Inara

Hi aunali, and welcome to the forums. Sounds like you have got a very busy guy, and that he is full of energy. That is great. The scratching around that you've noticed could be just an automatic response as young birds in the nest will scrath to kick debri out of the nest. It could also be his trying to find a way out of his cage. Before I go any further, understand that the youngest bird I have personal experience with is my current TAG, who came to me at two years old. There are others here who have breeding experience, and those who like you also started with a very young bird. They will have many good insights. I really encourage you to find either books or videos on training your pal with gentle, positive methods, Barbara Heidenreich has some excellent ones, and now is the time to start working on making going home to the cage a pleasant experience, etc. In training, we are doing what the bird's natural parents would do to help the youg bird be able to integrate into flock life and socialize appropriately. Although, in our case it is how to integrate into a human flock. In the long run, this makes for a happier bird and a happier relationship and mk es it less likely that a bird will be rehomed for screaming, biting, etc. As for things that your bird finds frightening, just be nonchalant around the object with your body language. Pick it up in front of your bird, laugh, talk in a normal voice about it. Say something like, It's OK, just a ball," etc. Soon your bird will learn that OK means that it is safe, and many birds here, mine included, will tell themselves, "ok" to self sooth when a bit nervous. You might ask the question about bracing against the top of the cage and the scratching, in the Nursery thread where others with young birds will see it. People here are really willing to help. We love photos, too

This past week we had a super moon full moon. Often, people and animals have varying responses to the moon. HRH was a bit jumpy the past few days. Maalik may be sensitive to the moon. It could be fun to mark these last few days of brattiness on you calendar and any future ones and see if there is any pattern with the moon. Wereparrot !!

How wonderfully exciting!! I just love hearing about how Escher is doing

Love these stories!! Made me choke on my coffee this morning. The 2nd night after Inara came to live with us, She was on her perch by the supper table. My Joe was talking to me (hence I was ignoring HRH) and Inara leaned over, stock still, stared Joe in the eyes, and said, "You @ss!" I tired hard not to burst out laughing, and Joe said, "Did she just call me an ass??!" I said, "Clear as a bell!" Definitely gave us a peek into her former owners' lives. hahaha. Her first real made up by herself swearing is her, "What the quack??!" Joe is famous for saying WTH? When he's working on something around the house. And every time Inara would make this one particular undecipherable sound, I'd say "quack" to her. She still says, "What the quack?!" when something startles her or when she wants to elicit laughs. She *also* is great at the fart noise. She makes it when I'm cleaning her cage, when she sees a paper towel, and whenever I wipe up a drop of poop from something. How she put it together with poo is interesting as we never have used that with her. However, Joe does fart quite proficiently ... and I'm sure Inara knows that it is not coming from the facial part of his anatomy. :D

At times like these, I have an abundance of deep feelings, and am at a loss for words. Such very, very, sad news. Bless Maalik for singing Bogart's song. Perhaps Maalik is responding to Bogart's flock call from the other side, letting Maalik know that all is well across the Rainbow Bridge. My heart just breaks for you.

D I T T O -- HRH is a sweetie, but busy busy busy. To snuggle like that?? Awwwww...... as birdhouse said, "I will not be jealous...." :D

Susan, great news. So good to hear that Roxy is on the mend! Thank you for the update. Once Roxy and you are up for it, would love to see photos and hear all about you two.

http://carlylusflightblog.com/2014/07/beach-bum/ There are more posts available from her main blog page.

What fantastic news to wake up to!!!!!!!!!! So happy that Brutus is home, and that his big adventure is over. Whew! Sharon, you must just be jello with relief. ((((((hugs)))))) PS There is another lost grey about 19 miles from you. http://carlylusflightblog.com/2014/07/beach-bum/

Yay!! Can't wait for pics, bragging, and name So excited for you!

Still holding positive thoughts for Brutus' safe return. It is difficult to put into words the deep feelings we have in wanting to compell Brutus to come home. Worries for him and concern for you.

YAY! Happy 6th, Ana Grey! Six wonderful years, and a feather to grow on.

Welcome to you and your two buddies! You have all landed in a good place. Just like aunties and uncles, we love to see photos, hear stories about you and your birds, and learn from you even as we offer advice. I am looking forward to getting to know you, Smokey and Olaf better.

You've asked a good question and it is apparent that you are really doing your homework. The idea of having a grey and the reality are two different things. That being said, I think many here have been drawn to them from a young age. Perhaps this is an indication of our own personality traits. Some people are attracted to big, some to small, some to brightly colored, and some to these quirky creatures, who are predictable in unpredictable ways. Most people have an attention span of about three years when interested in a new activity or hobby. Many birds are put up for sale or shuffled off after a couple of years. There are many reasons for this that are discussed elsewhere in these forums. Suffice it to say that I have known people who have led busy lives and had healthy, happy birds, and people who have had all the time in the world who have wound up having maladjusted birds because of temperament issues between the human and the bird, or once the shiny wore off the person just provided the bare minimum of food, water, and a clean cage. Only you know you. Are you a person who loves a challenge, devotes time and energy to it and likes to move on to something new? Or are you a person who can spend years delving deeply into something, constantly wanting to do more, learn more? Or are you somewhere inbetween? Do you like to have quiet mornings to sleep in late? Do daily chores make you want to slack off? There are many more questions to ask yourself, and get down and dirty honest with the answers. One suggestion would be to find a parrot refuge or rescue organization in your area and do some volunteering. You will learn a lot, and will learn a lot about yourself, too. Spend time really reading the threads here, they are worth wading through. On a personal note, my first grey and I were together through young single motherhood, wild teenagers in the house, then graduate school and his evental death. He was a mess when he came to live with me and became a loving, gentle fun and happy guy despite my long hours away later in his life. So much depends on you, your temperament, and on the bird. If you commit, commit. Healthy, caring people don't sell their kids just because they are too much work, or too expensive, or because they bite, or because life changes. These sentient beings deserve the same loyalty. Remember, s(he) is not rhe one who asked to be caged. You are the one upon whom both the joys and the burdens fall. My hope is that you will come to the best decision for you and for a bird who is in need of the right companion, whichever direction that decision takes you.

