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Sounds like this was meant to be. Yay for the rat for getting things done! 🤣 Rats are actually pretty clean lil varmits. I have rats all over in my chicken and pigeon loft and my pigeons never contract anything from them. Canker is all I deal with and that's a common pigeon disease that they don't get from anything else. You know pictures are mandatory now! I can't wait to hear how this story ends, sweet I hope. Is Isaac's Dad still in the picture?

Update on our rescuing efforts. And it's good news!!! We're going to be able to bring him in after all. Apparently the rat infestation has become so bad from all the scattered seed around his outside cage that one had gotten inside their house and ran across his son's chest while he was sleeping. That was the last straw! So he'll be quarantined in my son's room while we rehabilitate and look for his forever home. What kinds of diseases, if any, might this poor bird have gotten from being around the rats? Looking forward to giving him a better life.

Here he is. Skin and bones, but we're going to be fixing that real soon.

He has him!!! Is on his way back with this poor little guy. When my son got there, he found the grey locked inside a shed with holes cut out of the sides. There were rat droppings everywhere, and the entire shed wreaked of rat urine. The bird's food and water dishes were bone dry. No toys or perches anywhere. The poor bird was panting heavily, to the point where my son felt he could have stroked if he'd waited any longer to rescue him. He brought him into the house where he immediately threw up onto his hand, poor thing. He sprayed him down with some cool water and offered him some food, but he was too stressed to eat. Apparently he's 12 years old and belonged to the man's wife before she passed away from cancer 6-7 years ago. Here's to new beginnings, Sydney! ❤️

Bless you, how wonderful!! Jayd

Welcome to the Grey Family. Relax and let your new friend get use to her new home.

OH! Thank you for rescuing him! He is a love and will repay you many times over.

Yes he will need to have a fecal run at the Vets it is possible he may have been exposed to e coli, salmonella, giardia and other less common health concerns. I have seen birds who lived in rodent infested areas get very ill form both e coli and salmonella, even die if not treated. Poor Grey bird he will need to learn what healthy food is again. Do offer some fresh veggies maybe a little soft scrambled egg and you can offer coconut water or diluted Gatorade or pedialyte to help him recover from the heat and dehydration. Congratulations on the save that is one fortunate landing for him. Blessings on your son and family for your persistence. A few weeks of good food and some baths he will be a new bird, looks better than he could look considering his recent lifestyle.

My son's on his way over to rescue him. Temp is currently 105 degrees.

No. Isaac's Dad is getting a baby boy from the same breeder that Maalik came from. Believe me, I did wave the 'you can handle 3 greys' flag his way, but it's a no go. I'm glad to hear that rats are somewhat clean. My concern was over their hanging out on top of his cage, pooping into his water and food dishes and potentially spreading disease to him in that manner. Hope he survives today's heat wave. It's already 90 degrees and it's only 9:30. Projected to be 107 degrees by noon. Apparently this bird's cage is in partial sun. I'll keep you posted!

Mandatory: a nice stainless bell (bird safe type). Maybe some stainless hanging spoons. My GreycieMae's favorite toy is one I use a miter saw to refill all the time. She can destroy it in a day. It's made from wood blocks and straws on a stainless skewer rod. I don't have many toys in their cages as my birds are rarely caged but here's a shot of the toy I make for her and the little nibblets she leaves behind 🤣:

Well, I guess these cages are going to cost an arm and several legs to fill with appropriate toys and perches but once done I think they’ll be sooo happy in there. Any ideas you guys have in regards to toys/decorations would be greatly appreciated.

She has started to do this just about every time I hold her which is quite often I try to just stick her on a perch for a few minutes and try again I hate having to put her down to chill out but I don’t want to encourage this behavior, she also literally chases my wife and tries to attack her is she being territorial over me or just enjoying the reaction she gets from her? My wife is scared to hold her Ruby will step up to anyone and be calm and happy.

