BaileysPapa

Happy Hatchday, Corky!

In addition to agreeing with Dan, I'd add to help him lose weight, and help with separation, instead of carrying him everywhere, make him walk. It may stimulate him to fly by making short skip-hops to you. Plus, like us, walking will burn up calories. He has to develop a sense of independence. He probably is just enjoying the attention, but, he must spend time by himself eventually. Too much of this for too long, and you'll have a spoiled bird on your hands. I did not want to say brat, but, they learn how to manipulate us very quickly. I speak from experience. Try to nip this as soon as possible. Again, I know it's hard, but, he needs to be more self entertaining.

Some days I, also, sing and dance around. They are used to it, and seem to enjoy it themselves. Though sometimes, they look at me, with the turned head and one eye, as if to say, "what the heck are you doing?!"

I tell them things like "Be Right Back", when I won't be gone long. And, "See You Later", when I will be gone longer. By now, I think they know the difference.

I have posted before that since birds are evolved from reptiles, I believe that their tongues are more sensitive and useful than we know.

Years ago, I had a Wildlife Rehab Permit, and worked with Raptor Rehab and return to the wild, if possible. I loved working with Owls. They are extremely interesting. Their habits, etc. And they have the softest feathers. Many baby chicks make a clucking noise. Owls can be dangerous, as well. Both to our pets and ourselves. Their talons are needle sharp, and beaks can be like razors. But, they can also be so cute. I had an Elf Owl, about the size of a large Lovebird, that was confiscated by the SPCA, and I was allowed to adopt. She was adorable. She became somewhat tame and handle-able. She ate insects, mostly crickets. And lived in a large outdoor aviary. Some people see them as good luck, some see them as bad luck. The town Parks Dept. where I live does an "Owl Prowl" a couple times a year. We go out at night, in the parks and wetlands, with guides & flashlights, and look for Owls.

Here in Florida, there are many feral flocks of various parrots. Some were set free by smugglers about to get caught, some were escaped during hurricanes that blew away their aviaries & buildings, and some are here so long, it is believed they may have always been, like Quakers. Not far from my town, there is a tree called the "Parakeet Tree". I've not seen it, yet, but, the story goes that it is a very old, big tree, where someone let a bunch of Budgies free, and filled the tree with bird feeders to establish a flock of free Budgies. Supposedly, they've thrived and bred, and fill the tree with Budgies. Where they live 'til this day. I also know of a neighborhood where B & G Macaws have escaped from a tourist attraction, and have set up a feral flock. I used to see a flock of Conures in Brooklyn, N.Y. that were accidently set free from an airplane shipment, and have established a feral flock. Parrots can be resilient, and adapt to many climates.

I, also, put all the birds' cages outside, open all windows, put on ceiling fans, and do it in the morning to let the house air out all day before bringing the birds back in. I also clean any upholstery, rugs, etc. of bird poop stains that day. Of course, I clean bird poop off of things every day! But, any heavy cleaning is done on days that the birds can enjoy the screened in patio.

I have often wondered the same thing. I think they have a limited sense of smell, but, notice that they touch everything with their tongue. What I wonder is, since birds are evolutionally descended from reptiles, does their sense of taste take the place of smell? Like reptiles always flicking their tongues, tasting the air.

My birds seem to prefer cold water, as well. I always try to look at things in a "natural " way, and I wonder if that's because water that wild Greys would encounter would be rivers, streams, or lakes. Which are generally cold.

Heartwarming story. I do not have a story like that, but, I do of 2 birds that are trained as "Emotions Support Animals" (ESA). One is a Green Cheek Conure that will warn his guardian when the man is about to have an attack of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The other is a Scarlet Macaw that warns his diabetic guardian when his sugar is either very low or very high. And have heard of, but, do not know, of a Conure of some kind that warns his guardian when she is about to have an epileptic seizure. Birds can be very intuitive!

Nice vids. I, also, love the baby sounds. My Bailey is 7 months old and I love his little grunts & growls.

