danmcq

This is a difficult training exercise to describe in words alone. Here is a video with small steps to reach your goal SLOWLY over time:

Love that story Sterling! Step up??

Kudo's for taking Bailey in and providing a good home that knows how to give the proper diet and act as if he started from a blank slate with no past. Greys feed off emotions. The previous owners it seems had fear or probably anger every time they interacted with Bailey. A Grey will reflect the same emotions right back at the person. Your doing a GreYt job!

There is no reason not to go with a 1/2 bar spacing. Especially when his safety is #1. The smaller spacing will lessen his chances of getting a wing caught. In metric 3/4 inches would be 1.905 cm.

Enjoy!

Thats good news. It seems Nilah is tired of watching others have a good time in the morning and wants that PRIVILEGE back as well. I hope and pray this continues for you.

8 Months My Eyes are a silverish color now. I have mastered a host of whistles and sound effects. I do not speak human yet in front of anyone, but I have heard my mom and dad saying they think they hear me mumbling things under my breath when I think they are out of hearing range. They don’t realize, I calibrate, practice and recalibrate in my mumblings until I have a word down pat and only then will I ever say it loud enough for them to clearly hear it. But, I’m not satisfied yet. So for now, as far as they know, I don’t talk. I have heard my dad talking to friends and when asked if I talk. He tells them no, but that I may someday. But, he also adds that even if I never do talk human, he loves me and just enjoys my presence, intelligence, playfulness, acrobatics, whistles, sound effects and interactions. That kind of makes me feel good, but I’ll never let him know that! Believe me, I want to talk human so I can tell them what I want. I want apples, grapes, almonds, peanuts, pistachios etc.! I am determined and driven to ensure I get what I want, especially my favorites! Everything dad or mom does like cooking, preparing my food, washing dishes etc. They always say exactly what they are doing or what an item is. I know the words and phrases. I just can’t say them yet and it’s driving me crazy. Like when I see an apple, I half to whistle and cheep or climb all over my cage if I’m in it to let them know I’m excited and I want it!! If I am out of my cage I just run over and try to eat the apple or other food item while he is cutting it. That’s just too much work for me when I know I have the ability instinctually to pick up sounds including those enabling me to talk and I am going to do it. The sooner I can the better in my book. I have many demands, not just requests! Dad had all the windows in the house replaced with new ones. While the men were here installing them, they used these things they called nail guns. Man were those Nail Guns loud as they shot those nails into the frames. Bang, Bang, Bang just like a real gun. Well after a few days of that, guess what new sound I learned? Yep, Bang, Bang, Bang as loud as I can. I have a new tool to drive Mom and Dad bonkers! I have learned my beak is powerful and can sometimes make my dad or mom’s hands release me if they are taking me to my cage. Wow, it’s so simple, just bend down, bite real hard and poof, I am free, free, free! They have gotten a little trickier though, now when I do that, they sometimes wobble their hand or almost turn me upside down. Then I have to balance myself and let go quickly. Still, I can sometimes get a good hold and it doesn’t matter what they do, I hang on! Hahahahahaha, yes I am powerful, clever and highly intelligent to their dismay!I have found that hard bites also make them stop and think about whether they really want me to step up or not. Sometimes they just say ok, turn and walk away then or they may ask if I want to go do something that I like. Sometimes if I want to, I will then lift my foot for a step-up. I just have a hard time figuring out when they really mean it or if it is a sneaky trick to get me to my cage or carrier. I’ll figure it out though. Me practicing my Grey Kung Foo Moves They finally gave up trying to get me in the shower. I put up and good battle many times each time they tried to keep me in there and get me wet. I learned I could flap real hard and just make it to the towel rack outside the shower. So now they have started placing an aluminum pan on the counter near the sink and entice me in that. I like being in control and deciding if and when I wish to take a bath. Here is a link to me bathing on my terms: http://s184.photobucket.com/user/danmcq/media/DayoGettingwet_0001.mp4.html Oh I had a nightmare of a time when disaster stuck one morning when Dad was home, but Mom was in the Hospital after undergoing some procedures. Dad had a ding in his car’s Windshield that was starting to spider web. He had gone outside to unlock the car for the repairman and he was only outside for about a minute. But, I couldn’t stand not being able to see him. So I was out of my cage up on the hanging wine rack they turned in to my high play area and launched off of it and flapped as hard as I could to get to the couch in the living room so I could see Dad outside. Well I had lost enough altitude that the Doberman named Bentley jumped up and got a hold of my Tail Feathers and he slung me against a wall really hard. I hit my head and thank god Chloe the other Doberman came over and stood in front of me and kept Bentley back while she barked furiously. Dad heard Chloe from outside and came running in. He ran straight to where he heard the barking and saw me on the floor dazed and growling. Dad told the Dobermans to go to the bedroom really loudly as he was upset and yelling. He turned and kneeled down to see me as he looked at the tail feathers on the floor and I was growing a bump on my head over my left eye. My eyes were dilated and I was in a daze. I just started growling real loud at dad as well. At that point in time I was helpless and fearful of anyone trying to get close to me. So dad just quickly placed his hands around me and took me to the kitchen counter to look me over more closely for and possible bleeding wounds or broken bones. He wasn’t certain if Bentley had actually bit me while I was down or not. He could see no bleeding and no bones were broken. He called the vet and explained what had happened, how I looked and was acting. The vet said to place me in my cage and to keep it quiet and watch me for any changes over the next 24 hours. Dad fretted over me as I did not move for almost 24 hours, I didn’t eat or drink water. I could see dad just sitting next to me and sometimes crying. Guess he was really worried about me and told he was sorry and would never leave me out of my cage even if he just needed to step out of the house for one second. But, after that amount of time had passed, my eyes started pining and functioning normally and I started moving around a little. That knot on my head hurts, but I started eating a little and moving about. But, I still didn’t feel like playing like I normally do. On the third day I was back to normal in all aspects except for that knot on my head and a little bruising around it. That eventually went down in size and the bruising disappeared. Dad had given updates to Mom in the Hospital on how I was doing. She couldn’t wait to get out and see me. I really missed her too, especially when this horrific event happened. We cuddled and stayed with each other for the next few days just chilling out. I enjoy snuggling with her and lying down for some quite time. Life is once again back to normal. Me and Mom

