Christina

At what age do you start training your grey? Finni is 5 months old but I haven't noticed anything imparticular that he does that I would use to begin an easy trick. For example, our B&G always lifts his foot to you. So, we started his training with the wave. It was already an established motion he did, so it was just re-enforcing it with a verbal command. I use the word "command" lightly, as we all know you rarely "command" your bird, its usually the other way around!:laugh:

Finnigan loves the morning, after breakfast, he goes to his basket and looks at himself in the mirror and he loves himself! He also loves the evening, after dinner, he goes outside on the lanai and plays on a big net and stand we have out there. Sometime he just sits quietly and watches all the wild birds fly by and other times, he is all over the net like a wild man!:laugh: He must wear himself out either way because he is then completely ready for a scratch and bed. He loves his soaked pellets and loves it even more when I feed them to him...what a baby! As for toys, give that bird an empty water bottle so he can take the top off and the plastic ring off, and he is a happy camper. All that money on bird toys...what a waste! What do they say...One mans trash is another mans treasure! :lol:

I have to tell you guys...as you are the only ones that will understand. I was getting ready to leave for work and had just put the birds away for the morning and I hear Finnigan in his room, really getting on a roll with his chirping. I hear him do the wolf whistle, which I have been trying to get him to do since I brought him home at 10 weeks! What a brat, he can do it perfectly and did it time and again! So, I keep listening and darn if the little brat doesn't say "Finnigan" clear as a bell, and "hello"! What a litle closet talking rat! Oh, I wonder if he will ever say anything in front of me. Big Sigh. Silly bird. I'm just happy he seems so happy an content in his cage.

My macaw does it all the time. Our vet said its normal for all birds to do that, sometimes they do it to initiate a sneeze to clear their nares. I would follow the advice here...its good.

My macaw does it all the time. Our vet said its normal for all birds to do that, sometimes they do it to initiate a sneeze to clear their nares. I would follow the advice here...its good.

Finnigan gets warm soaked pellets (soaked in apple juice and water) along with a mash of cooked veggies and pastas in the morning. He gets cut up fresh veggies and fruits in the afternoon and a warm sweet potatoe mash with more soaked pellets in the evening. He has regular seed and pellet mix available all day as well. We change it up with oatmeal or cream of wheat or anything like that for the morning and evening meals and he and Loki (B&G) always get whatever we are eating for dinner. Very Spoiled!

My Finni (TAG) is pretty quiet...he is still a baby though. I have noticed that when my macaw gets going at night and in the morning though...the more Finni decides to join in the fun and merry-making. He isn't even 1/4 of the noise as Loki is, so its no problem though. On the other question, I did read that TAGs don't change their favorite person as readily as CAG's. I have no personal experience with this, and maybe some other members here can give some personal examples. But what I read was that CAG's stay with their family unit much longer than TAGs. Therefore, about the two year mark, they do choose a mate and leave their family to begin their own. It was also insinuated that that is why CAG's are more prone to feather plucking than TAGs...as they are moved so young, but in the wild stay with their initial family unit much longer. It went on to say that TAG's leave their family unit to join a smaller almost juvenile family at a much younger age, therefore they don't have the propensity to change their favored one as much and its not as upsetting to be moved at the young age that these birds are sold, therefore less phobic behavior. As I said, no personal experience on that topic...but I thought it was interesting.

My Finni (TAG) is pretty quiet...he is still a baby though. I have noticed that when my macaw gets going at night and in the morning though...the more Finni decides to join in the fun and merry-making. He isn't even 1/4 of the noise as Loki is, so its no problem though. On the other question, I did read that TAGs don't change their favorite person as readily as CAG's. I have no personal experience with this, and maybe some other members here can give some personal examples. But what I read was that CAG's stay with their family unit much longer than TAGs. Therefore, about the two year mark, they do choose a mate and leave their family to begin their own. It was also insinuated that that is why CAG's are more prone to feather plucking than TAGs...as they are moved so young, but in the wild stay with their initial family unit much longer. It went on to say that TAG's leave their family unit to join a smaller almost juvenile family at a much younger age, therefore they don't have the propensity to change their favored one as much and its not as upsetting to be moved at the young age that these birds are sold, therefore less phobic behavior. As I said, no personal experience on that topic...but I thought it was interesting.

It sure is fun watching them grow and decide when and what they are going to do. I would have never guessed before I had a bird that they are so independent and intelligent. What a great companion...I think they challenge us to get to know them as much as we probably challenge them...probably more so!

It sure is fun watching them grow and decide when and what they are going to do. I would have never guessed before I had a bird that they are so independent and intelligent. What a great companion...I think they challenge us to get to know them as much as we probably challenge them...probably more so!

