danmcq

Thats wonderful news! The more he considers himself a member of the flock and is included in the one on one interactions that he enjoys. The harder he will try to communicate with you. Don't ever give up and always use the sames word(s) in context with you actions and items you offer him. You just never know. Perhaps he was not interacted with in a consistently level previously. You are doing a wonderful job of giving him a new and loving home. :-)

So I am working from home today. Dayo is just chilling and rambling. I took two videos of this a few hours ago. They just seem to "Take Off" just like a human child in the learning process once they get a solid foundation of the basic our language works. I try to enrich his learning experience and challenge him by doing different things and naming them properly when doing so. This weekend I taught him two new things..... Playing "Get your Butt" and "Beat-boxing". Kim was shocked when he came out with "Get your Butt" last night and is a little upset that I taught him that ... Oh well, I think it's cute. I also introduced the word "Whisper" to him last week. Video 1: Video 2:

Spock, as always, many thoughts and prayers going your way. It sounds like your actually stabilizing. Even though it is less than you previously weighed. That is a good sign actually. Still hoping your friend the vet will find the root of this problem and get you back to 100 percent status. :-)

Judy is right. If they love those formula feedings at night or whenever their preferred time is. There is no harm in enjoying the pleasure you both receive from it. Some may continue this for years. Some will just start refusing completely at just 18 or 20 months. Each Grey has it's different preferences :-) But I will say, at my age, there is still no cooking like Mom's....When she decides once in a blue moon to do so.

What a nice story and photos. Thanks for sharing this touching story of how a relationship develops between a Grey and their flock. It is the most enjoyable thing I can think of as well. :-)

Cute video. Thanks for sharing it. :-)

Veenyx wrote: This is the most common mistake folks who keep birds clipped make. The don't think their bird will fly away. It will and it will be severely handicapped, extremely susceptible to predators and IF found, getting it out of a 70 foot tree means climbing or getting a very long ladder and extension with perch attached to try and get them down. I know this through real life experience in watching a "Clipped" bird fly away. Also, I did maintain the clip and truly did not believe he could fly. But when startled and all that adrenaline kicks in, all creation can do amazing things with the sudden increase in almost superhuman strength. I did find and retrieve him, but it was difficult and had to finally use a long 40 foot pole and ladder as described above. Since then, he is now fully flighted and knows how to fly in all situations. It is just our household responsibility to ensure the safe opening and closing of doors. Retrieval of a flighted and well trained bird is normally easier and the bird is very safe with the ability to fly when threatened.

Good illustration of recall training and from different levels and scenarios. That is a perfect example of how to work with your bird in getting it used to those different and sometimes uncomfortable new flight situations for them. :-)

LOL!!! They do love to shred mail!!! Thanks for sharing this.

It could take up to a year and a half or 2 for all the primaries to molt out. Each bird is different and it also depends on how old and what type of shock those primaries received during that escape. There are several variables that determine this. Damaged feathers will molt out and be replaced very rapidly. Example: When my conure flew off fully flighted the 2nd time. Half the tail feathers were damaged or missing, a few primaries were damaged or missing and several small "Body covering feathers on his breast wear missing. They all molted out and regrew in a month and a half.

Your doing fine with Morgan. :-) He sounds perfectly normal food wise and tossing 80 percent whole or semi chewed pieces. All birds will eat things one or two days, then turn their nose up to them the next day or two. Thus a changing variety, way they are prepared, raw, cooked, half chopped, finely chopped, whole etc. Your young baby is learning and experimenting with his preferences food wise and you will learn over time what those preferences are. :-) If you are not weighing him to get a good "Average" of what his weight range is. It would be good to get a digital scale and do so weekly, right after the first morning HUGE poop. This will ensure you are getting body weight before he has ingested and unknown quantity (weight) of food. It is a good indicator of health and sometimes a first sign that something isn't right. A fluctuation of upto 1 to 3 percent is normal. Unless they are fledging, but your grey isn't at 6 months old. :-)

Completely understand Brittany. If you didn't do so, please read my post to you just before Dhorje's. ;-) You do not need to justify your decisions of what you thoght best in the heat of the moment to anyone. I would imagine the vet also prompted you to clip those wings as well, as most still promote these days. :-)

Welcome back old friend!!! :-) It's wonderful you found your way back and provided a GreYt update and photos. Absolutely adore the photos of Charley in the various situations he's in. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing more photos and videos of him. They do love to learn new phrases, words etc. and then use them relentlessly for a while. But, it always brings a smile to your face when they do so, doesn't it? :-) I recently taught my Grey how to beatbox and the word. Now I have a beat boxing maniac at the present moment, but I must say it is very entertaining. Isn't it wonderful to teach them and expose them to new things that enriches their lives and exposes them to new things, just as you would a human child? :-) The more they are mentally stimulated, the more they thirst to learn more.

