judygram

Hello Doug and welcome to our family, as you can see I am from Virginia also probably about 15 miles from you to be exact, glad to have a fellow Virginian join us on the forum. Where are you getting your grey from if I may ask? Do you have any other birds or parrots? Is this your first ever grey? Did you go to the SWVBC Bird Fair that was held this past Saturday? There were some baby greys there along with lots of other birds for sale. You have come to the right place to learn all you need to know before bringing your precious baby home so do read thru the threads for lots of useful information and do ask questions you may have and we will help you in any way we can. Thanks for including a picture of your Tag in your opening post.

We all do Paul, the remember me box is to keep you logged in when you are on and go for a bit with no activity otherwise it will automatically log you out.

Some greys are "closet" talkers meaning they don't like to talk in front of anyone, they only chat when they think they are alone. You are making some progress with Max, think of it in terms of small steps, he may not have stayed outside the cage for long but he may soon so just be patient with him, he has to feel safe and that takes time but you are doing beautifully.

This makes me mad too Penny and since you live in MA would it be possible for you to go to Fitchburg and look this ACO woman up, is that too far to go?

Its what we call their pterodactyl imitations and it may not have anything to do with their tail, they will just all of a sudden let out this prehistoric scream while hanging upside down or maybe when flying thru the air like a fly by, this is all normal behavior, my grey will attach her bell with gusto and doing that pterodactyl scream while beating the hell out of it.

Chili Pepper looks wonderful, very healthy looking amazon, thanks for sharing the pics with us.

Slater is looking good, real good, he is a handsome fella and thanks for sharing the pics with us.

Hello Steven and welcome to our family, congrats on your first grey and we look forward to hearing more about you and Charlie. Why don't you tell us a little more about you and Charlie, more about his background if you know it and how he came into your life so we can get to know you better. Pictures are always welcome.

Hello Blue and welcome to our family, so glad you could join us and we look forward to hearing lots more about you and Woody. Sorry you had to part with Thundar but he found a good home and it all worked out for the best but a new grey has came into your life and I hope he will be in his new forever home now. We love pictures here so if you have some of Woody you would share with us please do.

The following link has a sald made of herbs you might want to try: http://www.avianweb.com/herbsalad.html The following is some information I found on another forum site: Alfalfa Leaf helps assimilate protein, calcium andother nutrients. Contains chlorophyll. Richest land source of trace minerals.Very rich supply of Beta Carotene, Vitamins K and D. High in Calcium andcontains Phosphorus, Iron, Potassium and eight essential enzymes. It is alsohigh in fructo-oligosaccarides which fertilize healthy bacteria in the gut andneutralize bad bacteria overgrowth such as Candida. Parsley is used as a preventive herb. High in VitaminB and Potassium. It is said to contain a substance in which cancer cells cannotmultiply. Rich in iron, chlorophyll and Vitamins A and C. Contains sodium,copper, thiamin and riboflavin, silicon, sulfur, calcium and cobalt. Flaxseed supplies the body with essential fattyacids. Not only are flaxseeds richer inthese fatty acids than fish oil, but they also taste much better. Flaxseed alsopromotes strong nails, bones and healthy skin. Bee Pollen contains 35% Protein, 55% Carbohydrate, 2%Fatty Acids, 3% Minerals and Vitamins. High in B-Complex Vitamins A, C, D andE. Also contains Lecithin, Beta Carotene and Selenium. It is rich in vitaminsand contains almost all known minerals, trace elements, enzymes and aminoacids. It contains the essence of every plant from which bees collect pollen incombination with digestive enzymes from the bees. This combination of elementsmake bee pollen an excellent source of antioxidants. Bee pollen is rapidlyabsorbed into the blood stream and stimulates immunological responses. Chickweed contains Vitamins A, C and some B,Flavonoids, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. It is used for skinproblems, to treat blood disorders, gout and arthritis. Dandelion Leaf benefits liver function. Containsnutritive salts, protein, and is a rich source of Vitamin A. Also high inVitamins B, C and E. Rich in Potassium, Calcium and sodium. Contains somePhosphorus and Iron as well as Nickel, Cobalt, Tin and Copper. Red Clover Blossoms and Leaf contain Vitamins A, C,B-Complex, calcium, Chromium, Iron and Magnesium. Ed Clover has also been usedeffectively as a blood purifier and antibiotic. Red Raspberry Leaf contains Vitamins A, C, D, E, andB. It is very high in available Calcium. Rose Hips is abundant in Vitamin C and helps combatstress. Milk Thistle Seeds supports the liver's ability tomaintain normal liver function. Milk thistle works due to its ability toinhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact itstimulates production of new liver cells to replace old damaged ones. Milkthistle is also an antioxidant that is more potent than Vitamins C and E. Barley Grass is rich in Beta Carotene, B Vitamins andVitamin C, the minerals Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium,Chlorophyll, 8 essential amino acids and enzymes, including antioxidant andsuperoxide dismutase. In total, it contains 92 minerals and 22 vitamins. Dill Weed is high in Calcium and soothing to digestion. Dulse is rich in Protein. It contains 22% more thanchickpeas, almonds or whole sesame seeds. Very high in Vitamins B6 and B12.Relatively low in sodium and high in Potassium. Rich in trace minerals. Garlic Powder fights bacteria like an antibiotic.Garlic's sulfur compounds, in addition to Selenium and Vitamins A and Ccontaining compounds, make it a potent antioxidant, protecting cell membranesand DNA from damage and disease. Garlic directly attacks bacteria and virusesand stimulates the bodies natural defenses against foreign invaders. Ginger Powder is an absolute favorite taste ofparrots. It is an excellent herb for the respiratory system as well as aneffective cleansing agent for the digestive system. It contains Protein,Vitamins A, C and B Complex, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Sodium, Potassium andMagnesium. Wheat grass contains too many nutrients to mentionthem all. It is especially high in Fiber, Protein, Chlorophyll, Beta-Carotene,Vitamin B Complex, C, E and K, most minerals and contains 18 Amino Acids. Highin Fructo-Oligosaccharides. Chili Flakes is a digestive aid. This flake acts asan anti-inflammatory agent and aids in controlling pain. Cinnamon is a favorite taste of parrots. It is adigestive aid and recent studies have shown it may help to eliminate E. Coli infood. Turmeric Root has five times more antioxidant powerthan Vitamin E. Contains curcumin and many other phytochemicals. Makes foodsmore digestible and possesses anti-fungal and antibacterial properties andprotects the liver by detoxification and scavenging free radicals. It alsobreaks down fats.

