Bigwick70

LOL, yes I probably will. Last night he ate spaghetti with me. I put the plate near his perch and acted like I was eating and he could join in if he desired, he did, but he didn't like his choice of bell pepper rofl...he spit it out quickly and shook his head. I felt it was a HUGE step forward by him getting on the perch on his own today and I see a big change in his attitude also. The aggression is going away but he still lets me know if im going too far with a tiny nip. Next time, its blood lol...

Unfortunately I suspect that what this ones fate will be lol... but It was fun doing and he seems to love it. I think he's accepted it as his property. I got to thinking, if he feels volurnabe out of his cage, and I think he does cause he never leaves it except rarely to got on top, then the slightest movement from anyone and he quickly climbed back inside. Today was his first time climbing out without being forced to do so.

Here are a few more we took. I did it kinda like you do a wreath. Started with an "X" for the actual perch, cut a "V" cut in the ends for the loop to rest in, then just wound the smaller vines over and tacked them in. A brad nailer is the bomb on these projects. If you need to ask anything specific about the building of the perch, I'll be happy to help... PS: Couldn't resist throwing in a pic of Wilbur loving life on his perch. He climbed out on his own to it today ... I think solidarity was one of his problems...Oh and I hope you have plenty of vine because its gonna take it. I'm still not finished with this one lol... Oh and if you do facebook im "Brad Wicker- gilbert WV"...

You know danmcq, I suspected the same thing reading some of the other members stories. I particularly enjoyed the one the Man wrote about his bird saying "it just decided to go off on them gradually, and would fly into them and bite the hell outta them as he perched on them, Wherever it perched on them, neck, head, arm, rear... ROFLMAO. He said the bird would be sitting calmly on his/ her knee and CHOMP, and they would have to run get a pillow because that was the only thing the bird would step onto. Yes I feel very fortunate now, and thank you so very much for all the help you everyone has given me. I know I wouldn't be anywhere with Wilbur if not for that because of my ignorance with Parrots. I am somewhat experienced with Cockatiels and Chickens but Parrots are like nothing I've ever seen. So much intelligence in them it amazes me. Wilbur Thanks you also. He's sitting here with me now "CALM"...He is such a gentleman now and hasn't bit me hard at all in days. I realize now I was pestering him into biting me, with my trying to get him to do things. I would have done the same in his position lol. I'll post more close-up pics of the perch for you. Here are a few more we took. I did it kinda like you do a wreath. Started with an "X" for the actual perch, cut a "V" cut in the ends for the loop to rest in, then just wound the smaller vines over and tacked them in. A brad nailer is the bomb on these projects. Later my friend and if you need to ask anything specific about the building of the perch, I'll be happy to help... PS: Couldn't resist throwing in a pic of Wilbur loving life on his perch. He climbed out on his own to it today ... I think solidarity was one of his problems...Oh and I hope you have plenty of vine because its gonna take it. I'm still not finished with this one lol... Oh and if you do facebook im "Brad Wicker- gilbert wva" "

Thanks so much all you guys/gals for the info. Im glad it is a happy thing for him with the chain. LOL you should see him now... I made him a nice new perch out of grapevine and it is shaped like a bird cage over the perch. I think He feels more secure under it... Anyone else think they might be interested in getting a custom perch like the one I made him let me know. I have better pics of the whole thing

Wilbur is quite the "Ham" as you can see from my Avitar pic lmao. He really cracks me up... He loves having his picture taken and will try to take the camera if you let him ...

Yes it was helpful Ray, and thank you. In just a short while, Wilbur has stole my heart and I will continue to find new ways to help him. I cant wait to wake in the morning to uncover his cage and talk to him ... I forsee a long friendship in the works cause I think he feels the same.

Yes I did say Rocks. I know when I raised chickens they had to have access to small pebbles and such. According to my understanding it aided in grinding all those grains into digestible mash inside their Craw. Do Parrots even have a craw? Anyway was wondering if anyone knows if the do, and if so, what to buy for him to fix that. His previous people didn't really say much about how to feed him, what to feed him, or what he needs to stay healthy. I'm learning it all on the fly. I think they all just got tired of the poor feller and banned him to a life of segregation on the car port. At least they had the decency to give him to someone who will care for him till me or him dies. He seems to be in good health though, and sure isn't afraid of anyone lol. He really loves grapes and cherry's in fruit, but I cant get him to eat any other. He wont touch vegetables either. He loves pistachios a lot and they are his favorite. I give him sunflower seeds, cashews, Peanuts and what the previous owners gave us which looks like bird seed and he dosnt touch it and I don't blame him either. He wont eat almonds either. He seems quite the picky eater and tosses unwanted foods out his can, but he seems healthy and eats a variety of fruit and nuts daily. If there's anything you think I should do or know, please tell me as I am a new Parrot Parent. Thank you...

