Greytness

My routine is uncovering all the cages and chopping up all my fids' fresh veggies first thing in the morning while sipping my cup of Joe. I go around and chat with each bird before I go about our family's daily routines. Every afternoon I change out all their water, seed and pellet dishes, and remove all the fresh veggie dishes. During this time I begin taking my birds out. First out come the little ones and the very last one out of the cage is Maalik, as he usurps all my time! The little guys are out flying all over the place for around 45 minutes or so. Then they must return to their cages for safety reasons. Out comes Harley, my Pan-Am, my Ekki, Ziggy, and finally...Maalik! Harley chooses to stay on top of his cage to play, even though he's flighted. Ziggy must be watched very carefully, because as soon as he can he'll climb out of his cage, strut across the floor and then up onto another fids' cage to harass them. Ziggy's flight feathers are all grown out (rehomed baby), but he wasn't ever given a chance to fledge or fly. Flapping his wings is the extent of it. Maalik usually hangs out on my shoulder while I fix dinner or what have you. Once he starts his annoying behavior of climbing down my back, and then hanging upside down to reach over and pinch the tender skin on the inside of my arm, I back up over to the chair filled with blankets for him to 'perch'. Usually he flies right back over to me. This is repeated over and over while I try to find something else for him to chew on. Usually it's a dampened paper towel that holds his interest the longest. My large birds are out of their cages for several hours. It is my goal to work towards taking the little guys out earlier in the day so that they can spend more time outside their cage. Wish I could have them all out for longer periods of time, but must also juggle my 4 German Shepherds placement inside our home. Two of my German Shepherds (females) don't get along while I'm present, so I must keep them separated. My world has become a very fine balancing act! Between 8:30 and 9:00, I say good night to each of my fids. I open a side door to give them scritches and then cover them up. Maalik is, of course, the last one to say good night to. That's because he's the sweetest, most loving baby at this time of night, and will eat up all the attention with his little eyes closed and looking all ready for dreamland. I simply love my babies. <3

That's what we use. Papermart and Uline sell it as well.

We use blank newsprint sheets that we purchase from a local packaging company. It comes in 50 pound bulk size, so it lasts forever!

When Maalik was a baby, he loved to scratch around on the floor. We put a little cardboard box there with some crinkle paper that he'd dig through. He lost interest in hanging out at the bottom of his cage when he was around 6 months old, and his scratching need stopped.

Many Greys like to receive comfort formula feedings after they've 'officially' weaned. My guy continued wanting them for about a month after I'd gotten him, after which time he weaned himself off. The practice is called abundance feeding. At first it was twice a day, but then we reduced that to once in the evening until he was done. Giving it more often than that and your baby could regress.

Large hookbill blend from Our Feathered Friends/A Bird Haven (local San Diego store). It has more dried fruit and veggies mixed into it than it has seeds.

Oh, I'm so envious! One day, I keep telling myself. One day.

Congratulations! Glad she's made it to you safely! Just wondering if she arrived completely weaned or not. Maalik needed 2 syringe feedings a day for a few weeks, and then one daily for another few weeks. Did he send you with a packet of food just in case? Can't wait to see pictures! I wonder if she's from the same pairing as Maalik was. If so, then I know that she's absolutely stunning! ;-)

We put colored tape across the windows which quickly solved the problem for us. Before we tried this method, our birds had hit them a few times before they determined that it's not a way out for them. They learn pretty quickly.

Maalik's almost 13 months old, so not very close to 2. I can relate to your saying how GrecieMae harasses the other birds. Maalik and my Panama Amazon, Harley, have turf wars on top of Harley's cage. They posture and peck at each other until Maalik eventually flies off, which is usually before Harley gets himself into actual nipping range. Harley is definitely afraid of Maalik, and Maalik approaches it as a bird game. All the recent changes that have taken place around here, including my oldest son's return home last week after having studied abroad for the past year are most likely contributing to Maalik's behavioral changes. I'm very interested to see if this continues or dissipates slowly over time. Hoping for the latter.

