Moddy

Welcome Rae I'm sure you'll like it here on this site, Everyone give's great advice. I didn't know they would eat egg shells.. Let alone they could.. That's trippy. I think I will try that. Tj doesn't like eggs themself but maybe he will go for that. I see alot of greys like cheese Mine does too. Basically his favorite thing.. Macoroni.. He absoutely loves it lol. And Uncooked wheat pasta noodles.. Of course!! Lol

So my african grey is completely and utterly picky. He was raised by a family in california that most likely gave into his ever wish and well gave him whatever he wanted. I've been giving him well lemme check the label. Nutriphase parrot formula.. It say's parrots like cokatoos and mcaws, but I don't know who the hell they're kidding with that stuff it's mostly seed no large peices.. anyways he only eats about 1/3 of it not cause he knocks it everywhere, he only picks out what he likes.. we've tried so many different parrot formulas.. the one's that look like trix now sure what they are called, he won't touch thoes AT ALL. We ran out of his yesterday but he still has a full bowl of it and i've only given him two cherries and a peice of cheese since then he wouldn't eat thoes either and he hasn't ate any of his food, he ate a noodle cause he loves them but that's it.. Any suggestions on what to do? I can't force it down his throat.. And well the kind he was eating when he got here.. I'm not sure what it was some cheap crap but I can't find it anywhere in town!!! and i've had him for 7 months and I just can't deal with his wasting anymore. He won't eat many other things either. He doesn't like mangos, bananas, apples, oranges, mandrins.. He likes grapes sort of and peaches but he only eats them sometimes.. and he only get's fruit when we go to the store which is once a month weekly he will get some of our dinner and such. He also doesn't like veggies.. tomatos.. carrots, cucumbers.. He likes Ranch, mayo, lunch meat, steak, mashed potatos and loves macoroni.. I know it's just his tastes but is there anyway I can get him more hyped about veggies and stuff?!

Caffine isn't so much good for them. Your not "spossed" to give them coffee, pop, sugary juices.. but Meh I know a little coffee isn't going to kill Kiwi but you might want to switch off I should have told you this when you told me over yahoo!! Lol but I forgot. She get's wild most likely cause of the caffine maybe try some soda, I give Tj soda all the time just not that much, as a treat when I have some and he looves kool aid.

That's so cute!!

My bird does it also.. Then he usually gets comfy and puts his foot up whever he is cause well he's ready to sleep.. Sometimes he hold's it awhile and it always seems to look like it hurts.. and sometimes he wiggles his beak.. I think it's perfectly normal =/ Yawn just like dogs and cats can.

Hmm well this seems like a problem then. I think he's so interested in putting his beak in my mouth well cause he does like to explore my teeth.. but his owners fed him mouth to mouth and well I will still kiss him in all cause that's not much of the problem just no more blowing on his beak or letting him try and french me. Lol...But most of the time I kiss him I will kiss him on the neck cause he starts to make different noises

Jup.. Just as the title says.. He loves to kiss but he always trys to put his beak in my mouth and well we have a thing where i'm holding his "waist" and he's upside down and i'm blowing on his beak and he's opening and closing it like he's taking in my breath or something lol sounds weird but he does anyways has anyone else had a similar experiance?

Yeah I know I was just hoping there was a way to teach him no cause I can't hide my phone charger that sits on top of the desk and well speakers.. Lol keyboard, mouse the works.

Yadel that sounds interesting. I think I will try that. Also distracting him is a great idea once I figure out what bird toys he will take because right now he's only interested in things he CAN'T have. Phone, cellphone, keys, speakers, monitor. I've tried giving him basically anything around he is allowed to play with. If we give him something ANYTHING he know he CAN have he throws it down. He may come back to it later but usually doesn't.

>_> Lol why do that when I can get free advice here? Much easier, since i'm 16 with no credit card. <_<;

Good idea's to teach your bird the meaning of "not to, or no" As well most people know scolding never works. Nor yelling or telling them no really. They will just go on doing whatever they please. Spray bottles are also in fact NOT a good idea. Birds usually love water, with an exception of mine.. and you don't want them to learn that water means something bad. And of course you can't hit them, that's a clear no duh. When I got my CAG they had told me that if he is bad I was to warn him with "Your gonna get a ticket" well adjusting to his new home. That didn't work, and untimately it lead up to putting him in his cage and covering it. Which I would if he acutally cared he was getting put away. He just strolls down to the bottom of the cage and lifts the bottom tray with his beak so it clashes down against the metal and makes a loud noise. He usually does this to get what he wants. Generally I don't give in. Unless I was sleeping -_____-; So besides all of that when he's being "bad" trys chew on the phone or speakers.. I hit my hand down on my desk.. works to get his attention but he goes right back on doing it. If he bites me I either put him in his cage or lightly tug on his tail feathers. But I want a new way of telling him no, because caging him doesn't work and I don't want him to start getting scared of me scratching his back or even going near his tail if he thinks it's punishment. Ideas?