Thats pretty much it, wait until later in the day to let him out, do not put any food or water out so he has to go back to his cage to get it and if you still have a problem with him then let him see you put a treat that he loves inside the cage to entice him back inside, if all else fails then wait for darkness and use that to help you get him in as they don't see as well in the dark, you might be able to pick him up and put him back. Greys are very slow to take to change so that is why we stress taking your time and being very patient, you cannot build a relationship in just a few short weeks, a grey's trust has to be earned and it takes time to do that, the former owner didn't accomplish that in just a short time and now that a new owner has taken over it will probably take longer than it did with her. You cannot rush this process or it will backfire in your face and you will have to start at the beginning again, take it slow and easy and allow it to proceed at Max's pace. Is his cage in the part of the house where the family spends most of their time? Do you sit by his cage and talk to him, you can read the newspaper to him, tell him about your day and when you are interacting with him tell him what you are doing for they understand more than what we give them credit for.

Thats really very cute Janet, Louie has learned to roll over and he does appear to be sunning his belly, what a character he is and thanks for sharing it with us.

Some birds do not like to be covered at night and if he doesn't like it then leave him uncovered. Milo has been with you now for 2 months but some just need more time to adjust to a new home so be patient with him and some greys do not like being touched very much but what you can do is open his cage and let him come out on his own, let him come to you when he is ready, do things at his pace and don't push him for more than he is willing to give. He will more than likely come out and want to be where the family is and spends their time and then when it is time for him to go back to his cage just put some treat in his cage, make sure he sees you put it in the cage and he should be willing to go back in to get it then you can close the door. Just relax and let him decide when he is ready to come closer and be a part of the flock.

Looks good Deby and I have to say I think the smaller size is more eye pleasing, maybe somewhat bigger but not too large, now when are you going to get the other bird into the picture!

Dave is always spot on with his advice and this post is no exception, thanks Dave.

This will take more than 2 weeks for this grey to adjust to his new home and may I suggest that you not allow the previous owner to come to your house while you are trying to bond with him for it is sending mixed signals that when she shows up he is going home with her for he is bonded to her right now. Another thing is to allow him to come out on his own and do not put your hand inside the cage to get him out for some greys look upon their cage as their safe haven and can become territorial about it so no hands inside the cage unless it is an emergency. He needs time to settle in and feel comfortable especially so since he is not a just weaned baby who usually adjusts sooner, he is not mature but he is more independent than a baby is and so he needs more time so be very patient with him for it could be quite a while before he comes to view you in the same light as his former owner. It was a different situation when you were in her home and he came onto your hand as now he is in your home and it is totally a different scenario so take your time, don't push him and he will eventually come around but 2 weeks is just not long when you are dealing with a grey.

They can't make birdie soup with a water bottle but some may think that they don't have to change the water as often if they use a bottle but you should still change the water at least once a day for everyone loves fresh water and I have heard of some birds putting a seed or something in the end of the water bottle so the water drains out, what fun they can have when they figure it out. To answer Robow's question about the biting, since your grey is only 4 months old he is exploring, he is curious about your fingers but if he is applying too much pressure then tell him "no bite" and direct his attention elsewhere, they use their beaks like we would our hands and fingers so he is testing the waters so to speak.

I have seen Josey do that from time to time so it must be a grey thing, it is cute to see and it is just one more thing that makes them so special.

Michelle I saw your thread just now and thought the worse but so glad it had a happy ending, you didn't have to suffer for long before you found your precious Val but it is something we hear about often here on the forum. These things do happen and you were very lucky to find her so soon, she definitely had an angel watching over her.

Take a look around the bird food room as wh have some stickys that will be of great help to you and one in particular I am providing a link to: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?59809-complete-veggie-fruit-list.

Dan is right on the money with his advice, even if you get another grey and they get along with each other they need separate cages for they like to have a place to call their own, greys can become territorial about their cage and do not like another grey, bird or even us humans invading their space. If you want to get another bird to be company for your grey that is ok, I have 3 fids and they have their own cages but are company for each other when I am not at home.

What a precious picture that is, wish I could get two of mine to do that but alas no they don't want to be near each other, its nice when they can get along like that for they sometimes need a buddy to get those pin feathers and preen each other where they can't get to themselves, in the meantime I do it myself for them. Thanks for sharing that pic with us.

Marcus is one smart grey and knows when to put in his two cents worth, looking forward to hearing more of these little stories of yours, thanks for sharing it with us.

I think you would do fine to leave well enough alone and forget about breeding greys, you don't seem to know anything about it and there are enough of them in rescue or in need of new homes so leave it to those who know.

Hello Noman and welcome to our family, so glad you could join us and we look forward to hearing lots more about you and your greys.