Dave007

Buy the juice at Sam's Club--the store owns Walmart Corp so it should be inexpensive. Use it full strength. It's harmless if accidently ingested. When using Aloe gel, don't water it down. Use it as you would a salve. Watering it down makes it useless. You want the gel to softly and slowly penetrate the skin or irritation. It's harmless to the bird if accidently ingested.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/21 21:49

Technically and normally, they don't need or want a bath in the house when WE wanna give it to them. In the wild, they live in canapies. It has it's own moisture. They bathe when nature tells them to bathe. In the house a bird jumps in the bowl to bathe when nature tells it to do that. Bath or not, they get very dusty feathers and in the house, they can't flap that dust away like they do when in the wild. They do need to have that dander removed periodically by the owner. A bath or a good misting usually does the job. Many people get frustrated because their bird doesn't like baths but it does have to be done periodically but not as often as you might think. This a very true scenario which is seen over and over again and not just with greys. It's nature telling the bird to bathe---This is your front row seat although, for some it just might be a rerun-- 1--There's a fresh bowl of water in the cage. 2--the owner sees the bird jumping in the water and flapping. 3--the owner says "oh sh*t, ther's gonna be a mess shortly. Let me stop it" 4--The owner immediately gets the bird and thoroughly bathes or mists the bird until it's really soaked. 5--The owner is happy and puts the bird back in the cage. 6--5 minutes later, the owner hears a noise and checks it out. 7--There's the bird jumping in the bowl trying to bathe. It's nature and instinct that's causing that to happen because the parrot is a wild animal.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/21 02:15

Simply by the questions you're asking, I think it would be wise to contact the breeder and tell him/her that you only want a fully weaned bird. If the person refuses, go to another breeder. The person who's selling this bird is irresponsible and is risking the bird's life by selling to an inexperienced customer, even if this breeder has a good reputation. Very bad practice. Should be a law against it. Take the extra time and read up on everything you can get about having a new bird in the home.

15 to 18 mts--full adult size By 3 yrs old--full adult weight--not noticable About your small one---you might have a small boned grey. They come in different sizes.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/16 21:38

Try to have the bird out of the cage and somewhat near you or you near him when you're ready to try things out. Put on a long sleeved shirt. If he is near you when you're reading, let him check out your fist/shirt first. Offer the hand but make sure it's a fist. Say sweet nothings to him. Basically, ignore him and let him investigate. Slowly move your fist/arm near him. Ask him if he wants to step up. If he doesn't seem interested than forget it. Don't press the point. Let him go back to checking things out. Go back to what you're doing. Next day or next time try it again. If and when he finally hops on, just talk to him lightly. Keep your hand and arm slightly aimed upward. No fast hand jerks. If he shows any signs of getting nippy, take your fist and wobble it a bit. The bird will instantly stop what it's doing because his footing won't be secure. If that happens, go to the cage and put him on it. Do the process over and over. You'll get used to it and he'll get used to you. I doubt that he's a violent bird considering what you said about being friendly with people. If he was a real biter, it would have shown up a long time ago. All birds test the water with their beak. Their beak is their hand. Take it slow and easy and be consistant. The secret is repetition--Good luck<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/16 01:36

"""""""the youngster not going to talk as much? GB has bonded with my wife and Lucy with me which works out I suppose.... Any comments/experience/advice would be very much appreciated as we're only a year into the bird""""""" Talking has to do with the individual personality of each bird. When the younger #1-- 1 yr old is ready to talk it will cause 1--he's been with a familiar family and a familiar surrounding. That creates comfort on the bird's part and the bird is more prone to doing whatever comes naturally but as far as talking, your bird will talk if it's a grey that wants to talk or it might just master sounds or both etc etc. It has nothing to do with the other bird. As far as the other bird, at that age the bird might have arrived at your house with *baggage,a past history and a past set of habits*. It's hard to judge what a pre owned bird will do until it happens or doesn't happen. Only time will tell. Put no time limits on anything that you feel should happen with that bird. They do whatever they want whenever they want after getting used to a new change. A small tip--Your first bird is the #1 bird. The new second bird has no idea about being the #1 bird in your house so do everything you normally do but do it with the #1 bird first. Feed, water, treats, cage cleaning etc. This makes the #1 bird feel secure in that it hasn't lost it's rank in the house. A secure bird is a bird that will eventually let out all it's talents when they feel the time is right. Bonding--don't worry, that time will come when either bird goes to either person. If I like you and you offer me a cookie and if I don't like the other person but he/she offers me a huge slice of cinnamon apple pie, where do you think I'll be heading to?<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/15 21:49

