danmcq

LOL!!! Love this photo. We use stuffed toys to keep Dayo away from off limits areas. It works GreYt until they get used to them and then you must just find another.

Thats a GreYt idea nd I am glad it is working for you. I am 100 percent with on not taking away the seeds to try and force them on to pellets. Even the pellet manufactures do not recommend doing that. It seems you are smarter or at least on the same page as your parrot in regards foods.

In my opinion, this store lady had this grey terrified by her actions. The grey displays that every time she interacted with it using force. Of course, that store person does not care about force, she was demonstrating how to extract your bird when it is hurt and freaked out. In an instance such as this grey owner trying to help her grey while hurt and bleeding, you must of course forget feelings, get your grey out of the cage the to a vet asap regardless of any possible slight loss of trust temporarily. Using dominance may accomplish ones goal, but it does not build trust or a good relationship ship with your bird. I view this one video as the store owner showing how to deal with a 911 and nothing more. It was not about trust building and how to properly interact with your grey or other parrot. The training was for the person, not the bird. In that sense, the goal was accomplished. The grey owner probably went home and tried this technique a few times and after her having blood let a few times decided that was not how she wanted to interact with her grey for the remaining decades they will spend together.

The comparison of Grey to human abilities is a common comparison we all use on this forum. This is called anthropomorphism. The very definition of it is an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics. In the parrot world, specifically greys over decades thanks mainly to Dr. Irene Pepperberg and her scientific study of Alex in controlled settings. She proved beyond a doubt greys are intelligent, have language and cognitive capabilities comparable in some ways paralleling human child abilities between the age of 2 to 6 years old. Those cognitive abilities of course are not ALL aspects of a 6 year old childs, they are just comparable in limited aspects of cognitive abilities in some very limited and confined specific areas. There is still a lot to be studied here, but unfortunately with the death of Alex at age 35, that study was cut short. With this said, I would like to hear others thoughts on the cognitive abilities members here believe their greys have, but also why you would compare to a certain age of human child. Physical growth rate and sexual maturity of course have no comparison or meaning when we are speaking of intelligence and cognitive mental abilities. I'll start by positing a few statements of my own. 1) There is still very little proven scientific data and study. 2) An African grey does not compare at all to the vast human language abilities of a 5 or 6 year old human. They do however use a limited vocabulary in correct terms equal to a human of this age. 3) The cognitive abilities in terms of math, texture, shapes etc. are close to a 5 year old human in limited areas and of course humans themselves of this age vary greatly in intelligence as some are almost rocket scientists by then and others are very slow in many of the mentioned areas. 4) There is not enough scientific evidence for any of us to take a stand stating that a grey has the same cognitive abilities as x age human. There are just too many variables and really, why do we try to do so? There are just similarities that has been proven by Dr. Pepperberg that without a doubt these greys are intelligent and cognitive sentient beings that are self aware. 5) None of us are experts on this including myself. I personally am still learning and will never cease to do so.

Thanks for pointing this out. Your new grey is going to be listening and learning new sounds and words in your home. She will of course use the voice learned in her previous home, but will also learn your or anothers in your home as time goes by. I hope you will share her vocabulary and how she interacts with you as time goes by. We love hearing about about greys antics!

Yes, that is normal for a while. Over time they will become more comfortable talking around other people that visit, especially if you have socialized them with others often.

Thats wonderful! I can guarantee you she has been "Closet Talking" a long time to have come out with phrases rather than just single word at first. Your sly and cunning little stinker has probably been calibrating and closet talking for months. Congrats!!! She has finally decided she is now ready for prime time and some conversation with the outside world. Now the words and phrases will start building exponentially!!!

On those sharp talon points. Yes, now is the best time to get her used to an emery board for example and she can safely lightly beak it. Maybe file your nails a little and do hers on and off enough to just flatten those skin piercing points. They certainly are very cure at such a young age.

Here is an excellent link to an article on sprouting: http://www.avianweb.com/sprouting.html

Too smart! .... Okay, see you later!! Thanks for sharing this.

Jay and others are correct in possible reasons behind this. At such a young age it is certainly cute, if nothing else. I know when you are interacting with baby/young parrots and perhaps get their beak on each side between your thumb and index finger for example, they will start jack hammering like crazy thinking it is feed bag time.

I hope all is well and that you got to an Avian vet today. Looking forward to a status update and hoping/praying for the best.

I am locking this thread. I think we have expressed ourselves enough now.

