danmcq

That's a healthy looking baby CAG there AAA!!! As others have said, I would feed him with a syringe as your Breeder does. Get a few lessons from your Breeder on using this and also how to properly prepare the formula along with reading the links LMG posted for you on feeding. You can start offering new foods to him like fruits, veggies, nuts and pellets. If nothing else he will play with them and learn the taste and texture as he does so. The room you are describing as turning into basically a nice flight cage sounds pretty awesome, but is hard to recommend without photos to see what you are describing. A cage, would still be a must, I would think, just in case the room your describing doesn't work out. Regarding his estimated age, he is definitely older than 7 weeks. Here are a few photos of Dayo at different week intervals to give you a ruler to estimate his age a little better. 8 weeks old: 10 weeks old 12 weeks old

At six months old they are starting to test their boundaries. They are becoming very self aware and know they are not totally reliant on their parents to feed and over see them 24/7. This will continue for a while. The most important thing to do now, is learn your Greys body language very well, as you have already begun to do in noting that the beak against chest is just before the lunge. It is ok to respect the fact that they might be preening or playing intently with something and would rather not be bothered at that time. There is nothing wrong with starting to offer your hand to step up or scratch from a distance of a foot or two and then closely watch body language as you start to move your hand in closer. If you see he wants to be left alone, just abort the step-up or scratch if you don't really need to move him. If there is need to have him step up to move or place back in cage, then follow through with your hand in a taught fist with the back of it towards him and just slide it under him until he must start to step up and follow through. If he Bites, say something like "No Bite" with a stern look as you keep on following through with the step-up. This method will do two things. First he will realize you allow him to make some choices at times for himself. Second, he will realize there are times that you have a different plan and will follow through on making him step up. After a few weeks of this, the bites will become less in power and more of a "Do I really have to?" type of questioning. I hope this helps a little. :-)<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2008/02/23 14:58

I will not start discussing semantics with you. It would be a waste of your time and mine. Discipline was never mentioned. Discipline comes in all forms and can simply be one word. You are correct, discipline is a must. But, discipline does not need to be harmful or abusive to obtain good results. I never connected Training = Punishment. I stated training can be accomplished without using intimidation, fear and pain. I can prove my Grey is tame also with photos. The difference is, he comes to us and cuddles, plays willingly and with much joy and anticipation. A broken animal or bird will not do so on their own accord and with joy. They will do so only with fear and distrust. You again are trying to compare training two different species. A 1500 pound horse is ridden. A bird is not. Now, I do know a lot about breaking in horses. We have owned them for 30 years. I have seen some abusive "Breaking" of a horse and have also seen and performed a much gentler approach of time, patience, working the horse, saddle only and slowly getting on. The end result is a horse that is trust worthy and willing to do anything I wish verses a fearful hard-broken horse that you must watch every minute you are on or near it. I thought you said you had read all the books on Bird training and found them to be hog wash? There are thousands of Parrot owners to prove they work. I have yet to see a Parrot trained by using a Dog obedience or training book to do so. I rescue Dobermans and know how to train and build a very loyal and trusting relationship with a Doberman that was vicious or fearful etc. from neglect and abuse. I did not do so by cramming my hand down their throat when they tried to bite. If I had, they are much faster than I and would have taken a couple of fingers off rather than my entire hand ever reaching the back of their throat. Ive been around many Dog trainers and that is not a practice advised at all. I would strongly suggest you listen to those that are successful at working with and training Parrots, rather than just going to your own path with trial and error.

