Devin Corso

Thank you so much for your fast reply. Korra is doing better than fine! There was no blood, and she certainly was not acting groggy; just a little surprised and wanted some calming words. Her wings were a little bit at her side, but she does that sometimes after she flaps her wings. Maybe she just relaxes them like that? I will definitely watch for those symptoms the next time that she collides with something. It is very helpful that every time she flies off her perch she says something like "Korra!" or "Oooooh!" and walks over to me. She walks with her feet sideways like a chameleon. Does Inara do that?

I decked out her new perch Eleanor (dog) likes her being out :cool:

I took out the vacuum and Korra (African grey) flew around the room and hit her head and neck on the mirror. She got right up, snooped around and said "Korra!" But is there anything I should be looking out for in case she got hurt?

LOL that was a perfect description! I will make sure to switch the toys around then. She likes fluffy toys and noisy toys. I got a empty medicine container and put a screw and a penny inside it, then closed it tightly and hung it up in her cage. Out of all the creative and some really cool toys from the store, she just wants to have her medicine container and fluffy hut. For some reason whenever she starts falling asleep she loses her balance, so I got her the hut so she can lean against it. She sleeps and cuddles inside it EVERY day. <3 She is my sweet baby girl (she is still my baby after 6 years, and so is Korra after 3 years haha)!

I was wondering if it would be ok to take some of the toys that Yoshi (yellow-sided conure) doesn't play with over to Korra's (African grey) cage. I know Yoshi cuddles with some of the toys instead of playing with them, but do you think it would hurt her feelings if I took out the toys that she doesn't play OR snuggle with? I try to pay equal attention to them both. I don't want Yoshi to feel second best because Korra is younger and likes being out of her cage. Also, why do you think Yoshi doesn't like coming out of her cage? She sits on the corner of her cage top, and flies to me. She gets skinny when she is out, and puffs up when she is inside the cage. She won't play, preen, or stretch and always wants to be on my head playing with my hair. Is that ok? I have to wear a shower cap so she doesn't poopoo on my hair. Any suggestions? Yoshi likes being in her hut and playing or snuggling with her noise-bottle. She doesn't seem to go near other toys.

I had a few questions about feeding Korra (African grey) and Yoshi (yellow-sided conure). I go easy Cheeto treats for Korra because I know it's not the healthiest. Is meat ok to give Korra, because she LOVES it! It is meat sliced from the deli or in a box for sliced lunch/sandwich meat. Every time I go into the kitchen to make something she climbs up her cage, peaks her head around the corner, and says "Korra" in the sweetest voice as if to say "some for me too please." Does anyone else have trouble feeding their parrots fruits and vegetables? Korra nor Yoshi will eat any fruits or vegetables. I have even gone to a salad bar and picked a little bit of everything so they can try it. They took a few nibbles of the boiled egg (REALLY weird haha), and Korra will occasionally eat cauliflower. I got a green pepper and stuffed it with millet to try to get her to eat something new, but she stared at it like it was going to rip her head off. I know African greys are like toddlers so I guess they don't like fruit or vegetables like toddlers either? :rolleyes: Is 100% pineapple juice from the bottom of a pineapple chunks can ok to give Yoshi? It isn't the syrup stuff. I was eating the pineapple chunks one day and when I offered it to Yoshi she drank it right up!

Awesome! Thank you so much Sterling and Inara! Inara, I will try to feed her in tidbits and show her that it's good. *I moved the rest of this post to my "Special Treats/Meat" post so it was more relevant.

Haha parrots certainly have bold personalities! They are like toddlers. Do you have any idea why she won't accept food from my hand? If I put it in her bowl and walk away she will go eat it.

Thank you everyone SO much for the suggestions. I read all of it and will apply it to her training and health. Korra is 3 years old now and Yoshi (yellow-sided conure) is 6 years old.

I am very happy to say that Korra (my African grey) seems to be getting more brave and inquisitive as she gets older. Just yesterday she got her stand "upgraded." Korra flew away twice, but the 3rd time she said "ooo!" and "ok." And she stepped up onto the perch! Her bravery was rewarded with a Cheeto which she happily took and tossed it off like a sassy bird and watched the dog go for it. (Does anyone know why won't she take food from me? She was a hand-fed baby). She did her bird yoga and preened. She also seems to fly off less at me for security and attention. This is the perch she used to have: And this is her new perch! I'm washing the screw on bowl just in case it has any germs in it. The orange circle is her new toy that has two marbles rolling in it. If anyone lives in or near Arizona there is a bird store called The Arizona Bird store which has really cheap perches. The toys and food are a bit expensive but I got Korra's new stand for $100 and put wheels on it; online they are $150-$360 or more. I'm just hoping that I can save someone around here some money!

