Lupine

Just an update. We got Delilah in early November, and in the past three months, she's really settled in. Her vocabulary is amazing, and I know we haven't even scratched the surface. While it seems I'm definitely her favorite, she's also very comfortable hanging out with David, and she really enjoys his daughter's visits. (Sorry, no more videos at this time). I happen to be a falconer, and while my birds are kept in a different building, I was bird-sitting a fellow falconer's tiny kestrel for a couple weeks, and this bird stayed in the house across the room from Delilah, on a pole perch. The kestrel is an imprint, and therefore makes a LOT of noise whenever we enter or leave the room. Whenever she'd start, Delilah would say, "Goddamnit...no...NO! STOP THAT!" or something similar. Her only "practice sessions" happen to be when we're watching a movie or TV program. By "practice sessions," i mean she trots out her repertoire, but often inserts stuff appropriate to the film. During "Bridesmaids," for example, whenever Mike Hamm's came on, she'd say, "Asshole!" Hysterical. If there's a big explosion, she'll go, "Wooooow", in awe. But sometimes, if somebody is getting hurt, she'll yell, "TICKLE TICKLE TICKLE!" or just plain giggle. She knows she's being a pain in the tailfeathers, and hopes we'll bring her over to sit on the sofa with us--where she's usually pretty quiet and content, pulling up a foot and watching intently. We can usually count on her to make a few quiet and usually astute observations, though. We're really getting a sense of her cues, and paying attention to them has cleared the way for the bonding process. Since she's basically a well-behaved, mellow bird, we usually let her do what she wants--if she leans toward her cage, we ask if she wants to "go back", and take her there; if she acts nervous when she's sitting on our shoulder, we learned it means she needs to go "bombs away". I'm so grateful for the serendipity that brought us together. She's a wonderful addition to our family, and makes us laugh every day. Though her imitations of the sound effects related to my recent winter (alder trees!) allergies have bordered on disgusting. Cheers!

Please make sure that the bird is OUT OF THE HOUSE during the sanding portion as well as during thorough dust cleanup. I just heard from some friends who lost their birds due to the floors being sanded. Even though the parrots were kept in a separate room with a towel in the door crack, the suspended particles containing toxic stuff killed them.

I'm with Dan on this. I've seen many pictures of Alex where he clearly looks like he'd been plucking--a lot. In "Alex and Me", Irene does write about the stresses on Alex when she was forced to take jobs in different states than where he was kept, or when the lab was moved, etc. Taking into account the pressures her birds endure for statistical data (repetition, etc) I'm sure they're stressed. She even hinted in her book that if they didn't have to repeat so many lessons for verifiable results, her birds would probably have a greater vocabulary. They'd likely be less frustrated as well.

Keep us posted! Vinegar not only helps to lift dust when wiping stuff down, but it also helps eliminate mold and bacteria. If your Greybie has or recently had mites, your allergies could be to mite spoor and ensuing fungus/bacteria, not to her dander. So be sure to thoroughly clean all household surfaces. Bird dander is essentially just the keratin from the feather sheathing, if I recall (but of course I could be wrong) as well as a bit of skin flakes. Feather lice/skin lice eat this stuff, and poop out stuff that is then fed upon by fungus/bacteria. So I agree that a good, avian-vet assisted grooming would help, plus regular spraydowns/bathing. See how she is after a good molt?

Here's a video we shot a couple weeks ago of Delilah, playing "Parrot School" with my step-daughter, who recently learned about Dr. Pepperberg in school:

Edited (duplicate post))

Great post, Muse. I agree wholeheartedly. Truth is, the place from where we got Delilah is a pet shop I typically avoid. Their staff is (mostly) friendly and knowledgeable, but they do sell kittens and dogs from what I believe are backyard breeders. I *DO* know that reasonably reputable breeders will sell "pet-quality" animals to retailers they trust. (DISCLAIMER!) I'm OK with selective, responsible breeding (my own special-purpose hunting dog was, in fact, bred-to-order by a novice, but he did his homework, and had a waiting list among known potential clients within a very specific market). I do think that, other than certain working dogs, purebreds are overrated, but I don't want to be a hypocrite! I'm also not a fan of over-legislation. Education is the way to go. Support and give positive reviews to the retailers and rescues with whom you've been in contact, and let pet shops know why you do or do not support them. Many stores are learning the value of hosting adoption events or housing bona-fide adoptable pets. Note, there are as many bad rescues (and wildlife rehabbers) out there as there are irresponsible breeders and pet shops. I've seen some ugly stuff in my lifetime from all of the above. Now...back to Delilah...in a post that will follow!

When you get back, and well before you next need one, seek out a pet sitter with parrot experience who can come check on your bird and change his food and water. And find a backup. In my opionion, the peace of mind and your bird's well-being are worth the expense. Plus, what would happen if you saw on your internet monitor that something was wrong? What if your return was delayed for some reason (weather, accident, etc). Angie's List or your avian vet should be able to help find good resources. Enjoy your trip...and avoid any tv channels likely to show predators.

