neoow

It's funny what will sometimes set them off. Alfie used to hate wrapping paper. As soon as he saw it (even if it was the other side of the room) he'd start growling and puffing up. No idea why. Not sure if it's because it looked quite large when being unraveled or he didn't like the noise of it or how it moved. He's alright with it nowadays- but it took him years to get over that one. He's never even come into contact with wrapping paper- so not sure why he used to hate it so much. If you try the leaves again, give her chance to check the out at her own pace. Leave them somewhere where she can see them and get to them if she wants to. Might take her a while and she may never like them- but obviously there's something that she didn't like about them the first time round!

Lovely photo!

Did you put them straight in the cage before she'd had chance to take a good look at them? Some grey's can be really change adverse and take a while to adapt. Alfie's not too bad, but there are some toys that have to stay the other side of the room at first so he can eye them up. Then I gradually move them closer and closer over a period of a few days or a week. Anything new doesn't go in until he's happy with it. They can get really spooked by new things! (and even existing things- Alfie hates it when we bring the washing basket past... and I've had the same basket for years!)

Welcome to the forums!

Love it! The 'wakka wakka' bits still get my laughing every time!

Welcome to the forums! He's a lovely looking grey!

Awesome video. Sol is doing brilliantly!

Wow check her out, all the way up those stairs! You're an awesome testament to how a little patience can go such a long way, Katana!

Agreed, great question. Always worth checking stuff like this out. You'd be amazed at some of the stuff animals can have problems with. I was really surprised at how many plants cats can be harmed by, for example. Not that I can have any plants in my house as my two cats and Alfie would just destroy them!

Lots of April babies! Happy birthday Bailey!

Thanks all! Alfie has been out and about all evening, playing with toys, nibbling at things and watching whatever I was up to. However, he's now throwing a bit of a tantrum (well, the parrot equivalent of) because I asked him to go back to his cage to go to bed. It's 11.20pm! Far too late for a 12 year old parrot to be up! I think he's using his birthday privileges! I've let him to it for a while- will try again shortly. As much as he'd love to have free access to the whole house I just cannot risk it with two cats about!

I had to show this to all my work colleagues. They thought it was great! Their first question was "why doesn't Alfie do that?!" I told them because he only learns what he wants to learn... and besides, I can't beatbox so wouldn't be able to teach him anyway!! haha

Alfie prefers cooked veggies. He likes peas especially. And mashed potato (he only gets that on a VERY rare occasion as I'm not very good as mashed potatos and rarely eat them) He doesn't eat carrots unless cooked (boiled is fine). He chucks them if they're raw. I did blend up a load of veggies for him recently with some mango in it to see if I could trick him into eat more veggies... he barely touched it. They HAVE to be cooked!

10!!! Blimey! You must have the patience of a saint!

It's Alfie's 12th birthday today! He came to me at 11 weeks old and we've gone through a heck of a lot of together over the last 12 years. Happy birthday, Alfie! Thanks for putting up with me!

Welcome to the forums! Scooty is an awesome looking bird

That's awesome! Love the 'wakka wakka' bits!

Hello and welcome! Sorry to hear you're having problems with Woodstock (LOVE the name!). I'm sorry I can't be of any help with that but I'm sure others will be able to chime in with some ideas.

Lovely photo update! 4-5 weeks? That's no time at all! Here's hoping it flies by for you! (uh, no pun intended...!)

fantastic photos! Wow, what a spoiled little birdy! I love the look of all the toys Onyeka has! Very jealous of the cargo net. Wanted one for Alfie for ages but just can't find enough space/somewhere good enough to put it at the moment!

Haha... Busted!

