danmcq

LOL!!! You guys need to start thinking flock now, theres always enough to share.... at least in Tui's mind. It's great that you guys acknowledged Tui's statements regarding apples. That tells him you understand his method of communication. Can't to hear what else he requests or demands now.

I resurrected this old avian lighting thread and made it a sticky. It contains a ton of information and links on this topic.

I finally found the old thread that contains many user comments and then a 3 part overview I did of Avian lighting starting on around page 4. I made it a sticky in the main grey forum. http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?47809-lighting

That was my first thought, was Alfie. So you did get it right and it is funny! Thanks for posting this.

It certainly sounds like she is doing just wonderful. Youve been missied. Thanks for the update.

There is no doubt their cognitive abilities are there and proven by not only studies such as Dr, Irene Pepperberg, but also by examples as Joey in Spocks story. There is a congitive sticky here you can read of such abilties, if you haven't already. Thanks for sharing this Maggie.

NEVER wear gloves to get your grey to step up. Sorry, but this persom Jamalbirdbiz gives terrible advice, as they are not very familiar with proper and safe bird interactions, especially with a new rescue that is obviously a well educated grey that is doing very well for being in your home such a short time.

I have 7 grand children, each depending on age interacts with Dayo my grey and Jake the Conure differently. When Dayo came home at 16 weeks, they were all excited and happy to have pictures taken with Dayo on their shoulder. As a baby, he was very well behaved and posed no threat. This was of course only the children over 9 years old. The younger ones were afraid of him. As Dayo aged over the months and years, he became more independent and also demanding. He dislikes the youngest children because of their fast and unexpected movements, along with their unprovoked teasing like a young child does. At one point he would growl at them if they got within what he considered HIS space. They learned quickly by my severe verbal reprimands and Dayos own growls and fluffed feathers. The older teens, got to where they did not want Dayo on their shoulders, because he scared them when he would beak lightly on their ears for attention. Dayo will fly and try to take food from any child with a plate. Scares the hell out of the young ones, but they soon learned to duck and cover their plates and Dayo would just fly in a circle and wait like a hawk to swoop down and grab some food if the opportunity arose. They older teens though, are fine with Dayo landing on their laps and sharing food with them. They all know the rules in my house, yet when those youngsters get to playing excited, then sometimes I have to put the hammer down quickly before someone gets hurt, which would probably be a bitten youngster. I could go on with several more examples and how the interaction changes with age of both, but I believe I have said enough for you to get the picture. Only you can decide if you are willing to share you house with a Grey and make the rules and adjustments that will need to be made for decades of you parrots life span. Oh, I do need to say they love the conure and the conure loves them as well. He perches on their shoulders, never bites and loves kissy sounds and the attention he can have full-time with no jealousy or threat from Dayo.

As the days of you vacation go on, the longing for Yoshi will increase exponentially. I am taking bets, that by Thursday night, you will be telling your husband your leaving Friday to pick Yoshi up. I had the same issue with my breeder and clipping... but the were great breeders and going on their own decades of propaganda as well.... Still love them though.

Thanks for part one and the happy ending in part two.

Dayo see's himself in the large bathroom mirrors all the time while perched on our shoulders as we do whatever needed. He looks, and seems disinterested all the time. Sometimes, I will point at his and or my reflection in the mirror and say Dayo, then point at my reflection and say Daddy. He will look at each as pointed out, then act disinterested once again. I also have a mirror in Jake my conures cage. He seems disinterested as well. However, I do know each bird is different. I have seen some carry on mating rituals while making sweet sounds to the other birdy in the mirror.

Thanks for the story of Issac's return to you. Teared up here too reading it. I am so happy for you and Issac. It is as if you did in fact lose your very soul......... Thank God you are now reunited. One thought on him calming down and preening with you in sight. When birds are young, they do fly from the nest and tree to tree. The parents are always watching nearby and protecting them as they do so. I can only imagine that Issac felt that same level of trust that the father was watching over him.

Ditto on preferring the Aviator as well.

It's working.................................... GROOVEY!!!! :cool:

Sully sounds like quite a character alrready. A such a young age, they change rapidly in their "Awareness" of the surroundings and start interacting with animate and inanimate objects and people. YOu'll luaghing and surprised every minute of time your around him for a while. Even once they age a few years, they still keep you amazed, but they are more reserved about their delivery method. Thanks for the update.