Ingredients: One turkey Corn pudding Green beans Stuffing Sweet potatoes Mashed potatoes with gravy Cranberry sauce Hot rolls Relish tray Pumpkin pie Whipped cream Hot coffee Get up early in the morning & have a cup of coffee. It's going to be a long day, so place your Parrot on a perch nearby to keep you company while you prepare the meal. Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. Prepare stuffing, and remove Parrot from edge of stuffing bowl and return him to perch. Stuff turkey & place it in the roasting pan, and remove Parrot from edge of pan and return him to perch. Have another cup of coffee to steady your nerves. Remove Parrot's head from turkey cavity and return him to perch, and restuff the turkey. Prepare relish tray, and remember to make twice as much so that you'll have a regular size serving after the Parrot has eaten his fill. Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. Prepare cranberry sauce, discard berries accidentally flung to the floor by Parrot. Peel potatoes, remove Parrot from edge of potato bowl and return him to perch. Arrange sweet potatoes in a pan & cover with brown sugar & mini marshmallows. Remove Parrot from edge of pan and return him to perch. Replace missing marshmallows. Brew another pot of coffee. While it is brewing, clean up the torn filter. Pry coffee bean from Parrot's beak. Have another cup of coffee & remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. When time to serve the meal: Place roasted turkey on a large platter, and cover beak marks with strategically placed sprigs of parsley. Put mashed potatoes into serving bowl, rewhip at last minute to conceal beak marks and claw prints. Place pan of sweet potatoes on sideboard, forget presentation as there's no way to hide the areas of missing marshmallows. Put rolls in decorative basket, remove Parrot from side of basket and return him to perch. Remove beaked rolls, serve what's left. Set a stick of butter out on the counter to soften -- think better and return it to the refrigerator. Wipe down counter to remove mashed potato claw tracks. Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. Cut the pie into serving slices. Wipe whipped cream off Parrot's beak and place large dollops of remaining whipped cream on pie slices. Whole slices are then served to guests, beaked-out portions should be reserved for host & hostess. Place Parrot inside cage & lock the door. Sit down to a nice relaxing dinner with your family -- accompanied by plaintive cries of "WANT DINNER!" from the other room. Happy Holidays!!

BMustee Right on the mark about hand creams. They have chemicals, they don't penetrate the beak, they can be accidently wiped onto food before the bird eats the food. Putting a dab of aloe gel is the way to go. That's what I do but in case a person doesn't have access to the gel, a tiny dab of olive oil which has no chemicals can be used and I've used it, friends of mine use it and there's never been problems. It works great. By the way, olive oil is frequently use on hens that are egg bound. The hen is turned on her back, the person gets a Q-tip and wipes the vent area so that the egg has a better chance of coming out. This problem frequently happens with cockatiels because they have a reputation for laying eggs with no male around. It doesn't take much to stimulate her.

Razza Get either gender. It makes no difference if you intend to immediately socialize the bird into the family and other familiar things in the house. Many times, a person goes to a breeder to buy a grey and that grey hasn't been sexed and the breeder has no intentions of doing that. He leaves it up to the new owners to do that if they want to. Hypothetically, lets say that males were the most sought after bird. What wouild happen to all the females in a clutch? I never have my chicks sexed. If the person wants a sexed bird, well, there's other breeders to buy chicks from. My only concern is their health which a vet does *well check* The major difference between males and females occurs when the female is an adult and her hormonal change occurs because nature is telling her that breeding season is around the corner. Some females get agitated during that time but it soon subsides. She might be a bit nippier and a little short tempered but that too passes. Males don't go through that extreme obvious change but they can do all of above or not do it at all. Depends upon the bird.