There is one more question if you guys don't mind - I hung a shiny chain with a bright key chain in his cage. He grabs it and "Very Violently" slings it across his cage (it is clamped at the top though). My question is, "Do you think it's irritating him or do they play with their toys that way sometimes"? I know I gave him - or rather he stole a key chain that was a rubber frog from me the other day, and chewed it to bits. He also has a red ink pen (ink cartridge removed lol) that he adores and he like chews on the tip then after he's done he gives it a toss across the table. Sometimes he grabs the Chain hooked to the top and holds it and nibbles on it, but most of the time he seems mad by it being there. Sorry if i'm being a pest but i'm happy to be learning how to care for my bird and trying to absorb as much as possible...

Hello and thanks "luvparrots"... That is hilarious that your bird speaks Hindu ROFLMAO. How cool is that. Just more conformation of what I already know. They are so intelligent and you can see their gears turning, plotting their next move lol. Good thing he speaks English too huh? I do notice in Wilbur that it is when I press the issue he becomes irritated and ends up drawing blood. But other times he needs no reason. For example: I had him perched on my arm once, before I knew it he had drawn blood. I noticed him looking at my arm when I would flinch from the natural movement of my arm, then the next thing you know he bit me kinda easy twice and the last two drew blood. This all happened in like 4 seconds. Let me say this, IT HURTS VERY BAD TO BE BITTEN ON THE FOREARM!!! I did nothing to him what-so-ever. he just Flipped and began tearing off chunks lol. I jerked my arm and he flew off. Oh and He can fly but not stop lol. He fly's till he hits the wall or sees a curtain to grasp on to. I think your right in letting him decide if he wants to be social in any way. It breaks my heart thinking I've damaged an already shaky relationship with him, and he was trying his best to be my pal, and I, like an idiot, followed the first thing I read on the web and betrayed him. No wonder he has got worse. He's probably thinking "(This dude! I was trying to trust him then he started being pushy, then flicked my beak and blew stinky breath on me, and to top that off squirted me in the face. Ill never trust that back stabber again)". I think ill take it a little slower and not be so pushy from now on... Thanks again, my new friend...

Hello Katana600 and thanks for the feedback. Yes he defiantly is worth it to me. I am by nature a "Critter Person" and have also 2 small Maltese, was 1 female cat but now that number is 5 lol, I once raised 2 baby raccoons and returned the to the wild after over a year, (now they are really bad pets lmao). If someone offers you a pet Raccoon, SAY NO! They would destroy the house and yard in a matter of minutes, so I am used to having "my world turned upside-down" LITERALLY. They were so destructive that I said "heck, they are wild by nature, so naturally they will want to go live in the woods". Not true! They broke back inside through the heating duct and tore the attic out "SMHLMAO". But honestly, I still miss them. OK, back to Wilbur... You know he does whistle loud to me when I leave the room, and I whistle back then he will talk and make more weird noises. I never thought he was reassuring himself I was still close... I wish I had my camera to take a picture and show you all how cool he's being today up there on his perch. well my new friend, I thank you once again for your advise and hope Gilbert is cool too. Wilbur is being cool in Gilbert lmao...In Gilbert WV

