Talon

Beautiful cage and gorgeous pictures! He loves his new cage!

Yes, a ZON sure can smile! Beautiful picture !!

That a wonderful video!! He seems to have his landing down really well. Thanks for sharing!

What can I say.......I am a certified personal trainer :cool:......and this is my FIRST client!!!! :confused: Woo hoo!

I must say, I have the highest respect for you. I expected you would take my post the wrong way and get defensive. Kudos to you! I think you have your plucking answer, your bird doesn't like changes in the flock. Not sure what advice to give you regarding that, hopefully someone else with that experience will chime in.

Oh he's beautiful! You are as much a sucker for a needy bird as I am! He truly picked you, you were meant to be there and it was meant to happen. I am so happy for you and I am are sure things will settle down in time. It's a big adjustment, but one that easily managed.

This post is NOT going to be very well liked......and I don't have any intentions of discussing this further or debating it. It has been my experience that sometimes a bird who plucks is due to the stress over training...but that is MY OPINION . Not meant to say that is the case in your situation. Just food for thought.

When my cag 2 1/2 years old came to me, She had been allowed to be a top of the head bird when she felt like it....NOT ALLOWED EVER by my birds.....I would flip out and go nuts yelling NO at her...so much so, that she only tried it a few times. NEVER again has she attempted with anyone.

That is a great video! I always love watching Louie, especially when he teases you to get your forbidden plant!

Sounds to me like she was biting you to protect you from in her mind, that dangerous creature on the floor wich she managed to get away from.......they bite the one they love when they sense what they feel is danger to get YOU to get away from it. Just my take on it.

If she starts plucking (and I doubt she will as I know how loving you r to her) you will start to see bald spots. She is just grooming and when they do that, small down feathers will come out. She is just being a grey. Wait until that first big feather is found on the floor.....you will panic! :) but that too is normal.

Very Interesting! These pics are a first here!

Lol! Yes, I have 2 bichons and a cat that follow as well! Shower time in my house is the highlite of my birds day! God forbid, they get wet, but they insist on being in the bath room with me so they can tear it up! In fact if I walk upstairs in the morning for any reason, they are all flying up and headed into my bathroom for my shower. Some days, I take one before I get them up just so I can be ALONE!!!

Last night I couldn't get Nilah in her cage before I had to go teach Zumba, so I left instructions as to our new routine for my 19 yr old daughter to attempt bedtime. (this is the same daughter who sent me an angry text message a few weeks ago while I was at work informing me that NEVER again would she put Nilah to bed! She got but by her that night when attempting to do it) so, I have been doing it ever since and not asking her too..... I told her if she had any trouble, to lead Nilah out and I would deal with bedtime when I got home around 9:30. When I got home, I expected NilAh to be out, so when I asked where she was, my daughter proudly to.d me SHE put her to bed! I reluctantly asked.....what happened? Did you get bit? She said, she did what I told her I had been doing, and Nilah tried one medium bite, but she told her no biting, and Ni Ah went into her age and said " nites nites" . SUCCESS!!!!!

How sad, I wonder how many babies don't survive due to these practices. Not everyone has the experience to hand feed a baby safely... We pay a high amount here in the US, anywhere from $800-1400 depending on the area. What is the cost difference there from weaned young babies to hand feed/tamed birds?

LOL! You got me there! I laughed so hard tears are streaming down my face....

Jeez, I get up off the couch from surfing my iPad here on the forum to use the bathroom! I stupidly announced it to Nilah as she was perched on my knee. Unfortunately, I have foolishly taught my birds what " step down, I have to go to the bathroom means" (My downstairs bathroom is tiny).....all 3 of my birds have to fly ahead of me and into the tiny bathroom to wait for me! Ugh! Is there ever any privacy around here!!!!!:confused:

She is probably exercising her wings. I don't know the answer to your question, all my birds were clipped very young, tey learned to fly after I adopted them and allowed to fly. Hopefully others here with experience will chime in.

Don't worry about whistling, there is an interesting debate here going on about it. Just do your best and talk to her. She will whistle with or without your help, it's natural to them, there's no stopping it!

Yes, when she no longer is interested. That could take a couple of months I think.

THEY HAVE A SHELLLLLL???????? Nilah must have left hers at the bird store!

Nicely said Dave. My Rikki prefers to talk when she is alone in the room, but it is loud enough so we all hear her. She has her own parroted language, she has a coo sound when it's time to go to bed, a certain whistle she uses whenever I put her in her cage and I have to leave etc. Talon has her own whistle when its bedtime, and a different one when she wants me to get her out of her sleep cage inthe am, another one when i am too loud in my bedroom and i disturb her sleep, if i ignore that one, she starts banging her bell in anger. Those things take time to learn.

I'm not sure about weaning, I don't have experience with feeding an unweaned bird, but I would continue your hand feelings until she is at least down to one feeding and no longer wants it. She will let you know.

Ray is right. Your life is not complete without a ZON to love and adore, and share fun times with.

OMG! That was exactly my feelings before I got my amazon.....! Boy can I relate!!! Give it up, you know it will happen, and besides, I don't want to be the only crazy bird lady as my kids call me. I am a car lover, how I ended up with so many birds, I still haven't figured out! But the fun and laughter I get from them is worth all the mess, expense chewed up doors etc. LOVED your post, it had me laughing hysterically!!!!