Caspersmum

Hi, I'd love to know how you get on - especially if you have any improvements on the design, Julia

Can you tell me a bit more? What exactly do they do? And are they independent units, or do they attach onto air conditioning systems? Thanks, Julia

I'd go along with what Monique says, but just add a wee bit from personal experience. When I had birds before, they weren't clipped - because they I'd had them both from when they could first fly I was able to train them to be 'sensible' with their flying (although my CAG used to get a bit too high and bounce off the ceilings!). I didn't intend to get Casper clipped when I got him, but he was so aggressive, particularly when I had male friends to visit - he'd fly onto their heads and try to peck them. I've also got very high ceilings in my flat, and he'd fly out of reach and refuse to come down. So I had him clipped in order to stop him chewing through light cables, and to protect my friends! Since then I've been working hard with him, to get him to trust me and my friends, and to stay in places where he's safe. As his flight feathers are beginnning to grow back in, I'm hoping that I'll be able to leave him unclipped. I think it's not just a personal choice in terms of your views, but also of your circumstances. Julia

I'd go along with that too - when I'm giving Casper a cuddle he still does it when I touch his beak - and he's nearly 2 now, so I don't think there's anything to worry about - I think maybe it's the parroty version of sucking your thumb when you're a kid! So long as your parrot seems well otherwise, and is eating properly the rest of the time, I don't think you have anything to worry about Julia

You're welcome Fairy! And I'd love to know if anyone else has a go - particularly about improvements on the design! Julia

I have a question for everyone - really an opinion pole of sorts. When I'm out of the house I leave the radio on to keep him company - but which is better - talk or music? The music channels have some talk, and I don't know if he even cares, but I just wondered what everyone else's thoughts were, Julia

Hi, I'd go along with what Heather says - Casper said some similar things when I first got him - he even used to tell himself to shut-up when he sqwauked. Whenever he said anything I didn't want him to say I ignored him - to the point where I'd stay as still and quiet as possible if I was in another room, or walking out if I was in the same room, until he stopped. He'll st

I'd go along with what the others have said, but I've had another thought - it sounds like you're quite familiar with birds - Do you have much experience? If so, you might be willing to put up with a bit more bad behaviour to start with, knowing that you'll have the confidence to sort it out, and give the parrot a better life than it currently has. If you're new to parrot parenthood, then its best to get a very tame, well behaved parrot that's being given up for genuine reasons. Hope it all goes well, Julia

Right, here are the instructions! I used about 20m rope - I found it online, but phoned the supplier to check that it's not treated with anything. I used 24mm (1" for those of you on the other side of the pond!)manilla rope. I figured this was a good size for CAG feet. Be warned though - being so thick it's quite difficult to handle. Cut the rope in half (also difficult with thick rope)and then lay out one of the pieces on the floor - I wanted mine to be about 1.5m square (about 5feet) so I looped it back on itself to form a series of parallel lines of equal(ish) length. I then wove the other piece of rope at right anngles over and under the first piece. The gaps between the ropes are about 15cm (6"). Once it's laid out on the floor fiddle with it until you're happy with the spaces. I then tried my hand at splicing the ropes together (Casper nearly learnt some very rude words while I was doing this - but if you want a go there's some good websites to tell you how). If I was doing it again, I'd just do what I did with the other joints - knot them together with string. So get a ball of string. You need to cut lengths of about 30cm (1foot) and tie it really tightly round each place where the ropes cross. It sounds like a big job, but it probably only took an hour from start to finish. I made sure that there was enough string left over for extra chewing fun, and to tie toys onto. I tied on loads of chewable toys, then used an old towel rack as a frame to hang the net over (I figure you could get a joiner's trestle if you don't have anything suitable). I reckon the whole thing cost me about £30 - alot better than the £100 a similar size net costs online, and casper loves it. Just one word of caution - someone else pointed out about the danger of ropes for getting feet stuck in - so I don't let Casper play on it unless I'm in the room. I also check the knots regularly to make sure its still all holding firm. I hope this all makes sense - it really is easy to do, and if you're looking for a big cheap play frame its ideal. Let me know if you need any further knotting advice! Julia

Thanks for that - Casper will be pleased!

Just to add another bit of contention - how about fizzy drinks? I like fizzy water, but am worried about letting Casper have any as I heard that birds can't burp or... well pass wind in any other way. If this is the case, can they get rid of the gas in fizzy drinks, or do they (as a friend told me - maybe I'm just guilible)explode?! Julia

Hey guys, I'm feeling veyr proud of myself! I've not only completed Casper's cargo net, but he likes it too! I've got some photos to share - I've put one of them on my profile page, and I'll try to add some below (can't make any promises though! I keep getting error messages). If anyone wants to make one themselves, let me know and I'll add some instructions, Julia

So have you decided on a name yet?!

