kiwibarb12

I spent a while this morning offering Mickie millet. She actually wasn't too bad, not freaking out, just moving away when she judged my hand was too close. I left her door open, and went and sat at my computer, and when I came back she was out, on the floor. I caught her, and she bit the snot out of me. She must hone her beak on her concret perch! Then I sat down and held her against my chest, and dozed off for a while. She didn't try to get away or make a real effort to bite me - I was stroking her beak and chest. She ended up flying to the floor, so I slowly got up, and lay down about 3 feet from her with a spray of millet, and did a souko or two. She wasn't overly upset, just sat down and chirpped a few times. She even ate some millet. I ended up throwing in the towel - right over her head:P and put her on top of her cage. I sort of expected her to fly right off, but she stayed put, then the next time I looked she was playing inside her cage. Maybe she will eventually tame down. She seems less freaked out today then when I did this last time. so I am hopeful.:laugh:

Beckette doesn't actually throw her food, she just gets it stuck to her beak, and then shakes her head violently to get it off. Needless to say it sticks to anything that it touches, and sets up like concrete!!! I would rather sweep the floor than scrub the cage and walls :laugh: Rotten bird!

Do you have a name yet? I thought of a good one. How about Marcus for the Marquis de Sade- sadist.:blink: :woohoo:

Welcome - and I understand about the work in progress. I have a budgie that is being recalcitrant in the taming department. Your days sound very full!! Makes me glad that my kids are grown and I get to go to work! again, welcome, and have fun with us

You might find some red palm oil and add a 1/4 teaspoon to your birds food every couple of days. I found some in Little Rock at an organic food store. The theory behind that is that it is what they eat in the wild. Helps skin, feathers and beak. Beckette loves cashews, peanuts and sesame seeds, so that is what I chop up and put on top of what ever I want her to try. I also serve her food warm so she is more likely to try it. I actually made Beck cornbread with honey and red palm oil, and froze most of it for later. My partner, Joe, was most miffed that I had cooked for the "ugly shoulder deformity" and not him!!!! I have found to keep peace I have to bake something for the really big baby, then something for the smaller grey baby:woohoo: I cooked Beck oatmeal one day and flavoured it with honey, raisens, and pine nuts. she isn't thrilled with it, but with ample cashew nuts she is eating it. anything you eat your baby will want to eat. Infact, if I want Beck to eat something I eat it first where she can see me, then she insists that she gets some.

This thread is going to be fun 1:P

Now that is cute! Especially that he can untangle it when he wants to.

I had a quaker parrot who wasn't very tame. I left him in his cage and sat next to it and read to him . I actually read him one of my books that I was reading at the time. This way, I didn't get bored and he got nonthreatening exposure to me. He eventually came over and sat next to me. It was a great beginning to a great relationship. and I enjoyed my book.

This thread is intended to allow AG "owners" to post examples of their birds intelligence - for example - Beckette has a toy made of rubber that is hollow and has large holes all over it. I stuff nuts in it for Beckette to work at to get out. It keeps her occupied for hours. Yesterday, I did it again, and blowed if the clever little dusty chicken didn't carry it over to her food dish and put it in it, so that the ball wouldn't roll around while she got the nuts out. Needless to say, it didn't take her nearly as long to get her treats! I was flabbergasted!!!!:ohmy: She had thought about it, and came up with a way to stop the ball from rolling. Very tricky!

I think with Beckette ignorance was bliss. I probably make all the mistakes possible, but she and I are resilent creatures, and we survived my learning curve. I just think that there are lots of people who want the cute babies, but I could give a great home to a bird that maybe isn't quite as desirable to the general public. I have a lot of stickability and persistance, so birds and I do well. Eventually they realise that I am too stupid to quit :laugh: , and do what I want them to do. I have grey hair myself so I don't mind a bit of baggage.

I was given Beckette by a man who had had her for ten years. I have had her for two years now, and we are getting along like a house on fire = and my hands are finally scab-free. It has taken two years but Beckette and I are best buds, and I wouldn't be without her. If your bird has lived in a family situation and happily for the past 30 odd years, then I think rehoming him would be perfectly possible. Maybe there is a rescue near you that could vet prospective adopters for you , to ensure they understand what is entailed in caring for an older bird. Heck, I'd love to take it , if it came to that. Please don't give it to a breeder. From what I hear and read, breeders don't give their birds much in the way of quality of life, and for a family pet of 30 years that would be such a shame. They can come to love a new family - it just takes a bit of time and love on the part of the adopters.