Happy Day, All! Shane, we have a bit of our own language...fid=feathered kid, faby=feathered baby, parronts=parrot parents, parrotphanelia=all the things for & about parrots, gakking=when they regurgitate to try to feed us because they love us. I'm sure there's more, but, that's all I can think of right now. And, with us, specifically, anything starting with Grea, Gra, etc. becomes Grey. Like great=Greyt. I, too, am thankful for & to all my friends on this Greyt forum.

Happy Day Everyone! One of the things that I am most thankful for is my TAG, Bailey. He is the light of my life!

I belong to 3 parrot/bird forums. That's about as online social as I get. I have a T-shirt that says, "The more People I know, the more I love my Parrot". Of course, present company excepted!

No sleep tent here either. Sometimes cavity nesters, like Greys, will see that as a possible nest, and become hormonal. That can cause problems. If you cover the cage, sleep tents, happy huts, etc. are not really needed.

Everything Steve mentioned (keyboard, dog, glasses, nipping, etc.) is something we all have to deal with. They are curious, intelligent, and the center of their universe. Redirecting the behavior is the best way to handle these things. Give him alternate choices. Like when Bailey chews my glasses, I show him a favored toy to replace the glasses. Same with my keyboard. I keep some toys on the computer desk, and when he gets to the keyboard, I dangle a toy that he likes in his face, and he moves on to that. You cannot punish birds, because, unlike dogs, they do not associate your actions with what they have just done. They live in the moment, and will react to your action without thinking about why you are doing that. It can be difficult, but, as Steve has said, they are worth the extra work.

Yes, Michelle, Greys have a wide variety of sounds that they will make naturally. They are not the noisiest birds in the forest, but, they do vocalize quite a bit. And they do make up sounds on their own, other than mimicking. Some people may not know this, but, the whistle that we call the "wolf whistle" has been heard in the jungle where nobody could have taught it to the birds. My Bailey does that often, and I cannot whistle, and the breeder said he has done that from a very early age. And when they find a sound that they like, or gets attention or a reaction, they will repeat it over and over. My Bailey also does a high pitched "Whoop!" sound which he seems to enjoy. Which is also a sound he hasn't learned from any of us. I am not familiar with the bird babysitter DVD, so someone else will have to advise you on that.

I hope I didn't come off too severe in my response. Of course it is Ryan's home, too. And you are his Mom, and will (and should) do whatever is best for you both. Just wait until they arrive to settle the arrangements. I know a loving family will take care of all members in an amicable and compromising way. Enjoying your son's visit is the most important issue here.

If you are paying for the surgery, and putting both of them up in your home, I don't think that asking him to keep the dog crated is unreasonable. Besides, as said already, stressed dogs like to feel secure by being in a "den". And, the vet may want to limit the dog's activity while healing. And, they are both guests in Sophie's house! No? She should get first consideration.

Giving more fruits & vegetables will produce more watery & loose droppings. Being so young, please make sure the bird is getting some pellets & seeds. Especially young birds need a balance of all foods because you are setting her up to eat a variety of foods throughout her life. And she is growing and her body needs various nutrients. Diarrhea is more watery and would be soaking into the newspaper. It looks okay to me. You will see subtle differences depending on what she eats each day.

I belong to other forums of parrot guardians, and this one IS the best.

Good that you were aware of his predicament. Yes, toys, etc. can be dangerous. And yes, they are like toddlers. BTW, are those canaries or finches against the back wall? If canaries, Cockey may wind up being quite the singer. My grandparents had a Congo (that I inherited) that mimicked my Grandmother's canary, and sang like crazy. Sometimes it seemed to confuse the canary whether he had a rival or not.

This is exactly what I have done most of my life. Taking in birds that generally have been cared for by someone who can not do it any longer, and their relatives, caregivers, etc. do not want them or can not care for them. That scenario accounts for probably 70% of the rescues I have taken in. The rest were behavioral problems, or confiscations with my SPCA work. This happens more than you might think with these long lived birds. That is why it really is so important that parrot guardians have plans in place for the continued care of their birds.

Excellent, Dan. You always come up with the best things!