CTKatie

That is a great story! My best friend has two daughters, 8 and 13. They are the ONLY children that can walk into my house and handle any of the 3 (before Bailey) birds and I can trust the 5 dogs with them. Others, I cannot trust. The birds won't go near some and two of the dogs can get nippy with poorly behaved visitors. Anyhow, when the met my Senegal for the first time they both were able to get him out of his cage without a fight. He can be a bugger around his cage! I think some people just have a gift. I've only been around birds for a year. I was a dog person But my Fiance wanted birds and seeing he dealt with my dogs, I figured why not:) The funny thing is, they seem to take to me better. But I am the more patient one! I've been keeping Bailey's past owners in the loop. The love the updates. She called me the "bird whisperer" because Bailey has NEVER allowed any of them to scratch him. Ever. And he begs for it from me. On a funny side note, this morning was an adventure. Bailey has this tree he came with and he's been glued to it. So I figured it would be OK to sit him on it while I showered. I've been told he hates water. Sometime during my shower, I hear this "tap tap tap" on the bathtub. So I pulled the curtain back just in time to see Bailey jump into the shower with me. I'm not sure who was more surprised-him or me! He instantly started to panic, I don't think he realized there was water involved. So I am in the shower hopping from foot to foot to avoid stepping on one very angry Grey that was screaming his head off while trying to pull himself up my bare legs. I eventually got out and turned the water off and rescued him. It seemed like an eternity but I'm sure it was just a few seconds. Once I got him out of the tub, I placed him on the floor. He then started laughing. He's quite the character I bought some tofu tonight as well. Good thing I'll eat it because I wore the piece I gave to him. Baby steps I suppose. He did dig right into my dinner tonight so I know he got some good food into him Thanks all! Katie

Thanks all!! His name is Bailey As we "speak", he is going through a bowl of good foods that I hid a few tiny pieces of bologna in. He can't be fooled. He has to be eating good food at some point though, because his poop has gone from all (tons) water to mostly solid and the size is down quite a bit. I'm so happy to be seeing normal poop! I love the idea of tofu! And I can use beets to make it a pinkish color! That is such a great idea I, too, hope this isn't a honeymoon phase. But with his last owners, they were terrified of him and I'm sure it's the same. Neither one of us here show him any fear. He tried to nip both of us in his first hour here, but since we ignored it and continued on with what we were doing-he's been fine. I am hoping that was him testing us and now he knows we aren't scared. His last owner told us he loved the vet and the woman who trimmed his nails and beak. So he CAN like people. But it seems only people who don't show fear. He's been an amazing bird so far. He's taken all this change in stride and I'm just thrilled with it. Katie

He's been amazing so far. I've been fully expecting him to start biting, so I'm on guard all the time. He has beaked me a few times, but I never react to it and he's actually coming to me for attention. Pretty remarkable seeing I've had him 3 days. He asked to be let out-clearly saying "let me out" and then after perching on his cage for a few minutes, he hopped down. He then walked over to me, tugged on my pant leg and then sat next to me on the sofa. Within a few minutes, he was putting his head down and walking towards me. He let me scratch his head and each time I stopped, he nudged me for more. I'm just shocked that he allowed me to touch him so quickly. And it was all HIS decision. I sure hope he stays like this and that he was reacting to their fears in his own home. As for the bologna, it's been a pain in the butt. He ASKS for it. I bought some low sodium stuff, and only give him a tiny piece verses the whole slice he was used to. As far as other "parrot" foods-he hasn't touched them. He will though, eat out of any bowl or plate I'm eating out of. So I've been sneaky and have been putting pellets in there. He's tried a few and has eaten eggs and salads with me. I've weighed him to make sure he doesn't loose too much. And I made a birdie bread that he won't touch. Go figure! I'm hoping that there isn't any damage done already to his body by the years of bologna. His poop is already better. The first few days it was fully of water and very little solid. I'm sure that's because of all the salt and all the water he was guzzling. But not that he's eating what I eat, it looks so much more normal! Katie

