Ian

Thanks Judygram, I will tabulate the progress.....I was thinking of starting a blog but my schedule inhibits routine. Thankyou for your kind words in response to my posts...

Hi Nooey, An African Greys Brain is more convoluted than any other parrot species!!. A more convoluted cortex equals an increased capacity for intelligence. Generally speaking this usually results in an extended infancy term and a greater (longer) dependance on parental nurturing. Neuronal development of the African grey is markedly slower than other parrot species but with the end result being a far greater level of intelligence. African Grey infant vocalsation is analagous to infant human vocalsiation in regard to precise motor control. Your grey will practise many sounds and words during his initial year of development, bear in mind that these utterings will increase in clarity and sharpness as your bird matures. My own African Grey is now 12 months of age and a noticable change is occuring in his speech of which the clarity is unprecedented. Whilst other parrot species talk more clearly at a much earlier age, the wait is worth if for a grey. It is beleived that many Amazons have only a limited `window` for learning there adult repetoire of words as a juvenile whilst African Greys with there greater intelligence can continue to add new words/ sounds throughout there adult lives.

Hi Everybody, I have just purchased a `clicker` and have initiated brief training periods of conditional sound and reward association. The chosen reward for behavioral conditioning is a single peanut half. I have been conducting this for a period of four days. My goal is to induce a vocal response (speech) from my parrot in reaction to hearing a spoken command from myself. Has anybody else had any degree of success with the use of a `clicker` to elicit a conditioned behavioral response ? Thanks for all the posts everybody they have made extremely informative reading.

An interesting fact dbhelix,I had not thought about the consequence of asymetrical moulting. Physical retention of a birds primary escape mechanism in order to protect itself from predation is the grand result of the succesfull evolutionary model. What a wonder nature is..

Straying from the mainstream is often fraught with ridicule but pioneering thinkers built the society we know today!! People also seek comfort and assurance from things perceived as `normal` or socially common practises!. Rather than embracing a challenge they choose the well trodden path and the security of mass following. Here in the UK parrot keeping is not as popular as in the US and it currently still relies on a minority group of dedicated individuals to `clear` the path for others to follow. :side:

Thanks Shanlung for the link I shall visit the site and hopefully learn more about this fascinating subject from your superior knowledge in this field. Thanks also Dan for the reply, I am thinking about the possibilty of re-introducing George to the body harness. :)

Hi Guys & Girls Well a sunny rain free day here in Swindon........what a rarity, these incessant downpours really are unprecedented. We have had the wettest three months since 1766!!!!!! :( Ahem any way.. George (at least to he is DNA`d) has commenced mimicking various kissing noises during the last few days as a direct result of my wife blowing kisses at him in conversation (I guess she has to blow them at somebody! :dry: ). I naturally welcomed this as a further addition to his expanding vocabulary, however on later reflection it dawned on me that most of his vocabulary has been gained from my wifes conversations with him rather than from his primary caregiver (read me)! It seems that he is much more responsive to my wifes female higher pitched vocal recitations than my own gruff masculine cave man utterings! I recall having read a similar article about `Grey talking` which highlighted a possible fact that they are more responsive to the female vocal range. Im sure there was a case of a non talking grey that resided with a lone gentleman for numerous years who subsequently became a great talker upon the acquistion by his primary caregiver of a `female` living companion. Being George`s primary care giver I spend a lot of time in conversation with him but I am beginning to think that with regard to increasing his vocabulary range I should encourage more daily converation (whilst I am working) between him and my wife. Have any of you Guys experienced similar sexual bias with regard to your African Greys recital preferences.

Hi Paully, Thats a real sad story, I will be praying for his safe return. I have never experienced or known anybody that has experienced something like this and think the advice already given by the guys and girls here is all that can be done. I will certainly keep my fingers crossed.......

Hi Nooey, In answer to the `biting` question, you can read numerous different articles as to what would be the appropriate way to react. I would guess that Echo is actually mouthing (called beaking) you rather than biting which is a form of communication.However, communication or not he must be made aware that it is inappropriate to bite hard to solicit attention . I have tried the `nurturing` method myself and it seems to work. You will need to raise the tone of your voice and say `Gentle` and perhaps give him a stern look with your eyes (after retracting your hand). Pause and then say softly `tickle`and scratch the back of his head. If he repsonds ensure he knows this is `better behaviour` by showering him with praise and soft words. The general idea is too reward positive behaviour rather than punish, but to ensure that negative behaviour goes unrewarded (and does not result in over reaction which could be perceived as reward in a playfull way for him). The more praise he gets from reacting positively (enjoying a tickle) the more the `good behaviour` will be reinforced. I hope this helps..

Hi Beccy, Being a `self confessed` loon beats being predictable and habitual any day!!!