TubeScreamer wrote: Probability is not an "assumption", it is a suggestion of the highest percentage of reason. If you watched the Video and read the captions, they stated the Grey had been "Abused". Now, in reference your posits of members Brains and logic. You are "Assuming" that most replies to your Post are from members that are not logical thinkers and therefore that equals they are not using their Brains. Your logic is flawed. I agree that any Animal, Bird or Fish etc. can be "broken" by the use of intimidation, pain and inducing fear upon them. But, that is not how most trainers elect to teach and build a relationship with any creature they work with. That is the minority of trainers. It amazes me, that you can just dis-spell all the books written by people whom have spent their lives working with Birds. If you think every Animal, Bird or Fish etc. can all be trained and a symbiotic relationship can be attained using the same methods across the board, you are seriously wrong. That's the reason we have children these days cutting themselves, committing suicide or becoming a threat to society. They were abused either physically, mentally or both. Fear and intimidation never results in a sentient being that you can trust when you turn your back on them or release them to general population.

LOL Yvette - We are all paranoid over our Greys. We hover over them just as if they were our own Baby....now that I think about it, they are!! :-)

It took Dayo about a week to actually start eating them. He would just check out the texture of the skin at first. Then a little more and a little more and now he eats them leaving the skin. I only thaw out two and give them to him each day or so. Sometimes that flesh sure makes a mess of his beak when it dries :-) So just keep offering them and sooner or later they will eat it...just like any new food. B)

Oh Matt, that's terrible!! You have my condolences. I cannot imagine the feeling of loss you have right now. That would be a wonderful memorial to Max at your parents house. Yes, please do let us know what the vet finds as the cause.

Juji will be dancing on her Cage top when you get home. :-) Be prepared to pay you undivided attention to her when you walk in. She will be just like a small child when you return home and they are waiting wide-eyed with a big smile of excite. :-)

That sounds like great progress Sandra! Pretty soon Merlin will be wanting to sit on your shoulder while you work. :-)

The report is basically declaring the paint contains no lead. It also suggests that the levels of the color mixtures were all ok also. It did not provide a great amount of detail, in reality.

Hi Yvette, Well it sounds like the good news, is he isn't afraid of your hands, since he lets you press against his chest and he just licks you. :-) It is amazing to me that he does not know how to step up. But, since he doesn't, will he let you just cup him in your hands and gently pick him up? You will need to practice step up by getting him on to your hand and then bringing up your other hand from underneath so he must step up on it. Then say "Step-up" everytime the transition takes place. It will take some patience and time, but they are smart and will get the idea very quickly. :-)

Yes, Dayo loves to spend time getting a full body massage and sratches as you describe. He always loves to have this "snuggle" time at around 7pm every evening. In fact, he expects it and will perform all his best baby looks, crys and physical antics he can think of until he gets it! :-)

Please let us know if the pluck no more works. It may help a few others here who are battling the Plucking with their Greys also. :-)

Welcome Jen!! It sounds like Odie isi quite the character. :-) Looking forward to hearing more from you and seeing some photos.

Welcome Melissa!! What a great job it sounds like you have done so far with Piper. I'll bet he is one happy camper in a loving environment he is now enjoying with you. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing some photos when you get a chance. :-)

Welcome Janice and Flock!!! Looking forward to hearing more from you and seeing some photos of that flock of humans and Parrots you have there. :-)

Jenna is beautiful Raposa. Thanks for posting the photo. We'll look forward to hearing how the vet visit went. :-)

Very interesting.... I didn't know they made Arm Cuffs that small

Hahahahahahahah....thats funny Sandra!! :laugh:

Congratulations Jeff!! Thanks great news and I am happy for you. Posts some photos when you get a chance. :-)

Yes, Nail biting is normal...Dayo does it to0. :-)

Elmo is a Boy.......maybe B)

Very cool Ronda - Thanks for sharing that video!! :-)

Congratulations on Elmo talking Bmustee!! That is so wonderful, a time we all wait for as we listen to them mumbling and calibrating under their breath as we try to figure out if or what they are saying. :-)

Welcome Rollemup! That is very comical. They do make sentences up and also speak in sentcences they have learned.....Like calling the Dog, Chloe, come here, come here, wanna a bone? Hmmm, Hmmmmmm Good girl :-)