Ronda477

Ultimately Siobha that is exactly what it comes down to for every bird owner. It's what are the pro's and cons of having them clipped. And in our situation it was a must just because the flying to other cages were causing a real problems with toes! And I for one didn't want to have to deal with a missing toe lol. And we have many windows in the house. So just take your time and see what is right for you and your family cause your right, some may be able to have a flighted bird. We can't as I stated above. So good luck to you and your choice whatever decision is made I'm sure it will be a good one for there really isn't a right or wrong one. It's just one that needs to be made for some because of the safety of their birds is all. And I have to say that clipping the Grey's compared to our Quakers was more difficult only because we had to towel her and she was much bigger to hold. Good thing though that you have one step up by spreading their wings!!

jdr yes go to www.photobucket.com and upload your photos there. Make sure they are the message board size. That option is in the box where you upload them at. Than once uploaded take the IMG code, copy it and than paste it here on the forum and you should be able to finally see your pics!!!

LMAO Kimmie that experience that you read was MINE! And she has come a long way! And don't know how old yours will be but mine was almost 6 months old when I got her. But yes that wasn't a fun experience for us or for her! I'm sure you will have more luck with yours! I think now that wasn't the only factor looking back, I think it was also the breeder had a bunch of other birds, so she couldn't spend one on one with mine too much and she lived in TX and we were here in WV so there was no way for us to visit. But please don't go by my horror stories lol. She is doing much better now with all the work and training we have had to do with her lol.

Yes I do agree, but for some reason SweetHeart had her 5 clipped when she came to us and could still fly very well. I do know that Joe's are clipped to the 8th feather and the breeder actually told us to just go to the 7th. But Like Dan has said it is important and also like I posted that it be taken slowly cause you can't put them back on lol. Mine was a determined flyer if you remember Dan lol. But can't stress enough on to just take a few at a time cause there is no putting them back on, they are stuck like that till they have a molt.

LOL I know that feeling! I am wanting a 3rd child and I think I'll just keep adding birds to my flock lol

LOL Fairy I'm glad I got you to laugh lol. Dan & Joe glad I was able to get you a partner in crime And Joe he hasn't been able to tame me in 14 years, what makes you think he can start now? lol I get worse with age!{Feel-good-0002006E}

Well the easier way to do that is right on photobucket there is a size that says message board sized, make sure you have them sized to that and you won't have to fool with the original pic on your computer.

I think Sweetheart and I are living proof of what Tari was talking about. I thought I was going to have to go for the toweling experience as well because that is what I had to do with Our Quaker Molly because when she came to us she was 3 years old and abused very badly. She would take chunks out of my hand. Of course being she was flicked in the head by a woman and locked in a dark stair well for god only knows how long I didn't blame her. I blamed the woman who had her. But on SweetHeart, she was a bird I could just pick up and talk to for a minute and than put on her stand. UNTIL I got the wonderful advice from Joe! This was a little while back and he has stuck by me every step of the way! He told me to pet her even when she didn't want to be petted and to show her that my hands weren't the danger zone. That actually being petted could feel nice. It has been baby steps no doubt! And I'm sure as he can tell you this didn't happen in a week. It has happened over a 4 month period. And for you that are reading this SweetHeart is only 10 months old! She isn't a older bird. She was just stubborn. But now I can pet her and she has pretty much chosen me as the one she likes the best, which suits me just fine. But last week was the first time ever that I was able to give her neck scratches!! I was soo excited! And than this week she came off of her cage, climbed over to my chair and tried to eat some Life cereal out of my bowl! This was a huge thing to me and for SweetHeart! I keep just having these little improvements with her and I owe it to everyone here on the forum, but mostly to Joe! He has PM'd me with help when I asked and was always there and he is very knowledgeable with his birds. I don't think it's mean to make your bird do what you want it to without a bunch of force. Just a little persuasion. I still haven't been bit yet thank god lol. But we are suppose to train our birds not our birds train us. And I thank you Joe! Karma babe!

LOL Nychsa! I am still waiting on my dance stories! I clean with the music on all the time and dance all over lol. But she has yet to join me:( I love the little names you have for your dances! That is just great they are all joining in! Thanks for sharing and I'll be back whenever mine decides to join lol.

To answer Lyric's question I really can't. Mine have always been clipped. Even when we just had our Quaker, I noticed the same things you did where we couldn't have her out much at all. We left her flighted just cause she's a pain to clip, but when she started following everyone everywhere and when my husband was cooking and didn't want her on his shoulder it became a pain in the butt and there just was no way that she was learning no matter how many times we put her back and said no. We just recently clipped her again after almost 6 years. I felt bad because we had her in her cage almost all the time, for when we lived back home she was always out all the time but she was clipped as well. So we just clipped her again and she is happy as can be now. She is out more and gets handled more every evening than she did when she was just in her cage. Sweetheart was always clipped since we got her. And I even cut 2 more feathers off of her because she was putting herself in danger by still being able to fly across the room to the other cage and get her toes bitten. To answer Siobha's question, you can cut their flight feathers and they learn pretty fast on the fact they can't fly. I would suggest what my breeder (from our cockatoo) told us to do. To clip their wings and than put them on the floor so they can see that they can't fly off rather than trying from the top of their cage and it being a big surprise. Just be careful not to clip too many, they are heavy birds and some may be able to cut more than others. I found that out the hard way. So clip just a few now like 5 or 6 and than see how he can fly still. If it suits him fine than leave them be and make a note of how many you cut or had cut. If that still doesn't work well for you cut 1 or 2 more, but for most 8 is enough. Actually 6 usually works well unless you have a determined bird like sweetheart was and would keep flying. But regardless the most important thing is to make sure they can GLIDE to the ground when you clip them. You don't want them to fall to the ground and hurt their breast bone.

