Yankeebobo

I could not guess on the immune system since Suki doesn't really do a lot of travel. But we were so picky, that my wife and I layed down a few extra bath / beach towels across the grates and then newspaper on that. then we lowered the perches about 1/2 the height we planned on. I almost thought it was silly....that is until she took her first hit onto the floor. They can be a little clumsy at that age. So - there stayed the towels for about 2 months. Enjoy Gabby - you are going to love it!

I got that book years ago by Bobbi Brinker that Monique referred to - "For the Love of Greys". Excellent book. Highly recommended reading.

Besides the talking at the cage, etc. I do have a few things that have worked for others including myself. Adults do take longer than just weaned - so patience. He should come around. 1. Eat your dinner next to the cage. In fact, have some brocoli and other veggies on your plate and make sure he can see you eat it. Just Mmmm, and Ahhh about how good it is. Don't offer yet. Do this for a day, 2 or even a week. Eventually, he may even come to that area of the cage you are eating at and "ask". After a few days, just simply ask - want a brocoli? if he doesn't move. "It's ok, maybe next time." then just eat it. 2. Learn to stick train your bird when you are ready and HE is showing more and more interest. There may come a time when he's on the floor and you are scared and instead of showing fear, you pull a stick perch out for him to step up on. 3. Toys. Petrified. Even to this day, our Suki Dew is completely mortified on some of the toys. So, like a darn fool, I have to hold the toy, play with the toy, move MY nose through it. Grab with my teeth and swing it violently. My wife laughs like hell. But no kidding - if not within 30 mins, she is WITH me picking up one block while I pick another and we both play. Before the day is out, the toy is in and she is buried in it. Patience. Once he trusts, he'll be around.

You certainly do have a good approach already in line for Harley. One thing that may help in Harley's case is to stick train him. Of course, I have no idea if he had a stick strike the cage before. But to have him step up on a stick may be important if things either get out of hand, or if things go well, you can transition from stick to hand. As time goes on, you'll want to let Harley out a little at a time. Toys on the cage - perhaps the cage has a play gym already. This is where if he won't go in, the stick will help while you transition. Talk to him daily - softly right at the cage until then. Feed him through the bars. Almonds (with the shell) work well as treats because they are also loaded with Vit D. Good luck and keep us posted indeed.

One place I never shopped at but figured I would if the time came that I could customize a "play wall" or "play corner" is manzanita.com. They have brances that are cut and also sandblasted. I never did check the prices out though.

They seem to go through a phase that is very similar - not sure that I'd restrict them to "two" years. But they do test the water. At first, it's like establishing their boundries with you. What you let them do, what you seem to react to negatively, etc. BTW - I am NOT saying that just because you do NOT want something done, they'll NOT do it. :-) Other than that, there is their hormonal period. This is at their sexual maturity. They do seem to get "frustrated" and develop some odd behavior there.

I have not had a single issue with nails since I converted all of my perches to Sandy Perches. The sandy ones are nice as it is manzanite underneath with natural curves. The concrete ones - I never got into since it's concrete (chemical) and straight as an arrow. But my grey's nails are nice and neat. Sorry some are not having any luck.

I have read that the CAGs are the better talkers. But from communicating with owners of both, they appear to be about the same.

lol - daddy it is. But it's a joint effort nonetheless.

Here is an idea that worked for me in the past with other birds and when our CAG was young and experimenting. Make a fist and bed the wrist away from you (almost as if you are carrying a heavy grocery bag with your arm up). Now approach your CAG. You'll notice that your skin is not taunt and stretched and your CAG does not have much to grab a hold of. Hold your hand there and communicate with your bird. Do this several times a day. As your CAG gets used to your hand, you can start to open it up. I've dealt with VIOLENT amazons this way, and believe me, it works.

For the record, CAG is Congo African Grey (as mentioned has red feathers, black beak). The TAG is Timneh African Grey and has maroon feathers and black and horn colored beak. The TAG is slightly smaller than the CAG. They tend to have darker feathers as well. Other than these physical characterstics, personality plus on both sides.

Hi - all of the above help you purchase your new grey. Remember that this is a commitment that will be enjoyed by all of you - including your grey. Before we purchased our grey, we have found the following books very helpful in helping us learn a little to help OUR decision. I will just list book names so as to not offer any "links" to end in some profit for others. "My Parrot, My Friend" - an EXCELLENT book that is worth the money. I was VERY stand offish on spending the $50 on this, but this book was very good at offering topics on parrots in general. "Companion Parrot Handbook" - Ditto above. "For the love of greys" - this was a book that I spent about $25 or on. It was paper print with a plastic binding at that time. I think it has gone to publication. But this was an excellent one that offers great recipies for home cooked meals to offer variety. "The African Grey Parrot Handbook" - another great book about the grey. These offer great ideas, tips, what to look for, ideal weights, food varietys, behavior, and so on. I don't pick them up often now that they've been read, but they are on the bottom shelf of my coffee table and I find myself reaching every now and then. Enjoy and good luck

Our grey (Suki) has been picking/chewing her feathers for about a year now. I have not been able to get a handle on it. Despite the baths, etc. So now, we have upgraded her cage to a 3 foot wide cage by 2 feet deep and loaded all sorts of toys in it. Wood, Acrylic, shredder materials, you name it. Thus far, it's been about 3 weeks, and behold - it looks as though she is growing the feathers in and happily so. I actually count 7 red tail feathers. She looks like crap because it's so patchy, but ironically, that is the best sign because I know they are coming back. Play time, good diet and don't be afraid to add toys and make sure there is room for all the toys. If the greys are in a smaller cage and you load it up, there is no room for the bird to move. Patience - key of the game.