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Fingers!!!!! I do have manners! After all, I wasn't raised in a chicken coop! No savage here, I eat with a spoon (sometimes 2) HEY MAGGIE! Can you wipe my beaker? Thanks, Maggie

Nilah like to use a spoon.

Hi, Maggie here.... When we have our oatmeal in the morning, Joe has often come to join us but never participated, having a preference for Cheerios only. After approximately 7 years with Joe (when we got him, he was 2 with a HUGE amount of baggage), he decided last week he wanted to try oatmeal and surprised both of us by eating three teaspoonfuls . Then, he insisted on a piece of toast! Since then, he has settled into a routine....When we have oatmeal, he has two spoonfuls (but never on Sunday...he refuses to eat it on Sundays LOL), and then demands a piece of toast. BUUUTTT....it has to be no more than 1/2" to an 1" long, has to be toasted golden brown, and MUST have canola margarine from end to end. The other day I made the toast a little too dark and he just gave me the evil eye look......and I had to give him a new piece of lighter toast. Yes, it has taken years but I guess in Grey time, only a flash has passed before he has decided to expand his horizons and gain a new taste profile...

Thank you Talon, no truer words....we don't feed what we know we can't and everything else in moderation so we don't have to worry about accumulation. In a few days, I'll add to this thread....major food no-no's.

Oh wow, that's amazing. I think Alfie would probably just throw the spoon at my head. Or maybe throw it across the room and expect me to fetch it for him so he can do it again.

Neat pic! Seriously though, is this a common occurrence or did you just get a good picture? Timber would be throwing the spoon at me...

Yes, I agree. No raw potatoes, no garlic, no onion, no avocado, no mushrooms, and no salt...although I do let them have some chips on occasion with sea salt. Sugar is a no no as well...but they get an occasional sweet snack... i didn’t know for a long time that unlike us humans, birds can never get rid of the salt and sugar we feed them, it just accumulates until the harm is done.😢

All these replies are great and you can count on. I want to personally thank everyone for these responses. We all learn...

Thank you KevinD and Sukie...In nature, at 5, they are still helping with the family and learning how to be an adult. A Grey matures between 5-7 years old. I would never breed a Grey before 6 years old. At this time, they are finding out stuff about their body and interests they didn't know, or weren't aware of. This is also the time where they reach out, exploring boundaries and expanding their personality. This is a period where a lot of Greys change favorites among their flock (you, your wife, your children, your dog ). Between now and 8 years old, you will see a lot of changes. Some Greys stop talking and whistle more, some will develop interests like music, looking out windows, calling your dog, cat, or you to see your reaction, and some will have a complete personality change. They are also really learning how to talk. You'll notice at times that your Grey, while you are talking to someone else will be just looking at you or you will walk by the cage and hear them mumbling sounds. What they are doing is learning and practicing how to say words with their beak. At this time, they will also go to the limit, push outside the box, and destroy the box in an effort to get a reaction out of you. Unfortunately, if our reaction is wrong, we are stuck with this bad habit. (They own us...) Unfortunately also, sneak attacks are very common at this age. The best thing to do is ignore, don't react and praise positive behavior through positive feedback and treats. Remember, we live with them, not the other way around. They own us....