JanMarie

Dolly has a nice sunny spot on the border of our family room and kitchen dining area right in the bay window!

Laughing so hard hubby came in to see what the heck I was BUHAHAHAHAing at! Made my day...thanks for posting.

Hi...I haven't run across this yet, I have to leave out of town tonight. I will be back early Sunday morn. So my grey will be home alone all day Sat. Is this OK to do? I have the option to take her to a vet who keeps birds for the weekend. I visited the vet, it was nice but so many cockatoos screeching (the normal screech) and I don't want Dolly to learn that! Plus we have only had her three weeks and I DON'T want her to think we are giving her away. Not sure which is more traumatizing, being alone for a day and night or a new environment. Please advise. PS...no one will be stopping by to look in on her. The people who would are going with me!

I live in Michigan, so we get about 4 months of decent weather. I have Dolly by a bright window without direct sun pounding on her. I will try the misty hose in the summer..not sure I can wait that long. I am going to try the dish in the bottom of the cage that others have suggested but I am going to wait a couple of days.

LOL!!! Awwww...I would actually feel bad if I heard those words! I just get insane growling and a scream now and then and then for hours after I get the stink eye and she won't talk to me.

Thank you all for the great support!

Dan, will the misting do anything for her if she doesn't open the feathers? I actually have been using an aloe vera mix with water 3 times a week and it's like spraying a latex bird! ...and she not be likin' it one bit. I will keep doing it. I will not let the fact she is trying to vaporize me with her eyes stop me.

That made me cry....

Hi...again, thank you! I know I need patience. (not my strongest suit) I have just never known a bird not to like me...I know, this is just not a "bird" I get that *I wish I could lift her feathers when getting a shower but I would need medical attention if I touched her, she's not having any of that yet. She want's to rip my arm off if I hand her a toy to play with. So I will let her call the shots when she is ready and just be dusty. It hasn't killed her yet in 7 years so I guess a little more time being a dirty birdy is Ok. I'm running a humidifier and hope that it helps her too. I have had cockatiels for 37 years...I thought I knew a thing or two about birds. Nope. An African Grey is a whole different world.

Thank you everyone! Dolly didn't open her feathers while I was spraying her they were smack tight against her...and right after her bath she started preening and it was a dander shower. I just hope she someday enjoys her shower/bath otherwise I will have a dirty birdy. I have another question. Why does she growl when she is perched on my hand? Especially if I give her a treat. She sort of sounds like what a coffee pot sounds like just as it's finished brewing a gurgle growl. I don't think I'm good at this. ugh.

"I have been bathing Dolly with aloe vera juice and water...rolls right off her. So now I put her in the shower on a bird perch and gently rain on her...all that and she wasn't even damp! I sprayed her chest and legs and under wings and on her back ( she was not enjoying this but tolerated it) am I doing this wrong? I know there is oil on their feathers, how do I get through that or is just spraying off the top dust enough? We have had her 3 weeks and the previous owners said they never gave her a bath or spray and she is 7 years old.

Tony and Jan Dolly's Mom and Dad

Thank you for sharing... I am so sorry about your birdy getting hurt, it hurt my heart to think she is playing with her new toy only to have it hurt her and not know why. They are such trusting souls. I hope she heals quickly. I'm so glad you posted this. I will check Dolly's toys over with a fine toothed comb now, even if they look harmless!!! ((hugs)) JanMarie

If the feathers on the back of a grey are water proof...how do you get the water through those feathers? I mist my grey Dolly, she doesn't like it but tolerates the Aloe Vera juice spray. I am just concerned with getting her back and tail nicely soaked...and I can't. Is this important? Legs and breast and as much under the wings I can get are wet, but not her back. Thanks! Jan

I tried the paper towel roll cut it into sections and strung them up, then put a bit of corn muffin in there and she ate the muffin then continued to play with the paper roll. Is there a food kibble that is recommended for Greys that is good for them if they are picky eaters that I can have in her cage all the time? I was eating plain greek yogurt and Dolly wanted it so I gave her a tiny bit and she loved it was begging for more but again not a veggie. I am going to try your other suggestions too. My kids were picky eaters, they are grown now with kids of their own who are picky eaters...the cycle never ends...and now a picky birdie. Thank you for the help!

Than you everyone! I was able to get Dolly to eat a bit of apple when she saw me eat it...but that was it. She ate it but then when I offered it again it was a no go... I will keep trying. I feel like I did when my kids would actually eat a vegetable when they were little...what a milestone! Dolly must have had a lot of junk food if she even sees me with a chip or a cracker she just about throws herself across the room! So I use those as special treats.

