on the rocker and sing to him and he listens, talks softly, even tries to 'sing' with me. He loves to get his head scritched, and even his back! He's still coming out with new words. This morning he said, "Sammy's a baaaad bird. He's a bad boy. He's jealous. Why are you jealous why?" Sounds like he knew what he was talking about, but I think he's picked up the 'jealous' thing because we say that when the dog comes around. Today he barked a lot --he can sound exactly like a dog barking outside... and now he imitates our dog barking inside. Wow, greys are simply amazing!!

Sammy continues to amaze us with new phrases and words. He's told the dog to "shut up," and one time when our daughter walked out of the room, he said, "Come back here!" We've started to take him out of the cage sometimes and he loves to sit on our hand and snuggle. Tonight I had him on my arm and he sat with me in the rocker for a long time... just petting him, singing to him. He "sang" along with me, no words, just very quiet noises he made, going up and down when my voice did, like he was singing along. It was so sweet!! He talks a LOT, very clearly, with different voices. He's constantly coming out with new phrases. Yesterday I was having a very serious conversation with a mom whose little girl is having surgery later this month. My husband was playing with Sammy, grabbed the list of words/phrases I'd started that we've heard Sammy say, and added something to it. He stuck it in front of my nose and I nearly burst out laughing! He had said, "Sammy is a bad bird from hell." Imagine my pastor-husband's surprise!!! LOLOL We finally figured out what one noise is that he makes quite often... we couldn't quite place it! Then I heard it today - when someone opened a pop can behind me in a restaurant -- he's imitating a can being opened! What a trip this has been in just one short week! Denise O.

Well, I bought a new perch for Sammy to help get his nails trimmed down, but he's been a bit "not-himself" today, seems to startle easily, so I didn't want to introduce that today. I have put it near his cage so he can see it, but not inside. He doesn't play much -- maybe he will when he's settled down more. Toys and chewies don't interest him right now. He did something that really surprised me today -- he went to his bowl to eat... sat on the edge... and reached in with his claw and grabbed a hand(claw)-ful and ate it from his claw. I've seen birds reach for things they want with their claws, but never reach into their food dish and get a handful! SO FUNNY!!!! :laugh: That's today's Sammy update -- just kind of quiet today, a bit nippy, so I've just kind of been "around" but not tried to do much with him. The weather is overcast, raining, and I'm wondering if the drop in the barometric pressure affects him like it does the outside birds???? Denise in NC

I meant to say we've clipped small and medium birds' NAILS, not wings (tho we've done that, too).... I was in a hurry when I typed that. Anyway, I do appreciate the advice! The perch he has now is completely smooth - I use natural branches in my aviary and will try to find something for him. too. I also like the idea of the pumice safety perch! I'm going to check that out! I sure don't want to put him through the horrors of nail-clipping. He's adjusting so well. He's sitting behind me talking his head off... he's said several new phrases today -- I started a list but can't keep up! Enjoying our new baby.... Denise in NC

HI, my new AG Sammy is doing wonderfully! He seems to want to come out, and I've had him out for a bit, but his nails are so sharp I can't stand it! What's a good way to clip his nails? We've clipped small and medium birds' wings, but are so afraid of freaking Sammy out... Any ideas? I simply cannot hold him - it feels like needles poking into my skin! Denise in NC

Well, Sammy is already talking to us quite a bit. A lot we can understand, some are mumbled words that we can't make out. But he's had us in stitches already! He says, "You wanna jellybean? What's wrong?! What color? Whatcha doing? awwwww, Hi Buddy, pretty bird, Why? What? What stinks here? Mom! I know..." He just said, "Want company?" Last night as we were leaving for church (kicking and screaming, ha ha), he said, "Sambo!" So we know that was his real name. Funny thing is that it was in a woman's voice, and with kind of a sigh after it -- like someone had said that in exasperation a few times! He says some things in a woman's voice, some in a man's. He's talking up a storm right now, but we can't understand everything. And he makes several noises including dripping water (????), a gulping sound when I was drinking a sip of coffee, a burp, a cluck, wolf whistle, smack (like calling the dog), laughs just like me, and a few conure noises. Yesterday my daughter had a 'conversation' with him: She walked into the room and he said, "What color?" She said, "I'm wearing blue." He said, "I know (wolf whistle)." It was at that point that daughter fell totally in love with him! He startles at different new noises, as we'd expect, but I'm amazed at how much he's talking to us already. He had one weird habit -- he wanted us to scratch his head (would lay his head near the cage bars or put it up against the cage), but when we'd try to scratch him, he'd turn his head every which way and then kind of push us different ways with his beak. We couldn't really scratch him and he'd get frustrated. But last night my hubby worked with him for like 3 minutes, and now he'll keep his head still for a nice scratching. SMART BIRD!!! We're enamored! We have to change his cage around -- the perch is right where he can um... poop... in his water and food. We can't leave it that way. But I don't want to freak him out.... Since I'll be home today most of the day I'm going to just change his water a lot and watch his food. Don't want too many changes in too short a time. Pictures soon!! Denise in NC