LOL Siobha! I tease Jessie that Sweetheart is mine and this cockatoo will be his, but truth being he had his own before I got sweetheart that is the whole reason I got her lol. So this is suppose to be the FAMILY bird lol. From everything we have read cockatoo's love attention soo much that they will go to anyone and that is why we chose to get that breed lol. I wanted something that even the kids could hold with no problem. And not have attitude like sweetheart and molly lol. But I'll be the one home with him all the time hehehehe {Feel-good-00020069}

Congrats on him he is very handsome!! I would go ahead and give him the day to settle in, but take him out and play with him as soon as you can. I think the ones that let their birds settle in for a bit, like I did mine, they end up being a little independent at first and think they don't need you lol. They are stubborn little buggers lol. Being he is very young you shouldn't have too much of a problem, but in my opinion I wouldn't leave him in there for a week or so till he settled in. I would be taking him out and playing with him soon. I know that is a mistake I learned from and won't do that with our cockatoo we are getting. So good luck to you! And enjoy your little guy! We are here for any questions, for I'm sure you will soon have some lol.

Ok I got this in an e-mail today and thought of all you guys on here, well I guess just you three lol. It is similar to the one Dan posted but some are different lol. Here ya go! These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE! 1. Men are NOT mind readers. 1. Learn to work the toilet seat You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down. 1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be. 1. Crying is blackmail. 1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it! 1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question. 1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for. 1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days. 1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. 1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one 1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself. 1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials .. 1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we. 1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is. 1. If it itches, it will be scratched We do that . 1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle. 1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear. 1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really . 1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf. 1. You have enough clothes. 1. You have too many shoes. 1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape! 1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

lmao Dan! And Joe lol. Well than as long as I'm welcome! Don't want to step on any toes, and would love to watch, join in, whatever lol, I'll just keep my mouth shut lol. I'm game!

lol I think Joe can say that I think like the guys lol! Actually now that hubby has joined I think he could say the same thing lol. But don't worry I won't intrude on your guy's room lol. Just thought it was funny! Have at it boys! lol

LOL Dan well maybe the rest but not this one. I told you I think I was a man in my other life lol

LMAO Dan I have to say those are good! I think I was a guy in my past life!! lmao!!!{Feel-good-0002006E}

Thanks everyone! Tiff those are some great links! I will be getting some new toys here real soon. I'm sure with the cockatoo we will be getting he will really go through some toys lol. I have a bunch right now for SweetHeart, but you can never have too many to switch out!

LOL Ohsnap you could still change his name. But I think Sam is a great name! And they do love to hang upside down! lol Scarlet, What part of Ohio are you in? I am in WV and we used to live in Northern Ohio right on Lake Erie.<br><br>Post edited by: Ronda477, at: 2008/03/07 13:08

Terri here is a site that gives some good parrot recipes. They have everything there! Maybe you can mix it up a bit with some of the stuff you are giving him. It does take a bit, even if they just throw it around like My SweetHeart does, after a bit they finally do taste it and than start to eat it! I hated to make all of it and than waste a bunch but she is finally eating some other stuff now. Hope that helps ya! http://www.birdsnways.com/birds/recipes.htm

How nice siobha!!! I love the pics!!!! Thanks for sharing!!

Well welcome to all of you! I'm sure you will fit right in with this crazy bunch! Our SweetHeart is 10 months so we aren't too much older than you. The petting is perfectly normal with the Grey's. You will find ones that love it and seem to want nothing more than cuddle and than you will have ones like yours and mine. It just takes some work. You can get them so he will let you pet him. You just have to ignore the little bites and the growling and make him let you pet him and be fearless lol. Don't be mean by any matter lol just pet him when you want to pet him, he'll get used to it. He's still just a baby. That is the exact problem we are having with SweetHeart and she is slowly coming around. She will never be cuddly but she is finally enjoying little neck rubs from us! I hope to hear more from you soon and some pics as well!!

Well I have to say I have read a bunch on it already, but I wouldn't want to chance it just yet. You can go right ahead though and send me those links you talked about. A person can never know too much lol

Isn't that the truth!{Feel-bad-0002006A}

Well welcome John and Cath! Nice to have the both of you on here! I'm sure you will learn a bunch for I know I have these past months!