Welcome Ian, hope you like it here

My bird completely tore my toothbrush up, and I still use it cause he's never interested in the useable end so meh, had no problem with that except the grip he was throwing everywhere. @ HeatherStrella I was thinking about making my own stand but I don't know where to start. Right now the monitor is the best thing, but he trys to get his beak under the frame and it's damaging to him and the monitor.. Well right now he's trying to eat the decorations off it. I've tried giving him a clip which he didn't care for what so ever. Along with the plastic from my straightner which I thought he would have fun with but nope. So i'm thinking I need to get really creative.. Cause he's just to picky.

Oh no I know what he is doing is normal behavior and he can do that on or in his cage all he wants to but when theres flying chunks of things falling all over my work place then it's not so fun so I wanted to see if there were any good toys that would keep him happy that he well can destroy but maybe it's easier clean up and little peices can't fall into my keyboard.

They might have another job on the side Or are retired and getting social security with bird money on the side. Who knows, doesn't matter. Sounds like your new bird's right at home Congradulations.

My CAG is like that but he doesn't have seperation anxeity.. He just loves to be with me because well i'm mom and he loves to get scratched.. I've stopped taking him out as much because I can't sit with him constantly and he won't really stay on his cage. But I found, if you keep them entertained on their cage they will be more happy to stay.. I think though your bird does have some anxeity issues and hopefully they will work themselves out. But hey atleast she's not one that refuses to come out of her cage and bites all the time. That's more of a painful problem to solve.

My bird doesn't know really how not to cross the line when he feels like play fighting so I just don't allow it. He's nipped me hard and there's no other reaction then punishment so we don't do that.

Sooo I spend lot's of time on the computer doing... whatever.. And I take my gray in here with me so he's not alone sitting on his cage and well he loves spending time with me. But spending time with me isn't just enough nowa days. He sits on top of my monitor and has had a habit of tipping over glasses with whatevers in them. That was a simple soultion, move the glasses away and anything else he would try to get. Including scooting my monitor closer so he couldn't cut through the web cam cord or get things that were on the shelf behind him. Anyways.. He has a a certain interest in my tooth brush.. That I keep in my room on my little quick grab shelf. He's been chewing all the grip off the handle and that's been fine for awhile though I can't stand the chunks of grip flying everywhere and getting into my keyboard since i'm OCD and I keep my keyboard clean. Anyways he's lost interest in that and now keeps throwing it on the floor. He is one of the pickest birds i've ever had. We offer him lot's of things to play with but his old owners spoiled him to much, let him get away with pickey behavior. Especially with food but none the less we're working on that. Sooo I was wondering if anyone knew any toys that AREN'T that messy that he can sit and CHEW on not play with while he's on my monitor until I can get a parrot stand?

Wings I presume? Wow.. If you want to keep your bird "grounded" then.. you need to do it ALOT more often then once or twice a year. If you want to ground them, trim them once or twice a MONTH, once a month will do fine.

The sand perches and stuff are completely useless =/ To my bird there only a nose scratch. I know you need to keep their nails trim. Probably doesn't matter an ounce to them but it hurts my hand's and arms when his nail's get to long. I don't even want to deal with clipping them myself. He won't bite or anything he just will squirm so I take him into the vet and let them get frustrated =/ It's only 9 dollars I believe. So I guess i'm not much help

Depend's what kind of bug's they are. I've been having problems with ants.. ON ALL my animals good and water. Stupid little things are getting on my nerves. Didn't bother with it much except whiping them up. Little bugger's should learn ;O Maybe take one into your vet when you go and ask.

I don't see much point in owning a parrot if your not going to handle it. You might as well sell it, because eventually he is going to get very lonley. Parrots will take time to take to someone but they rather work twards trusting you for the reward of a nice companion then to not have anyone to play with at all. You're going to get bit.. So I would understand that and learn that you will need to take it and not react to it, don't pull your hand away or even scold him at this point. Keep him in his cage and maybe go up close not enough for him to touch you and talk to him for awhile, then soon after try reaching your hand in like your going to pick him up and talk to him some more. If he knows that you talking to him outside of his cage wasn't harming him. Then it's faster for him to learn your not going to hurt him when your hand's in the cage and your talking to them. Gradually get closer with your hand not like the first time.. But over a week or two and still continue to talk to him. And eventually after that try getting him to step up maybe once or twice a day.. after doing that for awhile take him out and let him sit on his cage and eventually i'm sure you will be able to handle him regularly.

I'm sure he'll talk He's in a new place and he's not going to be an open book just yet! And well when they are alone is when they talk the most. But after awhile.. He should pick up on what you're saying and start mimicing. My parrot didn't talk at all when he first arrived. Then started saying thing's he used to know and it's been well awhile and not everything has been earsed from his memory of what he used to say but alot has and soon he will start with my slate

Thank you everyone for your ideas I should probably start making some soon since my parrot feels a big ignored and is craving attention.

Your's is a CAG, congo african grey, because she has red tail feathers. I don't think she looks small. Looks healthy and about the same size as my Tj. The vet is just giving an opinon really...I'd say she's fine.