Talon

hi & Welcome! I look forward to seeing those cute baby pics!

Hi & Welcome! I look forward to hearing more and seeing pics!

Hi & Welcome. What a lucky bird to have found his forever home with you. As the others said, it will take time and lots of it before you build up total trust. When he puts his head down, and then softly bites, sounds like he's testing you to see how you will react. That's his way of deciding if he can begin to trust you. If you yell or say no, or pull away. He will instantly know you can't be trusted......he's going to test you and each time you pass his test, you will have made a step towards bonding and trust. Your doing great and you sound so sweet to him.

I have had all my closed bands removed from ALL 3 of my birds by my vet, my choice, based on the many tragic stories I have read about birds getting their band caught on something in their cage when their owners were out. A few of the birds chewed their foot off to get themselves unstuck as they were their all day, others have had cuts and broken legs. They require someone holding them, some heavy duty cutting grips and 2 cuts as the bands won't bend in any way. My vet has seen such accidents and he highly recommended it. If they are loose, it can work it's way up and get stuck, all it takes is a small thread of string, yarn or getting stuck on anything that comes apart. Not worth the risk for me. There is no reason to keep it on, it won't identify your bird and help it be returned if it ever got lost. It's only significance is to the breeder, and at this stage, their are no data bases or registries that determine a DOB or Breeder by the numbers or letters on the bands. They are put their and made up by the breeder.

Dave has given great advice as always... I took my 3 birds to my avian vet for check-ups in October of this year. They hadn't been in 2 years. 2 african greys 1 amazon 3 exams, 3 gram tests, 1 band removal, 3 nail trims.......$360.10 I don't take my birds in regularly, But every couple of years, as I want to keep an eye on their gram stain tests, have my vet check them for health, etc. And more than anything, establish a relationship with him in the event of an emergency, he will know me and my birds, and hopefully go out of his way to help me. Plus, my birds get used to him and his staff and office.

Thank you Dave & Dan. I have always kept my personal feelings to myself regarding the work and effects it had on Alex. I will continue to do so. The reply Dan has left is VERY accurate.

FYI: Dr. Irene Pepperburg has no connections to this movie......

All great advice!! Personally, I would STOP wearing the perfume around your bird. Their lungs are very sensitive to odors, and she may not like the smell she inhales when she is near you. Perhaps she wants to be near you, but at first is telling you she doesn't like it, then when she realizes she can't change it or she has finished her little tantrum in trying to tell you this, she calms and has to accept what she can't change. Just a thought from my perspective......

I buy my cages from cages4less. I really like the quality. Heavy duty and they will last a long time. The one from Petco is like the one I bought 4 years ago. I threw it away 1 1/2 years ago, it rusted and the bars were very cheap and bend easily. I have found that over the years, regarding cages, you get what you pay for. All my cages were $500 or more. THey will last many many years.....

What a great story! My dog Cody has been known to jump up and snitch a big piece of meat that's hanging out of my birds beak. I have to watch him carefully when we eat dinner.

Okay...I'm going to charge my camera, and see if I can set up the tripod, and then.....get NILAH, NOT ME on camera!

That's funny. My 3 will step up anywhere I ask. Carrying 3 parrots around the house, beggars can't be choosy.... I usally have one on each shoulder and one somewhere else on an arm! I look like a tree stand!!

I have recently started teaching Zumba classes at my dance studio. For those of you who don't know much about it, it's mostly latin music. I have about 13 routines to practice and memorize. This Ido in my living room where the birds can join in. Every song that comes on, Nilah Screams and sings the entire song. When it ends, she shuts up...waits...and the next song comes on and she starts upagain!! She'll do this for as long as I work on it, about 3 hours every day. I hope to video tape her and put it here, just not so good with a camera... You have to see it, it's a riot!

Update. It's been one week, NIlah's foot seems to be much better. She's finally using it as normal. Still has some scales to heal, but she seems to be doing well. Thanks for all your suggestions and help, and especially your support. Hope to get some pics up soon.

OMG!!! I LOVE this photo! That's priceless!!! Thanks for the laugh.

Thanks for the reminder of how important to not let things go. I hope and pray all is well very soon/

Love the updates! Sounds like your doing a great job letting him settle in and get used to his new forever home.

Very pretty!!

I have the bird sitter dvd. I play it 2-3 times a week. Other times, Nick Jr. wins out. They like Spongebob. My Amazon loves music, especially opera, ,but haven't been able to find anything like that.

Yup, testing the waters.......this is a stage and you are doing very well by not reacting. Great job!! It's hard NOT to react when bitten by surprise!

I have 3 females and I worry about the egg binding and egg laying. Wouldn't have that with a male.....

Happy hatch-day!

How adorable!! Thanks for sharing the pics. I LOVE the babies.

If you can afford it, go with the biggest cage you can. Once you fill it with toys and perches. It becomes quite small...

Jay, Maggie & your flock, My best wishes are with you today. I am thankful for all you have done in your lives with us and your flock. Get well soon.