Hi everyone! I have an African grey named Korra. I have a few questions but I want to start with one. She talks really well, very clearly, and a whole lot along with noises. The problem is that when I'm in front of her cage, or when she is out on her perch she barely talks at all, and when someone else comes into the house she is completely silent. How can I teach her to talk on command, or when other people are visiting? It feels pretty silly when I tell people about her wonderful talking, but than she is silent. She may be mocking me

Do they get worse before they get better? Because they are being even louder than before. I mean much much louder. Are they testing us? We aren't paying any attention to them when they are making bad noises, but encouraging them they make good noises.

Fantastic! I will take all of these suggestions. My mom and I are ignoring them for bad sounds and praising them for good sounds. Korra just said "groovy!" And I said "Groovy groovy!" back to her! I will try to lay off the spray bottle too. Thank you all.

Dear Forum, I need some advice, my green cheeked yellow sided conure (Yoshi), and my Congo African grey (Korra) are being extremely loud. This being said I understand they are parrots and this is one major way they communicate, but I think they are going over the top and I am wondering how I can stop this behavior. I can hear them 3 apartments down with all of the windows and doors closed easily. I don't want to anger neighbors, they wake my mom and I up, and it's hard to hear the tv or computer. I know they are jealous of my computer so when I go on the computer I have Korra out with toys, and LOTS of things to forrage and chew, even some interesting food. She enjoyed a slice of room temp. toasted wheat bread yesterday, and a piece of turkey the day before! She loves paper towel rolls, and is very good at recycling paper (I give her sheets of paper, tissues, and paper towels; she does not ingest them, I have watched. I talk to her more than usual when she is out and she loves that! (Yoshi doesn't like being out. I have tried toys and ribbon on top of her cage, and "flight time," but she goes right back into her cage). Other ways I have tried to stop the high pitched very loud screeching: -going up to the cage telling them everything is ok -going up to the cage telling them I'm there -going up to the cage telling them "No" with a firm voice and giving them angry eyes -spraying them with a squirt or two of room temp. water and saying "No" in a firm voice I really need some advice. I know parrots make a lot of noise, and I love that, but I feel like this is them either having an insecurity or a behavior problem. I want to help them my babies, and have my ears stop ringing. ☹ Thank you. -Sincerely, Devin C.

Ok, yesterday about an hour after I put everything in I took it all out. I read what you had said. I put her only perch that is still available to sit on in the middle upper part of her cage, and put the two new perches on a low chair in front of her cage and hung the new toy on the outside of her cage. While I was doing this I let her be on top of the cage. She easily went back into the cage, sat on her worn old perch, and then went over to eat! I was very pleased. She is very tentatively watching the perches so I will keep them there so she knows they are ok. I will keep the perches away from her and slowly hey them closer as she gets comfortable. (Following what Sterling and Acapella said).

Hello I'm having a problem with my African Grey Korra. She really likes rope perches, and she just finished demolishing her old one. She ripped through it so it was lying on the ground, and was not able to be hung up again. (You would think I gave it to an alligator, haha)! So anyways I had to get her a new perch, but wanted to get her two new ones, and a new toy as she had demolished her toys too. So I got her a rope perch (her favorite type), it was cool and zig zagged! I also got her a special SAFE pediperch. It is soft and snooth on the top so if won't hurt her feet, but it is rough on the bottom so her talons can (hopefully) get filed down. The problem is that she is MORTIFIED when I put anything new in her cage. I put them in all at once so she could get used to them all at once instead of scaring her again and again. I had her out of the cage and put them in. I introduced her to the perches. While holding her I walked up to them slowly and waved to them and said hi to the perches! She was so skinny! All of her feathers pressed to her body, her wings were out and down, eyes pinned, breathing heavy and loud, and growling. She also gripped my hand very very hard and mine started bleeding a bit. I said oh look at this! New toys! New friends! I named the perches Sandy and Zigzag and I started talking very friendly to the perches. I pet and stroked the Perches, talked to them, and then pet and talked to Korra in the same way to show her that the perches are friendly and kind. She flew away 4 times before I finally was able to get her in the cage. But now she is in the back corner of her cage on one of her old tiny perches (probably not good for her feet which is why I have other perches in there), sitting behind her old toy. I want her to be happy and enjoy the new things I got her. To stretch her feet, explore, and have fun! But she is just sitting there, although she is talking as usual. I did everything I know to encourage her. What can I do to help my sweet girl see that new things are good things? Sincerely, Devin

I have very good news! Korra has accepted me back! I can hold her, walk with her, and snuggle just like we used to before I went to college. Thank you everyone for your support, all of you REALLY helped me. ☺ Here is proof!