No real update. Nothing has changed. Everything outside her cage is going to kill her. The only time she will step up is at sunrise. Our town fireworks are this coming Saturday. It is about 1/4 mile from our house and very visible from the livingroom. AND VERY LOUD!!!! The other 2 birds have heard/seen it, they will be fine. Piper will probably spend the whole time on the bottom of the cage in convulsions!!! So I figured I'd lower a play stand, get her used to it, and bring her downstairs and put her on it before the fireworks start. Well, that's not going to happen. She's terrified of the thing!!!! A couple of mornings ago I took her out and she gripped my finger tight enough to stop the blood flow. Sh jumped off as I got closer to the stand. I picked her up and got her onto it. I took her off and put her on again. I put her back in her cage and she's refused to step up since. End of story.

There is no such thing as too big when it comes to a bird cage 😂 The bigger the better! Looks good- and it looks like you already have all the approval you need already! Now comes the fun part.... toy arrangement!!

Looks like you have approval there.

What do you guys think? To big? Seems kind of out of control.

Several years ago, my son brought to my attention a neglected grey living nearby. The owners keep it in a rusted cage outside with very little protection from the elements. Apparently they only feed him seeds. My son mentioned that there are rat feces all around the cage, and that the owners never pay any attention to it. Unfortunately they weren't willing to part ways with him. Fast forward to yesterday. My son tearfully brought up the ongoing sad living conditions of this neglected grey. Apparently the owner now has early onset dementia, and often forgets to feed the poor thing. The owner's neighbor is a friend of my son's., and both he and my son plan to go over there within the next few days to see if he'd relinquish the grey to my son. His plan is to rehabilitate him and then find him a loving home. I'll keep you posted if we get him.

For all it is worth. The best food by far for your parrot will be Tinkerbell mash, a food that you make with love and care for your parrot. No additives or shelf life extenders in it. Morning with Harry & the decision// Sultan of Oman Palace// Tinkerbell Mash Batch 7 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/ ps You know why the mash I made need to be kept in the freezer? With only one baggie at a time being thawed and must be kept in the fridge as well? Whereas what you buy in a box need not be in the freezer? Here is why Here is the list of the common additives found in pellets. Do have fun reading that. Ethoxyquin: Is listed and identified as a harsh hazardous chemical by OSHA. It was originally used to preserve rubber. This is not allowed in human food and some feel it is not a chemical that they want in their bird food. The FDA has asked manufacturers for voluntary reduction in its use in pet foods and is in the process of deciding whether or not to ban the use of it altogether. Bird's bodies can not get rid of it like a dog or cat and it then builds up and causes problems. Ethoxyquin promotes kidney carcinogenesis, significantly increases the incidence of stomach tumors, enhanced bladder carcinogenesis and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Cancers of this type are the most lethal and fastest acting, the swiftest effects being seen among animals. Artificial Colors: Most people are aware of toxic side effects of artificial colors and flavors from coal tar derivatives such as Red #40, a possible carcinogen, and Yellow #6, which causes sensitivity to fatal viruses in animals. Artificial colors DO cause yellow feather discoloration in Eclectus. BHT/BHA: These petroleum products are used to stabilize fats in foods. In the process of metabolizing BHA and BHT, chemical changes occur in the body. These changes have caused reduced growth rates and they inhibit white blood cell stimulation. In pets, they can exhibit reactions such as skin blisters, hemorrhaging of the eye, weakness, discomfort in breathing, a reduction of the body's own antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase and may cause cancer. According to Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, a practicing vet for some 26 years, both BHA and BHT are known to cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in some European countries. Propylene Glycol: Used as a de-icing fluid for airplanes, this chemical is added to food and skin products to maintain texture and moisture as well as inhibiting bacteria growth in products. It also inhibits the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system by decreasing the amount of moisture in the intestinal tract leading to constipation and cancer. It can affect the liver and kidneys and causes the destruction of red blood cells. Salt: Added as a preservative, salt can irritate the stomach lining, cause increased thirst and aggravate heart and kidney problems through fluid retention. Sodium Nitrite: Used in the curing of meats, this substance participates in a chemical reaction in the body that becomes carcinogenic. It is used also in pet foods to add color. Sugar and other Sweeteners: The most common sweeteners in pet/bird foods are beet sugar, corn sugar, molasses and sucrose. They are used as preservatives and have the side effect of creating sugar addicts in pets. They require almost no digestion and are rapidly absorbed into the blood stream. These will provide sugar highs (just as humans experience) and subsequent lows (moodiness), inhibit the proper growth of friendly intestinal bacteria and they virtually shut down the digestive system while being processed. Sugar can also contribute to diabetes and hypoglycemia, cataract development, obesity and arthritis. Go to your cupboard and get your pellets out and find out how many of these additives are in the brand you buy. If there is something else on the ingredients list and you don't know what it is, FIND OUT. Do your research or ask questions of someone who can find out for you. Did you see the natural ingredients on your pellet ingredients list? Why not feed those items in their fresh, natural state instead?

