Judenmink

Nice to hear there is another Elmo out there. How old is your Elmo? Mine is 5 months...no words as yet....I see on a recent post yours has said his first hello!

I keep a parrot as I am intriguiged and interested in all animals. I love a challenge and want to build a fantastic relationship with my bird. I do however, get a lot of stick from some of my friends who think 'keeping a bird in a cage' is cruel. I think they are ignorant and dont realise how much effort and worry we put into making sure our birds are happy, content and fulfilled. I would certainly not be keeping a parrot if he spent all day 'in a cage'!

To my surprise Elmo flew today. He flew from his cage top onto the coffee table and then a little later up on to the back of the sofa (where I now spy a little beak shaped hole!). Elmo is clipped. He has about 7 feathers taken off each side and I wasnt expecting this dilemma already. Now I have to think..do I clip some more or let him fly? It is so difficult to decide. He will certainly get more attention and interactiion from different members of the family throughout the house if he is not able to fly. I fear if he is flighted I might end up not allowing so much freedom as I am less in control of what he has access to. Can I trust children with doors etc...? Decisions..decisions... Jude

dbhelix - I certainly wouldnt leave Elmo undupervised :-) I was thinking about having him on a stand just outside the open door of the grooming salon while I work inside about 3 feet away from him. Thats where I put his 'mobile' cage now during my work hours. Number 6 - I have the medium for Elmo and he is quite small. Jude

dbhelix - I certainly wouldnt leave Elmo undupervised :-) I was thinking about having him on a stand just outside the open door of the grooming salon while I work inside about 3 feet away from him. Thats where I put his 'mobile' cage now during my work hours. Number 6 - I have the medium for Elmo and he is quite small. Jude

Yes..That sounds exactly like Elmo. Is Brian the same age 11 - 12 weeks? As you suggest, hopefully they will grow out of it as they get older. Jude

Beccy, Does Brian chew at his harness? Elmo does unless he has my full attention. I would like him to be able to outside on his playstand while I am working but I cant while he keeps chewing it. He has already left a few little plucks in the material. He also tries to get his foot in it and it would be easy for it to get stuck. Does Brian do this? By the way I just love the name Brian! :-) Jude

I have my 11 week old CAG on a harness outside. I do find however, that I cannot just leave him on a playstand whilst I do gardening or anything as he will start to chew the harness or try and get his foot in it as soon as he does not have my full attention. This might make riding a bike quite tricky I think. Have a go though it sounds as if it would be great if it works!! Jude

I am in North Norfolk Beccy. I think the charges for vets vary such a lot depending on whether you see an avian specialist or not. If I had taken Elmo to our normal vet where I take the dogs and cats no doubt it would have been loads cheaper. I will be doing any future wing and nail clipping myself. Maybe I will wear a disguise so Elmo doesnt recognise me as the 'bad guy'! Jude

That is a really great pic. I am looking forward to getting some good shots of Elmo. I am a keen photographer but so far have been too busy obsessing about all things parrot to put my creative head on and shoot for quality pics! Jude

Thankyou :-) but I think I have sussed it now. Photos are on my profile if anyone wishes to take a peek :-) Jude

Ok I seem to be having trouble putting a picture up :-(

Here is a picture of him strutting his stuff in the garden!

I am so impressed with Elmo! He is such a laid back little chap. He is only 11 weeks old and already he is stepping up and down beautifully, playing with his toys and allowing us to do pretty much as we wish with him. We have only had him a week and have been touching him with the aviator harness with no complaints from him so decided to put it on him today. He was so obliging! We went out in the garden and he enjoyed having a wander round and pecking at the grass. What a star:-) We took him for a well bird check at the vets the other too. Too be honest I was surprised at how little the vet actually checked. However she said he looked a lovely healthy bird with a great attitude and she gave us some advice on wing and claw clipping etc.. Dont know that is was really worth the £82.00 :-/ Anyway he is well and happy. That is all that matters.

If anyone in my house did not respect my animals they would certainly be sent packing. It is disrespectful to you too as she is obviously not listening to your wishes. Show her the door!! Jude

Elmo does that. He is a baby and we havn't had him long but so far he hasnt actually eaten anything we hand feed him he just destroys it and flings it. As you say..he eats just fine from his food bowl. Jude

So I have a question. If a bird was clipped from a fledgling would it eventually learn not to try and fly/jump? Would the awkward landings put it off the whole idea? Or is it an instinctive thing and it would always try regardless of crash landings? Jude

Thanks for your input everyone. I did clip the other one to match the first and when he flaps it all looks even :-) I have an appointment with an avian vet Friday so I will get more advice on future clipping from him/her. We are hoping to let him grow his wings in time but with 4 dogs in the house I would rather he didnt fly until they are used to him and are not excited by the flapping. Jude

Elmo had his first shower yestereday and although I wouldnt say he loved it... he didnt complain to much either and allowed us to soak him thoroughly. He loved the towel afterwards though! I dont think towelling him will ever be a problem! Jude

Thanks again everyone for that, I will not worry then. Elmo seems to have had a good night and although he is eating his 'grown up food' I am just about to make up a little of the 'baby food' the breeder gave me. Jude

Thankyou for that everyone...I will be getting the scissors out today! I think my breeder was very loving and good with his birds but he is probably the 'old type' He has been doing things for years the same way and that is how he has always done it. He knew nothing of the online parrot community. I will even up Elmo's wings today. Jude

As I have just mentioned in a previous thread I have literally just picked up my baby CAG today. I asked the breeder to clip his wings for me and was surprised when he only clipped one side. I thought both needed to be the same so that the bird was not unbalanced? Wont just having one side make him even more clumsy? He has not flown at all yet. I know in an ideal world he should have flown a few times before being clipped. What I am wondering is should I clip the other wing to match what the breeder did to the first one? Many thanks for any comments. Jude

Hello, I am Jude. Myself and my son Fred have just brought home our baby african grey named Elmo. He has been in the house for about 3 hours and is settling in really well. He is playing with his toys and climbing around the cage. We are just wondering what the quivering chest feathers mean? Fred seems to think it is a sign of stress whereas I am pretty sure I read somewhere that is is something all greys do, often when they are at rest and content. Can anyone offer any more information on this? Jude