Wow. These are all very plausible thoughts as to what could be causing his recent 'brattiness'; the super moon, losing my Bogart whose song he still sings for me. I never thought about these recent events as being contributory, all of which make a LOT of sense. Maalik likes to tear up dampened paper towels, so I'll giving him some when he's hanging out with me to see if it distracts him for awhile. I'm not ready to ban him just yet from hanging out on my shoulder, but will do so if his behavior doesn't change. He really likes to be with me while I'm preparing dinner. Thanks everyone, for your insightful responses.

This past week Maalik has become even more of a brat bird. He was one before, but now he's kicked it up a notch. The past several days he's become a stronger nipper. He'll click loudly, snort, and then take hold of my finger or what have you and twist it in his beak. I continue to put two fingers on both sides of his beak to remove him, saying, "No biting", but all he'll do is fly to the top of his cage. Then he'll usually fly back over to my shoulder, slowly work his head underneath the back of my hair and take a tiny piece of my skin to pinch. Can the terrible twos be the terrible ones instead? Sheez! He's clicking and snorting more now, like he's got a "bigger than thou 'tude." This, too shall pass, and hopefully soon!

Such great news! So happy for you and Escher!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. Maalik continues to sing Bogart's song off and on throughout each day. So significant to me that he's doing so, especially since he's never imitated Bogart before his death. It is my belief that Bogart may have passed around the time that Maalik began singing his song. It's a thought that helps bring me a little peace.

Yesterday, my 5 1/2 month old Jardine's parrot, Bogart, died suddenly. The day before he showed early signs of labored breathing, so we immediately took him in to the vets. Unfortunately they couldn't save him. A necropsy was performed, but all they could see was a lot of mucous in his airway. Everything else was completely normal. Needless to say I'm devastated. Maalik's and Bogart's cages were next to each other by the window. Bogart loved to look outside and make the most darling sing songy chirpy sounds that were so endearing. He loved his little window spot, and he was extremely happy there. Yesterday morning, before I'd found out that Bogart had passed, Maalik, out of the blue, began to sing Bogart's song to me. It was so spot on that I actually looked over towards Bogart's empty cage, half expecting to see him there. Maalik had never before mimicked Bogart's song, which was so eerie. I received the news at work that Bogart had passed. Tried to keep it together all day long, which was extremely difficult to do. But somehow I made it through the day. As soon as I walked in the door last night, Maalik immediately started to sing Bogart's beautiful song. That's when I lost it. Looking back, I wonder if Bogart had passed around the time that Maalik began singing to me. Even this morning Maalik periodically chirps exactly like Bogart. Maalik is comforting me in ways I can't even express. My Bogart is truly here in spirit, and Maalik is giving him a voice for me to embrace.

This is the most wonderful news ever! I'm SO HAPPY for you! Don't you wish that Brutus could tell you about his adventures these past 72 hours?

I'm in the San Diego/Escondido area. I have several friends in East County who are putting out the word for you. I've added your poster to my FB post as well.

Happy 6th Hatch Day, Anna Grey! Enjoy all the goodies your earth mommy is going to give you today!

I live in San Diego and have posted his disappearance on FB.

Oh, how I can relate to the interactions between Greys and Zons. Nice work, Nilah, with guarding your domain!

Our fids are in a very active part of our household, so yes, we cover up all 8.

Very cool! Hearing your Grey say his very first words is the best feeling ever!

It must have been in the air last night or something. My son had accidentally kicked their toy box which got both duskies startled into flight, which then frightened the daylights out of Skittles, my pineapple GCC, followed by Harley, my zon. Maalik hadn't been let out of his cage yet. Once the dust had settled, I opened Maalik's cage for him to come out, but he wouldn't, which was a first for him. Took him 30 minutes to venture out of his cage after everyone's frantic flight around the room. You're right, Sterling. It was 20 seconds of pure chaos!

Oh my gosh, when these guys become startled, it's total mayhem!

I was taking it a step further and visualizing 8 flighted Macaws! Crazy thought!