Such good news! Well done to you and your son for persevering and rescuing the little guy. I hope he has a very speedy road to recovery!

It sounds like you are in a hurry and she is on grey time, sit back and let her lead the way. I know you want the best for her but she is not quite ready for all you want to do. Just Relax.

Screens on all doors and windows works for me. I have had my flighted greys since 2007.

Hope the fireworks didn't have any ill effects on her. They don't phase Timber. His fears seem really odd to me. Fireworks, etc. don't phase him. Something bright orange will put him in a state of terror.

What does this mean is my she a he? Lol and what can I do to stop it? She does this at least once a day and I try to get her to stop but idk what to do F1CDFC92-53A7-45BD-A6E6-EF50DD40EBAF.MOV

In my heart of hearts, Tinkerbell shall always remain as will you my friend. Jayd

Bon appetite! To your birdie, and to you in case you overcomed with greed and decide to pinch and glut yourself on some of the wonderful mash you cooking up for for your birdie.

I’m excited to try this recipe. Buying the ingredients today and will start tomorrow. Looks like a good consistency!

There is no way to tell the sex without a dna test.

Does this behavior indicate that it is a male? I was told it was a female but no dna test. And nothing just holding and talking to her

What was going on before the behavior? Were you stroking his back or his belly by any chance? Once a day isn't excessive actually. Simply ignore the behavior whenever he elicits it.

Bless your son...

I think he may have meant ground nuts, not a type of nut but ground up so as to mix in the mash but he will correct me if I am wrong.

Tnx for the answers:-) Just one thing, what are the groundnuts? I get a picture of a peanut when I enter it in Google :-S

