spookyhurst

Nikko doesn't seem to care about thunderstorms . If only my dog was as calm as her . He's a wuss.

She's beautiful :kiss:! Makes me want to adopt a sister for Nikko .

I do agree lovemyGreys. I wish people would think things through before acquiring a pet. Right now, our local dog/cat shelters are full, and they say that any more cats brought it will most surely be euthanized. Then you look in the papers (or see in the parking lots around here) and people are selling oodles of puppies and kittens. How many of them will end up homeless someday? I'm a big proponent of adoption . There are so many wonderful animals out there that need homes. Puppies, kitties, and baby birds are cute, but that doesn't last forever. Adult animals can make wonderful additions to the family . *gets off soapbox*

It's too bad you've decided to rehome your bird Demonio, but he's probably at a good age for it. In the wild, he would be looking to leave the family around this time. I agree with Nychsa though, it's going to be hard to find someone that will pay $1200. That's more then a baby CAG, and there are an awful lot of people who want babies over adults (just a personal observation, not scientific fact ). You might want to come down on the price if you need to find a home fast. On a side note, I adopted Nikko when she was 4 years old (she is now 7). She adjusted very well, even though her former owner said she was very bonded to her. She was of course a little shy initially, but within a few months, you would never have known this wasn't her first home. I think as long as a bird is well-adjusted to begin with, rehoming won't cause a major setback. I try to socialize Nikko with as many people as possible, and take her on outings to the park and whatnot, just in case I should get hit by a bus or something and she would need a third home (here's hoping there's no bus out there with my name on it :ohmy:). In all likelihood, Nikko will never need a third home, but it doesn't hurt to prepare in case something tragic should happen.

Sounds good, I'll have to look for it .

I can empathize with you Marcia, as I suffer from GI problems too. Glad to hear you're doing better ! What a crew you have :ohmy:! It must be amazing to work with so many different types of birds.

busere wrote: My problem with this is, why was "Boo-Boo the Macaw" purchased in the first place? When you buy/adopt a bird (or any other animal), you should think about the fact that this bird is going to be in your life for a very long time. If you plan on having children someday, and fear that a macaw and infant won't mix, then why are you buying one? I don't think it's acceptable to take on the responsibility of an animal with the attitude of, "I'll enjoy him/her until it's no longer convenient, and then I'll just rehome them." People need to think long term. If their life is not stable (they move a lot, their work hours are erratic, etc.), they shouldn't get a pet that may or may not fit into their changing lifestyles.

That is so sad . I would have been in hysterics too! Is Elmo safe, or will she need tested for the virus too?

Excellent advice BMustee! I couldn't have said it any better . Here is an excerpt from the website http://www.natew.com/birds/articles/BehaviorModification.html that talks about the "extinction burst", and clicker training to reward sounds that you like to hear: "When the bird realizes that biting means being caged for five minutes of solitude, it will bite less. When the bird realizes that screeching means being left alone until it quits screeching for a few minutes, the bird will screech less. Be aware that - especially with screeching - the problem will get worse before it gets better. This is called an "extinction burst." Basically, it tries harder and harder to get whatever reward screeching once produced. When it realizes that the reward isn't going to happen, the screeching will taper off. In addition, it is often possible - and usually helpful - to reinforce a different behavior to replace the behavior you're trying to extinguish. For example, if your bird scream for attention, then in addition to ignoring screams, lavishly reward a more pleasant noise every chance you get. When the bird realizes that a mild peep or a "come here" is a more effective way to get attention, the screeching will be reduced even further."

DDixon wrote: LOL, Nikko does something similar. When she is frustrated or not getting her way, she'll say, "Good night!" If she can't have her way, she would rather just go to bed :silly:.

M2MM wrote: I may be in the minority, but I like it when Nikko whistles little songs as much as I do her talking. Today she was whistling some made up tunes and dancing, so I knew she was happy. She usually only talks when she's been left alone in the room and wants you to come back.

Then your other finches will complain that the handicapped birds steal all the best eating spots :laugh:.

The disabled ones would get to me too. I'm a sucker for any animal with missing or disfigured appendages.

They are soooooo sweet :kiss:! You're lucky to have them in your home, even for a short time. I know someone from another board who used to work at a bird store. She has a house full. Each time, she would say it was the last bird, but then she would break down and bring home another one. She has a few that nobody wanted because they were disabled in some way.

At what age do a greys eyes turn yellow? It may just be the lighting, but Goober's eyes look yellow. I thought they were at least 2 when that happened.

When I took Nikko to the vet once, the vet tech held her close and took a big whiff :ohmy:. She said she loved the way greys smell B).

Congrats to Tracy and Freddie! Nikko would offer her congratulations too, but she just cried herself to sleep a little while ago .

I had another thread about Gulliver, but thought this deserved it's own. Gulliver the B&G macaw has been stranded in the South Pacific for a few months, and after a whole lot of effort from The Oasis and its supporters, has been granted permission to come back to the US (he was going to be put to death on the island he's stranded on). Nikko's vet will soon be going to Kiribati to give him a once over for a health certificate, and then The Oasis will bring him to LA for quarantine. After that, he will move into the macaw aviary at The Oasis here in Arizona. It has cost a small fortune to save Gulliver, so The Oasis is selling t-shirts to raise money. Here's the link: http://www.the-oasis.org/gulliver/tshirt/'>http://www.the-oasis.org/gulliver/tshirt/ To read about Gulliver's adventures, go to: http://www.the-oasis.org/gulliver/

Could it be a yeast infection? http://en.allexperts.com/q/Parrots-1638/Bad-breath.htm

What about hardwood floors? My parents have suddenly decided that they want hardwood floors in the bedrooms (where Nikko sleeps). They want to do it themselves, so we wouldn't be in a motel. Is there anything harmful in floating hardwood floors?

I agree with BMustee, maybe Magoo just ate too much too fast, and his system couldn't handle it after 2 weeks of "dieting." I hope the vet gives him a clean bill of health!

I'm not sure where I read it, since it was 3 years ago when I was researching greys, but I read it in many places. Here's one article. I'll have to look further to find the one about greys: http://www.quakerparrots.com/training/quaker-parrots-and-kids/ EDIT: The argument of height dominance probably goes along with the topic of you should/shouldn't let a bird sit on your shoulder.<br><br>Post edited by: spookyhurst, at: 2008/06/19 07:26

Sure, let me take a look and I'll be back with the link.

One other thought. Birds look at anyone below their eye level as inferior. Therefore, if Cheerio's perching spots are above your daughter's eye level, that could be a problem.

Sounds like a good plan. It only takes about a week to hear back about your baby's sex too.