I have often said to my husband that Finni doesn't whistle or make many noises. He said to me that in the afternoon (when I'm at work) he hears Finni in his room, whisteling and making all kinds of happy noises. I guess on the weekends, Finni is out alot so I still don't hear him. My husband called me today and said, listen and held the phone up to the door so I could hear...Finni was carrying on making all kinds of clicks and whistles and whirring sounds. It was sooo cute. I could even recognize the wolf whistle I have been diligently trying to teach him...he almost has it, not quite, but enough that I could recognize what he was doing. It was nice to finally hear him really vocalizing!

Just another thought...I use a basket for Finni...its a basket like you get at a craft store...plain, no staining, just the wood like in craft wreaths. I wrap the handle in rope so he can't chew that...but he can climb up and down the handle and chew the basket itself if he wants too. I tie some toys to the handle and line it with newspaper and have foot toys inside it that he can climb down and get and bring back to the top. He does alot of somersaults on the handle as well! Its cheap, its chewable (which keeps him busy as well as the toys), the newspaper can be easily replaced, and I can carry him from room to room. It's just another idea...maybe until your table top play area comes in.

Thank you! I couldn't figure out why he kept begging but wouldnt' eat anymore. I guess they just want some closeness at that point...don't even think of walking away and not picking him up after he is finished eating. LOL!:laugh:

I just have a few questions on behavior as your grey grows up. Finnigan is 17 weeks old today. I've had him since he was 10 weeks old. I've weaned him off of formula, but he still insists on being hand fed his soaked pellets in the morning and evening. This isn't a problem and I know eventually he will shun that and not need it anymore. But, he still does his begging noises at both times. Even when his crop is full...he keeps going. I know he isn't hungry anymore...he spits the food out...he just keeps going until I pick him up and wipe his little face and we move on to cleaning the floor up from the mess he just made. Anyone else wean their baby out and find that they do this? Or is Finni just a noisey baby who wants what he wants? As he gets older I also find, he really likes routine. We have a blue and gold macaw...who could care less what we do when as long as he is included. Finni, likes to eat, clean, and go to the basket in the morning to play while I put on my make-up. The afternoon is spent in his cage, while the evening...he likes to eat then go outside (screened lanai) and watch the birds fly overhead and climb on his rope area. He actually will sit in the windowsill and squeak and chirp until we go out. At 8pm...he is ready to go to bed. No, ifs ands or buts...he will hot foot it if he is on the floor to his room and back to his cage. A nice scratch before bed and he is done for the evening. I don't mind the routine, but it worries me that too much will create phobic behavior if we need to board him or something like that. Do all greys like their routine...is this normal behavior? I will still try to change things up...and keep him on his toes (so to speak) as I don't want change to throw him for a loop...but I am interested in finding out if all greys are this routine oriented. He is like a serious little bird compared to the clownish behavior of the b&g. Not that I mind...I love it...he is the best, I can just see his little mind thinking things over. Just wondering.

Wendy from Wendy's Parrots actually posts alot in the Macaw Talk Forum....she has a wonderful reputation there. You can check it out at http://www.birdsnway.com/boards/mt/mt.cgi and ask questions about her if you want...alot of people there have purchased their macaws from her. I'm quite certain that they will all tell you how lucky you are to have purchased a new baby bird from her. Congratulations...that is a fine looking baby!

I think I will DNA when I take him to be groomed and they clip his toe nails...get the blood on the card and send it off to one of those internet places. I think that is like $35...compared to the $75 and drawing blood at the vet. I have a little time before that happens, as I just file his nails now. I figure he is just starting to climb and carry on so he needs extra claw power to keep from falling.

Awesome thanks. I don't really know if he is a he or a she...but either way, s/he is only 15 weeks old...so I have a little time before I need to worry about the nesting!

Finnigan loves to play with/in boxes, so I put one in his cage with him...he seems to love it, do you think its okay to leave in there?

That is sooo true. I would never have guessed that he would be that sensative. Aaah, well funny little guy.

Poor little Finni woke up this morning and about had a stroke. My daughter is back from college, so she crashed in the spare room (bird room). Finni woke up and saw her in the bed and started growling LOUD! Poor little thing was frightened. I took him out and into another room and he settled back down. When I took back into his room, he started growling again, until she sat up and started talking to him. Then he was like, Oh, its you. I felt bad for him. What a terrible way to start the day.

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Thank you, I'm trying to make it a bit bigger.

Okay, I hope this works....

Good post. I will have to start working with Finnigan on going on his back.

Thank you guys for your reply. I'm trying to learn Finni's body language and was reviewing some pictures from when I took him outside (screened in covered lanai). I didn't notice it at the time, but he was on a stand and kind of leaning forward looking, but his wings are lowered. After looking at this pic, which I will try to post tonite for you to see, I wondered if he was very afraid, but it sounds like he was just being cautious in his review of the outside. I have noticed he does it sometimes in his cage as well but he seems much more relaxed, almost lazy in or on his cage when he does it...only having experience with a b&g, who doesn't lower his wings, unless he has just finished flapping like a crazy bird for exercise so he is obviously tired, or he isn't feeling well...I was thinking to call the vet. You guys are saving me tons of money! :-) Thanks!