danmcq

Talon wrote: ??? ;-) :-) Thats actually a compliment!! :woohoo: Yes, Dave did mention that. The reason I chose to go with the chemicals I mentioned, was because the manual specifically stated to use a certain Bactericide or the filter could become clogged and/or not function properly. I just like to follow the manufacturers instructions due to the engineers that design things normal "Spec Out" the correct items to use for maintenance and when to perform it.

Awww, what a "Kodak" moment. Yes, that is a great flock and bonding activity. :-) They are just like kids wanting to be in the middle of everything and "Help Out". ;-) Thanks for sharing this moment in the photo.

The hard water stains are not a problem if you clean it regularly, once a month as described in the manual. It suggests using a vinegar solution needed for hard water areas, then after rinsing it, a bleach solution. This is recommended once a month. Using a bactericide in each tank full also keeps the tanks and the filter cleaner as well.

African Greys go through personality changes as they age. This is not really covered on the information we read in the books or online articles. Why this is not common in these resources really baffles me due to the unsuspecting owner wondering what is happening with their Grey. Rather than a question with multiple choice answers, I thought I would just write a little on this topic to help prepare Young Grey owners. Changes to expect timeline: Months 4 to 6 - They will have Black Eyes and will be fairly docile, cuddly, watching your every move, depend on you like a baby child, make baby sounds and normally not seem to have a will of their own. They are making contact calls, learning some whistles etc. Enjoy these precious months with your "Baby". 7 to 12 - Their eyes are lightening now to an iris color slowly changing from dark to silver. They will start trying to let you know when they really do not want to do something by running away, avoiding your hand and not listening to commands such as step up. They will normally just go a head and comply though. They are still fairly docile, not as cuddly (atleast not for as long) and are exploring on their own. The baby sounds have lessened quite a bit. Be prepared for molting out of all those down feathers!! You'll have enough to make a pillow out of! They are picking up sounds from phones, alarms, dogs, cats etc. and MAYBE a word or two, most will not speak at this early age. Especially CAG's, TAGS seem to start a little earlier and may have mastered some words a sentences. Years 1 to 2 - Eyes iris is now fully silver. They have grown in the agility, speed and confidence. They also now have their own will showing through more and using their beak to let you know it. Be prepared for the heaviest molting at times during this year as the Tail, Secondary, Primary and most medium sized feathers all start coming out. They will get attitudes at times of anger, jealousy etc. that you have not observed before as they are developing their own personality. They have mastered a plethora of whistles, sounds and words along with a good concept of what they mean if you have carefully used words in association with things and actions. They are a hoot though and will have you laughing and shocked with what they may come out with verbally... be careful of what you say around them. 2 to 3 - OH BOY, the terrible two's! The eyes are now a pale straw colored yellow.. They are gloriously colored with that solid red tail now. They are SOMEBODY! Watch them strut! They no longer require much cuddle or scratch time with you except in the evenings once they are tired and every one is winding down. Be prepared for a Grey you can not keep an eye off of for even 1 second. They are into everything! Every thing is MINE-MINE-MINE!! If it's mine, it's mine, if it's yours its mine, if its guests it's mine, if it's the dogs its mine and on and on. They will not listen many times and will bite the crap out of you if they decide they do not want to step up. They will also bite more often when playing and even for no apparent reason at all. They are truly testing the boundaries of what they can get away with and you better be consistent (Which hopefully you have been all the way to this point). Yes, you will have to put them back on that stand 20 times in an hour. Yes, you will be putting them in their cage for time-outs many times a day for giving you a good bite. Yes, they just tore your purse, cellphone, keyboard or anything else they could get to into pieces of useless garbage...BIG FUN!! They may start showing more attention to someone else in the household other than the "Favorite". This is not a consistent tendency that can be claim as the "Rule" as some suggest. But, be aware it can start happening. 3 to 4 - Their eyes are now a light yellow. Ok, they are settling down now and getting with the "Flock" plan of proper etiquette, rules and understanding that life is some give and some take. They tested their boundaries on the flock and have become more a functioning member that understands we all have likes, dislikes, off limit places and items and we respect each others "Space" when appropriate. They will now still bite the crap out of you if you invade their space at the wrong time or try to take something that is cleary theirs. They are starting to reach sexual maturity and you need to watch for and be careful of sexual behavior. It is a strong driving force and you just need to leave them alone. If they start acting out on it by dropping their wings, moving around and perhaps making a few strange noises, leave them alone, do not touch them further and just let them cool off. Note: They can start a sexual behaviour such as this at much younger ages, but now the hormones are truly kicking in as they approach sexual maturity which normally is 5 Years old! Others can add more years and also behavioural differences they have observed in their Greys at different ages. They are each an individuals personalities. I just tried to highlight commonalities that are the most prevalent.<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/02/22 15:50

