LNCAG

Hoping your parrots are just fine. An aside, I heard a new mother's tip years ago about giving a piece of frozen waffle to infants who are teething -- apparently it's coldness is soothing to chew/gnaw on. I mean, those are NOT cooked first. And wow, what a LONG list of recalls. Yeeesh. Hope all are safe.

Great stories of close calls! I adopted my kitten Zuri back in 2007 and was always super careful to check on where all my pets were before I left for work. I thought I had witnessed Zuri elsewhere before I closed the bird room door, but somehow, Zuri slipped in un-noticed. I worked 8 miles away from home but always came home for my hour lunch so I could walk my dog. I came home, walked the dog, checked on my new kitten... and no kitten. I also went into the bird room because I liked to give them a fresh fruit or veggie treat whilst I was home for lunch... and there was Zuri, my tiny 10 week old kitten, laying in the middle of the floor of the bird room -- having been in there unsupervised for 4+ hours!!!! She had all her limbs, paws and eyes intact. I knew darn well she had probably poked her front legs/paws through their cage bars or at least pressed her little face up against the bars! All 4 parrots were standing on the very bottom of their cages watching her! I could have sworn Snickers, my CAG, winked at me like "hey lady, we knew it was just a kitten -- we didn't hurt her! lol But seriously, with a territorial macaw and rambunctious YN Amazon... I was so grateful my new kitten was okay and unharmed. You can bet I double checked her location after that! Though she grew up to never bother the parrots and often accompanied me in there during parrot feeding/cage cleaning times. Like Neoow, I always separated the cats when I let the parrots out loose in the rest of the house.

So pleased this might be resolved -- everyone wants a contented grey! So glad she has you to troubleshoot and fix things for her!

Been through 2 (minor) earthquakes and one sonic boom -- my parrots took it in stride. I had to see the news to even know what had happened each time (east coaster here). But each time when I felt the whole house shake and could see my chandelier swinging -- I was a little freaked out. My dog started panting and pacing (as she did during thunderstorms) - wanting my comfort yet unable to settle herself enough to accept my comfort.... But parrots? Ya just never know how parrots will react. I think my parrots always found some joy through a little drama. lol Would NOT want to know what a serious earthquake would do. (shudder).

Macaws are a little easier to visually sex by the rounder female head vs slightly flatter male head top, imo. But the easiest parrots to visually sex are the Eclectus parrots. lol DNA sexing is the best option for a youngster. With a mature female parrot, well, the laying of an egg is sort of a giveaway.

Mine were all dna sexed. Short of a parrot breed that is sexually dimorphous, I have no idea how to tell until they fully mature.

Wow! You've got your hands full (and your heart!)!

@Timbersmom Your grey is a riot! I always felt mine laughed at my cleanup efforts, giggling to themselves thinking "just you wait lady, I'll have this whole area re-trashed in minutes!"

@neoow I absolutely loved your special travel enclosure -- still fondly remember a video you shared of taking your guy out for a parrot fair/meet-up. You spoil your guy and I loved it!!! Huggs and scritches from me to your sweetie! @Talon Agree re: perching when traveling -- my rolled up towel makeshift perch rested on carrier bottom, it was NOT elevated. It was more just something their feet could grasp/hold on to for stability. I promise I don't drive fast or crazy, but still, wouldn't want them to go sliding about unbalanced when I make a turn. lol

Stainless steel cages sound amazing. I believe my grey/amazon cages had 3/4" spacing between bars (identical King's cages); the macaw's cage I think was 1 1/4 inches. I even think Kodak's (my cockatiel) also had the 3/4" bar spacing but honestly, it may have been just half an inch. Glad to hear someone else here (TimbersMom) tried the Kings cages. They really impressed me, but again, I only had the powder coated ones. Stainless steel remained a dream for me.

Parrots do love their chewing! Anything! Wood, card stock, newspaper, magazines and esp corrugated cardboard! I figure it keeps their beaks in good shape, plus the joy in watching their staff clean it all up!

Wow, at 1/4" spacing I'd be worried about feet and legs getting stuck! Even 1/2" really. Sounds like it would be difficult to climb around in.

What is this advice? Pix are gone and link just showed parrots for sale. Sounded interesting.

I haven't bought a cage in so long, but I know I made sure to get the proper bar spacing for a smaller grey. My macaw cages had wider bar spacing and (this was the 90s) I was told otherwise my grey could get his head stuck between the wider macaw bar spacing. Who knows, maybe all cages these days have the safer smaller spacing (is it 3/4 inch? -- I can't remember now). I was also warned about those sunburst/starburst designs where the bar spacing goes from wide to narrow and heads/wings could get stuck. I didn't have the starburst design, but my grey did get his wing caught once between the vertical bars where they intersected with a horizontal cross bar on his cage and my grey panicked -- luckily I was able to reach in between the vertical bars and support his feet, lift him up and work his wing back inside. He was literally hanging by his wing/underarm joint. He was fine. But I am so thankful I was home and heard him scream. But just something to know can happen. I had my grey 26 years so this was a one-time freak accident, I suppose.

Glad you think she's acting normal again. I truly believe she is still adjusting to her new home. My breeder always duct taped a towel (cut to size) to the bottom of her kitty carriers for traction -- but the tape MUST be well pressed down so a toe nail can't get caught in it. I preferred to roll up a small hand towel into a perch and tape it to the bottom of carrier. Perch should be wall-to-wall. And again, being super sure the duct tape was well attached so no toe nail could get caught. Use good tape like Gorilla tape. I placed this makeshift perch just a few inches back from front door of carrier so my parrot could perch on it but also see out easily. The advantage to this method was I could just leave the rolled up towel perch inside permanently for next time (and wipe up any poop from plastic carrier bottom). My breeder's method also worked well, but if the parrot poops, you have to wash the towel and re-tape it every single time. I backed my parrots in also, but mine quickly learned to spread their wings so they wouldn't fit inside! lol I learned I needed both my hands, one hand holding parrot (with my thumb over one of their feet) and the other to gently curve over their back so they couldn't spread their wings. ymmv lol Good luck!!!