Hello All! I'm new to this forum and had posted about our other Grey, Luigi, a few months ago. He's doing well and is a wonderful bird Even though he isn't too trusting of me yet. He's very much my Fiances bird. I still adore him though! Yesterday, after a few weeks of visits and thinking, we took in a 17 year old CAG. His previous owners loved him, but were terrified of him. We decided to add him to our flock, knowing his aggression issues. We brought him home yesterday, and we decided as a couple not to use the sticks that were given to us to move him and show him no fear. So very hard with a bird who has a long history or terrorizing a family! Needless to say, he came out of his carrier onto my hand with no biting. I placed him in his cage and within an hour he was asking to come out. So I opened the cage door and he stepped right up. No biting like he did in his prior home. It's only been 24 hours, but he's showed no fear and no aggression yet. If I leave the room, he calls for me and will hop off his tree to follow me. I can only hope he stays like this! And I'm amazed how well he is doing. We were told by his last owners that he flips out at change and his cage has to remain the same and he won't eat for days. Well, he happily ate part of my sandwich last night And here comes the question I have. This bird was given one slice of bologna for ever. Every morning. And I was told he would demand his bologna. I don't eat it, so I had NO idea how salty it was. I had a piece and flipped out over the sodium. We've noticed he's drinking a lot and he has a ton of liquid in his poop. The part that is solid is in fact solid and not funky in color. But I suspect the amount of fluid is due to the tons of water and that is directly related tot he salt. This morning, instead of a huge slice of it, he got a tiny piece. I want him to be happy he gets it, but don't want him having a whole slice. I want to wean him off of it ASAP. I was also told he only eats human food and so far, that seems right on with the behaviors we are seeing. He hasn't touched his pellets. We have him weighed so we know if he's loses weight. But, how bad is that bologna? Do I need to worry about kidney problems? His feathers look ratty, but he's not been preening at all. Any suggestions on the food swap?? Katie

The other bird is a Nanday Conure. I found him through an online ad from someone who was "sick" of him. It was a town away so I went over and found this poor guy sitting in filth and terrified of his owner. When his previous owner left the room, I put my hand near him and he hopped up. The second he came back, he hopped into his cage and started screaming. Alex came home with me that night. He was on a seedy diet and had been changed to pellets and the vet said he was healthy. I was shocked. And he has turned into a lovely bird. He's quiet, he's friendly and he's very smart As for Luigi, seeing he's now trusting me enough to take food from me, I'm going to fill his bowls It was suggested to lower his intake to make him hungry enough to take food from me. I don't agree 100% with it, but it worked. He's taking food Katie

Thanks to everyone. The other bird didn't come with him, but he does watch him all the time. I also contacted his old owner, who shed some light for me. It seems he was out of his cage 90% of the time, only going in at night. He was allowed to fly all over too. That's not an option here due to all the large glass windows and vaulted ceilings. And when he was caged, he did nothing but circle his cage at his owners too. So it seems it's a behavior he has before. I was also told he is highy food motivated, but he won't take food for us yet. I also watched the videos that were given to me with him. One said that to use food on a bird that wasn't taking it, to limit what is in his bowl. So I did that yesterday and guess what? He takes food. He touches the stick and responds to the clicker again! This morning, he was begging for his treats even though he had food. And the circling of the cage has stopped for now. I'm just thrilled that he seems more relaxed!!! And I'm happy that he will take his treats through the bar. The rest of his flock was also placed and I wish I had the chance to take more than one. I think it would of helped with his adjustment. I wonder if they are going through the same thing. I told his last family that if the people who took the others can't cope, to let me know. I know it's going to be a long adjustment. I also know not everyone is as patient. Katie

Thank you to all who responded. The links were helpful! It wasn't our intention for him to get out so soon. We knew there would be an adjustment period! We have been just sitting with him and only Go near his cage to feed, change water and cover him at night. I'm hoping he comes around someday. I just want to make the change as easy as possible on him!

Hello All! I just got my first CAG 4 days ago. He is 18 months old and was a wonderful bird for his owner. Sadly his owner was forced to relocate for a job and had to place him. Luigi was fine for the first two days. Even after a traumatic first day. He charged me while I opened his travel cage door into the door of his cage and spent the next hour flying our house. My husband threw a towel on him while he was on the floor and placed him in his cage. He wasn't at all happy about it but we don't need a new bird who is afraid of us flying around the house. It's a danger to him! The next morning he was his normal self, just sitting and taking it all in. The issue has come over the past two days. He does nothing but circle his cage. He climbs the walls in a circle non-stop. He only stops to eat and sleep and then he is back at it. His past owner had put newspapers over the grate in the bottom of the cage, but I had to stop doing that because each time I went in the cage to change them out, he would freak out at my hand and fly all over and growl. He never attacks though. But I don't push him. The second he growled I backed off and didn't put newspapers in his cage. I realize it could take months for this guy to trust us. But I am worried about the constant circling in his cage. Is there anything I can do? Or is he doing it because he is used to having run of his last home and he's upset he's caged? What I do is sit outside his cage and talk to him and the other bird. I offer him treats but he won't take them. I just want some advise and ideas!! Thanks! Katie