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My husband (CT Gull) and I rescued an almost 5 year old Congo Grey. After spending most of the first 24 hours at the vet's, she/he is slowly acclimating to our home. This is a big feat when you find out we have 3 other parrots, 2 rescued dogs, 2 rescued cats, 7 snakes, 1 gecko, 1 frog, 1 bearded dragon, 1 Cuban Rock Iguana, a Bearded Dragon, and a frog. The perils of bringing up 3 kids who also love animals. I had the vet do some blood work on Piper which shows some very elevated levels for Potassium, Liver components though functioning is normal, and a couple of tests that I'm unsure of. The parrot was on a seed and nut diet only. I don't think see ever got any sunlight or vitamin D. We have already started her on a pelleted diet and will be adding in freeze dried vegetables to it as well. I am looking for any holistic remedies I might also use as well. I heard about Milk thistle extract at the Aviculture summit that was held in CT last summer. However, I think that was for respiratory issues which Piper doesn't appear to have. Originally, the vet was talking about her going on medication to help with the feather plucking. I have decided against that due to the levels being out of whack. Any help or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I am attaching a photo I hope so you can see how she looks. She loves to hang like a bat and bop to music. Very funny bird. You can read more about her at my husband's posts (CT Gull).

Ha to the "make a profit!" I shudder to think how much money I've spent on Timber since he came to us 6 years ago, but don't regret a penny of it. When he has an inclination to bath, I put a 8x8 glass baking dish (heavy one) on the cage floor. With the encouragement of a few ice cubes he will usually dive in. The dish has "lips" on either end that he can perch on easily.

And I got her to step up after she came out onto the top. Although I don't know at what cost. She was kind of lightly huffing or crying, with her wings slightly open and slightly drooped and a slight shake. I'm thinking I got too touchy and she got "excited". Al she wants is scratches. Out of the cage she went easily from one hand to another, unlike our other 2 birds that are right hand only. She kept looking up at the ceiling. Maybe she's not used to the popcorn ceiling texture. I didn't take her more than a foot from her cage. And put her back after a couple of minutes. Once inside she was back to not wanting to step up. Although she's getting less resistant. A little while later we did it again. Same result.

Finally a picture!

Not so Jay. If you served you are a hero. Thank you for your service!

Thank you for rescuing this beautiful bird and for taking such good care of her/him!

When I came home on liberty in 1964, my girlfriend's father came to me (we were both over 18), and he told me "If you are dressed in your uniform, you cannot take my daughter out". With respect, I replied "Yes sir". The gentleman forgot to realize I had a military haircut and a US NAVY tattoo. This has been burned in my memory for years now. I am no hero but I stood beside those who were and called them brother...

The perch I put on the door came out the next time I opened the door. She freaked when it moved and walked back and forth on the far wall. I opened and closed the door a few times so she could see they were connected. Nope. It's gone. Maybe in a few months.

Fixed ! Thanks!!

Well it is clearly spring.....Nilah is VERY hormonal. She is a crazy wild woman! Ever since my daughter started bringing home boyfriends years a go...Nilah has attacked every female who enters my house...it is very bad when it’s spring...soooo....it’s very difficult for my 2 sons when they bring their girls friends home...Nilah will go full blown attack at them. Problems being once she’s out of her cage for the day, there’s no getting her back in until bedtime...and NO I absolutely won’t keep her cage bound on my day off from work...I also can’t have visitors unless she’s in her cage so I discourage guests... How many years of this do I have to deal,with this behavior???? I am the only one who can handle her and she is bonded to me, so I’m not a problem...but any other female is..... I welcome any opinions or advice to help us thru...

Blessed be the members of this Forum and Blessed be the people of this World who fought for it. Thank you all for all you gave to this Country's Freedom and much more the Freedom of our World.....Pray to the one you call God, and to those who do not believe in a God, give thanks to our Freedom.... Thank You for Your Service... Amen... Rev Jay

Hello CTGull and welcome to our family. I am so glad you could give this girl a new forever home and she is making great progress. Poor dear has been thru a lot but with your love and attention she will flourish and make a great addition to your already large flock of animals. Everything in a greys world moves slowly so what may look like slow progress is actually a big deal in grey time, lots of time and patience is needed right now and she will let you know when she is ready for closer or more intimate interaction. She is lovely though she looks a little ratty but I imagine in a years time there could be quite the difference but only time will tell.

I'm gonna burn for this one... I put a new toy on the outside of her cage not far from her water bowl. As long as she doesn't avoid that corner, it'll go inside in a day or 2. And I put a shallow ceramic baking pan on the bottom if she wants to bath. I splashed in it a bit so she's know what it was.

I actually have Aloe Vera juice for me. Problem is, Dave tried to spray her with water and she got scared. Can I put it in her water or won't that help? Thanks for your help.