Well, Sammy is home and already entertaining us with sounds and words. He made the kissing/calling noise when the dog entered the room. He occasionally asks me "what color?" in both male and female voices... He wasn't crazy about the ride home, but he did fine. He's a little jumpy, but overall he's doing great. I know it will take some time for him to relax, but I think we're off to a good start! Will give updates soon!

WOW, I'm excited. I'm ready for church, trying to concentrate on what I should, but there are feathers in the back of my mind constantly.... As soon as church is over, we're off to pick up Sammy, then home to get him settled. I'm sure we'll eat lunch, it's cooking in the crock pot. But at this point I really don't care. LOL. Thank you thank you thank you, all you who have replied to my questions, and for your encouragement. I'll be posting again soon with updates on how he's adjusting and so on. Time to go.... the hour of Sammie approacheth....

I found a website for making your own parrot toys and I can't wait to make him toys and treats -- for cheap! Wow, pet stores cost a fortune for things you can make yourself for pennies, or for tree branches, which I can get from our 2-acre woods behind the house (I know about the poisonous ones, I use real branches for the aviary also). Here's another strange question that I bet someone here can answer -- I just don't remember. I found myself looking into Sammy's eyes yesterday, but it occurred to me that some animals see a direct eyegaze as intimidating. Horses, dogs, etc., do, and I try to respect that with our horses and dog. Do birds see that as predator-like? I don't remember from having a cockatoo years and years ago. This forum is wonderful, I really appreciate all the replies and encouragement! I can't wait to share some pictures. I KNOW I won't want to go back to church tomorrow night, but alas, I'll have to because I teach a class......

Well, we've decided to get Sammy and we'll be picking him up tomorrow after church. I'm so excited I can hardly sit still! Will let you all know how he adjusts, gets some pictures, etc. Thanks again for all your awesome input! I'm looking forward to getting into some of the other threads of this forum to learn more. Denise in NC aslterp59

Thank you for such quick replies!! We know what a huge commitment a parrot is, which is why we're "sleeping on it" tonight. It's encouraging to hear that he could continue to learn new words. We were AMAZED at how friendly he was, how sweet and gentle. If we decide on him, he would be in a place in the house where he's have plenty of interaction (another consideration -- where to put the large cage?!?!). Lots to think about -- we realize that it is a long-term commitment. I'm so excited -- I hope hubby agrees to him! His name is Sammy (the bird, not my husband, LOL). If we get him, I'll take some pictures. Thanks again for the great, quick replies!! Denise in NC

HI, everyone. I'm a bird-lover with an aviary of about 35 finches, canaries, button quail, diamond doves. My husband and I have experience with parrots, having had an umbrella cockatoo years ago, plus cockatiels, 'keets, and lovebirds. We were introduced to someone who has an african grey to give away. We went to meet him today, and he's an absolute DOLL! He can talk, though we didn't hear all his vocabulary. The thing that stood out was that he immediately bent to have his head scratched, he explored our fingers with his beak but never bit down, and he honored us by regurgitating! Naturally, we fell in love. He's sweet, playful, friendly, and even tried to roll on his back when my husband was petting him (but forgot to let go with one leg so didn't get all the way over on his back). The current owners have had him for 19 years but with kids, schedules, etc., have not had the time to spend with him and two other parrots they have. They still talk to them, keep their cages clean, etc., but she said this bird hasn't been out of his cage in quite a while. However, when we let him out he sat nicely on the cage top, and eventually even got on our hands. It's obvious that he's a well-trained, very friendly and very healthy bird. We feel confident about getting him, as we have had a lot of bird experience. I'm just wondering if anyone out there knows if an older grey can still learn new words? That doesn't really play into whether or not we'll get him, but I'm just curious. This would be our first real "talking" bird. Thanks for any information you can give me. We plan to make a final decision in the morning after we "sleep" on it -- we know that having a parrot is a big commitment. Denise in North Carolina