Eight days must be magic, as Delilah finally asked for a headscritch about an hour ago!

Thanks, all! I think she's establishing rapports unique to all of us. She seems to have a sound for David ("whoooo"), for me (the chirp of a smoke detector battery alert, go figure) and barking noises for the dogs. As expected, after the excitement of her homecoming, she's been keeping her English under wraps for the settling-in period... with a few exceptions. She quietly talks to the dogs. She meowed like a cat, and when our big dog came over, she praised her with"such a good girl!" When either dog visits the cage, they get one of several barks, or "hello!". On a few occasions, we've caught her muttering conspiratorially to the rapt dogs, clamming up when she sees we've noticed. She has picked up the contact call David and I modeled for her, and has used it a couple times she is also practicing the first few notes of the Andy Griffith Show theme; we've been modeling that as well. As for favoritism, I think we're going to be ok...thanks to advice on this forum!

Indeed. I'd hate to work at a pet store. So many people buy animals on impulse...or buy the wrong animal. I'd be the one saying, "This dog/cat is rabid, you don't want him/her!" I generally avoid stores that sell dogs and cats (personal preference) because they encourage indiscriminate, low-quality backyard breeding. OK. So I was going to report that Delilah's been pretty quiet all day, but then David came home. As soon as he walked in the room, she perked up; "How're ya doin? HI!" She's all a-flutter, whistling and making the beer-bottle cap noise. Huh. I guess her old daddy liked to pour himself a cold one when he got home from work.

She is adorable! It's pretty clear she's comfortable with you. I watched it with Delilah, who--after being pretty gregarious last night on her first evening home, seems a bit "hungover" today. She's been pretty quiet. The video certainly caught her interest! Please share more, Shane!

I've got to get a Photobucket account set up for her, though right now she doesn't seem too happy to have the flash going off near her. For now, just imagine a light gray bird with dark primaries and a red tail! It's been kind of a quiet morning, which is understandable. Her first "real" day here. This morning was like Christmas. David and I got up early to come down and uncover the bird together, so we were hurrying each other down the stairs. He's working on-site today, so I'm sitting at the table next to her cage, letting her get used to me. Nothing from her yet today but squeaks and a few short, high-pitched calls, but I'm careful to make contact calls to her when I leave her sight. She doesn't seem concerned with our cat or dogs, and appears to be pretty comfortable in the spot we picked for her cage. It's in the crux of an L-shaped downstairs area, which--aside from the kitchen--is an open layout including the work areas and living room, so she pretty much has her whole daytime empire in view. I haven't tried getting her to step up, and I won't until I'm sure she's up for it. No rush; we have the next 40 years or so!

We picked her up tonight at 7:30 pm. In the hour-and-a-half time between then and putting her to bed, she's amazed the heck out of us. After the short drive home, we re-assembled her cage and filled her dishes while she waited in the cardboard box. When I opened her "carrier", she looked at me and asked, "Whatcha doing?" After shooting a look of awe at my co-parront, David, I let her step up, and then placed her in her cage, telling her we were welcoming her home. We gave her some time to inspect her cage, inside and out. David sat at his workspace and I sat in the living room, both in view of the cage. She immediately grabbed a peanut from the bowl, munching it while looking around at her surroundings. David put on some music, and Delilah began going through her repertoire of whistles and calls. We decided to close Delilah's door and let the dogs out of their crate, and they went right up to meet her. Eva, our Viszla, dropped her toy by the cage. Laughing, Delilah said, "Messy guy!" Eva stuck her nose to the cage.. Delilah came down and gently beaked it. (WHOA! COOL!) Our little Corgi/Chi mix, Stella, stood on her hind legs to get a better look at Delilah...who giggled at her, and then on an old-lady voice, said, "fancy that! (NOOOO WAY....DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?) She also whistled a complicated tune David swears was the melody of a song he's just played. There was a lot more babbling and giggling that we couldn't decipher as the dogs got into a wrestling match on the sofa. When everyone settled down, we decided Delilah probably hadn't been up this late in ages...and she was settling onto her highest perch, so we said "goognight" and covered her for the evening. Wow. I should mention that David and I modeled a two-note contact call several times, especially when one of us would leave the area. Also, we have a game already; she makes the descending, falling bomb whistle, and we respond with various splat/kapow/crash noises. She loves it! We're absolutely amazed, and can't wait to get to know her better! Only bad part of the day was the weepy store staff who, while excited WE are taking her, are going to miss their favorite animal. In two weeks, Delilah earned a spot on their Wall of Fame...and she's already won our hearts, too.

Shane, we already put down half the adoption fee...so I hope we get her, too! And I'm enjoying your thread...we're definitely in for it, aren't we? Years ago I had a pug named Delilah, and it's weird to call another animal by that name. But the bird has had it for a loooong time, and we've decided it's part if who she is. She'd better not be a heartbreaking master manipulator like her original namesake, though! Pics will be on their way. I haven't taken any just yet, but we will document her First Day like crazy!