I've slowly been introducing veggies to Dolly, she throws them out. Only seems to like grapes and if she is really hungry an itty bitty piece of apple. Is there anything I can do to supplement her? She is 7 years old and she came from a home that only gave her fruity bird kibble which she loves. I also have a wonderful assortment of chewing toys and she's not interested. She loves to sit on her cage and talk and whistle but no interaction with her toys. I want her to have something to do while I am at work a couple of days a week. When I'm home it's all about her. Should I be worried?

Hi..the cheapest I have found the book For the Love of Greys is $139.00 USED! on Amazon. Any other places on line you may know of? Thanks Jan.

Inara, thank you so much...everyone has been such a blessing! I appreciate and will use your advise! Jan

Hi can I bother you all with one more situation? Step up command was never taught to her. Seeing as she tries (exceptionally well) to rip off my arm and even my hubby's arm if we try and take her out of her cage. We let her come out on her own. When it come time for sleepy time... oh boy getting her back in she goes bat crap crazy growling, she bites. We then end up toweling her to put her back in. I hate not to let her out she is so happy when out. HOW do you teach step up. Should I just leave her alone? We have been working with her now for three days with the perch and she is bound and determined NOT to step up. Her little feet jut hold on to the cage so hard OR she steps OVER the perch!!!!! Should we take her away from her cage to practice? I would have to towel her to get her and it makes me feel bad. Suggestions please. My main concern, getting her back in if we shouldn't be trying to teach her to step up.

I have another issue. Dolly was never taught the step up command. She wants out of her cage now in the worst way since we let her come out on her own a couple of days ago. (my hubby) . We can't use our arm we will pull back a stump so I got a perch which she attacks with a vengeance. Even when she is out of the cage we can't get her to step up. We have been trying for three days and she just growls and bites. As soon as we stop she as happy as a clam and talking taking treats and acting like she wants us. So getting her back in her cage is not pleasant. I have to finally towel her. What should I have done or should do?

Karen, thank you. She is eating well and the poops are good. I had to laugh when I read "bloodletting" that describes it! I will find an avian vet in our area. I go back in forth from "what the heck did I get myself into and boy I am sure glad I was able to get her out of her previous environment." Right now she is very quiet and yesterday at this time she was very vocal. Normal?? I'm reading as much as I can...my eyes are ready to bleed...but there is always that situation that I can't find in any book. So glad to have this forum to run to. Jan

Oh boy...Dolly growls at me when I come near her. She likes my hubby. She crouches down, slightly flaps her wings like she is going to launch herself at him. When I come near her she fluffs every feather and glares at me. Also, when I walk out of the room she will talk whistle beep etc. The previous owner said that Dolly hated her and liked her husband. They worked with her for years then she ended up in a bedroom attic by herself for months. I can't even wipe her cage down without her growling. BUT she will let me give her a favorite treat (healthy) nicely, but that is it. It's not going to change anything around here. The love will flow, I just want to know if this is how it's going to be so I can just deal with it. My husband let her come out of the cage last night on her own but she about took my arm off trying to get her back in. I really wanted to take her out first before letting her do that on her own...does it make a difference? She was quite happy to come out BUT not to go back in. I did the soft rain (she is so dusty and never had a bath) She sounded possessed! The growling and screaming from just the first soft mist that came down. As soon as I stopped and left the room she was whistling....ALSO she stands on one foot a lot during the day and is fluffed. I read it means she's not feeling well...OR she is relaxed...so confused.

Oh boy...Dolly growls at me when I come near her. She likes my hubby. She crouches down, slightly flaps her wings like she is going to launch herself at him. When I come near her she fluffs every feather and glares at me. Also, when I walk out of the room she will talk whistle beep etc. The previous owner said that Dolly hated her and liked her husband. They worked with her for years then she ended up in a bedroom attic by herself for months. I can't even wipe her cage down without her growling. BUT she will let me give her a favorite treat (healthy) nicely, but that is it. It's not going to change anything around here. The love will flow, I just want to know if this is how it's going to be so I can just deal with it. My husband let her come out of the cage last night on her own but she about took my arm off trying to get her back in. I really wanted to take her out first before letting her do that on her own...does it make a difference? She was quite happy to come out BUT not to go back in. I did the soft rain (she is so dusty and never had a bath) She sounded possessed! The growling and screaming from just the first soft mist that came down. As soon as I stopped and left the room she was whistling.