That is exciting news jasperk!! Looking forward to updates on this as you find your first Grey!! :-)

It sound like Klaus is picking up words well now and perhaps to well. ;-) What is it with the BAD words? Human children will pick them up faster than any other and it also seems Greys as well. Do they snicker to themselves when the say it... hehehehehehehe...I said the "F" word hahahahahahaha. But, will they pick up nice and important words that they hear constantly, that will enhance their chances of becoming famous for their brilliance and intellectual capacity? Like ... sententious, anthropomorphizing and perspicacious..... No, they want to say Doo Dee, Poopy, make Fart sounds etc....... But, we laugh and roll on the floor don't we....which only encourages such frivolous behaviour and learning of bad words and sounds with even more fervor by our Greys. ;-)

Well, this isn't a habit and it had not better turn into one either or I will KILL my son and his family that comes over sometimes while we are not home during the day My Wife was sitting in a chair watching TV and Dayo was sitting on the back of it. He was back there playing around and somehow slipped off, flew over to his cage and proceeded..... DAMNMIT!!.......GOD!!!!!......Sh!t!!!! Now this is the first time he has said Sh!t. I know he got DAMNIT from me and maybe God. But, He did not get the last word from me. Needless to say, my Son was called and let known that ALL such language had better stop around Dayo or the locks on the house will be changed and no one allowed when we are not home!!!! I know he will forget that word over time and no longer hearing, but it just really upsets me that he learned it from listening to conversation from other people.... So, it was funny, that he was embarrassed at himself slipping, then upsetting to me and now what I consider to be a problem.... :dry:

Welcome Vee and Habib!! It's GreYt having you two here. You sound like you spent a lot of time working to get Habib turned around and I would presume you had done much research on how to do it. Great job in doing that! Looking forward to hearing more from you and also seeing those photos once you have them loaded.

Welcome GorgASS !! It's nice to hear you have found this forum to be helpful, informative and friendly. :-) IN regards an oval cage. They are not recommended mainly due to the wear it puts on a Parrots tail feathers specifically. Thus, the reason you have not seen many like the one you describe and most parrot owners would not purchase for their Grey or other Parrot. You will see most purchase large playtop cages or scalloped that open at the top. It's nice to hear you desire to have a Grey for so long is becoming a reality and your doing all your research and preparation in advance looking forward to the bird day your Grey comes home. Looking forward to hearing more from you. :-)

Welcome neilley!! It sounds like you have the first question answered. :-) Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Welcome Vicki!! It's GreYt having you here. Congratulations on getting a Grey that will be home soon. There are a ton of different types of toys out there. Sheila gave some good examples and advice. It really is hard to say which toy your Grey may or may not like, but the basics mentioned are normally well accepted. As you get your Grey home and become familiar with its likes and dislikes you'll be able to better dial in on toys it will like. Looking forward to hearing more from you. :-)

Hi Beth, The first time I ran it, I had to refill it completely within 24 hours. Since then, It uses one removable tank full a day approximately. It has a reservoir that when you first fill the thank, it empties completely filling the reservoir, then fill it again and your good to go. It is very simple to clean because the fillable tank and the motor assembly both lift off easily. The wick/filter needs to be replaced approximately once a month, depending on how much it is used and it displays a message automatically every 720 hours of cumulative running time on the fan so you know to check the wick/filer. I also use a bactericide in the water to ensure no mold or bacteria build-up has any chance of beginning.

Penny - There are different options in getting your entire house to a constant humdity or just the rooms your greys spend most their time in. My house is also fairly open. I placed the Hunidifier in the room the birds are in. Therefore it is maintained at the 45% setting constantly. The rest of the house also increases in humdity, but is decreased as the rooms get further away. The farthest room away reads 30% RH while the birdroom is 45%. If you wished to maintain all rooms at the same RH, you would simply purchase smaller Humidifiers, say 3 and place them strategically in your house to maintain a constant RH. The unit I purchased is a Kenmore 8 Gallon per Hour Humdifier. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03215408000P?vName=Appliances&cName=AirPurifiers&Dehumidifiers&sName=Humidifiers&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a It is easy to set up, fill etc. and is very accurate from comparing it's lcd display to my digital Temperature/Hygrometer readings. It is also has 3 speeds with an automatic mode that adjusts to them needed amount of airflow to get the room upto the set level.<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/02/21 20:56