1) Doesn't sweet corn have large amount of sugar? Isn't that harmful for the birds? Fruits that you give your birdie such as apples, strawberries, etc etc have sugar in it. When the sweetcorn is a tiny fraction of the overall mash, I do not think we have to be concerned 2) I don't know if we have in our stores frozen sweet corn (I never saw any). Can I buy fresh and then freeze it? Is there a process which I need to follow or I can just put it in the fridge? why does it need to be frozen in the first place? If you do not have sweet corn, use dry corn. In which case use 50 grams of dry corn, or 100 grams if the corn is not dry. I used frozen sweet corn as that was what I bought. 3) I newer saw a sweet potato so I don't think we have any. Can I use something else instead? I think sweet potato will be better . If you cannot get that, use potatoes. Google for photos of sweet potatoes 4) When I saw pictures of kidney beans I thought it was red bean, so what is the difference between those two? How will I recognize them (from each other)? Kidney beans are big looking red beans 5) When I saw pictures of lima beans and Great Northern white beans I thought they are the same, so what is the difference between those two? How will I recognize them (from each other)? Lima beans are big looking white beans. 6) If I except something from the recipe, do I need to compensate with something else? You do not need to. Or you can compensate by more of similar type. If you cannot get glutinous rice, use double portion of regular rice If no great northen white beans , use more black eyed beans. Or no need to substitute even. 7) What are green beans? This: http://www.ifood.tv/blog/four-tasty-...of-green-beans ? Or does it has to do with peas? Grren beans above below the peas and next to the red beans Look into the flickr folder with many more photos Preparing Tinkerbell Mash 7 8) There are peas in the picture but I haven't seen in the recipe that it says peas .. So how much peas? Or you want peas in a bean and that would then be answer to question number 7? So what do I do with the bean? throw it away? Thank you. I forgot to add the peas into the recipe even though it was clear my photos included that. I since changed the Livejournal and credited you for that discovery 9) Brown crushed barley? I think I know what barley is? But brown? Are there some other kind? I think I eat that for breakfast:-) Brown cereals are more healthy than refined cereals. Use brown where you can. 10) I don't know the difference between brown glutinious rice and brown rice? Glutinous means sticky, right? How can rice be sticky? Glutinous rice is common in Asia. Double the rice quantity or use more oats/wheat/barley 11) I know what oat is, but what is brown rolled oat? Use breakfast oats from the can and brown in color. 12) Have no idea what are brown rolled wheat berries. Picture? brown rolled oats, wheat and barley 13) Do i "peel" the shell of a Brazilian nut, right?-and how am I gonna do that? I saw them in a seed mix but don't know where can I buy just them. Any suggestions? No need for brazilian nuts if not available. 14) Now question about making TM. This is what I understood but I need exact time frame: In the morning I soak all the beans/peas for 8-10hours. Then I wash them/rinse and drain them. That is in the evening of the same day. I leave them like them in separate containers. Next morning, lunch time, dinner, for ten minutes I soak them again and then wash them/rinse and drain them. How many days do I need to repeat that process three times a day? Continuous soaking of beans can make them rot. So make sure you drain them after the soaking. I repeat this for 3 days from when I started adding water to when I cook them all together. Then I don't know when do I need to put peas and black beans in the fridge. How long do I need to keep them there? If the roots start to appear and about ¼ to ½ inch long, you put them into the fridge to slow the germinating process until the time of the cooking. Also, I don't know when do I need to take a third of sweet corn and green beans and red beans and peas. Am I right to think that I pour boiling water over that? You remove 1/3 to ¼ just before the time of cooking and liquidizing them. I have some whole green beans peas etc etc to give texture. These are safe beans unlike kidney, lima etc which must be thoroughly cooked. Now I put all the beans/peas in a pot and I keep it boiling for 5minutes. Remove icky scum while cooking. Then I cool it down. I blend all that was cooking and put it back in the pot and add water if it is too thick. Now I add that third of sweet corn and green beans and red beans and peas. Do I add millet now? Yes. Add the wheat germ now too if you like. I let it boil again and cook it for 10 more minutes. Do I continue to cook when I add grated sweet potatoes and grated carrots? Yes. You then add the cereals with the pot still on the fire. Keep stirring. It will be fast to add the grated carrots and sweet potatoes. When the pot is boiling , you can take it off the stove. Now I add wheat germ. At this time is pot still boiling? Is it all together ten minutes or this last two steps prolong the cooking period? Don't we kill all the vitamins with cooking? Beause of the liquidizing of the beans, the cooking time is reduced to 10 minutes. If not, those beans must be cooked for an hour which will kill all the vitamins. I removed the pot and wrap towels around the pot. Leave it overnight. When did I start to cook all this? The pot continued to cook in its own heat. By next morning, it will be cool enough for packaging. I serve with veggies and fruit which I put in the mash? Vary the veggies as you like and as to season, together with fruits. I prefer to put fruits and veggies in foraging points. You can mix them all up with mash. If I wanted to add Brazilian nuts and almonds I would do that when liquidizing, right? Yes. But not necessary for brazil nuts and almonds. If I make the next batch of mash, I will use groundnuts, human grade, and parboiled for that 5 minutes with rest of beans before liquidizing.

