TinyTimneh

well, i feel a wee bit odd writing because i have no children, am young, and do not plsn on having kids now, or anytime really. I'm not cut out for kids. but i just feel i have to throw my two cents in. i agree with those of you who say it's ridiculous how quickly people sell their pets when they're about to have children (unless of course, the animal has in the past had agression issues, in which case I support it). that said, busere, i am very sorry for you that it has come to this. regarding the 'booboo rhe macaw scenario' if the bird is in a position where it can access an infant and harm it seriously, something is very, very wrong. who in their right mind would have a flighted macaw out around a baby? if the bird is clipped, in its cage or on a playstand some distance from the infant all should be fine. you would have to be a very foolish parent IMHO to stand/sit so close to a macaw that it could deliver a bite while holding your baby.

that's exactly what I was wondering too. i suppose i could just chec kit out when I go to buy the cage though.

lol well... hmm.. maybe I can start a compost pile.. depends if i can convince the people i live with, they're not too green (plus the dog might get into it). i wish i lived in a area like yours Tycos_mom, because the recycling here won't touch anything unless it's absolutely clean, whether what's on it is bird poop or not, or else they won't take it. and unfortunately all of my three fids have proved to be very very messy poopers, and they're sneaky too ! and yeah i guess in a way even if we throw it out if it's compostable it will decompose.. so it's not really permanent garbage... makes me feel a lot less guilty wonder what else people have come up with? It's so interesting and helpful to see all of these ideas

well, like a lot of people these days, i do care about the environment, it's a pretty scary path we're headed down if people don't snap out of it. anyhoo, got me thinking, is there any way at all to be an eco-friendly yet still loving parrotkeeper? i suppose I could not give my grey those cardboard boxes he adores so much and put them out for recycling instead but, then, i would be compromising my grey's happiness (and in turn his feathers) and I wouldn't dare do that... if you think about it, imagine how much newspaper, wood, compostable food etc parrot keepers put in the garbage, now yes, we've no choice, we've got to keep our fids clean, but i wonder if there is a balance? what does everyone think?

oops.. pics too big, sorry guys, here's the adresses though corner cage: http://www.hanzycanada.com/details.php?recordID=PS-32 cage with removable divider: http://www.hanzycanada.com/details.php?recordID=PS-33

well, in the next couple of months i hope to be able to buy the TAG his final cage (i don't plan to move him around after this). does anyone know anything about the 'Hanzy' cages, they're cheaper than the others available to me (for example, at the petstore nearest me, a cage half if not less the size of the one i'm considering is about a grand once you throw in taxes) as far as i know, they're like the no-name brand. I am concerned about lead and stuff but i unbeknowingly bought a no-name cage last year (it was also a demo but the Tag's cage was rusting from age and I figured I needed to move him ASAP) once i got it home i noticed some wear and tear and minor defects, but it's pretty solid and not flimsy or anything and from a decorative point of view you wouldn't notice it unless your face was an inch from the cage and you were actively looking for flaws.) i just wanted to see if anyone had any experience or advice on this line of cages. here's pics of the two i'm considering the corner cage measures 61 inxhes by 48 inches by 73 inxhes tall and the other one measures 42 by 26 by 61, leaning towards the corner cage ( i spologize if the pics don't appear right, never done this before)

you're right lol, my experience is all that growling is a bluff and they're usually so concentrated on all their big scary growling they don't bite. (again, as my manlged hands would prove there ARE most definetly exceptions !) good luck with both your birds! as for Joey I would suggest using the distraction technique (hold something non-threatening like a square of cardboard in one hand in the 'bite zone' and then present your other hand for a step-up, prasie and repeat, also, maybe some laddering after her intial step-up with some praise will reinforce the pattern) also maybe a daily reopition of the step-up while using a clicker? seems to work well for my birds. would seem to me that a scared grey will nab you harder than an aggressive grey. maybe just work on her trust of you and your hands. good luck

yeah, you know, i think it may just have been the vet experience (to my knowledge, he'd never been before i got him), almost a year later he's back to his old self. he's muttering and garbling like a crazy bird lol (he's so cute, he butts in in my conversation and will laugh if someone tells a joke or laughs, even on tv). as for stick training, (because of his past?) he is terrified of handheld perches so this is counterproductive. however, hey, i've got a grey that steps up 85% percent of the time, willingly and from inside his cage to boot *knocks on wood*. not many parrot owners can say the same. when he gets testy or stubborn, (does happen, but not too often) i use the 'distraction technique' and hold a piece of cardboard in 'the bite zone' and present my other hand and say 'up' (or, just pull my sleeve over my hand, seems to change his mind about biting). then, much praise and i'll ladder him a few times just to give him some positive reinforcement.