They need a TOTAL of 10 - 12 hours sleep. Most do not get that during the night. They will sleep during the day at different times when all is quiet. On average my Grey sleeps from 8 or 9 pm until 6 am then is calling us....Then naps during the day. :-)

sugarbeth wrote: Hi Sugarbeth, I do have a Conure. But, Dayo would rather see him dead than around. :-) I suppose, even at that, it may be company along with my two Dobermans roaming around all day long as well, which he calls by name and throws food to. Thats whats great about this forum. Each individual has different ways of seeing things and by responding it gives people all aspects to consider. :-)

During this Winter season, I noticed my Grey and Conure becoming more and more raggedy looking Feather wise. Their Feathers were starting to appear dull, dusty and frayed from molting and preening. Although normal misting with Aloe Juice was still taking place at least one to two times a week. Also, Red Palm Oil being included in their foods. It just wasn't enough. The birds were scratching more and more and I could visibly see the "Dust Particles" fly off when they would shake and fluff after preening. So, I started checking out the Humidity level inside my home. Obviously with the heater running, I knew it had to be low. Which, after purchasing a Digital Temperature/Hygrometer. I found the Relative Humidity level to be hanging around 10% to 12 % which is very dry for a Parrot. Considering the tropics and sub tropics where the majority of parrot species are found. Such as the Amazon and African Congo regions with the average relative humidity running 50% or higher year round and often with extended periods in the 80% to 90% RH range. It is not surprising that periods of lower humidity can cause problems such as itchy dry skin, increased dust in species which produce it and irritation of the olfactory system. This can also aggravate those who already have related health problems such as birds who pluck and in some cases cause the plucking to start. In our homes we can unknowingly increase the problem by using central heating, fireplaces, radiators etc. which dries the air even further. I would encourage all parrot owners to pick up a cheap hygrometer and check the RH of their house, with particular attention to the bird area. I think most owners would be surprised to see it's reading. From there they can take steps to increase the RH to a more suitable number and should note the differences in their birds condition from before and after the changes in RH (a couple of weeks should be given for changes to happen of course, nothing is instant). Fortunately the solution is simple. Humidifiers can be purchased for a reasonable amount in most home or drug stores sych as Sears,walmart, wlgreens etc . Models range from simple ones with a small tank and an on/off button to larger ones with washable filters, large water tanks and a digital readout humidistat for settings and to turn the machine on and off automatically to keep the RH at a set level. Since purchasing a humidifier (I went for one with a humidistat) I have kept my house at a constant 45% RH or higher. The change in my birds has been quick and obvious. They are not scratching or sneezing as much, their feet which were getting slightly flaky are smoother and their feathers in better much better condition, both in appearance and to the touch. My African Grey is significantly less dusty and is spending less time aggressively preening. As keeping the humidity constant was the only change made during this time, I feel that these improvements in condition are as a result of maintaining a minimum RH of 45%. I hope this helps others who may be noticing those tell tale signs of their much loved parrots needing a more humid environment. Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/02/22 16:02<br><br>Post edited by: Dave007, at: 2009/02/22 22:00

It appears to be safe and is 100% cotton. It sounds like what you have in mind would be a fun toy. You would just need to keep an eye out for any loose frayed strings as the toy was played with and trim them off.

I'm sure the breeder has the utmost good intentions. But, many of us work all day and our Greys must spend the day in the cage during weekday working hours. They do just fine as long as they have a large cage filled with plenty of toys, foraging items, food and water. The hours out are normally around 4 during weekdays and then on weekends/holidays around here, they are out sunrise to evening around 8 with us. Ive never heard of a breeder require normal working people to purchase two. It's not that it may not be a bad idea, but it's not necessarily a good idea either. The you have two Greys wanting your attention during the hours you are at home in the evenings.<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/02/21 17:06

I do hope someone near will be able to take in Ash. I also hope your health improves and conditions get better over time. There are many compassionate members here that live in the UK and hopefully one of them will have the room, desire and right situation to provide a good loving home to Ash, as you have done. Godspeed to you.