Thank you all so much, I will integrate all of your advice. Katana, your explanation helps it make so much more sense to me. Analogies really help me personally. Luvparrots, I will make sure to incorporate that routine, that is a great idea. She already says a lot of routine things like "Ok let's go in" when my mom takes our bulldog downstairs to her crate to sleep at night, and she says "Good morning girls" when my mom and I go in the room in the morning, (from my mom greeting Yoshi and Korra while I was away). I do have some good news! She goes a little bit closer to me, so she seems a bit more interested in me when I talk to her, and today when I fed her, instead of reaching out to bite me she made a HUGE step and bowed her head with her neck feathers puffed (beak tucked/non-aggressive) so I could pet her neck (tickle-tickle ). Oh man I felt like I was flying myself!

Thank you all so much, I will integrate all of your advice. Katana, your explanation helps it make so much more sense to me. Analogies really help me personally. Luvparrots, I will make sure to incorporate that routine, that is a great idea. She already says a lot of routine things like "Ok let's go in" when my mom takes our bulldog downstairs to her crate to sleep at night, and she says "Good morning girls" when my mom and I go in the room in the morning, (from my mom greeting Yoshi and Korra while I was away). I do have some good news! She goes a little bit closer to me, so she seems a bit more interested in me when I talk to her, and today when I fed her, instead of reaching out to bite me she made a HUGE step and bowed her head with her neck feathers puffed (beak tucked/non-aggressive) so I could pet her neck (tickle-tickle ). Oh man I felt like I was flying myself!

I got Korra as a baby though, when I left for college she was about 1 1/2 years old. I know my mom takes fantastic care of the birds, so I haven't missed any part of her life. While I was putting food in her bowl today, she climbed out of the "food door" and lurched forward to try and bit me hard 10+ times. So I'm not ready to take her out quite yet.

I read the thread on body language just now. It was FANTASTIC! I have looked long and hard for information on parrot body language with little luck. Thank you so much. That explains why her feathers were shaking before I went to college (probably turned on the AC or something) and after college more of the wings rather than chest feathers because she is anxious and angry. I just went to her cage and really cooed to her. I can stand directly in front of her cage with her being comfortable. (I think). I got some SUPER mixed body language though. I will list it. I don't know if anyone knows what it could mean, or perhaps if I am ready to take her out and cuddle. In order: #. order it happened in Body language (what I think it means) 1. Standing tall (dominance/aggression) 2. Biting toys while dancing (I want to bite you/letting out anger/I'm angry at you/I want to play?? :confused:) 3. Coming over to me (I want to interact with you) 4. Regurgitating movements (I love you) 5. Bit the cage once (I want to bite you/letting out anger/I am angry at you) So as you can see a lot of mixed messages. Can you decode any of them? I want to be more informed so I can interact and make our relationship better. I really want to mend this break, she is my baby.

I have a question. I'm assuming that this body language is her showing that she is still very angry with me and wants me bite me. I'm wanting to confirm and ask for advice. When I go up to her cage and talk to her her feathers are pressed to her body, her wings are out a little bit, and she starts biting each of her toys while looking me right in the eye. Her pupils go back and forth between big and small. Another body language that I don't understand is she shakes her feathers when I go up to her cage. But not like a tail wag, it is like she is shivering from being cold. It confuses me more because she did that before I went to college when she was super relaxed and happy. I mean feathers puffed and falling asleep on her stand happy. What is going on? Do you have any advice of what to do?

Thank you! Your sun conure looks GORGEOUS! Sadly I can't let them out at the same time, they take turns. I read about introducing them, and they are fine being in cages next to each other, so I introduced them outside of their cage, but Korra went for Yoshi's foot and that was that. I knew one bite and Yoshi would be an amputee! Their talking echoes off each other a bit though. One day Yoshi was having one of her "Pretty bird!" fits, and Korra kept saying "How rude!"

I had a quick funny story to tell! Korra and I have been having a struggle since I have come back from college and I am following the advice of the forum (thank you again!), but I did have to clean her cage. So while I was doing so she reached down quickly and bit me. I firmly said "Korra! No." And what does she do? She said "Phllltt!" (Blowing raspberries sound). I eventually got the cage cleaned and closed it, and she lunged towards me again. I said "No biting! That's not nice." And she blew raspberries at me once again with puffed feathers and pinned eyes. If her behavior doesn't demonstrate what research shows about African Greys having the emotional intelligence of a two year old child, I don't know what does! That is what a kid would do if they had to stay in their room, or put away their toys! She really made me laugh. Do any of you have funny stories about your birds doing funny childlike things?

Thank you so much all of you for your kind and helpful advice, I will make sure to follow it closely! I found that she likes carrots as treats! Two questions: 1) What signs/signals/behaviors should I look for in some time that she is telling me that she is ready to interact with touch again? 2) Can I feed her and my conure grapes? I know grapes are poisonous to dogs, I have read about what is poisonous to birds, and don't see grapes on the list, but want to make sure.