Inara

"It's great that quite a few of us have Greys around the same age....good to share experiences." Monax, I agree, it is really fun to get to know others whose fids are close to the same age. I love reading, hearing about, and watching others' also. Having only had older birds before, HRH has been a new but very welcome experience for me, and it really helps to see what others her age are up to.

"He does come to the perch by his cage door now and lets me tickle his neck, without biting now and takes treats gently from my hand." That is great progress in only a couple of months. And Wow on the stepping to your hand progress! It is great that Rocco is a good assistant when it comes to helping to show Alex that you are a friend, and that life is safe, and might even be a little fun as he continues to trust. It warmed my heart to read such a nice update.

Love the scent of HRH, also! Every morning when she comes out of her cage, I snuggle her to my chest and bury my face into her neck feathers while she makes smooching sounds. To me she smells like hot sunshine on a shirt ... or like when you're ironing one. My 'zon used to smell like tacos, in a good way. It makes me smile just thinking of his little Dorito breath. He would sell his soul for a bite of taco flavored Doritos (dont be judgy, I was young, living in the middle of nowhere, and hey it was the '70s!) and afterward, he'd have a little taco breath for awhile.

Hi Fay, how great that Sid is settling down with regard to the feather business. It is always worrisome when there is a behavior change that is unexpected. Better, though when your vet checked Sid out. So glad that the spray is having good results and am filing the name of it away for future reference. Thanks for the update! ps: loved the photo of you and sid in the ower thread. You make a lovely pair.

Hi Doron, it's natural for her to be hesitant about handling her wings so just start out very slowly and just think "baby steps," with everything you do with her. One little bit at a time. When you are holding her and petting her head and neck, try just very lightly resting your hand on her back so that the tips of your fingers touch the edge of one of her wings. Don't leave your hand there for very long, just for a second or two. Then a bit longer over time, and as you go along rather than just touching the edge of a wing, you can give it a tiny lift, as you also move your hand off of her back. Talk with her soothingly and add lots of praise. You don't need to pet her under her wings, you're just working toward getting her to lift her wings so you can see underneath, and to eventually become more comfortable with you touching her wings so that when she goes to the Vet, or if you need to examine a feather, she won't be completely freaked out. Inara doesn't particularly enjoy my handling her wings, but I do it still a few times a week usually when she is very relaxed and we've had a play or flight session and then I follow it up with a nice little treat. By handling her feet over time, she now will let me file down her talons as well as file her beak. She actually enjoys this now, and will put her feet and beak into position on the side of her cage (in the same spot that she herself has chosen) for a light buffing.

Thank you everyone, for the lovely wishes. Dee, she certainly is, isn't she? She has been such an easy girl, compared to my past companions and compared to many rehoming experiences as you are so personally aware. I like to think it's because the Parrot Universe decided to go a little easier on me in this second half of my life. It has been such a wonderful experience to have begun with happy right from the start -- a very new experience for me. I can honestly say I'd love her no matter what. Her little sunny personality is definitely the icing on the cake, though.

Thank you for the lovely wishes everyone! HRH Inara would like to say to Greyciemae and Peanut that "kiss the foot" is the first step in training your human. They will often erroneously interpret a lifted foot as something that they call "step up," but with persistence and patience, they can be trained, and it looks as if the two of you are well on your way to having a properly trained human. She is quite impressed. JeffNOK, so fun that your Gracie and HRH are the same age, and I believe Steve2's Toulouse is also about the same age. I love the variety in personalities, and am already looking forward to what this next year brings. GC180, HRH commanded my Joe to "You go eat The Squirrel," this morning after The Squirrel had been chattering/threatening at the back deck this morning. Needless to say, request denied!

Greytness, Maalik is a lucky guy! A sense of humor is so necessary to have (and keep even on the wild days) and I enjoy yours. Can't wait to watch you and Maalik's relationship continue to unfold. :cool: :

Hi Pam, and welcome. What an informative post, and it is apparent that you've been around the block a few times, and like many people who have experience with these wonderful creatures in the distant past, you have grown along with the times as research and vet science has helped us all improve our understanding of what best suits our companions. Much like our Greys, while a varied lot, we all have a lot in common, the primary thing being our love for our companions. You will find differences in opinions from time to time, and some more direct/blunt posts but no one bites . You will find a wealth of information in the various threads, and I would suggest that you read through the Training threads, as there are many people who have asked the same questions on trust building with rehomed birds, etc. You will feel right at home here in no time. You and your birds have definitely landed in the right place.