Welcome Peanut23, it's GreYt having you here. It's always good to hear of someone taking in a rescue in need of a loving home. Your are doing things right by going slow and respecting his space. The cage his his area of safety and you learned this quickly. If he is flighted, your right, you would have one heck of a time getting him back in the cage. If he is not flighted, let him come out on his own, if he desires. But, it may be a little early for that. Only you can tell by how he responds if you open the cage door and step away. he may or may not decide to come out. That simply depends on how comfortable he feels with the surroundings at this point in time. He certainly sounds like a happy fellow and accepting treats from you is a very good sign. At 6 years old, he is fully mature and has schedules, foods and interactions he is used to. If possible, it would be great if you could get some of the specifics from previous owner or family. Also, if he talks, listen carefully to what he says or asks for and respond to it. If he asks for an apple or such food, respond by giving a small portion to him. This will let him know communicating gets responses and that you understand him. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Parrots are possesive, demand attention, throw food everywhere, chew on anything they can get to, bite people including children that always want to stick their fingers in there faces or as I suspect stick their face upto a parrot which can bite at anytime whether they love you or not. Greys are more phobic than any other parrot, will pluck for many reasons including nervousness, in need of attention, strange toys or other items they are afraid of placed in the same room or close to them etc. These are the reasons many end up in rescues or neglected and placed in garages, basements or even outside and ignored sadly. A parrot is not like a dog that will be happy to just lay around, get fed and not bother anyone. They a big responsibility, take a lot of care, attention and money. Personally, I would not have a parrot with small children around 24/7, but thats just me. Others here do so and make it work.

What a relief, congratulations!!!!! I am looking forward to hearing how the return of Issac happened. I am so happy for you and Issac.

How touching. Thanks or sharing this moment.

Is your balcony high? If so, next time your hear him, go to your balcony and contact call him hopefully while your in a position he can see you. He may just be able to get to your balcony a little easier if it's up high. He is certainly aware it seems, that he is close to home and staying there calling and flying in desparation, just as you are. He must come down soon somewhere to get water. He can last much longer without food than water. Still praying for a quick and safe return.

How exasperating to have him in view and then watch as he flew off. The comment of being at more of a 45 instead of directly under is a great one. Your baby circled trying to figure out how to come down to you. But, then for whatever reason felt the need to fly and find another perching spot. I pray you find him or he is found be someone and returned to you in short order.

I'm at work, so answers will be short. I run my own home-built flourescents 12 hours a day year round. They are dual tube electronic ballast and 24 inch fixtures. I run 2 36 watt tubes. They are hung from the ceiling with adjustable chains and are set at 20 inches from the tops of the cages and centered. The tubes are lumichrome 1xx Full spectrum with both UVA and UVB output. You can see the data on these at http://www.truesun.com/proddetail.php?prod=Lumichrome_1XX_full_spectrum_light I change the tubes once a year. The vitamin D3 is produce as you posited from the facial skin exposure to the sun or lighting. I take my birds outside in the summer and on warm winter days for 2 to 4 hours each day when possible. There is nothing better than true sunlight. But, Full Spectrum fluorescent lighting with the UV components is better than any normal indoor lighting and keeps the production of D3 going in the short days of winter when outside trips are not feasible often. I have a very detailed thread on this I wrote about 3 years. I did a quick search of the forum and cannot find it. I'll try looking for it later when I have time. It is a 3 part article on this subject. Went back to work and remembered something VERY important on lamp closeness (Funny how the subconscious mind keeps on ticking). Some people place the stand type lamps too close to the cage and at a horizontal, rather than vertical lighting direction. Over time, this results in blinding of the bird and also sunburn. It's better to run farther away, from above and for longer periods, such as 12 hours.

Very tragic news to read. I suspect you are out there right now and and looking for Issac in that tree. Your in my prayers and I hope Issac flies to you or the cage early on. I know there is nothing I can say at this moment to clam you, Ive been there 2 x and it's tough. All I can say, is NEVER give up.

Daves spot on as always. At 9 months, he is still very much an infant. You may want to start paying close attention to his body language as you try to approach for a beak rub, head scratch etc. The beaking you describe is his way of telling you no thanks and a firm manner. It's not a bite, it's a warning. If you see eyes pinning, stance with head starting to go down or feathers fluff up a little, your move or request is being declined. There is a great thread on body language in the training room as a sticky you may want to review.

Sorry, I guess I just read it as a "Study" was being done by the CAS. I certainly am familiar with Spock's blood sugar issue. It seems you are doing a great job of getting that under control. It certainly requires a different and closely monitored diet than a bird without this issue.