well finally identified my mystery houseplant, some sort of hoya spp. maybe carnosa. the other two species residing near my birds are a christmas cactus, and five baby spider plants. i know the last two are bird safe. i would never ever let any of my three birds play with or touch my plants regardless, but i have peace of mind in knowing that should one of them every rip off a leaf or something that they'll be okay. but i've conflicting info on the hoya plant. some say toxic to birds, others say fine... what do you guys tnink?

well, foobar, I don't think you'll ever be able to train your grey to be 'housebroken' in a sense, like a dog would, if he needs to go, he'll still go. it will take a while, (actual length varies with particular birds, some birds just 'get it' quicker than others, for example, my Timneh Jacko, is potty trained very well, the 'tiel however, just looks at me like a deer in the headlights lol) also, is it me or maybe training the bird to go in a specific place would start the problem of the bird who won't poop in his cage because he figures it isn't the 'approved' place you've shown him? Jacko is trained to poop on the commsnd 'go poop', i think this is a much safer way to do it rather than training the bird to a specific place. to him, the command is much like the 'up' command, obviously he'll still step up in his cage while climbing around, not just sit there till i tell him to. the only downside to this is that you will have to be more vigilant, because he'll still go even if you don't say the command. but personally i just pick him up every 10/15 minutes and say go poop, and he does, no hassle, no running for the right spot, just make sure there's a sheet of newspaper on the fllor beside the couch. just wait for the 'i gotta poop' walk and then pick up your grey, say go poop or whatever you use, and once he does, praise. and then repeat. he'll get it eventually. good luck

hey all, just a quick question for ya. due to educational/life changes I will be moving into my mother's apartment for university in ottawa. obviously, i'll be taking the birds with me (wouldn't dream of selling any of my beloved little trio of feathered rats ) problem is, neither of the three (TAG, cockatiel, and now the linneolated parakeet) have ever lived in an apartment (that living situation with a friend of mine never worked out). thus, because where i am living now doesn't mind the noise and we've no close neighbours, although the birds don't 'scream' like what you hear with some of the neglected/abused cockatoos and such, they certainly are very, very loud, particularly when they want attention etc (they're loudest when i enter/exit the room), and no real 'boundaries' are in place to control 'screaming' (i don't know how to set them), i've stll got a year (maybe two) before i go however i know that it takes a while to implement a system. i need to make sure they're 'apartment friendly', thus content to play on a playstand without me (right now they tend to just sit and look bored or in the TAg's case pluck feathers) unless they're roaming around, keep the noise to a minimum, especially while i'm away, and learn that i will give them out-of-cage time and not to bounce around and call and shriek until i let them out (i always go over and say hi and give them a scratch or treat when i first get home) etc. any tips or ideas, or sites or such? oh, while i'm at it, anyone know any good parrot vets in the ottawa area?

all right guys, anybody have a clue how to do this? i've looked around but not really found any definite DIY plans for a indoor parrot cage. I'd like to build one for the TAG in a month or two, it's gonna be about 3 feet wide by five feet long by about five feet high... i'm sooo excited to see him in it. only constraints are it MUST be self-standing, not built into the wall and preferably have a grate and tray, wheels too. any ideas?

mmm.. well i think that might be what i'll do too, just let the TAG fly and keep the other two clipped, also, he is my most tame and bonded bird so in terms of indoor flight and recalls and all this i'll have the most success with him i think. also he is largwe and a bit more noticeable compared to the linnie and tiel who would be easy pickings and/or easily lost as i just don't trust most of the harnesses for smaller birds.

well, after watching a couple clips of free-flying birds, i am amazed, obviously, i would NEVER EVER take either of my three birds outside unless harnessed (and having just recently discovered a distributor of aviator harnesses there WILL be outdoor flight-- don't worry, my yard is relatively barren, so no trees to hide hawks or whatnot, also, dogs keep cats and things away). that said, despite my exuberence in terms of watching these majestic parrots do what they are made to do and seeing them so happy, i am hesitant because of the realities of my birds. the TAG is territorial, thus, any bird who lands on his cage is going to lose toes. although the tiel has learned to stay away (at the price of a toenail) the lineolated parakeet has not. i've just got horrible images going thru my head... i don't want anyone to get injured, but i know there are benefits to free-flight.... what are your thoughts, anyone know any good websites, books, videos etc on this subject?