PS: Shanlung, go check your last pm! ;-)

Hi all! I am really interested about making the TM but I did have a lot of questions after reading,and rereading, and rereading ;-) Shanlungs links so as he graciously offered to help me through all the steps I wrote him a pm which I'm gonna paste here and he'll answer so everyone can benefit. It is written a bit in my "not understanding English that great" style so sorry for the typos and oddly constructed sentences;-) And yes, I forgot to mention, these questions are mostly about TM 7! Here goes: "Tink mash Hi! I have a huge problem with the recipe.. :-( The dictionaries I have (on line and at home) don't know how to translate most of the ingredients so I tried Wikipedia and Google images. With images I recognized some things from the list but most of it I am guessing. Some just look the same to me but I know it isn't the same. So here come my questions... I really have all sorts of questions.. Please try to explain the best you can. Maybe include pictures..(?) 1) Doesn't sweet corn have large amount of sugar? Isn't that harmful for the birds? 2) I don't know if we have in our stores frozen sweet corn (I never saw any). Can I buy fresh and then freeze it? Is there a process which I need to follow or I can just put it in the fridge? why does it need to be frozen in the first place? 3) I newer saw a sweet potato so I don't think we have any. Can I use something else instead? 4) When I saw pictures of kidney beans I thought it was red bean, so what is the difference between those two? How will I recognize them (from each other)? 5) When I saw pictures of lima beans and Great Northern white beans I thought they are the same, so what is the difference between those two? How will I recognize them (from each other)? 6) If I except something from the recipe, do I need to compensate with something else? 7) What are green beans? This: http://www.ifood.tv/blog/four-tasty-...of-green-beans ? Or does it has to do with peas? 8) There are peas in the picture but I haven't seen in the recipe that it says peas .. So how much peas? Or you want peas in a bean and that would then be answer to question number 7? So what do I do with the bean? throw it away? 9) Brown crushed barley? I think I know what barley is? But brown? Are there some other kind? I think I eat that for breakfast:-) 10) I don't know the difference between brown glutinious rice and brown rice? Glutinous means sticky, right? How can rice be sticky? 11) I know what oat is, but what is brown rolled oat? 12) Have no idea what are brown rolled wheat berries. Picture? 13) Do i "peel" the shell of a Brazilian nut, right?-and how am I gonna do that? I saw them in a seed mix but don't know where can I buy just them. Any suggestions? 14) Now question about making TM. This is what I understood but I need exact time frame: In the morning I soak all the beans/peas for 8-10hours. Then I wash them/rinse and drain them. That is in the evening of the same day. I leave them like them in separate containers. Next morning, lunch time, dinner, for ten minutes I soak them again and then wash them/rinse and drain them. How many days do I need to repeat that process three times a day? Then I don't know when do I need to put peas and black beans in the fridge. How long do I need to keep them there? Also, I don't know when do I need to take a third of sweet corn and green beans and red beans and peas. Am I right to think that I pour boiling water over that? Now I put all the beans/peas in a pot and I keep it boiling for 5minutes. Remove icky scum while cooking. Then I cool it down. I blend all that was cooking and put it back in the pot and add water if it is too thick. Now I add that third of sweet corn and green beans and red beans and peas. Do I add millet now? I let it boil again and cook it for 10 more minutes. Do I continue to cook when I add grated sweet potatoes and grated carrots? Now I add wheat germ. At this time is pot still boiling? Is it all together ten minutes or this last two steps prolong the cooking period? Don't we kill all the vitamins with cooking? I removed the pot and wrap towels around the pot. Leave it overnight. When did I start to cook all this? I serve with veggies and fruit which I put in the mash? If I wanted to add Brazilian nuts and almonds I would do that when liquidizing, right? These are the questions for now:-D Regards, Morana "