I will read it, and thank you kindly for referring it to me

Thank you VStar Mama, you just gave me a brilliant idea i'm going to begin tomorrow. Actually, please don't think I've gone bonkers but I was testing it before I started this reply. I just made Wilbur a nice perch to react with him on and i'm thinking if I put him on it and kinda slump over the other side with him, he'll get the feel i'm on there with him and accept me into the flock. I'm eye level with him this way cause the perch is like 5 feet off the floor. I did this a second ago and whistled to him and immediately he was curious. He even leaned in like he wanted a kiss but i'm afraid my lips will end up like my fingers lmao. It can't hurt! I've been getting him out everyday to socializing anyway so a few minutes of this might help. Wilbur has been great all day today . He's been out all day being quite a gentlemen and has very softly bit me a few time but not hard at all. We did the "Step Up" exercise several times today. I have two sticks I use for him to step on since he's uncomfortable with my hand and bites me usually when I reach below the belt, but today he would kinda reach (to bite) when I switched from stick to hand and I gently said "Natt", not loud but stern, and he dropped his head almost immediately and pulled back like he was ashamed of himself, then the next try he would step on my arm like a pro. after we finished the exercise and it had been over a while, I would try it again, and again, he bites to let me know "hey back up dude, then I use the sticks the first few times, and he's fine. I'm so proud of my Bird I could burst at the seams. I think patents is what he needs most and a loving heart. I have plenty of that for him Thank you for the advise my friend and i'm sure Wilbur will too... ...

Oh and I was wondering- He gets in these moods that I notice, where he struts around his home, Showing off, doing flips, and acting kinda what I would call nervous and makes all sorts of noises. Somewhere he heard a fire alarm when the battery was dying ROFLMAO, and says a few choice words, but mostly electronic noises. Oh and he does the back up horn on the garbage truck and a turkey clucking "SMH"... Is this a behavior saying he's scared, or is he Angry, or is this a happy thing? He doesn't really seem scared cause when I walk to the cage to watch, he comes to the corner to face me, like a Mexican stand off. I feel he's sizing me up lol. And another thing, when I leave the room he drives my wife crazy doing these noises, like he doesn't want me to leave, and when I return, he's quiet as a mouse. She says when I leave for work he does it all morning till I return. I'm confused cause he acts like he's getting a thrill out of trying to trick me into getting bit, (like the scratch my neck please thing, looking out the corner of his eye to sucker bite me). I see great intelligence in him and I think him or me one is bi-polar lmao...I feel i'm the idiot sometimes lol...

Greetings everyone. I'm Bigwick, and a proud new Gray owner. I'm from a small (VERY SMALL) town in West Virginia, a Coal Miner/ Carpenter by trade, and of corse "Real Hillbilly"... I look forward to making new friends and am an easy person to get along with. If you want to know - just ask. Later Taters PS: any advise on biteing Parrots will be greatly appreciated lmao, <Glances down at the bandaids on my fingers>

<Yes I totally know what you mean with the "Sucker bites", and have been victim to that already. He seems as though he wants to be friends and loves his neck scratched, but when he's done being scratched, no warning, he turns and "CHOMP"... I do notice suttle changes in his behavior like when he is playing like he wants his neck scratched only to sucker bite you lol... I guess it will take time that i'm willing to give... I had a pet Cockatiel once and he was a totally different bird. Would follow me around the yard and perch on my shoulder, and WOE to the person who invaded our space while we were Bonding lmao. I trimmed his wings and all... My parrot, or "Wilber" I call him, will take treats from me but will drop them to get to bite you. It seems to me hes not wanting his cage invaded... well thanks my friend and take care...>

<thanks for your reply Judygram. He does seem neglected, or Ignored, and he will be very lovable at times and then its like he has "Bi-polar Disorder"... One second hes all cool and calm, perched on your arm, and the next hes tearing chunks off your arm lol. It seems to me it aggravates him that my arm moves under his feet and he'll look down and "Chomp"... I am willing to be patient with him but am totally ignorant to Parrots and their behavior... I do feel sorry for him sitting there all wet, looking at me like ive just abused him. I want to be the best parent he could possibly have... thanks again>

Hello... I was recently given an African gray male, age unknown, and hes very aggressive. I got on the web and tried following the step up command and am seriously trying to remain patient with him but he feels he needs to bite blood out of everything near his cage... I literally have sores all over both hands and fingers from trying to befriend him... So far I tried blowing in his face, to gently flicking his beak (both witch make him extremely angry), to squirting water in his face from a bottle. This seems to help the best but after a bit, hes back to trying to nip my fingers off...Doing the step up thing is totally out of the question! PLEASE HELP, because I truly want to give him a chance... Oh and hes better if I remove him from his cage (somewhat), but not totally...I really feel bad too seeing him there soaked with water. I feel hes only doing something natural although I read this is not normal behavior...He has been on someone carport, ignored for some time too and I think this is contributing to his behavior...