Well, it makes me feel real good that you understand and can cope with those phases. You probably realize that there will be more and tell your friend not to confuse *phases* and *defecting* Tell him that when a person sees that temporary phase change going on for 1 week, it's gonna feel like 2 months to him. BUT just tell him not to be discouraged. Tell him to come here and speak to other people who can understand all the little quirks that a grey undergoes. The important thing for your friend is to hear things from people who love their birds but at times, still think their bird can be a pain in the ass.

""""""""the congo is too young to go home tho because he is still being hand fed...he should be able to take Dante home within a few weeks.""""""' Or not until the bird is fully weaned """"""it is said that when congo's reach maturity 63% of them want to "leave the nest" so to speak and change bond to another human companion...he is worried that Dante will defect from him after putting so much work into raising him."""" Not if enough effort is put into socializing the bird into the whole family from the get go. That applies to greys, amazons,cockatoos, macaws and other species. A young bird will like one member for certain things and one member for other things. It will never like 2 or more people the exact same way in a family. Don't forget that birds are looking at many things all at once ans as time goes by, some things are more appealing. Switching from one person to another is a phase. It's a phase that people misconstrue and immediately decide that the bird is permanently leaning towards one or the other and accept it. And that's when some people decide to give up or even worse, decide to add another bird hoping for better results. Anyone here who has kids can remember when their kids did that over and over and over. Young birds are like kids """""""""therefore it is wise for a breeder to keep the congo longer so that when the congo goes home it is ready to make their flock bond instead of another parent bond which it will soon leave.."""""""" Please clarify what you mean by 'flock' bond and 'parent' bond. If a young bird stays with the breeder for too long a time, it will form a bond with that person/persons and will be pissed off when the breeder finally sells/gives him away """"I guess the theory behind this is that congos mature slower than say a timneh who is ready for independence by the age of 6 months. Congos on the other hand take up to a year..""""" Independence from what? It's too bad that there aren't more subspecies of greys, like amazons. A TAG and a CAG are two completely different kinds of birds yet are constantly compared to each other. Nothing different happens with either of these birds as they're growing up other than their formation of individual CAG personalities and individual TAG personalities.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/14 00:48

All greys have that type of layer/mark on the beak. Under the white line which looks like a crack but isn't, there's new material growing and the old layer on top will eventually and slowly get filed and smoothed down by the bird. Also, because of the bird's age the rest of the beak will eventually lose that bright, solid black color as the bird gets older and continually files down the beak. The beak will look very dark grey with scratches on it. BEFORE AFTER

The only reason that whistling at a grey is bad is because with the grey, you have one of the greatest natural whistlers in the parrot kingdom. The last thing you should be working on is whistling at him. You're wasting your time. Take my word for--that day will come when he'll whistle the songs from stereos, TV, Cds etc. The bird doesn't even need an outside source to start them off. Ask others here who have older birds and let them tell you about what band they're thinking about putting their bird in. It's just a matter of what the yearly contract says and what tours are involved.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/12 21:33

Yes, that's a molting area. Sometimes, that area looks a little worse than other areas that are also molting at the same time. Excessive itching along with the accompanying scratching can make an area look worse. A parrot who is molting will most of the time, pull at old feathers with their beak to dislodge them. If the bird was a plucker, you'd see obvious signs of damage. The reason your bird looks like that is because that's one of the few areas that can't be handled or preened by the beak so what the bird does if it's itchy is scratch at it intensely with his/her claws. Moisten the area with a little water daily or if you're really worried put a little dab of aloe vera gel on it. It'll sink in and calm the skin down. Doesn't really look bad at all. Nice looking bird you have there. Don't get nervous.

The loose bowel movement is normal as well as any extra fluids which a hen usually coats the egg with. The oozing lasts about a week. It's not noticeable. Some hens will do what yours did. Most of the time there's really no positive reason other than surrounding items that cause stimulation. If everything is the same as it was before she laid the egg, then blame it on nature. Her age makes her very sexually mature. Certain species of parrots will lay eggs for no reason ( ex-cockatiels) and it's usually a full clutch and it usually hurts the vent area. It's good that you're taking the bird to the vet. He/she can examine the vent area and check for any possible damage or tearing. Just know that sometimes this happens. Good luck. Let us know what happens. Try to feel better.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/14 04:28

