Inara

Agree Ray! Your Cricket sounds a lot like my departed Elliot. He became such a sweetheart and like Nilah also loved a good shoulder where he could see the world and be close. He was quite the Curious George. I still tear up when I think of him and it has been long ago since he passed. He was my first bird and will forever have a special wing shaped piece of my heart.

I have to echo Ray and say, "Yes! Yes! and Yes!" Birdhouse said it beautifully "We aren't generally comfortable talking about the wild caught's in so many words. But they're owed the recognition that nothing anyone can do is ever really good enough to make up for what they've been through or what they've lost." My 'zon, Elliot and my CAG, Lestat, were two absolute loves of my life. Their wildness, unfortunately was what caused them to be in such dire straits when each came to live with me and was something that I loved and cherished in them. My only goal with each was to give them a safe, peaceful, home and to allow them to just be who they were. By having no expectations from them, and simply caring for them, each on their own time and in their own way went from violent (Elliot actually had killed another bird) plucked (what I believe at the time was suicidal) and became such sweet and gentle birds. Although, Elliot never could even after a couple decades muster the nerve to step from his tree onto my arm. He would happily step onto a small branch that I would hold, then he would walk up it onto my shoulder. He never spoke a word, and wasn't even a whistler. But he loved perching on my shoulder and even taking showers with me while there. He would make these delighted trilling chirps that would completely melt my heart. Lestat eventually became a friend to all, and grew to love socializing with people and animals. Both a long way from their original homes in the wild, and their experiences at the hands of humans. To this day, I can still conjure up in my mind the wild sounds of each. Hoots, growls, wild calls. Completely unlike those of domestic birds. Spine tingling. I don't count HRH Inara in the rescue world, as she was well loved by her original people, and the only challenge with her (which was nothing) was getting her diet switched, and the fun of teaching her to fly. But I did know that when I was looking for a new companion, that I would adopt and not go to a breeder. That is not a criticism of responsible breeders, it is simply that for me I could not justify getting a baby bird when there are so many thousands who are need of homes, and especially experienced homes.

The Perch is a coffee and bird supply shop in Colorado Springs, that also is home to several birds who are up for adoption through a Denver based rescue organization. It is a great way for people to meet some of the birds, (they are not adopted from the shop itself, all adoptions go through the rescue org), or just spend time around the birds enjoying their company. They put on various educational meet and greets and have been well received in the community: http://www.perchpets.com/our-store/

Oh how pretty she is!! And a little smartie too. As for why she won't eat from your hand, it may be that the bites are too big. So she would have to take it in her beak, then balance on one foot while holding the treat with her other foot and she may not feel steady/secure enough. Try giving her teeny tidbits that she can take from you and eat with both feet firmly planted. And let her see you eating it and enjoying the heck out of it before offering her the teensie bite. Keep practicing. I still hand feed HRH Inara her breakfast each morning with me. She loves sitting on my shoulder and taking bites of food from my fingertips, then she will wait -- look at me intently until I take a bite for myself, and then we go back and forth like that until breakfast is finished. It really keeps our bond strong and it is fun for both of us. If I am unable to keep our morning date, she will sit on Joe's arm, and eat from the breakfast plate, but she will take any number of treats from his fingertips. So it's just a matter of time and trial and error with which Korra will like and which she may not. OH and just when you think you've hit on what her favorites are and what her untouchables are.... on a whim, she may change them. Such is the Way of the Grey :D

Hand feeding and hand rearing early are no guarantee that your bird will grow into a tamed bird who enjoys being handled. Given the option, it would be better for you to wait and choose a bird who has been properly weaned, so that you don't have to worry about anything going wrong in the feeding process. I have lived with older wild caught birds who under my care and with my love and respect for them, flourished and became incredibly gentle. I currently live with a TAG who came to us at age 2 who is a sweetheart. However, her first people got her as a hatchling, and helped hand feed her at her breeder's until they could bring her home. At age 2 she started biting the heck out of them. So they put her up for adoption and that is how she came to me. She would nip at my husband at first, but hasn't in at least 2 years and has never bitten me. Much depends on the bird, on you, and on nature's dictates. Wishing you the best of luck, and you have landed in a good place with lots of information and many varying opinions.

