danmcq

LOL! Snob huh? When they pick up the slight nuances or a word in comparison to what is happening when you use it. They will also use the word just as us humans do in sentences i.e. when you ask a question versus making a resolute statement. An example would be how Dayo will grunt, groan and sigh when I am doing work around the house. Once Heard him making the sounds I do when working evidently on a challenging task. I have tried to stop making sounds as I work. Rather embarrassing how I sound when working on some something that's just not cooperating with me.

I know you have probably had the Router there since the cable was installed. So since no food or liquid is ever hitting it, it should be ok. I was just cautioning on worst case scenarios. Again, the RF from that wireless router is very low. So thats not a worry really.

Hi Wingy. Your avian vet of course is right on. This is a question avian vet's and scientists have been working and on trying to learn more about. What is known at this time, is that the red colored feathers are pigmented with red psittacofulvin. The pigment is not carotenod nor is it a red form of melanin. This is very interesting as psittacofulvin pigment is not a protein based pigment, but is made from long-chain fatty acids. Melanin is deposited into feathers via a structure within a cell called a melanosome. Melanosomes make granules of melanin pigment and then deposit it via dendritic “hose” like structures as the feather forms. Psittacofulvins are not deposited by structures such as these, so not only is the pigment made from a completely different material, but is placed in the feather by a completely different method. African Greys normally express red psittacofulvin in the coloration of their tail feathers, and to a small degree in contour feathers, especially near the vent. It is thought something must be signaling the feather follicles to make psittacofulvin in different feathers from the normal pattern, but what that is they do not know.There are some clues that may help in learning what in those signals could be. In talking to Grey owners with birds displaying the unusual red coloration, I have found based on those discussions, that it often occurs in juvenile birds, and in older birds. The juvenile birds often lose the red color over a molt or two/upon becoming adult. It may be that hormones connected to adolescence and maturity could have an important role in signaling where the psittacofulvins are deposited or not deposited, but we do not know. It should be noted that there are African Greys who retain their red feathers as adults, and sometimes there are a lot of these red feathers. Some of these birds are healthy, successful breeding birds in very experienced hands, so at least some of this coloration does not appear to indicate an adverse affect on health, fertility or chick rearing. Basically at this time it is not known why the red feathers are there. Scientists have also looked to see if the melanin could be masking the red psittacofulvin. In other words, they checked to see if maybe dark pigment was present in sufficient quantity to cover up what would be red feathers if the melanin was not there. African Grey feathers can have a lavender or pinkish cast to them. So it seems possible that this might be happening. But so far, that does not appear to be the case. They do need to test more feathers, as so far the samples have been small and may not reflect possible masking that might be seen in samples that include more individuals showing this “pinkish cast” to the grey. Yes, there are some illnesses that can affect feather pigmentation, including PBFD. Poor diet could also affect pigmentation, if there are not sufficient amino acids to make melanin or to properly form the structure and layers of the feather itself that the pigment is deposited into. A fatty diet appears to also affect feather coloration. Of course, one would wish to check with one’s avian veterinarian to test for and rule out illnesses or medical problems.

Happy B-Day Biscotti!!!! You are going to be spoiled through and through today. i have no doubt! :)

Yes, those pretty red feathers could molt out and be replaced with grey. My grey had a few red feathers as well. On the first molt, they all came back as grey. If you wish to pay more and want a guarantee the red feathers are permanent, you would need to find a grey over a year old that has already experience it's first molt and the red feathers remained. One exception to this, would be if you purchase from a grey breeder that breeders generations of red factor greys to bring out more and more of the red factor. In that case, they would most likely not molt out at all.

Welcome Benitta and Asal! Sorry to hear you lost you first Grey. I look forward to hearing more from you and seeing those photo's when you post them.

You can get 100% Aloe Juice in gallon jugs at most any walmart or walgreens. If you really think your baby may have mites, please take her to an avian vet to properly diagnose and treat them. If you have not done so already, a wellness check should always be done when you first bring home a baby grey. It will establish a relationship with your local avian vet and ensure all is well with your new baby.

It is really a 50/50 chance they may molt out and be replaced with normal gray feathers. I personally would not pay a penny more for a grey baby just because it has red feathering in spots.