Hi Dan, Hawks and Falcons........Never thought of that! We have a few native hawks here in Southern England which i spot with increasing regularity. I am fortunate to live next to some open fields which would prove ideal territory. Is your parrot fully harness trained and is it a body type or leg type harness? if so how long did it take for him to become accustomed and accepting of it? Many Thanks Dan

Hi CeasarsDad, I guess you can read so much but `real life` experience counts for a whole more. Its really great to talk to other grey owners.

Thanks Dan! What a great website. I think most people would feel more comfortable with a harness (i guess here its for the parrots safety rather than physical retention). Unharnessed flights are only allowed for minimal durations. I have tried my own grey with a body harness but he detested it... Here is another site for anybody interested although it relates to Cockatoos. http://www.freeflight-usa.com

Hi Judy, I have heard about the `bonding` thing too, but there seems to be an equal number of people that do manage to keep two and for whom they still remain bonded. My daughter adores sun conures but I have been told they are real screamers? :unsure:

A little political `grey` humour! Before the collapse of communism, this Russian guy loses his pet parrot. He looks everywhere, all around the neighborhood, in the park, everywhere. He can't find the parrot. Finally he goes around to the KGB office, and tells the desk officer his problem. The officer is a little puzzled. "Look, comrade, I'm sorry you lost your bird, but this is the KGB. We don't handle missing animal reports." "Oh, I know that", says the guy. "I just wanted you to know, if you do find my parrot... I don't know where he could have picked up all his political ideas." B)

Well this subject has certainly provoked a response.B) I dont keep a parrot `because of` my political leanings etc.. I was simply expressing another facet of my personality, it just seems that the companion parrot owners I have had the pleasure of meeting are just a little off the beaten track (those that are intrigued and do not purchase for ornamental reasons)....However this has been resticted to England, perhaps it us Limeys that are a bit strange...lol.. . I used top keep tropical fish and then progressed to reef keeping but I will agree that the acquistion of a Grey(s) has certainly topped them all....My CAG continues to intrigue on a daily basis. Keep up the responses guys and thanks for all those that have contributed to this posting :side:

There is certainly no doubt to the fascination these ceatures evoke but there does seem to be a dividing line in personality trait with regard to individual taste. B)

Hi Judygram, Beauty is a very appropriate term and one that elicits awe of the natural world.

Hello dbhelix, Thanks for the reply, Two key words stand out `biology` and `diversity`, in combination these two words epitomise a deep awe and fascination for the wonders of evoultion. Perhaps these are two requisite traits for the aspiring parrot owner. Many thanks for your contribution.

Hi Fellow Grey Owners, I usually have mixed reactions from people when they learn that I am the proud owner of an African Grey. For some individuals it is seen as absurd and for others as a curiosity. I have always had a keen interest in ornithology and nature, and generally anything that is off the beaten path. `I like to be different` and view it as part of my identity. I dont like to conform to the sterotypical `slave of society` and my political leanings and idealisms reflect this. What type of individual/ personality are you and what is it that you feel attracts you to parrots. In anticipation of Insight. Ian ohmy:

Hi Guys, I have visited some fascinating websites regarding `free` flying of companion parrots. From the information I have read, free flying is pivotal on your parrot posessing the requisite avian skills (and strength)to negotiate strong breezes and controlled deceleration. Deceleration is a problem and an unacquired skill in many US parrots of which have there wings clipped at an early age. Once there wings have been allowed to grow out, the necessary neuronal development is lacking and schooling is required to acheive the flight skills necessary for open air manouverability prior to allowing free flight. These websites do not highlight lack of bonding as being a potential problem and cite only lack of flying skills as the major inhibitor to allowing free flight. European owned parrots invariably retain there primary flight feathers are fully skilled and readily posess the avian acrobatic skills needed to precisley alight on there owners hand. Allowing my own companion parrot to free fly is a potential goal of mine and I have a high degree of trust with regard to him returning safetly when called. Has anybody else had or know of anybody who has any experience regarding `free flight`. Thanks Ian

Hi Everybody, How many of you guys posess more than one grey and do they co habit the same cage?. Also did acquiring another grey have any impact on either of them with regard to talking (i`ve heard that it can reduce vocalisation in the formerly `single` bird).Also do they have seperate flying times? Thanks Ian :dry:

Wolf Whistling a `natural` wild call? I didn`t know that but in retrospect I guess thats why all of the CAG`s and TAG`s I have heard vocalise produce this sound. Thanks for the input Lidia.:cheer:

I shall be shortly having George DNA`d to confirm what I suspect that he is in fact a `Georgina`. Along with the underside of the wings, eye shape and wing length it seems the strongest indication is indeed the vent feathers. For anybody else intersted in this please check out the link below which depicts with extreme clarity the point in discussion. http://exoticpetvet.net/avian/appgreys.html

I guess the underlying root message here that formed the foundation of the posting and may have been misinterpeted is that many of us give our Avian companions a little bread or cheese now and then. The term `fast food` was just used euphimistically in a collective term for labelling foods that you would not normally associate with parrots but are not necesarily junk foods. Thankyou to everybody that replied.