Laurie

I've had those before! They're nearly impossible to kill. I said "nearly."

Wow, some of you guys are really going to town feeding your birds! Klaus gets Kaytee Forti-Diet, also some Nutri-berries & Nutri-Puffs. Favorite snacks are peanuts, walnuts, grapes, and apple. I haven't had him that long to figure out what he really likes. He is typical though in that he really wants what you're having. For example, I offered him a piece of Life cereal when I wasn't having any, and he couldn't be more disinterested. Then one day I was having a bowl and offered him a piece from there, and he ate it up. Funny, I do the foraging thing by wrapping treats in a coffee filter and tying the top with a rubber band (fabric coated, and I don't let him get too carried away chewing on the rubber band, I wouldn't want him to choke or anything). Anyway, I put a walnut, a Nutri-berry, and a Nutri-puff in it and let him forage away. He actually gets the walnut out (his favorite) and leaves the rest. Sheesh!

Aaaaawww! Made my day, thanks!

Yes, I really must get with the times and learn how to at least post pictures!

I was, of course, concerned about vacuuming around Klaus for the first time. Especially since the grey belonging to a couple we know now dislikes the "Mommy" of the house, ever since she vacuumed. I shouldn't have been concerned though. It was the middle of the day and Klaus was having a little birdie nap time. When I looked up from vacuuming to see how he was handling it, he was still sleeping...

Hey, guys! Hope everyone is doing well today... Klaus has always enjoyed chewing on bottle caps (the kind that come on milk, water bottles, etc - not the metal ones). Last night we put a little water in one to see if he wanted a drink (he was really, really interested in the water bottle itself). He did drink a little out of the cap, but shortly discovered what fun it was to fling the water. It was really cute to watch. He'd fling two or three times, watching all the water fly out, then wait for us to fill it up again so he could do it some more. Hee-hee...

Thanks ... I thought it would be odd if they couldn't. I mean why would they have favorite foods if they couldn't taste? It didn't make sense, but again I only heard it that one time. Oddly, it's not addressed in my parrot book.

Ok, here's one that's been puzzling me. When we went to get Klaus, I swear the breeder said that African greys cannot smell or taste. I haven't been able to find anything to confirm this. I'm curious and would like to find out what you guys know about this... Thanks!

I have dogs, too. Both bird dogs (an English pointer and an English Setter). They don't seem to mind Klaus. I think they know the difference between a bird in the field and a bird in a cage in our living room. Just last week, Klaus was out, sitting on the back of a chair and my older dog (the setter) was nearby. Klaus hopped down onto his back and went for a little doggie ride. I didn't get him off immediately because the dog he chose to jump on is 14 years old and never makes any sudden movements (I don't think he could even if he wanted to, poor thing.) I have a cat, too, but she's a tiny little thing. I think she knows better than to try to mess with Klaus. Even so, when Klaus is out of his cage, we are on constant "kitty watch." No sense tempting fate. Also, with our hamster, we make sure Klaus is in his cage when the hamster is out because I wouldn't want little Andrew to become a snack for Klaus. All that said, I would strongly advise waiting to get a grey until your home would be one in which the bird is welcome, and when your schedule allows at least two hours a day of interaction.

Judygram, I don't know if it was me you mentioned about the changing quotes. If it was, I just have a little quirk with quotes, I love them for some reason. One of the things I love about books is that a lot of authors will put a quote or two in the book before it begins and it kind of sets the mood. Glad to see Stephen King mentioned a lot. I swear, I would read the man's grocery list! People have asked me how I can read that horrible horror, but it's not really the horror, it's how he writes. Can't get enough! Thanks for all the feedback, guys.

Thanks for throwing some authors out there for me. I go to the library about once a week, and I like to have an idea of what I'm looking for. Though not having an idea of what I'm looking for can lead to some interesting reading. One book that stands out as something really different (if you're looking for something different) is called "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time." (Hope I've got that exactly right.) It's written from the perspective of an autistic boy. I couldn't put it down!