Hello and welcome to the forum. Talon provided great questions to ask. One thing also, is at 2 years old he is still a very young grey. At that age they start testing their independence and can be a little testy at times. They are amazingly intelligent sentient beings and understand a lot of what you are saying at that age, even if they do not yet vocalize some of those in human language. You just need to become familiar with their body language so you know if you are crossing a boundary, receiving a "No I don't want to step up" or yes I'll step up for example. Ask as many questions as you can think of on top of what Talon posted. What kind of toys does he like, here does he like to sit and chill with the family, T Stand, top of cage etc. Here is a link to the body language thread on this forum: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?109373-Body-language-most-frequently-seen Also, a link on what you can expect at different ages of a grey: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?126227-Grey-Personality-changes-in-years

LOL, thanks for sharing this.

Interesting relationship you have suggested between the moon phases and moods. There are many quasi-scientific theories relating to phases of the moon. New and full moons have been attributed to sudden changes in mood, increase or decrease in fertility, and occurrences of mental illness. Despite numerous tales and popular conceptions around phases of the moon, there has yet to be a conclusive scientific study shown to reliably link them to any related phenomena, whether that be birthrate, crime or mood. However, it is interesting that you have noted the change in your greys behavior during a full moon. It could also be a change in your behavior affecting your grey as well.

Hello and welcome nikkirae. Thanks for the nice introduction. I hope to here more today after you have Gracie home and settled in. Some photos would be nice as well.

Welcome Dennis. It's GreYt having you here. Thanks for posting the video's and the introduction.

Very cool video. They do love to climb! Thanks for sharing this video.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but I was just browsing the internet and all of a sudden saw this. Needless to say, I came close to ruining my monitor with a full mouth of coffee...

LOL Penny!

LOL Sterling!

Dayo is 6 years old.

That is a very tough decision. One that no one wants to face after loving our grey for years or possibly decades. I have no doubt Charlie is like a birthed child to you and you have great anxiety over it. They really never forget. Just as we humans always remember loved ones and close friends and think of them at various times. But, when separated from their flock, they will adapt and become a member of a new one. It takes time for a grey to get over the shock and loss of their loving home and person they are bonded with. But the right person and home can gain trust and some level of bonding over time. I have no doubt that you know after all these years with Charlie, that greys do not like change much and are very cautious when it happens. I don't know your exact circumstances, but perhaps a family member or good friend that charlie knows and would like to take him in? One that understands a greys needs and personality. What area do you live in so members here in the close proximately that may be interested could chat with you about it?

LOL Inara, I was just kidding about just saying "Occupied". I would still tell her exactly what your doing, like I'm Vacuuming, Washing the Dishs etc. then say I'm occupied. We have always described everything we do to Dayo for example. Like I'm washing the dishes, I'm Vacuuming , I'm XXXXXXXX you name it, then we say "Just Wait". So he many times describes what we are doing when we're doing a task. Then he will yell at Jake because he is squawking wanting attention "Just wait Jake!".

Very cool to watch and listen. Thanks Dave!

It is cool they made these available. Einstein is a very accomplished talker. I love watching the videos as well. Thanks for sharing this. This gave me an idea, I need to get a snippet of Dayo when the phone rings sometimes and he doesn't feel lilke chatting. He will say "Hello? Talk to the Meatloaf!". Then make the hangup sound.

Awwww, too cute. Thanks for sharing this.

LOL - You know what? Thats very cool. Congrats!

True, because unknowing buyers that know basically nothing about greys before they buy one thinking they are getting a "special" grey. Then after they do some research, realize they have been duped and wasted the extra money.