Kya just sounds like such a fun character and a real smarty pantz! Got such a tickle out of reading this morning. Thanks for sharing, Applesauce! :D

Hi Devin. Our TAG, HRH Inara, talks up a storm but will clam up when we have guests unless like Timber, everyone gathers in another room. Then she can't stand to be left behind and out of the action so she will pipe up. She also likes to practice talking at least once a day by sticking her head inside of her covered water dish area where apparently the acoustics are to her liking. :D From the first day she was with us, we have always responded to whatever vocalizations she makes (other than screeching on occasion -- that we ignore), and so over the last three years she has learned that we listen to her and we respond in a meaningful way to what she says. For example if she would say, "cookie" -- rather than saying to each other.. "How cute, the bird said cookie." We would respond with something like, "Wow! I like a good cookie, do you like a good cookie? I will go get you a cookie." (then I would follow through by going to get her a little tidbit). Chatting with Korra throughout the day, describing where you are going, what you are doing, and what you are seeing are all good ways to entice her to strike up conversations and learn true language skills rather than mimicking merely. Definitely find a way to answer her meaningfully when she does vocalize, even if you are out of the room and answer from that room. My dearly departed CAG, Lestat, was more of a closet talker but would become a party animal when I would throw a party (hey it was in my youth -- a *lot* of Rock and Roll) and would shout, "Rock and Roll!" at the top of his lungs and spend the night dancing away. But if I just had guests over not partying, he was silent as a clam, unless startled. He never would talk directly to me, the way HRH Inara does. He would talk "around" me, and mostly in non sequiters. While HRH Inara talks to us and with us, and in a meaningful way. A lot just depends on your companion's personality. There is no "one size fits all" answer unless a person wants to just trick train canned responses to canned questions. But that is not true language, it is simply mimicking and (just my humble opinion here) does a disservice by limiting true communication. And communication doesn't always have to be in *our* language. If we listen closely to our companions, they will have specific noises/sounds/whistles that they will repeatedly use for specific things or situations. Repeating those back to them to let them know that you've understood is also a good thing to do as not every Grey will choose to use a human spoken language. But since Korra appears to be one who does, just up the ante for interacting with her when she chooses to open up :) Looking forward to hearing more about her - how old is she?

Well they say that the memory is the 2nd thing to go.....

It seems much longer than 3 years, as if she's always been with us. I always wonder what it's like to have your superplayer GreycieMae! If I tried to handle HRH like you and your baby play, I'm sure I'd wind up missing a limb!!! :D Yes, they *do* certainly make it a joy to get up every day. I don't know what I'd do without her. Hugs to you and your wonderful flock!

OMLadyGaGa!! Dee, that was too funny! Whew! You dodged a bullet there for sure! (still laughing!) Greywings, Agree on the immune system Timbersmom -- yep, been there with the --too late -- feeling when barefoot and step right in it! Poop happens. :D

(reminiscing and still thankful and in love with our Feathered gal) It's hard to believe, but it has been three years yesterday since our little, but imperious and intrepid Royal Highness came to live with us. I will never forget the night that we met her. We had been out looking at various CAGS that had been on Craigslist, and at a local Bird shop in Denver, and she was to be our last stop. Her people lived way way way way out in the middle of nowhere, but their directions were clear and we easily found their place. I had never met a TAG before, and my initial reaction was that she was so tiny compared to my (RIP) wild caught CAG, and wild caught Amazon. Both of which were brutes! Her lady told us that they had picked her out as a hatchling, and that she was 2 years old. She had become very bitey and while she had been very well loved, they felt it best to find her a new home. Her lady showed some trepidation as I asked her to take the little one out of her cage. She squawked and postured a bit, (Inara, not the lady, Sterling!) but came out. I held out my hand and HRH Inara (not her name then) came right onto it, ran up my arm and placed her cheek against mine and just stayed there. It was love at first sight for the both of us. It has always been my policy that I sleep on making any major decisions when it comes to pets/companions. So we left and I said that I would contact the people the next day one way or the other. As my guy and I settled back into the car, he looked at me and said, "You know, we could save ourselves another 2 hour trip....." I agreed, but insisted that I give her some thought. Next morning, mind was made up and the rest was history. She came to us unclipped but never learned how to fly. She would just throw herself and crash to the floor. Her (again well intentioned and out of love) diet was one of human comfort foods and fast foods, and her cage was a HUGE macaw cage. Pretty overwhelming for a little TAG. Sometimes bigger is not necessarily better. We gave her a new name, a new start, a new home, and a new life. She settled right in, I taught her to fly, changed her diet, and we are living happily ever after. She is my first "rehomed" bird, as my other two were total and complete rescues and were a mess when I got them with lots of baggage. I would never have traded either of them for the world. I like to think that they led me to her and her to me so that we would both have an easy time of it this go 'round. I sometimes wonder how her life would have been had she stayed with her original hoomins or if she had gone off to life with someone other than us. One can never say. She is such a lovable little imp and busy body, and is so attuned to every nuance, verbal and non-verbal. She has gone from saying a few words (I remember when I was so excited that I used to count how many she knew at first -- 8-10!) to just last week saying her longest impromptu sentence so far: "Good morning sweet bird in the tree out there." Said to a raven who was watching us as we were watching him. We barely bat an eye these days at her incredible language acumen. She is a daily lesson to me in the importance of communication -- in all of its forms. When she calls from her home, "You will come get me?" OK?" I almost always do so. If I can't at the moment, I ask her to wait one minute, then I make sure to go get her. Even if it is just for a short walk around the house, and a little shared snack. I never ever want her to feel as if she doesn't matter, or as if she is something less than a treasured friend and beloved companion, especially since she communicates her needs and wants so clearly in my language. However, I still respect that she is a Bird. I don't try to mold her to be human nor do I have any expectations from her other than that she just be a bird. I would love her as deeply if she never flew, never said a word in human speak, and never allowed me touch her. I owe her that, because even living in a gilded cage is living in a cage. . . For those of you who are new or are considering finding your own Greyt Companion -- don't be afraid of rehoming/adopting. Do your homework, and don't be afraid to ask questions of the people who are letting their bird go to a new home. Ask to see them handle the bird while you are there, visit a few times to allow the bird to get to know you before just whisking it away. Imagine how you would feel if some stranger (no matter how well intentioned) came into your life, and from your point of view snatched you away from everything and everyone you'd ever know. A person who really cares about their bird going to a good home, will encourage a get to know you period. Above all "Sleep On It" before committing. For those of you who already know me and HRH and were patient enough to read yet another one of my long and rambling posts, thank you for always being here for us and for everyone else on the forum. See you later, sweet birds in the trees out there..... xoxox