This is very common. Most all parrots, not just greys will chatter away with all their words, phrases, sound effects and whistles while humans are not present. They are calibrating, remebering and experimenting with how these all work together. You will hear them mix and match various words, phrases, sound effects and whistles. They will come out with combinations that will leave you rolling on the floor as they learn the mechanics of the human language. Most only use a few words or sounds when in the actual presence of us humans unless they have been worked with for years to carry on an actual conversation. They will of course ask for things they want like an apple or nut and also comment on some real-time event like hi when you walk in the room etc. You cannot not force them, you can only work with them over time to teach them that we do respond to there wants, needs and questions. Once they understand that, they will converse more openly with you and even guest when they come over at times.

I have no doubt you know the saying "It not what you say, but how you say it". I am guilty of this many times over, especially when hammering out a quick email in between work and checking the forum. Quickly blasted out posts and emails just do not truly convey many times how you were thinking, which perhaps was not blasting a person at all, but making a comment/correction on a person in error, being mislead by false or experimental/scientific studies etc. by someone else stating them as if they are proven scientific facts(talk about sentence run-over!). We humans have enough difficulty working odd hours and our sleep rhythms, much less wild creatures that rely wholly upon the circadian cycles. I believe everyone here does have the birds, rather than the owner in mind (rightly so) and are "Protective" of them more than the feelings of a person asking a questions or stating what they may think is a truth. We are for the most part, very aware of how parrots and critters that were mistreated, mis-trained and looked after end up in shambles at rescues or multiple re-homes due to issues they have as a result of it. Thus we are VERY protective of these wild and intelligent creatures. I hope I conveyed this in the way I intended it.

It sounds like at this point in time, Ava has decided your boyfriend is her love muffin. You will just need to be patient and pay special attention to her body language when trying to get a step-up. It is better to avoid a bite proactively, rather than trying to force it. Give her favorite food or treats as you are trying to get a step-up and see if that helps the situation. There is normally always one person selected as the love muffin and the other person(s) are just flock members. Being the one that feeds her and is home more does not change whom she selects. I wish it worked that way as do many others, but it's not how it works. It is however, very important that you both share the work activities so she does always view you as having access to all areas as will be needed. She may not like it as she ages, but she will have learned to live with it.

Zooman - They love hot water and will gulp it down as you describe. I have no idea why, but most greys seem to love hot water and hot beverages just gulping it down. In regards the bath and number of times a week. If Zuri is keeping his feathers closed and only getting wet 3 or 4 times a week, that is fine. We let our grey and conure sit on the shower door and get the added humidity of a hot shower. Sometimes they will come in, sometimes not. The key item in the original post here, was that Lester is fully opening the feathers and it is completely removing all the natural dander and leaving skin exposed that will become parched and itchy which can be very uncomfortable to the grey and good even result in health issues and plucking. The other item, if getting full drenchings like that 7 days a week is the feathers losing their natural water protection, which is also detrimental to their health. Only our conure loves baths and fuly opens feathers, however he only does that a mximum of 2 times a week. The other times he sits with wings tightly closed or does not get in the water at all. Both get misted with 100 percent Aloe juice after a drenching to keep everything supple and comfortable..

UGH, would anyone switch their human childs day/night 180 to fit a work schedule? I think not. Anyway, when someone wants to do something, they can reason it out in their mind that it's ok and all will work out fine. Thats a problem all us humans have, we can reason internally until something we want desperately nad make ourselves feel that it will indeed workout. How many times have each of us done that and found that we just created a problem by not doing what we knew was right in the first place?

It's wonderful news to hear that Xandir is on the mend once again. Thanks for sharing this.

Everyday drenching is too much. It removes all the dander which is needed and also removes the oils from the feathers, which are also needed for water protection and vitamin D3 product which the preening of feathers provides as they do so, then when UV light from sun or avian light source hits their feathers you have D3 entering their system. Also, as much showering that has gone on, you should be spraying with 100 percent aloe juice to keep the skin supple and non irritated. Full drenching showers should only take place 2 or 3 times a week maximum.

Hi Jeff, It is just a matter of calibrating and really does not take that long. It seems that Gracie is speaking loud enough for you to hear while she is calibrating. Most will seem to mumble while they are doing this and you cannot very often make out what it is they are quietly practicing. Dayo was and still is a mumbler while putting together phrases for a few days and then just comes out with it in full volume when he is confident he has it right. Gracie is doing great and believe me, she will end up sounding exactly like you. One to take note of, when we hear our voices from a recording, we normally respond with "That doesn't sound like me".

I always enjoy the videos of Emma. Thanks for sharing this.

Ugh, that is a tough choice, but ultimately you have made the best decision for you and Xandir.

Oh No! Positive thoughts and prayers for you and Java.

What a cutie! Conures are such brave hearts and much more social many times than a grey. Our conure Jake loves people and constantly tries to buddy up with Dayo, however he is always chased off. Congrats on this new addition. Thanks for sharing this.