Well, you're getting a signal. What you need to do is first get a professional manicure including the uneven cuticles. The nails should be attractive. Then you should get a pumice stone and take off all the scales and scratches on your fingers and hands and then use a very soft hand lotion which will make your hands feel sexy so that your bird will stop mistaking your hand for a concrete perch. Then, you'll need to work on your feet and do the same exact things in case your bird thinks he arrived at the wrong area and seeks out your feet. For appearances, use a matching color nail polish. Then, your bird will think that you're actually *cute*. He might give you sweet kisses.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/12 00:39

Just to give you the possible other side of the coin... Many times, the hardest birds to put together are of those of the same species. They have the same instincts, they do things in the same way, they have the same in the wild personality, can have the same type of jealousy, can be very possessive of personal things etc etc. Basically, they know what each other is thinking. On the other hand, different species mixed together sometimes don't have all of the above all of the same time. Many times, they'll be indifferent, uninterested, not expecting to be #1 bird all the time etc etc. I have friends that have greys, Zons all mixed together. The one thing they never do is put both into the cage. Like I said, there's always a possibility that it could turn out to be a nice relationship. PS--if anyone has bird feeders in their backyard, I'm sure they've seen this----2 chickadees or 2 titmice or 2 juncos(and others) which are small wild birds come to the feeders and immediately, one chickadee instantly chases the other chickadee away until he's finished but have one chickadee and one titmouse come there at the same time and both will stay there and eat together oblivious to each other. The same applies to hummingbirds. Two birds of the same species arrive at the feeder and one chases the other away. two birds of different species arrive and both sip away at the fluid with no problems. The same applies to woodpeckers when they zoom in on the suet. LET"S FACE IT----BIRDS ARE JUST STRANGE CREATURES JUST LIKE JUDYGRAM!!! Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/11 22:47<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/11 22:57

Lovie I agree. I hate wasting my time on someone who comes off like a novice but isn't. Guess it's that soft spot in me.

Usually, my wife does all of the important things that would require close contact, but I don't get sick very much. I never had any kind of flu. I may get a cold 2x a year and it usually lasts for about 7 to 10 days. There's really not much a person can but if a person is diligent and careful, usually the bird doesn't get sick even if contact is made. No sneezing or coughing in or around the bird's face. Using a tissue. """"""As I said I don't know which particular bugs are passed, only that they can be."""""" Airborne is the most common. A person should wash their hands more often and wipe their nose if they have a runny nose.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 23:32

""""'can we pass our flu viruses to our birds? Or any other kinds of sicknesses for that matter?"""""" Definitely. Usually, the birds will die from the viruses and flus that people have are passed on to them. No cure. Only the Rainbow Bridge.

The different sounds you hear them making is a big plus. It's a sign of contentment, relaxed atmosphere, a feeling of security. It doesn't mean that the male is horny nor does it mean the hen is in a hormonal state. Greys will become as silent as a mouse when they feel uncomfortable. That pertains to breeder pairs of greys and pet greys. Since you're showing interest and paying attention, you're gonna hear different sounds as time goes on. Another thing--What you're saying is one of a million things I was referring to. The small things!!Did the past owner pay that much attention to the small things?? You don't know and I don't know. You and I will probably never know. I get the feeling that you really want to succeed so I'm gonna tell you about an item that will allow you watch them through the day or night without being near and possibly causing disturbance. I have a couple of these items for years. The ones I have aren't state of the art like the ones that are sold today. When I bought them, they cost about $25 each. The item is called Baby Cam. This item is used by families who have infant children who are still in cribs. It allows the family to be in any part of the house but the baby can be viewed when the family is away from the baby room. It's a little monitor about the size of the new, small digital cameras that are sold all over the place. It also has a small receiving unit about the same size. The little monitor that looking at the birds is wireless. This is how it works. That very small monitor is put in the bird's room and aimed at them. The monitor doesn't have to be close to them. In another part of the house, that second unit which comes with a 4,6 or 8 ft wire (depending on brand. That unit is plugged into a TV or PC monitor or any other item that can produce a picture. In my case I have an old 9 inch broken down little TV that can only comes on. A person positions this TV anywhere they feel like it. It can be moved from room to room if it's easy to carry. The monitor in the bird's room is watching everything they're doing. It gives a wide view of their area and it's transmitting that whole thing to the TV. The unit monitor is totally silent. There are no moving parts in it. Now today, those Baby Cams have gotten better. My signal come to me only in black and white. Today they have units that will show everything in color. Both kinds can still be purchased. It can be purchased at most department stores. It's a well know item and I'm sure that some of the women here know all about them and tell you about their feeling of security when using them with babies. These 2 pics are the little monitor and that junky 9 inch TV I use. Think about it. It can turn into interesting veiwing. PS--If the item you're using to look at them has a volume control, you'll also be able to hear them. Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 17:35<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 17:38