Thanks, all! Dan, what you said makes perfect sense. In any case, I found out today that the previous owners went to a new facility in another state, so it's moot. I visited Delilah today, and she actually leaned over toward me from her perch on a favorite staffer's shoulder, and offered a foot when I presented my wrist for a step-up. (I'd had her on my shoulder a few minutes earlier as we shopped for supplies together) . I'm glad she's this comfortable with me in an environment in which she's familiar; we'll see how it goes when she comes home. Her cage and toys are coming with her. An interesting note...during the visit, a severely autistic young teen wearing a hat with huge plush antlers on it went running through the store, shouting "BAP! BAAP! BAP!". We humans were understandably startled, but the bird just sat on her playtop, munching on a snack and watching with mild interest as the girl's mom went after her. Delilah's probably the perfect bird for us.

Watched this tonight with my co-parront. Afterwards we had yet another a serious talk about what we're getting into when we pick up our 15-year-old Congo later this week. An excellent look at the realities of parrots in the role of "pet". And our responsibilities as parrot lovers. I'm glad we got over the idea that babies are "the only way to go". While I'm not putting down breeders or those who have bought baby birds*, I'm glad we have learned that rehomed, mature birds are, with patience, an excellent option. There are so many birds needing homes. (*Most of my dogs have been "rescues", but for working dogs in particular, I'd support a reputable breeder.)

Yes, we met our bird! Delilah is a 15-year-old CAG who spent her whole life with an elderly couple. When the couple moved to assisted living, Delilah went to a local pet store. We'd just decided to postpone our Grey hunt until after the holidays (we're working with a local rescue group, and the bird we were interested in was adopted out before we could schedule a home inspection) when we stopped into the shop to pick up some supplies. And there she was. Two of the staffers said Delilah bonded with them fairly quickly in her two weeks at the shop (bribing her with Mac and Cheese helped). Over the course of three visits, we observed her behavior around strangers, including a few pushy customers and inquisitive little kids. Delilah doesn't dive for her cage or show fearful posture, but she does try and keep her distance on her playpen, while observing everyone carefully. We hope to bring her home by Friday. We have furniture to re-arrange and a few things to get set up before we're ready for her...but we're really excited! She's been on an all-seed diet, so we're slowly going to introduce Harrison's pellets, sprouts and veggies for a more varied diet. She comes with a great cage/playtop and a few toys, and eventually we'll get her a separate play structure. I'm already making some simple foot/forage toys, and converting an extra animal carrier for her use. Oh, right. DOES SHE TALK? Well, she says "Tickle Tickle", "Whatcha doin'," "Hi, Delilah" and "Goddamnit." She also mimic's coughing and sneezing, and a few other noises. We're sure she has a broader repertoire, but this is just what the staff has heard. And I do hope to see if I can get in touch with the original owners, since it seems that the pet store dealt with the retirement home, rather than the owners themselves. I don't know the whole story, but think that one of the owners passed away and the husband/wife was unable to care for the bird, but if it's appropriate for everyone involved, I'd love to be able to take Delilah to visit her first owner....or at least write letters about her and send photos.

I'd be careful about anything shipped from China. They tend to use some nasty pesticides/fungicides on a lot of the fibers (i.e. sisal, jute, etc) that they ship over. Probably do the same with loofah.

Where are you located? If you decide that two is more than you can handle, perhaps with your friend's blessing, you can find a home for the second. *wink, wink, nudge nudge*

Sorry about your bird, Ksuny, but please don't rush to replace your bird out of concern for your boy's grief. It's part of growing up, as sad as it is. I remember losing my ancient German Shepherd when I was six, and I don't think I would have accepted the GSD puppy we got a few months later had she come home any sooner. But that's just me. I remember a saying: "Sometimes, the best way to get over an old boyfriend is to get under a new one". Cute phrase, but really, so much wrong there. We need to learn to grieve relationships/lost loved ones, and so many caring parents can't handle to see a kid upset over the loss of a pet that they try to bridge the chasm of grief by immediately bringing in a new pet. Of course, there are worse things to worry about. I'm certainly not saying that your son's going to turn into a crack dealer or anything if you find a nice Grey to bring home before the tears are dry. I hope you find a new avian family member in due time that's a good match for you and him, and I hope he had a happy birthday regardless! M

Oh, dear. Maybe we SHOULD wait to move to the country before getting our Grey. The couple across the street, well, the're loud as pornstars, and just about as...active. As for the potty mouth, well, unless I get a deaf bird, or I'm struck dumb, that's just a foregone conclusion.

This is very informative. When I bring my bird home, I'm going to make it very clear that I am Warrior Princess (Lupine) The Gorgeous, Skinny and Awesome. A bit much?

Thank you! I know that what suits some parrots doesn't suit others, and to be honest I'm really not interested in having more than one parrot, at least for the forseeable future. (I'm already Crazy Bird Lady, but with other species.) With one or both of us working from home on any given day, I think our future Grey will be fine with the regular activity. And he'll have the two dogs and the bird-savvy cat to boss around, though I know that's no substitute for intellectual stimulation. I especially appreciate the advice targeted to first-time Grey owners, which we will be.