Nothing admirable about it really - its kind of like adopting a 20 year old - you miss all the raising and teenager years, and help by giving an older bird a loving home. Beckette was a rehome, and she is fabulous. Weird at time, wonderful at times, but just a love, and such an individual.

Now, see, they aren't bickering out loud. If you can't hear them, then they don't loose their allowances! Smart kids! and Joe and I have been known to send eachother IMs from room to room, so its not just the younger set

I'd go with genetic differences, just like in my family with me with my (once)brunette hair, oldest daughter with lighter brown, and youngest daughter with green hair = well, that was due to manic panic, but you get the idea. There is a regional variation, and that does have a bit to do with it as well. If I remember it correctly, the closer to the equator the lighter the general overall feather colour. Which if you consider the sunlight and heat factor, the lighter colour would reflect more sunlight and keep the bird cooler. anyway, the greys are different because they are!

Beckette makes a double click noise when I give her something that she wants, like a treat. It is her version of thank you, and I find it very cute. Especially when she thanks me for picking her up. I find that adorable that she would thank me for paying attention to her. I don't get thanked for cleaning the cage, or regular feedings, just the extras that I do. I think she is using positive reinforcement on me!

welcome, and ask away. If you read some of the old threads you can get answers to questions you didn't know to ask :laugh: Greys are fabulous birds, and as a wild bird have all sorts of quirks and weirdnesses. Very interesting living with one.

AAAAhhhhhhhhh!! I want to add another grey to my house, and really want to make it an older, adopted grey. Beckette is almost 12, and I think one about the same age would be good. I want her to have a flock mate ,even if they don't get along together , of the same size and the same age. Unfortunately I live in Arkansas, which seems to be the equivalent of the birdie black hole. There seems to be no bird rescue in Arkansas,and no-one who want to rehome their bird. I would even fly one in, but can't find a rescue that would be willing to ship. This is very annoying! I would request that if anyone hears of a grey for adoption, and they are comfortable with it, that they could send me a message. I can supply vet and personal references. I don't want a lot, just one little grey bird for me to love.{Feel-bad-0002006A} sniff, sniff -wipe of eye.{Emotions-000200B8}

I have had cats and dogs with a grey - and I was more worried about the dogs than the cats . The cats ignored the bird - I think they were actually afraid of him, and didn't want to show it. the dogs I thought were a bit more unpredictable. anyway, it depends on the temperament of the cats and the bird.

hehe - if I tried to scoop Beckette up she would bite the living you-know-what out of me.

Oh, I also warm it up a bit - hoping maybe she will have flashbacks to baby hood.

If he won't eat pellets buy a coffee bean grinder (can get for about $20) and grind the pellets then mix with apple juice or apple sauce or baby food to a semi sloppy mix. Beckette likes cashews and sesame seeds so I sprinkle them over the top so she eats what she likes and accidentally eats the rest. Since I have started doing this, she is eating a lot of different things just because she accidentally tried them.

Beckette occasionally bites me too. Usually she bites when I am going to do something that she doesn't want - like put her back in her cage! I have gotten better at reading her recently, and so have avoided bites. When she goes for me I distract her with my other hand, so she gets confused and misses the bite. If you see that she is going to bite, put her down immediately. You want to be in a situation where she doesn't bite you. If you need to pick her up again and she is still bitey use a dowel for her to step up on, so she doesn't have the opportunity to bite you. You might also carry a washcloth so if she goes for you you can give it to her to occupy her mouth. good luck. I am actually scab free for the moment, but it took almost 2 years. now I am just scarred! I respect her right to make choices as well. If she doesn't feel social I don't make her. She is an intelligent being, and has a will of her own, and I try to allow her to make choices.

So ...... how is Snoopy doing? Is he still cagebound, how did he handle the move? What is he eating? Does he play with toys and what kind? Is he biting everyone in sight? Come on ... we need the scoop on the poop! lol

I am on another forum, where one member has cats and dogs and birds -and the birds consider all animals flock members. Her dog died and the birds mourned him for weeks, so , I think another bird that you love would be good for the grey.

Hi from Arkansas. and welcome. Was interested to see that you used to have kakarikis. I am originally from New Zealand, where they originate, and would actually love to have one, but can't find one here. Am impressed that your husband can do anything at all with Liath. Joe just exists in Beckettes eyes to be the bitee, and she is the biter!{Feel-good-0002006E}