Brittany - Karma to you for doing such a great job of flooding your entire area with information on Peppers escape. :-) If you had not done such a thorough job, Pepper would still be missing, even though found.

Brittany wrote: Don't beat yourself up over that instantaneous decision. When my conure Jake flew off the second time. I dealt with the same emotional and mental roller coaster thoughts as you for at least 2 weeks. The first mental reaction was "I'm clipping" my birds to ensure this NEVER happens again. It is a very painful and heart breaking event that any bird lover would want to stop from happening again. I posted several of my emotional struggles of the clipping issue here on the forum and received, as always, very good and comforting advice from all the caring family here. So chin up, smile on your face and know that you did not permanently disable her. Those flights will grow back in. :-) The final determining factor for me deciding not to clip. Was the fact that if clipped and escaped. They are in great danger and can not fly down to you if they do see you. Also, they can not escape danger such as a cat in a tree, a dog on the ground or a hawk in pursuit. All this emotional trauma for you and Pepper will subside and life will return to normal. As the say "Time heals all wounds". :-) Also, we all grow through experience and lessons learned...

Thats good news. As Dave said, Pepper has been through a series of very traumatic events. The damages both emotional and physical that Pepper suffered while "Out in the wild" will take a while to completely go away. When they are flying frantically to find a safe place and fleeing from every scary thing they encounter. They damage many body parts and they are also used in ways never previously used in their "Home" environment that they have perfectly mapped out in their minds and under non stressful situations. It sounds like she is progressing in a similar manner to birds that have flown off and been found. I am so happy you have her back, had her checked out and she is enjoying just being quite and resting in the safety of her home with her flock. It will take a week or two for her to become what you would consider her completely normal self.

GreYt News!!!! Poor baby obviously got hurt flying scared and hitting objects like tree branches or what ever else was flown to and through. I can only imagine your joy!!! :-)

Brittany wrote: Looking at your neighborhood map and all the water around it, 3 miles is totally possible. Once over water, they will keep flying to the land point in front of them, if it is in view and not that far away. When they fly frightened, they rarely do a 180 and head back. They keep fleeing from all the scary "Stuff". They do not make normal noises for the most part, when out of their environment and scared. Now if they see or hear your voice, which they know, they will return a familiar contact call to you. Praying it is Pepper!<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2010/02/19 20:33

Prayers coming your way for you and pepper. Pepper will most likely start returning contact calls at daybreak and she is less fearful. It is normal for a bird that flies away to "Clam Up" due to fear in a new and scary environment with predators out there. You have done all the right things. Walk the entire neighborhood using the normal contact call you use for her. I wish you the best.

Hang in there buddy. Plenty of prayers and good karma have been coming to you for many days now and will not stop until this issue is over and your well.

I have, and Dayo's cuddle muffin my wife always had to tare ourselves away from Dayo's pitiful calls, cry's and cheeps when leaving. He would not ever want to go back in his cage once out. But, rather than making it a negative experience everytime. We started making it a happy and positive experience by being in good moods, praising him and telling him "Lets eat some....apples, grapes.. veggies.. mixture of several of his favorite things etc. This has worked well over the last 6 months and he will go in riding on our arm or hand without us having to clamp his Talons and hold his back as we head towards the cage. We carry the bowl of whatever it is with us as we walk him over and talking "Happy Talk" to him. It has now been a very rare occasion that we must chase and force a step-up perhaps suffering a bite doing so, which took place regularly previous to making it a "Happy Time" as we approached him and continued doing so through closing the cage door. Positive reinforcement works best in ALL situations. If it is a negative experience everytime, you will have a fight on your hands and probably bites during it unless you change techniques. I know from almost 3 years of experience at chasing and getting bitten. :pinch: Oh and sticks...forget it, he flew the minute he saw a perch coming at him....<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2010/02/18 21:53

Dayo here... I have edited out many high-fives here to make this easier for those interested to follow.

Knowing the personalities of a few different conures, zons and macaws after having worked with them. I would chose a Grey, if I could have only one parrot. As it stands, thats why I have not taken in any other birds. I want to give the ones I have the attention they need to fully flourish and have all the interaction they would like to have. I must say, the conure is much less "Needy" and does well flying about and getting into things on his own. Compared to Dayo that must be the center of the universe and where you are, there he is also.

Thats NOT good news Jay. Still sending prayers to you guys and hope for a diagnosis of precisely what the underlying problem is and a solution of treatment.

Ramsabi - I have heard it makes a bird nice and moist when baked. Sorry, I just couldn't resist throwing a little humor in. Dave - Now answer his question!! :-)