Thats great Char! Looking forward to updates on this as it unfolds. :-)

DavidH wrote: David - This is turning out to be a very interesting Topic. Thanks for starting it. :-) Your question on compassion and empathy is a very tough one. Especially on empathy...... Are they simply acting differently because we or someone else is acting differently than normal or are they truly showing empathy towards the circumstances? I know I do see behavioral changes in both my Dogs and my Parrots when Kim is sick for example. This is observed by them being seemingly more comforting by touching, laying or caressing in their own ways. But, is it truly empathy? ........ Thats a tough one. Is it just more of "Concern" over the change in their loved one or flock/pack member or is it truly empathetic such as "I know how that feels and I am truly sorry you are going through this"? Very, Very tough one to prove, I believe, even in the Apes. I believe animals, birds and critters are empathetic at times, but have no way of truly proving it. :-)

Thats wonderful news Glenn and Congratulations!! Now just be careful what you say around him..... ;-)

That is sad and infuriating.:angry: But, to save you from yourself and just offer some thoughts... You presently have a new Grey that needs your undivided attention. Taking in another at this time that would require even more attention and care due to it's living conditions, possible health problems and baggage from previous owners is just not something that would seem to fit your present situation. The best thing you could do, which would help ALL those birds and not just the Grey, would be to turn that place in. You may not think the local yokels will care. But, in my experience, people that work in animal control and SPCA fields have a BIG heart for all critters and are horrified when they see living conditions as you describe. You do not need pictures to report that place. Believe me, the people you report it to will take those themselves as evidence. The first thing they will do, is give that person X number of days to clean up the act, unless they deem it such horrific conditions that they just call in to get a court order and confiscate those birds that day. Sometimes the timing is just not right to rescue a critter we see in conditions like that. But, there is always the most important option that all of us can do and that is to take action and notify the authorities and track the progress of it. If locals will not respond, then take it to county or state and they will. I had a Doberman yesterday that needs rescue come through due to the owners getting a divorce and they are both moving into separate apartments of which neither allows pets. They were going to take the only path which was take him to the animal shelter which is full and just putting them to sleep if not selected in 7 days by someone. My present situation does not allow me to bring in a Male Doberman that would want to fight mine over who the alpha is. So I called another Doberman rescue 30 miles away and got him in there. The thing is, there are always options and things you can put into action to help whether directly or indirectly being involved yourself. The key is to do something!! :-)<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/02/21 15:19

Greys and even other parrot species are finicky when new foods are introduced. The only thing you can do, is keep offering the veggies and sooner or later they will start picking at them and eating them. Things to do are offering them raw and cooked. Some will eat cooked veggies more readily than raw. Offer many different types ands see what they like and don't. The texture and taste of each veggie is different and may just not accepted by your Grey. They may like one type of squash and not another. Some may like pumpkin cut up raw, others cooked. Some may like green beans, others not. But. sometimes it just takes offering a mixture of some of these items over and over, before they will start eating any of them. Just don't give up. I know it seems like a waste and it is. Another thing to do, is offer veggies in the morning when they are hungry and do not have any pellets, seeds or nuts available at all. Also, eat veggies with in front of them and they will just want to try it because they see their flock member and loved companion eating it. But, in the long run it pays off. :-)

Hi Karunk, It's great you are doing so much research before bringing home your Grey. Asking questions is the best way to get a good general idea from the varied responses and ideas you'll receive here from experienced Parrot owners and what worked in their respective situations and Parrot personalities. You asked several good questions and heres some responses: 1 - Getting rid of all non-stick cookware is a must. The only exception is if you have purchased one of the newly developed non-stick wares that do not have any of the Teflon chemicals used in them. 2 - The cage location you have chosen sounds good and when your Grey is caged it will still have the feeling of being with the flock by seeing whats going on and where you are. 3 - A mini curtain is a great idea! 4 - They love spicy food as well! I have never had my parrots show any negative response to anything we cook, which is a wide variety of things and includes those luscious spices that add zing to the appropriate foods. I suppose some may display a sensitiveness to some cooked items, but you would be able to tell very quickly. 5 - The hair dryer is ok, as long as you don't use it on your bird. ;-) 6 - Perhaps a playstand, boings, swinging ropes etc. There is a huge assortment of equipment and toys to choose from. :-) One thing I would recommend would be a room humidifier if you live in an area that has low humidity or you use heat in the winter and AC in the summer which normally results in an RH percentage below 20 % indoors. Birds like greys, amazons, macaws and conures all come from very humid zones in the RH of 80 % range and need humidity atleast of 40% to keep them happy and healthy.