BMustee

Oh I know, I can't look at a Sun without melting. Otto was the greatest bird, but I'm sure everyone else thought of him as a demon bird from hell...he was a one person bird for sure.

What a ham! Elmo has just discovered that he can hang upside-down a week or so ago, so I hope I'll be able to get some pics as good as yours pretty soon.

Thanks Dan, I love that pic of Otto and me too. I've got a few of the "play nips" from Elmo too. He will reach around to my face and run his beak across my skin in that darting and weaving manner to let me know it's time to play. I guess thats not really biting, but it's close enough. Here is two of my fav pics of Otto. <br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/01/16 14:28

LMG - Yeah, that’s Otto. He loved to snuggle up to my face and under my chin. The only "bites" I ever got from him on my shoulder was if he was preening my face he would sometimes preen the edges of my nose and would put a little too much pressure for comfort on the "bull ring" area. It would make my eyes water every time but it was not like he was really biting me it's just a very sensitive spot.:pinch:<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/01/16 13:47

judygram wrote: I think sun conures must have some kind of magnetic pull to the shoulders because Otto was the same way.:laugh:

From everything I have read and experienced first hand the greys are the most “reliable” to have on your shoulder. They are less prone to bite for reasons like fear and displacement aggression. The Amazons are notorious for displacement biting and should never be shouldered unless you really know your bird. Macaws are a bit better than Amazons, but I have only had one macaw that I ever allowed on my shoulder. Conures I have found also are good shoulder birds...I've never heard of any serious face bites first hand. So, I say shouldering greys is OK as long as they are stable perchers, out of the nippy stage, and are well trained.

How old is he? Younger greys that have just weaned tend to be nippy, so you run the risk of getting bit. Also, how well is he trained to "step up"? You should not allow a parrot on your shoulder that will refuse to step up. I have a 9 1/2 month old CAG and he does sit on my shoulder but he always steps up on command and is not nippy at all.

I do know the feeling of having to rehome a parrot…I had to give up my beloved Sun Conure. It’s not that he wasn’t getting enough time or anything but he was getting more and more aggressive with my cats. My one cat Kitty could fend for herself but my other cat Angel is 18years old, her eye sight is starting to fade and I think she is going deaf as well so she is pretty much defenseless...I've had her sense I was 4. What broke the camels back was one day she was on the bed with me and Otto (the sun) and she started walking closer to me…well, Otto didn’t like that and lunged at her. I was able to block him and Angel went back to the foot of the bed. I thought everything had settled down but then she got up and started walking away from me…I think she was getting up to go get something to eat/drink…and Otto saw her. She was no threat to him but he still got up and lunged again. I was not able to block it that time and he latched on to her face. In a panic I whacked him off her and he hit the floor. At that moment I knew that his possessiveness was getting out of hand and because of Angels age/disability I could not risk her health and well-being and try to correct his behavior and I did not want to have to do that to him again. I posted an ad for him to go to a loving forever home and I had tons of e-mails from people wanting him. I interviewed a few people that sounded the best and decided on visiting a couple that have a small farm. They already had two very large aviaries outside with one having Quakers in it and the other with Indian Ringnecks…all of which were hand tame even though they were in flocks. This told me how much time she gave her birds and that she and her husband would make great new parents. What really sold me was they already had a HUGE cage for him filled with new toys inside the house (he was to be their indoor bird, plus this was even before I had told them I was going to go with them). I gave him to them that day and did not take a dime from them even though I’m sure they could have and offered to give me something. Knowing he was going to be loved by them for the rest of his life and that was enough compensation for me.

I agree tari. I got my grey back in May and I was hand feeding him 3 times a day. A few weeks after I got him my work hours changed and I had to bring him to work with me because I could not change his eating times...I didn't complain because I really loved having him with me. About 3 months ago I had to get a second job because sales are down and my hours at my first job were not stable. I leave at 6:30am for the first job, come home around 1:30 and stay maybe 20 minutes and then it's off again for job#2 and I don't get home till almost 9:00pm. I give lots of loving when I am home and Elmo is fine with me working so much...I think he knows that means more toys for him though...LOL. Working and parrots can happen without any problems as long as you always make time for your feathered friend.