OOoooh...maybe Timber was bitten by a Vampire bird? ヽ(‘ ∇‘ )ノ

Sooo true Judygram, that's why all I could do was laugh while washing out my nose! :D We bird peeps all do have a high tolerance for all kinds of debri and mess. Wouldn't change it for the world! Kya, too funny!! And Ray, that Corky -- so stinkin' cute! And Bacon... too funny!

Hi and welcome to you and Smokey! Smokey sure is a pretty guy, and sounds like he is missing his friend who moved on. That being, said, sometimes it's easy to look at two unrelated things, and put them together because they happen near the same time. I'm taking it that the vet practice is a general one and not an avian vet. It might not be a bad idea to have an avian vet give Smokey a once over to make sure that there is not something under that wing in that area that is bruised, injured, has mites, or just any number of things that might cause him to pluck at that particular spot. As for handling, I am a big one for always linking any type of handling with some type of positive reward, whether it is a very special food tidbit, extra affection, a scritch, a whistle, whatever motivates a particular bird. All of them are different. My TAG, HRH Inara, will sell her soul for a wee bit of cheese and gets one whenever (and only when) it is time for her to go home to the perch on her cage door, and after the door gets shut with her then inside. She happily goes home without complaint. For other things, she just loves attention and playing games that she and I have invented together. When it comes to flying to me, she doesn't care at all about treats, she *loves* hearing me say in an excited voice, "Very good! You are a great flyer!" So with Smokey, initially, I'd suggest just offering him a wee treat as you go past his cage and build up your friendship with him. There are tons of posts her in the forums on making friends with your bird (look for "sticky" threads, the ones that stay the same at the top of each section of the forum) and read, read, read. If he likes shredding things, weave some strips of newspaper in and out of his cage bars, do the same with some millet sprays/stalks, and just know that he will make new good friends but will miss his former favorite. It would be like you having broken up with a romantic partner, and then some new person comes along and wants you to buddy up before you are ready. So just give him time, but do have the vet check out his underwing. You will likely get other advice too, I'm notorious for looooooooooooong answers, so have tried to keep this short and sweet! Loved the pics, looking forward to more, and to more Smokey stories.

So around here, we're frugal and try not to waste much of anything. For example, all of HRH's "untouchables" from the bottom of her dry-food dish get spread outside for the outer birds and The Squirrels. Paper towels that we use to dry our hands on, or do a quick wipe of a counter, are left to dry out, then get put near HRH's home and/or in a pottery jar in the den area where she likes to hang out on one of her perches while we read, etc. They are used to do a quick poop wipe up and/or to catch her morning cowpatty sized drop once I open her home door, and before we head off to the kitchen to make breakfast. Well it has finally happened. This afternoon, I was distracted... reached for a folded paper towel, blew my nose in it and as I was moving it away from my nose, a flash of recognition of what I *immediately* knew was grey poopon caught my attention!!! EEK!!! I had apparently picked up a stray towel that had a dropping folded neatly into it (thanks to my Joe!) and had been left out rather than tossed away...and had centered my nose right into it without having noticed until it was too late. As I was *eeking!!!!* and wiping my nose with a fresh, water soaked paper towel, and then wondering how much water I'd need to snort to get a good nasal wash, I started cracking up laughing at myself ---- yep, we all say it, "poop happens!" But in over 25 years total of living with feathered companions, this was a first! Natch, Imma gonna be giving any stray paper towels a good going over before even thinking of a nose blow or a lipstick blot....... And how was your day?

