loviechick

The shaking of the chest feathers of normal, it usually means they're relaxed, if it was all over I'd be worried, but both mine shake a little bit. As far as the snapping it could be several different things, but I'd say I think this directly correlates with the changing of the cage. That's why I'm real big on bringing the bird home and just changing its cage then, rather than letting it acclimate to the new environment in something familiar like an old cage. That way they're snappy from the beginning, It sounds like this will pass as she gets used to the new cage!

Sorry I'm just now checking in ya'll!! I've been super busy at work lately, and until my net gets fixed at home(long story) I have to get on here at work.. Anyhow I've lost 2 lbs this week, according to my scale:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: I've been good about small portions, and I also got a decent bonus on my last paycheck so I'm going to go join Gold's Gym sometime this week, I miss those Eliptical machines!!! Sounds like everyone else is doing good this week, and Judy don't feel bad for rewarding yourself I'm tellin ya sometimes its just the right thing to keep you going!

Don't be scared to give your Grey peanuts, just be cautious. Peanuts being that they grow underground are I believe are a type of legume(could be wrong on that one) they have a nitrogen fixing bacteria that grows on them, and that bacteria, if fed in excess, can be harmful to birds. I give one of my Greys a peanut a day, but that's one of the only treats she will eat. I'm yet to meet ANY bird that isn't a particular eater...my Sun Conure will eat every pellet except the banana ones LOL Two things I would recommend A) Keep up with adding the dried fruits and veggies HOWEVER make sure that they DO NOT contain sulfur or sulfites in the ingredients, this is harmful for birds. Sulfur and or sulfites are added for the preservation of dried foods, so you see it quite often on the labels of dried goods. If they have them, toss them, or keep them for yourself only. B )Try making "mush mixes" for your birds. Beak Appetite makes several different varieties, along with other brands. The base for a lot of these mush mixes is oatmeal, rice, barley, cous cous, dried fruits and veggies, nuts, some good seeds like safflower along with other things. The benefit of these mush mixes is that they birds have a harder time "picking" out the "good stuff" that they may already like, like almonds for instance. Therefore they "get stuck" eating a bit of oatmeal, and rice, and may end up enjoying it! Also for another way to mix it up is you can go buy baby food and add squash baby food, or peas and carrots baby food to the mix so they can get more vitamins and such that way! If this is out of your budget and you're looking for something a bit cheaper, you can always add a bit of apple juice to the pellets just enough to get them soaked so they get mushy, and subsequently, harder to throw LOL Good luck!<br><br>Post edited by: loviechick, at: 2007/10/24 23:20

I've never heard of the pooping too much thing, and I don't tell my birds all the time, just when I notice them doing the potty dance, which I can usually say no to them grab them and hold them over the sink or something, and then they go! I also let my bird poops dry before picking them up, yeah it's gross, and its soooo much more effective them smooshing it into the carpet then scrubbing, I give it an hour or so come back with a napkin, and you would never knew it had happened!

CD I completely agree! I just snack most of the day and actually I eat my biggest meal at lunch time, that way I have plenty of time to burn it off before I go to bed. I know a lot of people eat later, and then it just goes and gets shunted straight into fat because they go to sleep and it can't metabolize! I was pretty good this weekend, despite the krispy kreme donut eh hem LOL Today is a super nice day, nice and sunny, mid 60's so I'm going to go on a walk today and take Midori with me and get some fresh air if it isn't too chilly come 5 o'clock! Sounds like everyone is doing great!!!

Welcome Zeta! OMG I am just so heartbroken for you, and I can't believe the Gov wouldn't let you bring your pets...then again I'm not surprised, how disheartening! thank you for those pics....that's just so very very sad!

I thought about that too Makena, but if she has another Grey at home it would affect that one too, so I would think that one would get sick too! Unless it would affect a baby more than an adult hmmmm Regardless I am sooo sorry for your loss, it's never easy, especially when it happens out of nowhere! You're in my thoughts!

So far I have been able to train 3 of my 4 birds to be potty trained...I'm still working on water bottle training for Zsa, but after that I'll begin the potty training. It's not silly to potty train them it's super convenient IMO. What I do is I just hang out with them either on the couch or on the floor etc. Everytime I see them go potty I say go potty and give them a treat and praise them. They will eventually correlate the event with the phrase and as long as you praise them they will eventually pick up on it. It took me about 2 weeks with all of my birds, and they now poop on command and know not to go on their mama!