Our beautiful companion is three years old today, and so much has changed since she came to live with us last September, after her original people put her up for sale on Craigslist. There was no doubt that she had begun her life well loved, but as she grew she became more than they had originally bargained for. When she arrived, she had been living on a southern comfort food diet (that was given to her with a lot of love), and would turn up her pretty little beak at the mere sight of fruits, vegetables, or anything that was not swimming in cheese. She now eats loads of healthy fresh foods, although her distaste for bananas in any form has remained steadfast. Not clipped, but not knowing how to fly or that her wings even belonged to her, when she first arrived -- after many games of swinging on a rope to stimulate her wings and flight instincts, then more formal training, Inara now is the Queen of Flight. She loves flying and practices twice a day for exercise, and any other times she fancies a bit of air through her feathers. This morning, she even managed to land atop the teensy flip screen of my cell phone as I was trying to snap a photo of her on her perch. Her vocabulary has grown in so many ways, that I have stopped counting the words. She chooses to talk for the most part in complete sentences and prefers chatting *with* someone rather than just to herself or just *at* someone. Inara's language use is meaningful and to the point. She asks for what she wants, and often will say what she doesn't want, like the other morning when I was standing near her as she was playing with a new toy, and she imperiously looked at me in the eye and said firmly, "Get out." Her wish was my command. (Actually her command was my command!) She absolutely detested baths and/or showers, now joyfully takes part in both, and most recently has begun to ask for showers. She uses pronouns correctly, and uses various verb tenses correctly (i.e., "I will help you cook the cookies," "Are you cooking in there?") While she would nip at Joe when she first arrived, that behavior has long since extinguished. She doesn't evidence any biting behaviors, despite having bitten one of her former humans hard enough to leave a scar. When she came to live with us, she had worn feathers off of both sides of her neck, and had worn the black off of both sides of her beak from constantly trying to get out of her cage at her former people's home. She now is happy to "go home" to her cage and will say, "Let's go home," or "I want to go home there," when she is ready to go to her cage. Once there she entertains herself or just snoozes contentedly. Inara is not a snuggler, but loves affection in the form of gentle beak rubs and neck tickles, and still loves to have me kiss the bottoms of her feet. She will laugh when she is delighted at something (like a perfect landing after flying a long distance), and is generous with kisses. She prefers a routine, and will let us know if we are straying too far from what she perceives as the schedule for the day. She remains a complete delight, sailed through the "Twos" with flying (literally) colors with just a couple grumpy weeks earlier in the spring, and is a very cherished member of our family. A day does not go by where she does not make us laugh, or melt our hearts. Thank you all, for sharing her (almost) first year with us, and looking forward to many more to come. Inara's Human

In typical HRH fashion, Inara decided preening was in order before the paparazzi could capture any Grey Gossip hatchday shots.

Could not agree more! Miss Gilbert is indeed the most fortunate of all. Dee, what a lovely post and as always a pure delight to tune in.

Phangton, it does seem from your wife's more recent interaction that just hanging out together before she leaves for work may be beneficial for awhile. That while may be several days, or weeks, but it is fine. When a bird senses nervousness in creatures or other birds around them, it puts them on alert, and like us, when our own fight or flight instincts are triggered one of the two behaviors takes place. It is natural for your wife to feel trepidation after having been on the receiving end of attacks. It is natural for your bird to sense that nervousness and become on alert. Seems as if they are both now in a conflicted feedback loop. Both have affection for each other, and both have become nervous around and wary of one another. Also, your bird can enjoy time with other flock members, but if you are whom he is primarily bonded with, he will not want to sit upon or be physically on another except for just short bursts. Often an other person gets bit when the bird is upon them and has tried to convey subtley that they are lingering too long together. Sort of like slow dancing for too long with someone else's spouse ....they want to stop. If your guy is flying out of his cage and seeking out your wife, is it possible that he is wanting to land on her, and that because of their history she is jumpy and reacts from fear, so he bites to try to grab on? Or do you feel it is more of a chasing her away type of situation? He may be letting her know that you belong to him. It can be really helpful to go back over each incident and write down the time, place, person, what was going on immediately before, and keep a journal. What seems like random often can have a subtle underlying pattern. For now, my advice would be to have your wife contine the retrust building while your guy is in his cage. This way both are safe and relaxed. .

How fun, and so reaffirming about flock/family bonds and memories. Boot the BF, and enjoy the rest of your evening and homecoming!

I love this!! Did it just knock your socks off or what? You two are going to have so much fun, and I'm really looking forward to new tales

What a fantastic shot! Megan looks so beautiful and vibrant. Love this!

How heartwrenchingly sad, and a devastating time for you and all those who loved Miss Scarlett. My heart goes out to you. Whether shorter or longer, the years of love, laughter, joy, and mystery that we spend with our special companions are just never enough.