My TAG gets peach colored feathers under her wings.

Well the old saying goes that birds take on the personalities of their hoomans...... just sayin' ..... ;)

Welcome to you and your family of fids! There's a special place in the tree canopy for people who take in unwanted creatures. Sounds like Kya is off to a great start. Look forward to hearing all about your flock both feathered and four legged. We love pics here so light us up!

YOU are a stinker!! No wonder you and Miss GG are so simpatico!

I can just picture Sully ruling the roost!! LOL

Agreed! You *both* are too stinkin' cute!!! We need a thread of your and GreycieMae's videos -- could title it "Meanwhile, back at the Sterling Ranch..." LOL

Just a wee note sending love your way.

It just always warms my heart when I come to this little corner of our big nest, with my morning coffee. Your love and unflagging patience in showing little Miss GG that her world is safe, and filled with wonderful things -- consistently -- has forever changed her little life. You two remind me much of Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, albeit you are a much more gentle, patient, and loving Higgins I can't imagine Miss GG with any other human companion, it makes my heart clutch to think about if she would have landed with someone less understanding. Like Miss Doolittle, she now is wearing those delicately wrought pearls, but can still pop out with a few choice words from the old days from time to time! Makes me giggle. xoxo

HRH Inara is not and never has been one for wanting head rubs and scritches. It's just not her deal. She absolutely loves to socialize, and is one more for chatting back and forth and just hanging out either on my shoulder/upper arm where she can make eye contact while we chat, Joe's shoulder while they read the laptop news together, or she prefers to "parallel play" while in the same room with us. She is very attached, cheerfully comes when called or when invited to step onto an arm, hand, or tree, but like most Queens she prefers not to have her minions touching her. It is just her way, and her personality. Just my opinion here, but I think that much biting and other issues (in the absence of a rescued or rehomed bird who might have arrived with a lot of baggage ala Miss Gilbert) come from us humans insisting that our birds go against their individual basic temperaments. We force ourselves on them and try to train out their natural personalities which puts them under constant stress. There are birds (dogs, etc.) who are more introverted and need more quiet time, time to themselves, and who prefer to not be handled a lot, and their are those who LOVE to play wild, be handled a lot, and spend tons of time out of cage being rambunctious. And then there are the inbetweeners. The key is knowing your own bird's inherent personality/temperament. Some, like Greyciemae are velcro birds (and apparently boomerrang birds <3), some are snugglers like Isaac and it looks like Poppy is leaning that way, some are aloof and prefer little interaction, some are chatters and busybodies like HRH Inara, some love to do trick training, etc. So a lot of having a greyt relationship and a happy companion is tuning into their own unique personality and going with it rather than against it and just loving them for who they are. With each of my birds and other non-human companions, I've always asked myself, "Do I want this behavior for *me,* or is encouraging this particular behavior of benefit to them?" If the answer is just for me, to get my own needs met (other than safety/health) then I forgo training/shaping it. I did teach her to fly because when she came to me at 2 she did not know flight. Flying, I felt was an important physical and psychological health issue. We also together worked on counting and colored rings, and while she picked it up quickly she really wasn't that interested so trick training was not her deal. I listen to her, and let her do the inviting and would adore it if HRH would invite head rubs, and cuddles, and sometimes I feel a bit wistful when I read of Miss Gilbert's head rubs, and see Isaac snuggled up on Elvenking's chest, or Greyciemay being tossed about like a hot potato, (and I know that there are others who feel wistful about HRH being a super talker) but she is my companion and friend, and loved for exactly who she is; I wouldn't have her any other way. Well, OK, maybe I'd have her quieter in the mornings before I have my coffee and she is shouting out me to "You get the up cookie!!" (which is her term for anything that pops out of the toaster). :D You are already doing such a great job in tuning in to Poppy and what her little personality is. She is a lucky little gem that you two found one another! She's got a greyt babiebirdmomma and I sincerely look forward to watching every milestone and antic that you share with us.

Great thread!! Well HRH (Her Royal Highness) Inara earned that title within a short amount of time after arriving. It wasn't long before she would call the dog over and then tell her, "Go lie down!" Once she learned the word "cookie" it became her favorite command uttered in every way and tone possible from the sweet, "I will get a cookie?" to the imperious, "You go get a cookie!!!!" She rules all that she surveys, and and like many a Queen can be kind and philanthropic one moment -- sharing all that she has (usually by flinging it to the floor), then can capriciously let out a shriek that we are assuming means, "Off with their heads!!" Dee, love the "mocking" you -- HRH laughs at one of our neighbors every time she comes over, and she always asks, "Is that bird mocking me?" I just shrug and give a knowing smile.....