The other thing I like to do (besides look after Klaus) is read for pleasure. My two favorite authors are Stephen King and John Grisham. Though I read so much that I'm known to go all over the place as far as genre. I'm currently reading a book called "Don't Make a Scene" by Valerie Block. I thought it would be fun to compare notes on books & authors.

Good morning, all - I was messing around on the net, ran into this and thought I'd share: E. B. WHITE: You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that. Charlotte, "Charlotte's Web"

Hi, Tiny - I just joined myself a couple of days ago, and so far I am finding it addictive. I've seen other sites like these where people get nasty with each other, but there's none of that here. Everyone has been friendly, helpful and patient. Enjoy!

Klaus is very young to know much (he'll be 6 months on Sept 9) but I think he knows how to apologize. While I don't yell at him, I do use a tone of voice to let him know I'm less than pleased with what he's doing. ("We don't chew Mommy's earrings, we're a good bird.") When this happens, he lowers his head for a neck pet and makes a little "woop-woop" sound. As if to say, "I'm sorry. You still love me, right?" So cute!

Woo, I can't answer all the questions right now, but Klaus's thing with carrots came to mind. It's kind of a "food/toy" thing. He thinks carrots are great fun to tear up and throw around. I can only hope a little carrot is going in him! Also, he seems to hate broccoli. Very strange. Usually if you show him anything he'll at least pick it up and investigate, if only to play with it. He will not so much as touch a piece of broccoli...

I even try to get Klaus excited by telling him how pretty he'll look with his nails done... Hee-hee. Of course, it's more fun to throw his emery board down and steal Mom's...

How many of you use rope toys in the cage, unsupervised? I'm very scared of leaving Klaus alone with one because I'm worried his toe will get caught and he'll be stuck. I do allow him to play with rope under supervision. Am I being paranoid? I see lots of nice cage toys that I pass up because they have rope. Thanks again!

Hey, Happy Friday everyone! I'm looking for some feedback on nail care. The man we bought our grey from advised not to use pumice perches as they irritate the skin on the feet. He advised we use an emery board. I use two emery boards (one for Klaus to play with while I try to do a nail with the other). I'm lucky to get in 5 seconds of emery boarding before Klaus moves, or throws his emery board down so he can grab mine. How have you all been dealing with nail care? Thanks!

Hi it's Brett again I heard both reply's and thank you so very much for the advice and yes I will join the Bite me club in fact I had no idea that you can hide your hands and then pet the bird I thought that would scare it.

That's hilarious! I had a cat once named Annabelle. When "she" went to the vet to get "fixed" the vet called and said I might want to change "her" name...yep, gorgeous, pretty Annabelle was a boy! Never did change the name, though. He didn't care! My grey's name is Klaus, and we don't know for sure that he's a boy. He's named after a character in a book who has sisters named Violet and Sunny. So, I'm trying to talk the family into going with one of those names in the event we find out he's a girl. We'll see!

With my bird biting is a major problem I get bit so hard that i shed teers.so I was wonering if there was any way to have less pressure or no biting at all. Guys, this is from my son, Brett (age 10). I've been trying to explain to him that Klaus doesn't mean to hurt him and that we need lots of patience, and we need to be careful. He really wanted to post this, though, and I think it would mean a lot to him to get some personal answers, just for him. Also, I've been like a broken record telling him to be slow and gentle, and never approach with your hand above his head. Brett's not a bad kid, I think it's just that he's a kid and inherently makes Klaus a little nervous. Thanks again!

Does anyone give their grey peanut butter? I read somewhere else about someone's grey having multi-grain bread with peanut butter spread on it. Sounds like an easy treat I can make with stuff I have on hand, but I'm not sure about the peanut butter. I'm not even sure what I'm afraid of. That he'll choke on it? That it'll get stuck in his beak & drive him nuts? Thanks!

Exorcist voice? What???? I hope Klaus doesn't sound like that... It's my all-time scariest movie. So far Klaus does an excellent wolf whistle (he's only going on 5 months old, so of course no words yet). Also, lots of beeps, clicks, and whistles which make him sound like R2D2 from Star Wars. Sometimes we do the wolf whistle as a team (ie he says "Wee" and I say "Woo."). Or vice versa.

Thanks!