dblhelix

Hi paullywalnuts, Can you describe the poop more? Sorry if that sounds like a strange question, but the poops have very distinct portions and the colors/consistency will change based on what they have been eating. It is good to understand how they should look as they can be a signal of health issues. Mine assumes the "poop stance" regularly, kind of squats and then lets it fly...I often can hear her squeeze one out as well so dont think that is unusual B)

Hi JulieinVA - Regarding the feathers...sounds like they were clipped at some point and are in various stages of molting. The long ones were likely previously clipped and have regrown, the cut ones are just that...still cut and waiting to molt out...the missing ones are probably cut ones that have now fallen out and will shortly be replaced with blood feathers that mature into full feathers...B) Be patient. You will learn to interpret each other and build a great relationship based on trust. It is a great adventure, and patience is key! B)

Hi Tatee - You can easily order a harness on line...try http://www.parrotsupercenter.com I got mine from there no problem!! Yes, birds are quite amazing creatures. Parrots, and particularly greys are highly intelligent. Folks that have not spend much time with them don't know what they are missing!!!

Wow Mr Spock, thanks for sharing! Beautiful birds. Given your experience I am sure you have a lot of information to share with everyone here! BTW - beautiful carvings! B) Are you still actively producing those??

True RobersKitty, the wait will be worth it! You are a great example of a prospective "parront" that is doing the right things. Educate yourself, read, ask questions. The more prepared you are the better...it is a life long commitment and there will be challenges along the way. When the time is right you will take the plunge and bring home/bring up a great friend! We are here for you and will help as best we can. Lots of good info in this post already!! B)

Absolutely!! We all bring unique valuable experience/ideas to share and have a desire to help the family here!! {Communicate-0002011B}

Aw shucks everyone...you're making me blush! {Emotions-000200B8} I'll do my best to help out our wonderful family here and if I personally can't get something done I'll work wth others to make it happen...this place is the best and I look forward to sharing more with everyone, learning and just plain having fun!! {Feel-good-000200A2}

Oh yeah, and importantly.... Welcome to our family!! {Feel-good-000200A2} There is a lot of good information available here and good people willing to help!

Congratulations! Super cute!! {Feel-good-00020114}

You will likely find multiple opinions on this issue and I am not sure there is a clear answer. I believe that most (myself included) have one main cage only and perhaps a travel cage for just that...travelling. However, certainly some have success using a "sleeper" cage. My personal experience, having an Amazon in the family now for 37 yrs, is that a sleeper cage is not a requirement. However, others may provide additional info that you can use to make a decision! B)

I think its a great idea and know of others that have done this. If done properly it can be GREAT for both the children and the bird...however, the chance always exists for the bird to bite someone, so there can be issues with that, insurance constraints at the school and/or parents that may be against it. This day you cannot be too careful, so just things to investigate before bringing them to a classroom...<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2007/08/03 04:13

The Aviator harness is currently considered the best bet for taking the birds outside. Regarding opening doors/windows etc, that is conditioning you would need to work on for yourself, your family and anyone allowed into your home if you choose to keep a parrot, clipped or not...Its a lifestyle thing. You need to condition everyone to always ask "where is the birdy?" before opening a door and then keep your eye on the animal as you go in and out. Most of the time they have no desire to "escape", they love their homes/owners etc. Usually escapes are accidental, maybe the bird gets spooked or something and flies out an open door. Check out this thread regarding clipping. Its long, but worth the read: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/limitstart/60/african-grey/8152-wing-clipping.html

Absolutely TRUE Judy!!! {Feel-good-000200B9}

That cage looks SWEET!! Will be a great home I am sure!

No need to be nervous! B) All will be fine I am sure! Hooray...we look forward to hearing all about this exciting time!!!

Well I hope you get to keep Alook. Chances are you will, and if you dont for some reason at least you will have provided a good interim home and been introduced to the wonderful world of African Greys. They are amazing animals. B) and yes, a clipping is NO GUARANTEE the bird cannot fly. There are some really good posts about clipping in general, the pros and cons of keeping a flighted vs clipped bird etc on this forum...Keep us posted on how things go. ;)

regarding the pea thing...may need to fill the ice tray 1/2 way and freeze...then insert pea on top or frozen layer, add more water and freeze. That is of course assuming the pea sinks to the bottom! B) cool idea, will need to try that as a puzzle/treat thing!!

I posted some of these a few days ago, but here is a pic of Fipo taken 2 weeks ago while I visited my Grandmother in Switzerland...he is a red lored Amazon. We have had him 37 years. He'w wild caught so we dont know how old he is, but several vets have guessed 50+...He is great with those he knows and agressive with those he does not. He has proven to have a very slow acceptance rate of new people, but those that have dedicated around 2 years will gain his trust! http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/900710674_5266b572d6_b.jpg<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2007/08/02 22:35

Wow Sashagirl, that is quite a family!!

Be careful on the "honeycomb" looking perches. I recall one owner indicating that somehow their grey got a nail stuck in there and it turned into a bad scene. I would stick with solid perches. Definitely some texture is good and slight diameter changes is best for their feet as it mimicks what they would encounter out in the wild, but I would stay away from those with holes in em...:ohmy:

The all look like they would work, as would the glass ones you are eyeing...I have an "avian adventures" cage and have been very happy with it. For the price its well made and very functional. Has a storage shelf on the bottom, removable play area on top, easy access cage doors, seed catchers on the bottom (if you choose to install), easy to clean slide out trays...I would check them out: www.avianadventures.com

It can also be a slightly aggressive display. Really depends on the circumstances in which this behavior is used. I have seen them kind of hunker down, lower the wings and "growl" at something they dont like. I have also seen them do it almost like an "I'm thinking bout flying over there" stance to show they want something really bad! hmmm :laugh:

Hi RobertsKitty - I have to agree with beccy here...Not only does the glass remove a welcome climbing area, but it potentially decreases ventilation and creates an envirnment where the sounds they make will be "trapped" inside the cage and possibly echoing around in there. Getting a good cage is a must, so the fact you are researching and open to options at this point is key! I am not saying there is right or wrong, but keep in mind as you look that the goal is to get a cage that will be the best home for the animal. Another note, one thing about keepig birds (parrots in particular) is that they are MESSY! It still amazes me how such a small animal can create such a large mess! But they are worth it...B)<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2007/08/02 17:31

Thanks for the info Christina. It would make sense that dietary factors could influence feather production/coloration. Other factors that "could" affect it would be environmental. Seems like there is still a lot of research that could be done on this topic. To my knowledge no one on this forum is an avain vet (though it would be nice to have some join!). But we do discuss things with the goal of sharing information, thoughts and learning more from each others experiences. B)<br><br>Post edited by: dblhelix, at: 2007/08/02 17:22

Aloha Makena! Welcome and congratulations on your new grey!! We are glad to have you and look forward to your participation. Please dont hesitate to ask questions and we will do our best to provide information. Have fun!