JulieinVA

Things are going so much better already! I was gone overnight from Sunday to Monday eve. - when I got home, I opened up his cage and he clucked three times and happily jumped up on my arm to come out! Ever since then, for some reason, he has been much more willing to come out and has even been a little bit snuggly in the evenings! Also, we have an agreement now where I figured out that he simply does not like hands coming at him in the cage. To get him out, I just open the door, he comes out and sits on top of the door, and then will readily step up. It is all a matter of making it his choice, and not forcing him. It is so exciting to make progress and be able to learn how to interact with him! And right now he is snuggles under my hair as I am writing this... I never would have thought he would do that a week ago, when I was bleeding all over a towel from a bite... Thanks for all your good advice! Julie

I suppose you're right dblhelix ~ I am just surprised at his tail only having about 3 feathers as well. And whoever clipped his wings did too much, too short. I will never have him clipped like that again, as he has fallen a few times already and I am so afraid he will end up breaking his breastbone... We are trying to be very careful with him out of the cage, and I padded the bottom of the cage with a towel because he has even fallen in there a couple times. Poor thing...

My goodness Dan, Im' not sure I want to experience the 'flying at you with beak open' movement! :lol: As you said, I don't think he is an aggressive bird, just doesn't like to be bothered in the cage, and it has only been a few days at that. I'm glad to hear the grumbling sounds may be contentment... he is really a great bird, and I'm hoping with time he becomes more happy and content. It will probably help when his feathers come back, too, as a matter of his confidence. I don't understand how, but all his primary flight and tail feathers are just a mess. Some are cut very short, some are missing, and some are long, in no sort of pattern. So he has to be very cautious moving around or else he falls to the floor very easily. 'Suffer the consequences' is right, Judy and Lidia - I suffered them this morning. :unsure: I have let him come out of the cage on his own, but whether in the cage or on top of it, he is still territorial about it. However, I try not to bother him when he is busy or seems grumpy, and if he doesn't put up a fight and steps up well then I bring him out. I think he needs the interaction as long as I can get him out without causing him stress. Anyway, it's fun to learn his signals and personality -- sometimes if I feel let down by not being able to handle him much, I remind myself we have a good 50 years ahead of us (or at least ahead of him!). Plenty of time... Julie

Well we have been doing much better with the biting except for this morning ~ he is already quite territorial in the cage again. Normally I can look at him and say "Be a good bird!", and he will stop acting so grumpy... then I can get him to step up without biting. Away from the cage he is doing very well, and if I lift a towel or blanket over him, even a little bit over his back (without having to actually wrap him up in it), I can pet him on his head and body without any trouble. So sometimes we spend a little time doing that, and then we just hang out together around the house. I took today off to spend some extra time with both birds, since we are going out of town Sunday to Monday. I'm curious as to what type body language you guys experience; I know when I approach the cage he sometimes will fluff neck feathers, bob his head, and make a knocking noise which means he is warning me not to bother him or else! Also, he constantly makes grumbling noises when out whenever I move around him, sort of like a grumpy old man. Do you think that is from him not being used to me at this point, or do they all do that?? Julie

Ha ha.... thanks Judygram... :lol: Also, that's what I figured about the beak, loviechick, but I wasn't sure if it meant anything like a nutritional deficiency or something. Will make sure he has enough things to chew on to keep that beak trim. Perhaps the vet will smooth it out if needed as well. Thanks!

I was able to post 2 pics under my Photo Album. Will have to take more outside the cage, but that's what I've got for now! Julie

Hi again, I'll definitely check out the other posts for insight into food & toys... he has been on ZuPreem natural pellets, and I think that's about it. I am going to switch him gradually over to Harrison's, with the usual supplemental fruits, veggies, nuts, etc. like my Senegal. I was just wondering if there are any special treats they like which would be useful in training -- will look in the forums though! Forgot to mention how much I hate putting together bird cages... this was the second one that we mail-ordered. What a pain! I will post pics when I can figure out how to reduce them in size... I have a Mac, so if anybody else does too let me know how you do it. Thanks! Julie :cheer:

My Timneh came home last night, so exciting!!! He (she?) took the move well so far; I thought he would be hiding in the back of the cage, but he has stuck right up front and has eaten and vocalized already - so far, so good! This is the same bird I had issues with in the store with biting, who has not been socialized after being there a year. I do find that if I can keep myself from being afraid and push back into the bite, it will usually stop and he will step up (it's just a matter of pushing through the fact that I know I will get bit!). I am giving him some time to settle in... not sure when to start working with him outside the cage, but will see how he is and figure that out. Any suggestions? Here's another question ~ his beak looks as if the bottom tip has grown longer than the top layer, do you know what I mean? Does this signify anything?? Also, I'd like to know if Grey's like having a tent in the cage to hide in. I had covered the top of his cage to offer more security in a new place, but he stayed toward the lower perches and kept looking up like he didn't know what to think of that. Any suggestions regarding your Grey's favorite toys, cage items (do they enjoy swings?), or foods are welcome - thanks! Julie p.s. How do I find out about creating a signature & posting pics??