Thanks for the advice everyone. Casper's cargo net is now complete. Admittedly it's not a thing of great beauty, but he seems quite happy with it - I think he's more interested in fun than aesthetics! I've attached a load of small toys to it, which keep him amused for hours - he particularly like his tambourine (although I'm beginning to regret it!). I've taken your advice Linus, and don't let him on it unless I'm in the room so that I can rescue him if he gets into trouble, but its great because it means he has plenty to keep him occupied while I'm studying. I'll upload some pictures and DIY instructions just as soon as I can work out how to! Julia

Hi, I've only just read your message, so not sure how you're getting on now, but I had a few words to add that might help - and these are from experience. I got my CAG Casper from people who'd never taught him to step up. First of all find a place that she feels comfortable to stand, without too many distractions. A lot of the books say do this on the back of a chair in the bathroom, but casper didn't like the back of chairs, and he didn't like the bathroom either, so it was bound for disaster! Eventually we settled for the arm of the sofa in the lounge, but with no telly on. I discovered (painfully!) that he doesn't like stepping up onto my hand. Then I tried a stick, and he just got angry, would but his head down, so I couldn't got it anywhere near his legs. I then tried using my forearm - and it worked. So he now steps up onto my wrist. If you spend afew minutes a couple of times a day, just telling your CAG to step up and step down repeatedly, you can go a long way very quickly. I hope this helps you! Julia (and all my bite marks have now healed!)

Hi, I've only just read your message, so not sure how you're getting on now, but I had a few word

I don't know if you can get the same thing in Canada, but I find disposable anti-static dusting cloths really useful for getting parrot-fluff off all sorts of surfaces. Also, if you haven't already got one, I'd recommend getting a dust-buster - again not sure what they're called in Canada, but they're small hand held vacuums - blooming marvelous and a lot less hassle than having to get the proper vacuum cleaner out all the time! Julia

One question that might affect how you do this is where her cage is - is it in the living room or does she have a quiet room herself? I don't know if this is right or not, but it's worked for me. If you talk to her while she's in her cage (which I'm sure you're doing anyway), and then open her cage door, and see if she wants to come out. If she seems to get distressed with that, then go back to just talking to her. If you do it when the rest of the household is quiet - with not too many people around, then it'll allow her to decide if she wants to come out or not. I wouldn't force the issue, especially if she's been treated badly in the past, just let her come out in her own time. Julia

Hi Jimmy, I've noticed the hot and cold foot thing with casper - which makes me think it's probably normal. As for the moving round alot then being fluffy seems normal to me - I think especially when they're young they tire themselves out. And when they're sitting on one foot ruffled up its a sign they're relaxed - they sleep like that too. As for the whistling, like shaz said, they can pick it up really quickly. I'd heard that they wouldn't talk until they're at least a year old, but I was told by casper's previous owners that he was talking at 6 months. They often start by trying to speak, making sounds that have the same intonation as the words you use, but without the pronunciation - just like human babies. I was told that when they do this you should try to work out what they're saying (often easier said than done - I haven't got a clue what Casper's saying most of the time!), then pronounce the words properly for them to reinforce what they're tryng to say. Sorry if this is a bit long winded, and hope it helps,, Julia

Sounds like you're getting on well now, but for anyone else who's having problems, I've managed to switch one of my birds by hand-feeding the pellets one at a time, as if they're treats. He then had no problems eating them from his dish. Julia

Hey Shaz To my understanding it's a sign that they're really content - someone described it as the parroty equivalent of cleaning their teeth! Julia

I really don't know if this is the best advice, but from my experience, my birds have always stopped eating once they've had enough. Casper LOVES pasta with whatever sauce I've cooked to go with it. But after 4 bits, while he'll still take more, he just tends to play with it! I may be completely wrong, but I get the feeling that as long as they get enough exercise, they'll eat as much as they need and burn off any extra. Julia

Hi, I'm just a bit further on than you with my CAG Casper. Just like you, I wasn't told by his previous owners about behavioural problems. The first thing that gave it away was when he started talking after I'd got him home - the first night he was using very bad language - some of it I won't repeat here! But he'd sqwauk and then shout 'shut up' at himself. I've done pretty much what you're doing - ignoring the bad, praising the good. Although I still get the odd belch out of him I haven't heard him swear in ages - it really does seem to work. So keep the faith - it DOES work. And the same goes for the biting and the stepping up. It sounds like you're doing a fantastic job. I've also managed to get Casper onto a pellet diet, having been a complete seed junky. I tried him on one of the Kaytee pellets first of all (its the only one available in pet shops in my area), which he hated. I then tried Hagen Tropican, and he took to it straight away - I didn't even need to switch him over slowly. You might need to try a few to see which he likes. Hope this helps a bit, Julia

Have you tried offering him your forearm instead of your hand? I found that got Casper over the biting thing when stepping up. Julia

He was about 18 months old. He'd been living with a young family, who obviously cared for him, but I don't think they know what they were letting themselves in for. He hadn't been handled much, and had never had any training - they said they didn't have enough time. He learnt to speak when he was very young - and the way that he tells himself to shut up when he squwaks (sp?!) suggests that he got shouted at a lot for just being a parrot. He was also very aggressive when my friends came to visit. Does any of this sound familiar? Julia