BMustee

I breed finches and I keep mine in cages just like the first one. I have two of them because finches are very unhappy when over crowded, and they are over crowded before they look over crowded to us. I have 10 all together…owls, stars and gouldians. One cage has the set of Owls, and one set of Stars and one set of Gouldians. The other cage has just the one pair of Gouldians and one set of Stars. The second cage looks nice, but round cages are not the best for finches unless they are something like the big round outdoor aviaries that are like, 8 feet by 8 feet. Also, you said you would have 13 all together…get one more to make 14. The odd bird out would probably be picked on and plucked to death.

Don't dilute it...it works best at full strength. Also, don't mix the gel and water...that doesn't work and there could be other chemicals in the gel.

I was just throwing that idea out there for kind of a last resort thing. I aggree with using the "force" training in the Ringnecks case because it would never have had a chance for a home if it wasn't tried and there was not a lot of time given and we all knew the normal training route was not going to work. After I posted I was thinking that because of the trama your little girl went through your best bet is to keep on the trust building path you are on now...and I personally would not want to risk the progress you already have made with her. Sorry for any confussion that you all thought that I thought she should start doing it right now...I was thinking months down the line and progress had screeched to a halt.<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/01/24 16:55

Are they clipped too short? My sun conure I used to have got his wings clipped way to short and he broke off all his tail feathers from dropping like a rock. When the wings are clipped correctly your grey should be able to fly accross a bedroom and land kinda like an airplane at a nice angle, not just go 3-4 feet and crash.

Man, it sure is taking a while to get her to come around isn't it. Well, I would say you could do one of two things...one, keep doing what you are doing, because it does seem that little by little she is getting better. Or two, you could "force" the issue. I've never really heard anyone doing it with greys but I have seen it work with other birds. One of the girls at my work took home an Alexandian Ringneck that was scared of everyone and could not be held. She basicly didn't give him a choice...he WAS getting kissed and scratched if he liked it or not, and sure enough 2 weeks later she brought him back and you could pick him up and snuggle him. A week after that he was sold to a nice guy and he's called and came in a few times and says that they are the best of friends and tells use how great a bird he is. Would this be a good idea for you...I don't know.<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/01/24 15:32

Oh yeah, mine acts like a dog sometimes. If I leave the room and I don't call back to my grey when he calls me he will come looking for me to make sure I'm OK. :laugh:

My sun would loose a number of tail feathers at a time when he would hit a heavy molt, and they always grew back pretty quick. One thing with the Suns is if their wings get clipped too short you can kiss that beautiful tail good bye. I took Otto to get his wings clipped one day at the store I got him from (not the store I work at now) and they butchered his flight feathers and he broke every one of his tail feathers because he would drop like a rock...needless to say I never took him back there again.

Yeah, I work 2 jobs and he is fine being at home alone when I'm gone. Mondays and Fridays I'm gone from 6am till 9 at night. It's actually better for them to be alone at times. They won't be independent if your with them 24/7. I leave the radio on a few days a weeks and he has full view of the finch cages from where his cage it so it's like "bird TV" for him.

I recommend having a cement perch in the cage...and putting a fav toy next to it so they will go on it. You still need nail trims from time to time but they don't get needle sharp. I like the one (can't remember the name off hand) that looks like it is twisted so there are all different surfaces for your bird to stand on.

I watched a movie on Wal-Mart...I'm not sure if it's the same one...but they were talking about how little the people are paid in the sweat shops that make some of the cloths and that if they were to bring the price up 50 cents on the cloths the people would make decent money. I would pay an extra 50 cents to know that people are being helped rather than taken advantage of.

Keep the eggs in and let her sit on them for about a month...off hand I think it's 21-28 days they sit on them. She will probably lay a few more in the following days, but if you take them out she will want to lay more. Be sure to give lots of calcium because they need it to produce the eggs and restore their bodies "back-up supply". Now, if they are getting broken then I would take them out and replace them with fake eggs. You can find them at craft store or taxadermy shops...fake eggs will fool her and keep her from wanting to lay more. Also, keep an eye on her and if she sees to look like she is always pushing and is not pooping then you need to go to a vet ASAP!!!! Because she has already laid one I wouldn't be too worried, just be sure to watch her extra close...the added calcium will also help prevent egg binding. Do a search of the forum also, there have been many posts about this.

I wouldn't worry...now if "it" was eating cat poo then that would be different. My Elmo has had a taste or two of poo and he's fine. I would just make sure he isn't doing it all the time.

Here is me and Otto <br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/01/23 18:37

Is it wild caught?

Well, I myself own a Congo but there is a TAG at my work that is just the biggest sweetheart. It is true that TAGs are are not known for being pluckers and one person birds, but a lot of that is also how you raise them. I have heard of a number of TAGs that are pluckers, so it's not like none of the do it. There are a number of people on the forum that do own TAGs and I'm sure they will be happy to tell you all about them.

Be sure to change cloths and disinfect your skin before handling your baby grey...reptiles and birds are not a great mix. Herps carry Salmonella and other nasty bacteria that could kill birds. Plus given the fact that your grey is only 14 weeks he does not have a fully functional immune system yet so the danger is even greater for infection.

LoL...yeah, the girls were blond so I had to give them a pass...:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Sorry, had to make the blond joke. I still laugh about it because he was sitting on my shoulder with his back turned to them when they asked and I'm telling you I really couldn't even answer them...it was like the stupid was had become airborn!

Hahaha...I won! :laugh: I really need to print that thread and post it where everyone can see it at the pet store because we use sticky traps for the mice (can't use anything else) and it's always in the back of my mind that this is going to happen there.

LOL...I had a girl on Halloween ask me what kind of parrot I had and I told her an African grey and the she asked...No joke... "Why are they called African Greys when they have a red tail???" :woohoo: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

As for being grey, their feathers are grey from the start. Why they are grey is evolution...like Kllorio said. Most African parrots are not as colorful as their South American counterparts. How big are the toys? Try getting some smaller toys of different colors...mine seems to like yellow and red but hate blue. Wing clipping is a big debate topic here, so I'm giving you my 2 cents. Seeing as though you have fans on all the time and windows are open I would say you should clip. The fans could do fatal damage and the risk of escape is huge with the windows open. The development issues you speak of happen when the bird is clipped before it fledges. If not given the chance to learn to fly and land gracefully the bird will/could be clumbsy for a few years. I allowed my grey to fly for 2 months before I clipped his wings and he has no problems with balance.

Ask question by question if you can't find the info you need by searching the forum. Everyone is more than happy to help with any of your issues.

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/african-grey/45543-help-please-quick.html Here you go...this should help.

There was another post about the same thing...let me see if I can find it for you...

Everywhere else I take him he is on his Feather Tether and people think it is so funny seeing a parrot on a leash.

I have taken Elmo to my pet store (he was getting his Pollioma vac.) and into Petsmart. The petsmart in my town only has the little birds like budgies and Keets...but I don't take him near them...he only goes by the toys. His fav store is 7-11, I take him in there now and then, and one time he went into Davids Bridal. I was thinking that they were going to kick me out but I had to bring him to work to feed him and I had to check my dress fitting for my sisters wedding so I had no choice in bringing him. He was in one of those Kitty Cabs and everyone had to come see him. There were even a few ladies that worked there that were like "We'll watch him while your getting dressed!"