Morana, Go directly to Pakistan//mind of parrot//Tinkerbell Mash Batch 9//Riamfada pulling up cup//Villa walkabout http://shanlung.livejournal.com/119016.html If your freezer is small, I suggest you do a quarter portion, using a quarter of everything. Even if you do not get all the ingredients, go on ahead with all the beans and cereals that you can get in your country. The mash that you make will still be much better than the commercial pellets, any commercial pellets. Riamfada is now with the Jabri family and that whole family from grandmother to Jabri and wife to daughters and baby all in love with her. She flown to all of them and nice to all and especially nice to Mrs Jabri and Aseeyah. I made many visits to the Jabri family to ensure the transition to them will be good and they in turn, came often to my place as well. Read Riamfada around neighbourhood // Mrs Jabri harnessing Riamfada // Riamfada as perch maker http://shanlung.livejournal.com/120555.html The final handling over and goodbye here. Riamfada freeflight hide&seek // When I am with her, am I with her? // Handing over sequence http://shanlung.livejournal.com/121091.html Riamfada last few neighbourhood walks //Riamfada at home on perches// Dommie last neighbourhood walk http://shanlung.livejournal.com/121502.html Paw prints in the sand http://shanlung.livejournal.com/121818.html Final handover http://shanlung.livejournal.com/122016.html

Uh,first I'll have to devote few hours in translating all those names of the beans,other stuff and then writing down the whole recipe. There are some things I don't understand and didn't find translation for it yet so if I don't find it I'll appreciate if you could explain(?). Also, we have a baby freezer so 'll have to do sooo much less of the Tinkerbell Mash ™. I saw there is TM8 and 9 but cannot sit any longer (I'm in too much pain) and read so please tell me, should I skip reading about TM8 and go directly to 9? Or would it be wise to first learn to cook TM7? And did I missed whom you gave your pretty bird or what?! can't find it.. *puzzled* Whom did you give her to?

Morning with Harry & the decision// Sultan of Oman Palace// Tinkerbell Mash Batch 7 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/109957.html You can see explicitly what is Tinkerbell Mash, and how to make it step by step with love and care. The best food for your birdie and the cheapest as well.

Yes, my pellets have sea salt. Could you please tell me what exactly is Tinkerbell Mash?

In another thread here, I find it frightening the way people in white coat, using their mythical authority as people that know promote commercial bird food. From seed mix to pellet diet conversion http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?191616-seed-mix-to-pellet-diet-conversion/page2 Up to recent time, and even now, companies have/had been using the additives in their birdie (and kitty) pellets to promote long shelf life. In any vet office, you will probably find a huge section of their front office selling those birdie/kitty/doggie pellets , or promoting that directly in hard sell like above , or indirectly on their display shelves . Some companies might even have stopped using those additives, using other kind of additives that they claim are safer. Just how safe I do not wish to discuss. To me, that they used such additives in their birdie pellets in the past make it difficult for me to dare to trust them even into the future not to talk about the present now. Should Madoff get a Presidential pardon and out of jail and set up a Madoff Bank in future, will you put your money again in Madoff Bank? Again your choice to do so. Or your choice to see in above how Tinkerbell Mash is made and think of doing similar stuff for your birdie or kitty or doggie.

Further variation on that mash batch 7. I believe the mash can remain good for the entire day. At least in Riamfada's room kept at 24-25C. Read the report done on 11 & 14 June 2010 and you decide for yourself. Month of soccer // Cyclone Phet & Riamfada neighbourhood hide & seek // Mash eating http://shanlung.livejournal.com/115514.html Hand of Clod //3 hour and day old Mash // Outdoor hide&seek recalls http://shanlung.livejournal.com/115814.html See also the making of Tinkerbell mash batch 8 with changes and further improvement on batch 7 Iceland and Goldman // Jebel Akhdar // Tinkerbell mash batch 8 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/114545.html see the making of Tinkerbell Mash Batch 9 with changes and further improvement on batch 8 Pakistan//mind of parrot//Tinkerbell Mash Batch 9//Riamfada pulling up cup//Villa walkabout http://shanlung.livejournal.com/119016.html and kitty mash as well Pakistan//Tinkerbell Kitty Mash//Dommie at the beach Ramadhan 2010 //Villa walkabout 2 http://shanlung.livejournal.com/119237.html Warmest regards Shanlung 山 龍 http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/

Thank you everyone. Here are some images of his deplorable conditions. Made me weep to see them. My son has been hand feeding him fresh fruit and veggies through the bars of his new cage. He already loves broccoli and my homemade birdie bread.