I got my grey Alfie when I was 17. I was still living at home, at school most of the week and working in a pet store on Saturdays (oh how I miss that 10% discount!!). A couple of years back I had to seriously consider whether or not I was a suitable grey owner. My lifestyle had obviously changed so much from when I was 17. I ended up working in ICT and worked my way up the ladder- I'm now managing the department. The more responsibilities I took on, the harder I worked, the more I took on and the less time I had for Alfie. I was also trying to study for a degree. Whenever I was home I was exhausted or had to study/work overtime and didn't spend enough time with him. I felt awful and I seriously considered giving him up because of it. Something had to give. However, the more I thought about it I realised there was no way I could give Alfie up. So I gave up on the degree. I also moved home shortly after because I bought my own place (I was renting previously) and I was able to set things up to suit Alfie better. My computer is now right next to his cage, so he gets far more attention because when I'm not at work or asleep, I'm with him. So even when I'm working extra hours from home, I'm now socialising with Alfie at the same time. Parrots are a lifetime of commitment. And whilst it may seem super easy when you're 17 (or 18-19 as you are) it's really not. I'm not saying this to sound patronising (and I'm REALLY sorry if I come across that way) I'm just saying that I have had Alfie for 12 years and I'm not in the place I thought I would be when I was 17. Life has thrown me so many curveballs in that time and FORTUNATELY Alfie has stuck it out with me. The only thing he hasn't had to contend with is me finding someone to settle with. Sure, there's been the odd boyfriend here and there along the way- but nothing serious. Alfie has never had to contend with that. I am extremely lucky that Alfie isn't a plucker, doesn't scream the house down and generally doesn't destroy everything he can get his beak on. Honestly? I wouldn't say 'don't get a parrot'. I would say wait another couple of years at least. Get school out of the way, get into a job/career started. Get settled in a house/flat/whatever. Travel, if you're so inclined. Get all that out of the way first. I know they're fantastic animals and totally fascinating and I honestly understand that you may want to own one sooner rather than later (been there, done that!). But it would be better to be sure that you can give your parrot the life it deserves because you're in a secure job, have a secure home and the finances needed rather than get one now and assume life will go exactly as planned and be hunky dory all the way through.

Glad things are going so well!

I have had Alfie since he was 11 weeks old (he's 12 this week!). I was 17 at the time. He has grown up living with my family, a german shepherd and a cat then when I moved out he lived with two housemates. They moved out and I got a different housemate followed by two cats. That housemate moved out and then we moved again when I bought my house. The third housemate I had moved back in again. So Alfie has put up with a fair few changes. He's gone through as many cages as he has houses too. He's had to get used to different personalities (both from humans and animals), different schedules, different houses, different cages, a multitude of different toys (I cycle them round and buy new ones regularly). Overall, I've been pretty damn lucky. I haven't been the best owner I could have been (if you read my intro thread you'll find that I did have a spell of debating about whether it would be better for me to rehome him because I felt I couldn't provide enough for him but decided I couldn't do that to him). I've been doing my best to change that. Alfie is a non-shoulder bird (he likes to seek out ears and give them a nibble so he's banned from shoulders as he can't be trusted up there for too long) but is happy to sit on my knee or my chair with me. He sometimes likes scratches on his head- but all on his terms, naturally. He doesn't pluck and is actually pretty tolerant to change. Even new toys don't worry him too much- though sometimes he likes to observe them for a while before they actually are allowed in his cage. He doesn't have any particularly bad habits or behaviours. He used to scream at my sister and mum but only because they reacted. He doesn't do that to anyone any more as I stressed how important it is to ignore the behaviour so it doesn't get reinforced. He also used to make one of my housemates jump by launching himself across the cage at him as he walked past. Again, that soon stopped when the behaviour was no longer reinforced (by my housemate wailing out!). The only thing he does now is grab his food bowls or the bars near his food bowls because he discovered he can make a very loud and very annoying clicking/clonking noise with them.... usually when we dare to watch TV instead of him..! But that's probably the worst he does. He's such a good boy and I'm really lucky to have him.

Ok, which parrot has been talking to Alfie... he tried to take a chunk out of the wallpaper near my fireplace today! He found out that if he could stretch as far as possible whilst hanging on the side of his cage he could just about reach it! He's never been interested in walls before!!