I know you didn't mean *induce*. That was my word and I use it to make a point cause many people are thinking just that---*induce, inducing, induced, inducement* Only the person knows if it applies to them. Eventually, the pair will need relatively quietness but much more important is that they're going to have complete privacy away from all normal surroundings. They can't be separated. People won't be welcome. Breeders are very nervous, protective and can often be aggressive, and if any of these things occur and there's a clutch of eggs, there's a possibility that the eggs could get damaged. In the past people have purchased healthy pairs and sometimes, they won't reproduce. Unfortunately, there's a million reasons why that can happen and I won't pretend to know all those reasons but you and they will need plenty of time to get used to their breeding area which can sometimes double as their living area. It's gonna take time. Classification -------------- On the open market, there are 2 types of breeder greys that are sold. These prices are hypothetical. 1--Bonded Pair-----$1400 Birds are guaranteed to be bonded together but have yet to lay any eggs or have tried to lay eggs but haven't been successful so far but might be in the future. 2--Proven Bonded Pair----$1900 Birds are guaranteed to be bonded and have also had 1 or more clutches of eggs. When purchasing this kind, there's no guarantee that the clutches will be fertile even if they've had success in the past. So, only time will tell if your pair are successful but be aware that your pair might not have gotten all the proper things in the past to have success. That's why you should spend the off season getting ready and sucking in all the knowledge that's available. PS---the pair should be at least 6 yrs old or even older. That's when they become sexually mature. Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 05:33<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 05:43

First, you need to know what the age of each bird is. Then you need to bring both birds to an Avian Vet and have the hen checked for any possible internal problems. The vet might wanna check the male too. Then you need to find out what the previous owner meant by *never successful*. Did they have a clutch and they were infertile? Did they not have a clutch ever? Underage males anmd females will go through the whole routine of so called *mating, nest building, and sometimes having a clutch etc. but if they're only sexually aware as opposed to sexually mature ( has to do with age), the whole process fails. Also ask if either bird was ever a pet in the past. That sometimes works against successful breeding. Then you should realize that a pair of breeder greys might not make any overt sexual connection until they've lived in their new home for at least a year. Every thing is new to them.Then you need to find out if breeding season is over where you live. For most of the US, the season is finished cause winter is around the corner and in some areas it's already here. For breeder pairs who are moved to a new location, the new owner usually takes that time and sets up the special area with the proper items and allows the birds to see that area for a long period of time. Trying to induce any breeding with greys isn't a good idea simply because their internal systems aren't as strong as they are when breeding season comes around. Then, you'll have to do extensive reading concerning the special nutrition that a hen has to have before breeding. Another reason not to induce breeding is that hens are calcium deficient and that calcium has to be replenished during the off season. There's other things you need to do and learn but start with this info.<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 03:36

OH, she'll bite you soon enough. She'll bite you using the mild bite method upon which she'll graduate to puncture bite method and when she lusts for more, she'll bite you using the deeper penetration bite. She will see the drops of blood and lust after your juicy flesh so she'll use the peeling method of biting and she'll peel off the outer layer of skin where the softer red pink flesh lined with the tiny veins are located. She'll bite those veins so that blood will ooze out onto the pink flesh and she'll enjoy the bird version of Filet Mignon done very rare with cuticle rings as an appetiser. Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/09 23:59<br><br>Post edited by: MrSpock, at: 2007/11/10 00:33

She's afraid of you but she's too afraid to say it cause she knows that it'll create a very fearful atmosphere and she's afraid of your fearless reaction to her frightful face.