!!! Brought him home tonight ~ trying to post a pic but not sure how...

Hi! I have posted a few messages already, but today I am happy to say we actually brought home "my first grey", most likely to be named Jeffrey (will be DNA sexing though...)! Jeffrey was brought to our home because, when I initially wanted to begin keeping birds again, I went to a parrot-specific store nearby, and paid for a Senegal that was not yet weaned. While he was still being fed over the next month, I visited him every day, and meanwhile, I saw this Timneh Grey in a cage next to him that was always making noises but nobody ever really paid much attention to him. At the time, I thought he may have belonged to someone and was being boarded at the store, because he had no price on him. Anyway, after bringing my bird home, I stopped back in there to get some paperwork and saw him in another area with a price now. I asked about him, and was told he had been there for about a year, and was not sold as a baby because he had injured himself on a toy (a metal staple cut into his belly). It took a long time for the wound to heal, and they had had to put a collar on him, so for a long time he was off the market. At that point, he was pretty raggedy looking, missing a lot of primary feathers, and was not so friendly anymore. I felt bad for such an intelligent, sensitive bird like a grey to be alone in a little cage at a store, and started visiting with him out of curiosity, with no intention of buying another bird from a store. However, I couldn't seem to help going back, and eventually I thought, "if he's still there in a month I'll think about bringing him home". Well it didn't seem like aybody really had any interest in him. There were already 4-5 new Congo babies in the store, and nobody ever looked at him anymore. Of course, that was about 2 weeks ago and I finally couldn't stand it any longer. I brought him home tonight, and he ate some food and made some noise, and had some nice treats put in with his pellets. He has a humongous cage compared to his last one, bunches of toys, and will have lots of attention & love. He was much less shy coming to a new place than I expected, as he has been stuck on the front of the cage or near it, and already seems to enjoy the attention. I am so excited to have him here; did I mention that??? Julie

Hi ~ I'd also like to know the answers to the first two (how long is spent training on a daily basis & what did they begin with)... but actually, I would like to know more about that, like a list of learning objectives in the order they were taught (i.e. shapes, colors, numbers, counting, etc.). Also, I would like to know how Alex's learning abilities and behaviors have changed throughout time as he matured. Also (sorry!), I'm curious if they concentrated on one learning objective per session (i.e. one color at a time, one shape at a time, etc.) or if multiples in the same category were presented at once in the beginning. I can come up with more but will take a break for now! Julie

What an interesting bird, celery -- I had not heard of that species before. Will check out that book, too - thanks! Julie

Thanks for the great advice and insight... it certainly makes sense that this bird would be afraid and consider his cage the only safe place he has, since he is still at the store. His life consists of strangers staring at him and someone he doesn't know very well (me) taking him away from his cage every day for an hour... but I think it's important for him to get to know me before taking him home, as it may alleviate a little bit of the rehoming stress. He will soon be getting a new, larger, cage full of interesting toys, and I will just give him the time he needs to become comfortable. We are also working on making a playstand out of a natural tree (birch), so we can have our birds spend time someplace safe & interesting in the main area of the house between the kitchen/living room. I have definitely seen some improvement in our relationship as I have visited him over the last couple weeks, and I am trying to teach him to 'kiss' instead of 'bite' when he is uncomfortable. He seems okay to sit on my arm and be held close while we walk around or sit and talk together, I just can't pet him or make movements over his head at this point without making him nervous. When he starts to settle in at home, perhaps we will try the towel game (anybody done this??). Thanks again, Julie

Hi again to everyone ~ thank you for your warm welcomes! Judygram, I am in Fredericksburg, VA... not sure how far that is from you?? I went and visited our soon-to-be Grey this weekend, of course... he was a little bit grumpy a one visit but great the next! I have heard they can be fickle... and I can't really blame him, since he is pretty much forced out of his cage based on when I can visit. It will be so great to finally have him home soon, so we can start giving him baths and healthy treats! Thanks again for all your replies, there are some forums online (on all topics) where everybody seems to just wait for someone to criticize.. this message board seem very friendly and helpful, and I'm glad to have found it. Our grey's new cage and supplies should be arriving sometime this week; so exciting! Will post pics when we finally get him home... Julie

Hello and thanks, dblhelix ~ I am definitely committed to this grey, and hope to offer the best home possible to both my birds. The injury had to do with a toy that was in his cage in the past - apparently, it used a large staple to hold parts together, and when the bird(s) chewed the wood around it, the sharp end became exposed and cut the bird's belly pretty badly. It took a long time to heal because the wound kept re-opening, and they had to put a collar on him for a while. I don't see any evidence of it now since there are feathers over it, and he is supposed to be healed, but I will definitely be going to my avian vet soon after we bring him home. I only know what the store has told me about it. Julie