judygram

I am so sorry you are having this problem with your grey, it does seem as if it is directly related to the carpet cleaner, they are very sensitive to odors especially chemical ones but it seems you have more problems with finding good avian vets, the ones you have been to so far don't sound like they are concerned with anything but their money. I would keep trying to find a decent vet, yes it might cost you money but your grey is worth it, she needs decent care and I hope you find it. Please keep us informed on her progress and the next time your fiance wants to clean the carpet remove your grey to another room and close the door to the room being cleaned and air it out before returning the bird to it. Birds have very sensitive respiratory systems and can be made sick by fumes and smells that wouldn't bother us.

Can't you take a hint, Sully wants a new toy, you aren't pulling any wool over his eyes and he knows full well there are plenty of toys behind that door, smarty pants grey, you gotta love the little fella don't you Jenn, now go give him a new toy will ya!

Dave is right, some greys can be shoulder birds and some cannot, if yours wants to nip the ears and other facial features then it has to be an off shoulder bird. A grey has to earn the priviledge to be on the shoulder and when they are there it is hard to read their body language since you can hardly see them when you turn toward them but then that puts your face right where they can get a good clamp down on a body part you would rather keep intact. I have a grey who has shoulder priviledges for she doesn't go for body parts and comes down when asked to by me so she has earned her right to be there but it is only for short periods of time. It could be that your wife is reacting to the bites and that in itself is entertaining for the grey and they will continue to do what amuses them so if you want to keep the grey off your shoulder then you will just have to block him from going up the arm and if the bird is flying onto the shoulder then put an arm up to divert the bird away from you.

Hello Stewies Mom and welcome to our family, so glad you found us and we look forward to hearing lots more about you and your flock especially those two as yet unnamed greys. The two greys must be a new addition to your flock since they do not have names, are they babies or rehomes? Please tell us more about them and the other fids you have, we have an other birds room where you may post about them and include pictures too if you like. We also would love to see some pictures of the greys if you have some you would share with us.

I wouldn't worry too much about the biting at this point, he is testing everything and they use their beak like we would a hand. He is like a very young child right now and wants to see if it is safe and what it is, if the biting persists later after you bring him home then is the time to nip that behavior but for now let him explore especially if they are only nips. Most do chew at the harness so its best to keep him busy with something when he wears it so he will leave it alone but maybe when he starts to get to use it for flying activity he will like it a little better, means an outside trip to exercise those wings. Thanks for sharing that last bunch of pictures, love that little tail bud and he is a gorgeous bird and won't be long now until he is home with you.

The only thing I can suggest is to not have her wings clipped, let her have the freedom of flight as she will be a more confident bird, you have read the pros and cons and if you make your home safe for her when she is out of the cage then it will work out for both of you. So excited for you as it is a special time when you bring your precious one home to stay.

Oh boy, another creative mind on the forum, I can remember making those paper mache things in school but wow has it been a long time ago, I look forward to hearing and seeing more of your ideas for making toys for our fids.

I am not sure about the safety of the scented warmers as birds have very sensitive respiratory systems and it seems to me that Dave commented on them before but maybe as long as you use them as Birdhouse has and not put them in the same room as the fids might be ok.

I have to say I have no problem with my fids going to their cage at night, Josey is usually already inside her cage just waiting for the cover to go on and yes I do cover all three cages at night, it gives them privacy and they settle down for the night better when covered as they are in the family room where we are at night until our bedtime though Josey has on occasion uttered a word or so after lights out.

Zak will be fine as long as you are there to be with him for the transition outside and he will come to love it basking in the sunshine. Janet your three are enjoying their sunbath, thanks for sharing the vid with us.

Yes she meant baking sheets and lots of oven pans are nonstick. I use a lot of stainless steel and some glass and enamel pans. In answer to Todd's question about the cast iron skillets in the oven, yes by all means you can use them in the oven, that is what makes them so versatile, once they are seasoned properly they work great.

Hope you had a very Happy Hatchday Sydney, you are very pretty.

I haven't watched this show and it is all new to me but it doesn't look like anything I would watch but I feel sorry for the birds.

I am sorry this is happening to you but like the others have said it has to be something has changed and it may be something you have not thought of but Charlie has noticed, I would go back to square one and earn his trust again and give him plenty of time, it could be a phase he is going thru. I hope things improve but give it time.

Please do check out the toys and playstands room for foraging ideas that may help to keep him occupied during the day when you leave him at home. If he is kept busy with toys and stuff then he will not be bothered by leaving him but it would be wonderful if you can take him with you to work as he will just be happy to be with you and be exposed to other people.

Hello Bill and welcome to our family, so glad to hear you are adding a grey to your flock, you are in for an amazing journey that will last a lifetime. You have come to the right place to learn all about the grey from members with firsthand experience and do read thru as many of the threads as possible for lots of useful information and do ask questions you may have and we will help you in any way we can. We have an other birds room where you can share a pic or two of your quaker, I especially love the blue ones so would love to see it.

Too many times Mama is second best but we know the truth!

At eight weeks he doesn't even have all his feathers yet so wait awhile before bathing him, he will need to be fully feathered and preening to get that oil on his feathers and if you do it before that he will get so soaked and get chilled before he can dry completely, better to just use a damp cloth to get whatever food is on him off.

It does cost more to have the vet do the test but for me it is worth it for they know what they are doing and it is someone other than me that does the inflicting of pain, something I don't want to be associated with. It shouldn't take more than a week or two to get the results back.

Gosh Ray I would have sworn you have been here longer than one year, you have been an active part of this forum and consistently too I might add as lots of new members come and post heavily at first then fade away. I know I look forward to your threads and posts as you have some mighty fine advice and you crack me up with your humor at times, you are a wonderful addition to this forum and we are so glad you joined us and love it here, we love having you as a valued member and friend.

I don't think it is cruel but most of us have more than our grey, we have multiple birds who are company for each other when we are not at home but if you can bring your grey to work with you then by all means do so. It would provide you with her company during the work day and the bird can get more socialization from interacting with the other people who work there and customers who come in. I doubt your work environment would be stressful for the grey but then only you know the conditions you work under but I would suggest you not keep it out front in the waiting area for you don't know what some people will try to do, maybe you could keep it back out of the way from the public but where it will be seen and not touched by the public. Even if you do not take your bird to work with you as long as you provide toys and things to keep your bird occupied and maybe a tv or radio on to keep it company I don't see a problem with having a grey as an only bird then as soon as you get home it can come out and be with you the remainder of the day for quality time.

I guess he was just adjusting to a new home and hadn't decided if it was safe to eat but glad it worked out for you, he does look like a sweetheart, so glad it is going well for the both of you and thanks for sharing the pic with us.

She is pretty and I love a messy mouth, my grey won't eat peanut butter as it is sticky but my sun conure loves it, thanks for sharing the pics with us.

You have to remember that if they eat fresh beets they will have reddish to purple poops afterwards and the tops of beets are good for them also.

Oh I bet that got wiped off on someone as greys are so good at doing after getting a messy beak and Cocoa has really enjoyed her feast.