I paid $800 for my CAG when he was 6 weeks old from a great private breeder. I could have let Jake (the breeder) finish feeding and weaning him but I really wanted to do it myself. I tell everyone though that buying an unweaned baby bird is not for the beginner bird owner and should only be done by someone that knows exactly what they are doing...or else you just bought a dead bird. The only reason Jake sold me Elmo as young as he was is because I have fed baby birds before and fed Elmo in front of him a number of times so he was sure of that and I live only a few miles away so it's only a 5 minute drive to his house if something was to have gone wrong. If I was to have him wean Elmo he would have been $950. At my work we sell CAGs for $1100 and the TAGs at $900...Petland sells their CAGs for $1200. Most of the cost depends on how many breeders are in the area and what the supply and demand is. A breeder can't sell a grey to a pet store for $900 if there are 5 other breeders that will sell for $700. I know that in some areas of the US greys can go for around $2000 so there really isn't a national base price...it's more of a reginal thing.

The average age for weaning is 12 weeks, but many times it is longer because of abundance weaning...and then the bird gets to take his time. What did your breeder said about his feedings...did the bird still want the feedings or did he lose interest?

I can't believe it...I hope he finds Tink.

Craft stores sell fake eggs. If they don't sell the size you need you could also look into taxidermy supply places. I would think that a fake egg would fool a grey better than a golf ball would. :laugh:

When he squawks, is it when you are around or is it really more like 24/7 (if you are there or not)?

I too have delt with a Velcro bird. What you need to do is every time he comes to you without your permission put him right back where he came from. Like if he jumped off the playstand on to you then put him right back on. It can be hard when your bird refuses to stay and you've been up and down 20 times in a row but in time your grey will learn. You have to be consistant though...your grey will learn that if he just does it 21 times you will give in...so no backing down once you start.

I agree with LMG, take her to an Avian vet for a well bird check up and ask they look at her legs. I would also say that LMG was also right about your CAG not knowing any different and as long as she eats, plays, and acts like a grey she is fine.

I believe so. My Elmo has a high pitched shrill that he does from time to time. When he first learned it he would do it all the time but I never gave any "notice" to it so now he got bored of it and is on to better things. So when he does it act like nothing happened.

LOL...that would be too funy. Knowing greys though you would come home to a decapitated self...LOL

Well, first and foremost he needs to be on a good formula. I have never heard of the brand you are using so you may want to see if he would like the Exact hand feeding formula. You should also be giving him pellots and fruit & Veggies. He may not eat it but keep it in the cage all the time so he can play with it. I'm a little worried about the comment you made about letting the baby tell you when he is full. Baby birds can and will ask for MUCH more food than they need at a time and that can cause the crop to stretch out which can lead to slow draining and sour crop. At 7 weeks he should be eating around 40-50 cc per meal. I really hope that you have a Large grey because I can't imagine 90cc's fitting into a normal sized crop. The crop should feel full but not firm...it should have a little give to it. I'm guessing you have never hand fed before...did the shop show you the proper positioning of the syringe and the proper temp the food should be?

Well, one thing I just thought of was recording yourself while at home...like talking on the phone or with you hubby...and don't tell the bird you are leaving and just play a looping tape of you being home. I don't know if it will work but it's worth a shot.

I second the advise dave gave you. My Elmo HATES baths, but they have to be done. Just get in and get out as fast as you can as long as you are getting him saturated.

Welcome, and I'm sure everyone can't wait to hear more about Duke.

{Feel-good-0002006E} LOL, yeah...one thing off the resolutions list.

I have people non stop come into the pet store that think birds can be picked up and played with like puppies. I normally will give one chance for people to "prove" themselves if they think they are such experts and normally one of three things happen. One, they can't "handle" the bird and it ends up going to the floor...at that point if they are not really on the market for a parrot they lost all handling privlages. Two, they pick up the pick pocket macaws after being warned and end up loosing buttons and/or watch parts. That normally gets people to leave them alone. Or Three, the person gets bit. Normally not too hard but the way I look at it is there are signs that say ask for assistance and you must have done something to deserve it. LOL. With Elmo he will pretty much pick who he trusts whn it comes to new people and normally does very well...but then again most people he interacts with are bird people as well. I would tell your guests "if you want to hold him you must...yada yada yada...or you WILL get bit." People that don't really want to learn about birds normally won't want to hold them after hearing that.

LOL...thats so funny. When I started working in the pet store I picked up a little cough from the corncob dust and sure enough Elmo learned to do it too.