::::adjusts tinfoil hat and sticks a feather in it::::

​Loved being able to peep in!

What a nerve wracking and frightening time for you. My heart just fell when I saw this post this morning. It sounds as if you are doing everything possible to bring your beloved Brutus home. The window screen does sound like a fluke and like the culprit. Do you have a pair of binoculars? Those might help, as well as a night vision pair or scope. Since Brutus will likely stay still at night, the night vision binocs/goggles might be helpful in being able to spot him while he is roosting. Am holding you both in my thoughts and heart.

Completely cracked me up! Thanks for the morning smile

It may be a rookie effort, but it is still a good one. Every human is different, also, but we learn a lot about human behavior through assessment instruments and looking at trends. It's not as if JeffNOK is claiming this as any thing more than an informal survey. Out of that, after examining the responses from each question, then it can be modified to address other areas, operational definition of terms, and sub categories. Just because someone may not be familiar with a term or sub category, i.e. wild caught for example doesn' t mean it has no relevance, especially in other parts of the world. I, for one, am interested if there is a correlation and/or possible causation with domestic breeding practices and aggression. Also the role that cryptochrome may play in Greys reading our behavioral responses vis a vis electromagnetic fluctuations. Certainly this survey is not in depth enough to address the first one in any sort of depth, or the second at all, but we do have a very large sample here from which to draw upon, and to be dismissive rather than constructive really is counterproductive to encouraging the acquisition of what could be more helpful knowledge. When designing anything, the first version is usually up for revision after feedback. Thanks, Jeff, for wanting to take a deeper look. EDIT: It would be nice to have a new forum section for the posting and dicussion of research articles as well as where surveys could be posted. .

I don't cover Inara, but I do lower our solar shades at about 6 PM so that the light is dimmed. We are usually in another part of the house by 7 so she is not often disturbed. In the winter she moves to the dining room so that the lights are off and it is dark by early evening.

I would err on the side of caution also. You might ask them what chemicals are being applied, and then run those by your avian vet also via phone. If you can smell anything, then you know that your fids are definitely being exposed, and even if you cannot does not mean they aren't.

Would you like us to fill out only for our current AG, or repeat for past/departed greys? I ask because my wild caught CAG wlile sharing some traits with HRH (domestic TAG) also had some marked differences. It might be a good follow up survey for us to do one on rehomes/rescues also. I'd be happy to either formulate one, or work with you on one. Or maybe the way you separate out the data on this one will work for how many previous homes, reason given for sale/surrender, purchased from..., history of biting, screaming, etc. Good survey, thanks for putting it together! It is going to give us some really good info. PS: Another question might be "is your bird currently flighted?" Some birds like Inara were clipped early and learned to fly later in life. There was the question about being allowed to fully fledge, but some may interpret that as feathers allowed to grow in for flight, some may interpret that as allowed to develop flight. Or it may just be my blonde brain;)

Welcome, Blair and Amadeus. So glad that you found us. Yes, living with a parrot is a life changer, but they really are more adaptable than most give them credit for. Good nutrition, bonding, a relaxed attitude, exercise, and attention go a looooong way in ensuring a healthy and happy bird. Many people are not aware that our own wings can become a bit clipped when we take on the responsibility of these marvelous companions, as you have discovered by not being able to fly off when you've got down time. They do bring their own kind of fun along with them, though. Since it sounds like you are on the road a lot, you might want to look at the avian vet thread in the health section here. Check out vets in areas that you will be, and then depending on where you are when you have time off, you could think about boarding Amadeus with one. Or if you are home in Nashville and need a break, you could call your local vet to see if you could hire a vet tech to take care of Amadeus while you are away. Enjoy reading through the threads here, there is a ton of great info. We never get bored hearing updates, and we love photos

Kilaya looks so sweet. Even with all of her sweetness, and her need for you at this tender age, it does have to still be difficult for you. The deep love you had for Cocoa, and the sadness at Cocoa's death will fill such a large portion of your heart for much time to come. It is nice that Kilaya is so small, so that as she grows the joy that will grow with her can help slowly, over time, to abate your sadness until your heart is filled with fond memories of Cocoa and new experiences with Kilaya. She can never replace Cocoa's place in your home and your heart, but eventually, she will add her own type of imprint in both. She is a lucky girl to have a human who has loved so deeply before, as she will be able to feel that she, too, will be treasured.

So glad to know things are settling down. I'm wondering if some of it was the moving of the cages. When you think about it, our birds' cages are their homes. We would be pretty disoriented and shook up if someone just arbitrarily moved our house. Just a thought...