How funny!!! Neither of my Greys do that growling thing unles they're pissed. Although Zsa loves putting her head against my cheek when she is strongly hinting that she wants a head scratch LOL

Congrats and welcome Oisin!!!!!

Very good! I know that 2 of my birds need their yearly check ups!

I've thought about chipping as neither of mine have bands on them...Either way I will get it done if I feel it is necessary for their health, at the moment I don't think that's the case...

Both of my Greys were believed to be boys, heck Red's name was TED for 13 years before I got her, it took her about 2 weeks and she no longer says anything boy, or good boy. I wouldn't worry about it confusing them, it's not like they've been told this for a dozen years and even then, Red is the shining example that they can adapt and learn change!

Kiko wrote: First, it's a good thing you're getting him to the vet as they're the only one that can give actual "expert" advice. Secondly the all sunflower seed diet is absolutely awful for them. It offers no nutritional value, they can get fatty liver disease from the excess fat in their system from the seeds. They can also get vitamin deficiencies from the poor diet. I've got my fingers crossed that this little one would be ok. If he ends up making it I would look into a diet change immediately

Gosh how disheartening!!!! I have to say though less than two weeks, there's something up there... The first thing on my list to do once you have grieved would be to contact that breeder and find out exactly what's going on. I would see if they can either reimburse you or give you another bird. Any reputable breeder would have a health guarantee of AT LEAST 2 weeks, if not a month! Event some local pet stores give you 2 weeks! Just because a bird acts fine doesn't mean that it is. Birds can be sick for a while and only show signs the last couple days they are ok. And with it only being with you for a couple weeks, it might not even have been comfortable to show signs of sickness being that you were still more or less in an adjustment stage. Only the necropsy will tell!<br><br>Post edited by: loviechick, at: 2007/10/22 19:50

Congrats on bringing Dorian home, sounds like you're doing everything right so far! Just give him time to adjust!

Although I don't know anyone either, I like that birdgranna has nice and helpful things to say

Ya know I used to do that too Judy with the no dessert, and maybe I'm just a creature of rewards, but if I was good I would give myself a treat like peanut butter and apples, or graham crackers or something like that. Sounds like you're doing awesome, I need to pick back up at the gym but I don't have the money, and with xmas around the corner, sigh, looks like it will be my new years resolution! LOL

I don't cover my birds' cages at night simply because they don't get a cover in the wild, so why at home? That and I've heard they can get night frights when they open their eyes at night and can't see anything due to the cover. Mine are all in their own bedroom that is completely dark, and when I wake up to go to work in the morning, around 7:30, they're all still sleeping in, lazy brats LOL

I think the cage is a good size, and I have to say when I rescued my greys from bad homes I switched their cages immediately, and instantly noticed a difference in their demeanor with me. Granted it could have been because they just got a new home, but I think it's better to get all the new change out of the way from the very start, I even renamed mine, so that they didn't associate any sights, or hear anything that reminded them of their hellish pasts! And I tell you what, both my "mean, untamed birds" give me kisses everynight before bed now! As far as fattening tem up, macadamia nuts are spendy but full of good fat for birds. You could also add peanut butter to the baby formula to fatten em up, and a fantastic way to premote bonding! You can also use baby like gerber food for them too for a yummy treat!

I have to agree with everyone else above, has there been some kind of change, do you or your hubby smell or look different? Did you rearrange the room she's in? Rearrange her cage at all? Any kind of change could be spooking her, and also I have to ditto the calcium levels, or in general having something be amiss. If she's sick, not implying she is, or maybe just isn't getting enough vitamins or something it could be that. Also take into consideration the weather changing, it could be the lack of sunlight!

First I don't think it will matter what kind of bird you get...neither of my Greys like the other birds including eachother. Just because you get another Grey doesn't mean they will get along. Would you get along with someone that looked just like you? Secondly if it were me I wouldn't put a playground for them all to play on in the middle, assuming they would all be playing on it at the same time. All my birds have their own space, and I think it's good for them to have it. All mine have their own little play gym near or on their cages. I've noticed when I put all of them in a small area to play, all 4 of mine get really nervous and jumpy. This way you can have all 4 out playing at the same time and not have to worry about letting one play for a while, then switch to another.

I love Rafiki, thats the Baboon in the Lion king!

All my birds yawn too, it's soooo cute! Although Red will make the yawning noise at the same time, she is so dang smart!

Nope they can't burp! But man you should hear Red, that bird has the most raunchy belch I've ever heard, just like her mama LMAO