Thank you for the photos and post! If I may, Walmart sells "ALOE VERA Juice". Your baby should be sprayed heavily every 2-3 days. Thank you Rev Jayd

I couldn't leave my home to get a Poppy, I got one for free at this address: https://poppyinmemory.usaaclo.../?EID=mkt_ent_md_mem_0518-08

Another story from the category "You can't make this stuff up", my wife was just woken up from a nap by a guy our oldest works with at the local pet store. He wanted to negotiate terms to buy our new African Grey. "How would your husband like to make $300?? AND I'll throw in a Nile monitor!" I asked her if she mentioned how many hundred dollars we're into this bird in vet bills. NOPE!! Don't think so!!! Ain't happenin!!! In bird news, she continues to get more vocal. "Hello." "Good morning." Various odd sounds. I removed a shredded rope toy that was probably dead a year ago, and a nasty tangle hazard. And moved one toy from the toy farm in one corner to another corner. And I moved a 10" long pearch that was covered with the bird equivalent of plastic barbed wire!! I removed the nasty stuff and put it on the door near the hinge so she could perch on it and it would pivot out when the door opens. We're done that with our Alexandrine and he likes it. Then again, he's dumber than a box of rocks. He greets me by grabbing a toy and the side of the cage and violently bobbing his whole body up and down. When I talk to him he stares at me with his puppy dog eyes. But, getting back to the Grey, she came over to check out the perch, hanging upside down and looking at it closely. Hopefully she doesn't get too upset at all the changes. We still need to put some new toys in there, but I figured I'd spread then out a little first. OH!!! I FORGOT TO MENTION!!! SHE'S A BATHER!!! We came home this afternoon to find her standing in her water bowl taking a bath. Our naked Eclectus is also a bather, while the Alexandrine would stand forever if the spray kept coming. Oddly, the vet had mentioned the white crust on her feet and said she needs to bath more. So she must not of always had water available. She's still in the cage she's been living in her whole life! My wife was thinking of putting a large ceramic bowl in the bottom, but there's no easy way for her to get out of it. We used to have some larger bolt-on-holder bowls that would giver her more room to bath. I have to look to see if we have one left. We got the some of the blood results Friday. We'll get an explanation from the vet on Tuesday. I remember there being many values that were normal, and a few way out of wack, probably due to her feather destruction..

There is never a need to apologize. We are all human, we all have drama, issues, problems, and busy things going on in our lives. Sometimes we are in a hurry and post a quick reply...sometimes we just read and don’t contribute....we all make mistakes....ALL are welcome here and ALL are forgiven. You have been a big contributor and for that I will always be thankful. You both are in my prayers as always.

The easiest thing to do is upload to youtube and then link it here. Just by dropping the link here it will insert the video preview, it's seamless and is just as good or better than posting directly to the forum. The old software was a steaming pile when it came to posting a video and I briefly tried to upload a video when the new software came along. When that didn't work, I just stayed with the youtube. Plus I have all my videos in one place: youtube instead of all over the damn net in different forums.

More progress today. When I opened the feed door to change her water she came over and poked her head out for scratches. When I had one of the other birds in front over her she came to the front top for scratches. Three times so far. She had previously never left the rear upper bar, other than to get away in the first couple of days.. I hope it's not getting sexual for her. When there were 3 of us talking to her she only looks at me. I can touch her anywhere on her head, as long as I stop on top to give her scratches. She does have a few pin feathers there. She even sometime puts her left foot above her head and opens and closes it to ask for scratches. Any movement towards her feet causes her to shimmy sideways. I'm not pushing it. I bring the other birds over once in a while with them on my finger and say Step Up. She'll get it eventually. Every member of the family have given her scratches too. So it's not just me, but she focuses on me. I'll be honest, we're not giving her the medicine, only the first 2 days. It was for pain and possible infection due to the bleeding blood feathers. I couldn't see upsetting her. She's eating and drinking great. And getting more vocal and moving around her cage more. I'm quite amazed at how easy going she is. I know that could change. But I'm hoping to continue to improve on that. Slowly.

I'm sorry, I can't help you with your profile problem, I haven't changed my profile picture for a decade lol. Thank you for taking in this partially naked little bird. Glad to hear her diet is already improving. I'm afraid you won't be able to start to build trust until after the medication is over. As long as you have to towel her to give meds it's going to be traumatic for her. You've got the right idea in showing her how you are with your other birds and letting her observe her new environment. Trust me, she's processing all this new information at light speed. Don't push the hands on stuff at the start. It'll come in its own time. Sit by the cage and talk to her, read to her, just spend time by her letting her get used to your presence. Make sure the other members of the family spend time around her cage as well. You don't want a bird only you can handle, especially as she's already showing signs of being partial to you. Just let her observe her new home for now. Relationship/trust building takes time. Again, thank you for rescuing this little soul.

Greys are often more timid in new situations than many other parrots, they like to sit back and observe. It is very difficult to build trust (very important to Greys) when her condition requires restraint and medication. Do offer her some fresh veggies and a little fruit. maybe a little pasta or scrambled eggs. Once you are done with the meds you can tale it will give you some insight into Grey time. Gilbert is home katana600 posted a topic in Rescue Bird Haven

Hello and welcome to the forum! Bless you for taking this poor, distressed grey and for taking such good care of her. The meds won't go on forever, and she WILL get over it with time. It will probably take lots of time. Hang in there and I believe it will be well worth you time. Greys are slow to trust and slow to adjust, but they get there. God bless

Welcome. Thank you for rescuing this Grey. I'm not an authority but I know it is necessary to wait for the Grey to make the first move, that is move at Grey Time.

After hearing comments from some of our newest members that they were surprised that this place doesn't treat them like NEWBIES, I wanted to tell everyone that is thinking of joining that the word NEWBIE doesn't exist here. EVERYONE that joins this site is treated with the same respect and love as members that have been here for years.. Enough Said.. Now join up and start having some real fun... :P CD<br><br>Post edited by: CeasarsDad, at: 2007/08/19 20:26