lol, yep, i definetly got suckered in here lol. that 'hmmm just go get some birdie food... aww look, what a cute birdie... look at those big goo-goo eyeballs awww... too bad i already have birds..... WEEELLLL there IS that old cockatiel cage in the basement.' and before you know it you're heading for the cash with the food AND a new bird.. only to suddenly think... 'oh no, what the heck did i just do!?' driving home. ah well, it's a labor of love. i've been trying the step-up sessions like you describe tycos_mom but i've just realized he's too scared and flighty for it to be effective. so right now i'm trying to get him to come out of his cage and take some seeds from me before i try to physically interact with him.

gosh yes, what was i thinking last night when i posted this....? i guess i was just so used to Jacko who from day one offered his head for scritches etc...

whoops.. srry guys! i thought i posted this in the 'other birds' section!!!

well... altair the linnie is finally home. but apparently he's not as much of a baby as i thought he was, turns out he's six months old. my bad, i forgot to ask. but oh well. at least he's not a biter. but i've never had such a flighty bird. now yes he's only been home about two days but still... i've never had a bird sooo unwanting of humans. most birds will react and look at you when you begin gushing good birdie and whatnot but this bird just wants to get away. i know partially it's because he hasn't bonded with me and is hand shy, but it kinda hinders step-up practice when he doesn't respond to praise or whistling... however he adores the tiel and will whistle with her, even eats out of the same bowl and follows her around lol, but she wants nothing to do with him. any tips for calimng altair down and bonding with him?

phew that's a relief! your pet store sounds like he local one around here too. anyone know any good lineolated parakeet info sites, trying to figure out if complete fear (like flat out run and squawking is normal) because like i said that's what i was told but i've no experience with linnies and this baby linnie sure doesn't act like any other baby parrot i've held before. gawd lol remind me not to fall for those big goo-goo eyes ever again, this is such a case of MBS

i wouldn't hang it from above even if you could.. looks too much like a big scary overhead predator to a grey. now if the lamp your talking about looks something like a floor lamp with a cone shaped head than no, you can't. most lamps actually i don't think you can. actual bulb size in terms of uv bulbs don't matter much except in terms of effectiveness at distances, ie. a bulb of a certain wattage only radiates uv a certain distance, but it's not like the bigger bulbs some how give your bird 'more' uv, do you have a picture of the lamp set-up you're considering, everyone might be able to help you more if you did.

honestly what you can do, (worked for me but you may have to alter it a bit) is go to your local pet store and get those usually black dome shaped lamps (no bulbs) they have for use over reptile enclosures, they have a couple different sizes so check which one you need) then ,go and buy a UV bulb that fits that lamp. now securing the lamp is a bit tricky (i happened to have shelving units next to the cagfe and clipped it on to that) but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than some of the specific fixtures made for birds also a lot smaller thus less scary than some of these big floor lamp models. also, the inside some of these lamps give off an after glow from all the light/heat they collect during the day and when the lamp is on, which acts as a nice soft nightlight, helpful for soothing nervous greys in my opinion. srry i can't recommend brands seeing as i'm in canada

well actually get her to semi-start foraging last night (okay welll actually all she had to do was stretch a little while balancing on a boing rope to eat some seeds) and she's learning to chew on the paper bows i've tied on all her perches... she's screaming a little less, and a little quieter too.

all righty guys, thanks for the info, i'll talk about microchipping for them both at the next well-bird check up in november. question for you though, being that neither of my birds are banded, this means what? both are too young to be wild-caughts and one i know for sure is not an import because she was bought for me at a local petshop. am i dealing with birdie mill birds? also, ill keep you updated on the baby linnie, unfortunately pick up's been delayed till wednesday (sighs) oh well, more time to get the other fids prepared. the baby linnie's a bit of a handful, as she's pretty skittish although very nonagressive. was told by the staff (and i do trust this pet store) that this was somewhat normal behaviour and with regular handling she'll settle down, was also told this flighty behaviour was normal for linnies to an extent, and of course, the internet hasn't been helpful because finding info is impossible!

i was just thinking about this because i've got a new cremino linnie coming home monday and s/he has a band. neither of the other two birds do, and i'd like to get them some, is this possible, can i just go out and have bands fitted for them or someting? or is it 'too late'? if i can, where would i go to get this done? vet's office?

umm.. well... i can't really think of a proper way to say this so here goes, anybody know how to stop parrots hell bent on masturbating/displayimg for you? i do ignore the TAG and tiel, only pet their necks and don't really cuddle them (trick training and games instead) and this has decreased the severity but it just seems that out of the blue (even if i'm not petting them or anything) they just rev up again. anyone have any further tips for putting a stop to this behaviour (yes i know it's nautral, but in being that a) i'm human and B) don't like them that way it's stressful for them and proabably a cause of my TAG's plucking and 'tiels screaming)?