Talon

Very sweet girl!

Can't wait to hear about it. Maybe you will take some pics?

There are many of us here that own a variety of birds. I am interested in knowing the pecking order and how it came to be. I think it would be interesting to see everyone's situation and how it is in their homes. I used to think it was 'size' based, as a friend told me, but I am seeing that isn't necessarily the case. In my home, I had Talon, a tag who came to me at 8 1/2 week first. She was our only bird for 3 years. Next came Rikki, a cag, who was 2 1/2 years old when she came to me and I was her 4th home. I had her for 2 years before Nilah my amazon came to us. Nilah was 6 months old and came from a bird store. They are all girls! As for size, Talon is 326 grams, Rikki 459, Nilah 409, although body size, Nilah looks the biggest. Nilah and Rikkirule the roost in my house, Talon most of the time gives in when they decide they want to be in that spot, or eat the food or whatever. They don't bully her, just after what it is they want and she willingly flies off. There have been times where she has chased them flying thru the house playing with them as they yell their heads off! Occasionally she will attempt to fight for her spot, but they are so much bigger and have stronger personalities, she eventually gives in. Due to Rikki and Nilah's way, I always try to make life more special for Talon, I always make sure she gets hand fed if she's not allowed to eat off my plate, I give her special one on one time when I can. In the afternoon when the others go in their cages so I can go upstairs and work, I allow Talon to stay out as she is so well behaved. She is always the first to get up in the morning and brought downstairs before the others get up. Things like that. As for personality, Talon is sweet and very passive. Rikki is moody, and more dominant. Nilah is more possessive of me, and as an amazon want what she wants when she wants it. They do all perch on me together at night when things are quieting down for the night and do just fine, and as I am going upstairs I the morning to shower, I carry them all together as a human tree perch and they do fine as long as I keep them apart and at the same level. I just thought it would be interesting to see how the pecking order works in others homes.

That sure made me smile this morning! How adorable, and Nilah loved it too!

Sorry Ray for my slip on words. Nilah really isn't a big bully, just when it comes to food, sometimes when Talon g ets brave enough to march on over to my plate to steal some, Nilah chases her away. She doesn't want Talon to steal any that her and Rikki might get.

That is so interesting. Talon was here first as well. But when Rikki came, Rikkii wanted to be friends, but Talon was always afraid of her,but I believe it was because of her size being bigger and Talon feeling Intimidated by that. Rikki will try and be on equal terms with Nilah, but Nilah feels the need to stand her ground, almost like she wants to get her before Rikki can get her. When Rikki never tries to bully her.

Very beautiful photos!

Wow Janet, I always thought it was because of size with Talon being the smallest and being lowest on the totempole. I wish she w more like Ana Grey.

When it comes to mealtime at my house, i always feel bad for Talon. My other 2 birds dont let her forage off my plate or any other for that matter. Nilah, the big bully will chase her right off the table, so either i let her eat and make a mess on my shoulder, or she mostly perches on the back of the chair and i give her bites of food there. I always feel sorry for her......so today, my 12 year old son and I made her her very own ( we hope) special place to eat. I haven't tested it out yet, but will let you know how it goes......it may take a few days for Rikki and Talon to get used to it being near the table. The best part so far, we have fun making it together, AND it took less than an hour and Cost just under $10.00!

Hello and Welcome to our family! I have a sleep cage in my bedroom for one of my greys. It does have some toys in it, and DEFINITELY some food and water. I do hear her nibbling at night and early in the am. I cover it with a dark sheet which drapes down about half way. (her cage is kind of big) (all my birds are covered at night) I know when I have the tv on in my bedroom too late, or she hears noise from me or my dogs, she gets mad and rings her bell to tell us to shut up! I would recommend a sleep cage, but WITH food and waterso he can eat if he wants. One more thing...FYI, my grey NEVER poops in her sleep cage ever....

Nilah my amazon doesn't do any type of nod, but she sure can do the amazon strut that lets you know...leave me alone.....

That's a riot!

Thats not at all true. You can have a routine,and once in a while vary it, and they are pretty okay with it. I have never had a problem changing their routine......they may not like it, but they go along with it and don't really put up a fuss.

I love it when you leave your house, and their is ALWAYS bird potty dried on your shoulder, down your back or on your pants somewhere... Also, don't forget the down feathers, or dander everywhere they preen, which is always when they are on you.

I don't know about anyone else, but my greys LOVE to chew all the zippers off our sweatshirts. None of mine zip anymore. Many of my shirts have holes on the shoulders....it just goes with the territory, no big deal. There are toys with hanging pieces of cloth that may be of interest, but mostly, they want to be with you and not play like an amazon would.

I am so glad you'd the chance to go! It is fun and worth the trip. I have colored feather extensions in my air, (12 of them) and every time my ack was turned looking at toys, the amazon was preening them.

Hi, Gwen, I have to agree with your above statement. I had a tag, added a cag 2 years later, then an amazon 1 1/2 later. Ages are tag: 6 yrs, cag: 6 yrs, amazon 2, almost 3 yrs. ALL females..

my greys love it! YES!

I just wish they had the inventory online that they do in their store, but unfortunately, they don't.....that's why I prefer to take a trip there and SEE the toys as my birds are picky sizes.

Steve, You are so right. All 3 of my birds share breakfast, and dinner with me. But when I put them in their cages for a bit in the afternoon, I always give them some fruit, pasta, or veggies to munch on, thus the occassional mess on the walls.....itry to stay away from raspberries, that leaves a mess like someone was murdered! Lol!

Wow that is some video. He let you,open his beak, my birds wouldn't let me do that. Have you tried pine nuts?

Welcome to our family! You are a very special person to rescue these 2 birds! I look forward to hearing more.

Mistyparrot said it best. Parrots are very messy, no question about it, but it is something we don't usually care about in exchange for their love. In the big picture of owning a parrot, it is a small issue compared to the happiness and love they bring to us. You did forget to mention, the food that gets thrown onto the walls from fruits and veggies when they are eating in their cage......

I don't know about the 'mix' and fitting into the mold. But if I was to analyze your question, I think those of us that already have any type of bird, have done so much research, that we are way more intuned to any species, thus able to read and interact with them in a manner that an 'amazon only' owner wouldn't. We are more understanding to birds and their needs. I feel that when you meet their needs as much as possible, you have happier birds and way less problems that others with an 'amazon only' may experience. Just my humble opinion.......

That is a riot!! I would have loved to see that on video!!