Hi Penny. My first thoughts on this. Is if it's literally only inches or perhaps a foot away from Nilah's cage. I would be worried about wet food items hitting it or maybe even water droplets being slung from the cage and causing a short circuit and burning up electronic components that sometimes give off poisonous gases as the electrical component burns up. I personally would move the wireless router simply because that seems like less than the ideal place to have it. The other factor to consider, is even though the RF energy being output from the router is very low. If Nilah is in the cage for example 8 hours a day, she is being exposed to the RF at a close distance everyday. Still, no harm from it really, but why have the router that close?

Timbersmom is spot on. They select words and phrases that are important and useful to them. If they could roll their eyes like us humans. They would do so when we keeping saying the same thing over and over and over. Wile thinking, I wish they would just stop saying that.

Nice photos. It is good to hear they did a good clip that allows him to flap and glide down. I had a similar situation with my breeder in not letting me have Dayo unless they clipped him in a similar fashion. I and my wife both argued with our breeder (which was also a close friend), yet they believed they were doing the right thing in protecting from a possible fly away (Old School thought). Obviously we loved Dayo too much to let that stand in the way of bringing him home. The good news is, since is not a drastic clip, as they flap tohse wing as they go down, they build muscle and strength. Over a period of a few months they will learn to calculate how far they can make it to a play stand, couch etc. and launch, flap like a demon and make it most the time. Thus still building some limited flight skills. It may take up to 2 years form all those primaries to be replaced, but as each set comes in, they gain more lift and and fly further, have more control in turns, hovering etc.

Just a quick note as an FYI - - Wireless Routers output 100 times less energy than a Cell Phone.... so if you really want to worry about RF power density harming your loved ones, consider trashing your cellphone. The wireless router is insignificant comparatively speaking.

Congrats on the first words!

Wow, That shot of your conversation with this person is shocking to me! "I'm a mean person and don't want a bird in my house".... UGH!! No wonder this grey is plucking. he poor thing needs to be rescues and get the loving and caring forever home she truly deserves and would flourish in. A two week trial period is not nearly long enough for you to get any idea of this greys potential to become an integrated family member. As Jeff put it so well " Just please count the cost and be 100% sure", I ditto.

Too cute! Storm is loving it. Thanks for sharing this video.

Clicking for Judy!

So, whoever can eat the fastest and most wins!

LOL - NOT "THE LOOK"!!!! Nothing like a good ole attitude adjustment. Good luck with that.

Thanks Judy, yep as you get more Bars, the # of clicks required for another goes up exponentially to get another bar added.

WOW! Beautiful shot. Thanks for sharing this.

Thanks for posting this. It really good to see scientists studying this and find that parrot and other birds have a huge vocal/language/understanding ability, besides Dr. Pepperburg. I used to breed finches for several years, namely zebra's. There was around a flock of 30 with 12 to 14 pairs. Over the years I thought I was nuts, but they would sing a morning welcome tune that seemed similar to my morning chat with them, same welcome or praise but different song for lunch and dinner and finally sleep time. I really miss that chorus of an entire flock and the beautiful songs they would greet myself and wife with and of course they still had their natural songs intact. On generation after the next these greetings were amazing. Then I get Dayo my CAG and he floored me.....at around 12 months old and does each and everyday. Keeping birds as friends is an indescribable joy I think.

Very pretty Hanh's. They think they are the biggest baddest dude/chick around. My first meeting with one was him flying straight at me, landing on my friggin nose and screaming at me. The good news is I didn't lose an eye, the Hanhs then fluttered over to my shoulder and we became friends while everyone laughed at the introduction... anyway, they are actually wonderful parrots to have once you learn to put up with the bigger than life attitude. Jake my conure has that same attitude, thank god he calmed down over the last 8 years...

Loved this Dance. Since Cockatoo's originate from Australia primarily, I suspect over the thousands of years watching the Aboriginal Tribes play their instruments and dance, the Cockatoo's enjoyed it so much they joined in as well. Dayo likes to Dance, but nothing like a Cockatoo's ability. You know Greys are just too dignified to let their feathers down that much and make a fool out of themselves. Thanks for sharing this!!!

That is a very hard decision to make. I have no doubt you labored in coming to that conclusion. From what you have written, it will be better for your family and your grey in the long run.

Thanks Jeff, I am glad this thread has done it's purpose in enlightening members on how those reputation bars increase. With only two per day to give, it is important to use them on members that posted something you found useful and valuable. I try to give members reputation each day for GreYt posts. I just kept noticing that members whom had been hear for a while were not building up any reputation. Then the "Light Bulb" went on, members probably had no idea what that was or how it increased. Rep back at you for always posting GreYt thoughts on topics!