I think you will do a great job with him. It is apparrent from your posts that you are invested in learning all that you can and that you are empathetic with your bird. We all will be cheering you on and looking forward to updates

Brat Birds, yes HRH does rule the roost, literally! Jeff, I agree that when we respond when our fids are communicating with us, and they learn that what they say with our language gets results, the more they will be inclined to communicate meaningfully....if that is their personality. As well as on the flipside if we respond to their nonverbals and their own native sounds, the more they appreciate the bidirectional communication. This morning, Inara again specifically asked for a shower, this time by saying, "I want a shower." So of course she got one right at that moment. She really is an excellent communicator and usually talks in complete sentences which just blows away my friends who come to visit.

Hi, Doran. I really enjoyed your introduction post and the photos of your beautiful Annie. The most important thing in training your new companion is, as other wise folks have said, establishing trust and bonding with your bird. My recommendation would be to have Annie's early training focus on fun, bonding and safety. So coming to you, stepping onto your arm and/or hand, allowing you to touch her feet and gently look under her wings, return to her cage peacefully, and easily be handed off to other people would all be good things to start with. Use lots of praise with excitement in yourr voice and lots of teeny bits of treats. She will let you know by her behaviors if she enjoys learning fun tricks by the way she responds to learning her day to day safety type things. You could also try just a very easy fun activity like gently tossing a small toy near her and rewarding her for moving towards you with it. Just like us humans, some of us love doing physical things, some of us enjoy more mental stimulation, and some of us are social talkers. You will eventually come to learn more about which Annie might be and then the important thing will be to help her develop those natural traits, and not to force her to become something that she is not. There are many good books and also some fairly decent youtube videos out there. Just take it one step at a time, have fun with Annie, keep it playful, short, and always stop while annie is enjoying herself. What you do and/or do not do with her now will help her become a well adjusted, trusting, delightful, and happy companion.

Welcome, Doron and Annie. Annie is so beautiful and it looks like the two of you are off to a great start! It is so nice that she is getting comfortable stepping onto your hand, you are doing a good job with her. We will all be looking forward to hearing frequent updates on how she is doing as the two of you grow together. Just like Aunties and Uncles we love to share in the excitement and are here to help in the confusing or difficult times.

Was just now in the kitchen cooking up a pasta salad to take to a BBQ later this evening. HRH Inara was safely in her cage (away from boiling pasta pot). House was quiet, Inara had been quiet, napping I presumed, while I was cooking. I heard hear stirring a bit, then clear as a bell she said, "I want to go out and take a shower." She often says, "I want to go out and cook the cookies," or "I want to go out and see the squirrel," etc. N E V E R has she even said the word "shower," let alone ask for one. She, by the way, did not have her morning shower today as I was busy doing 4th of July/birthday of a friend preparations. Naturally, I dropped what I was doing, told her I'd be happy to take her to get a shower, walked over to her cage, she stepped right out onto my arm, we headed into the bathroom, where she was happily misted until the bottle ran dry. She gave herself a few good fluffed up feather shakes, got a small grape as a treat and is happily beak grinding in her cage as I type. Just had to share. When she first came to live with us legend had it that she detested showers. She wasn't that happy about them, but over the past many months of morning mists and a regular routine, apparently she knows they do feel good in this super arid climate. whee

HRH Found me! A couple mornings ago, I was in the bedroom which is out of sight of the living room. Inara was on one of her perches in the living room. I was making the bed when I heard pronounced flapping and turned just in time to see Inara execute a very sharp left bank from the living room into the bedroom and land ever so perfectly upon a night stand. Filled me with so much joy, as also the first time, she did not appear surprised at herself, but was instead so relaxed and nonchalant. A Grey letter day!

I'm wondering if it is a good idea to go back to square one with your wife and bird. By that I mesn move both back to a time of peace and success. Since you have said that the majority of attacks are hapoening at about noon, that would be the time to put your bird in its cage and shut the door. Try for several days in arow at that tme to have your wife walk over to the cage, talk softly to the bird and offer a particularly wonderful little treat if your bird is calm. If your bird appears distressed or beaky as your wife approaches, have her stand still until the bird is calm and then slowly begin continued approach. When offering the treat, either dop it into a new and extra food dish reserved only for the treat, or offer it by hand at the very outer limit of the bird's strike range. Also have her just off and on in a relaxed manner approach and sit near the cage and chat or read to you bird. Time, patience and consistency can be helpful to both your wife and your feathered companion. Also, what is your wife's routine at noon and how does this fit in with your and your bird's daily routine up to the point of your wife coming home? Have there been any more attacks since your last post? PS please excuse all of the typos I am on my mobile device and I am awful at using its keyboard.

wow!! What a wonderful surprise, and what a perfect home Lulu has alighted in. She sounds lovely inside and out, and I am counting on no photos and no more stories so that you do not spread your case of MBS!!! Seriously, can't wait to get vicarious zon love fixes through you and your new sweetie. Note to self: Must stop lurking in Cricket's 'Zon Forum!!