BMustee

I don't go to the movies very often but I have seen a couple this year that are worth talking about. My first fav for the year is 300. I love everything to do with that time period. This movie has it all...great story line, beautiful layout (all CGI), blood baths, and 300 buff men in leather Speedos and capes...CAN IT GET ANY BETTER?!?!? I loved Troy and the added bonus of Brad Pitts butt was a plus, but the Spartans don't just whoop the Persians, they are better than Pitt too. Next is Transformers. Also has a great story line and great graphics. I was really worried when I went to see it because there was just so many kids in the theater, so I thought I was going to be bothered by them the whole movie...but it was such a good film that I didn't hear a peep out of one kid for the entire movie. But, there is a flaw...WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO JAZZ?!?!?! I mean come on...a Pontiac Solstice!!! If it had to be a GM vehicle then he should have been the Corvette...WHAT WERE THESE PEOPLE THINKING???? In the cartoon he was a Lamborghini or Porsche (depends on who you ask). He looked like such a weenie in this film. Lastly there is Super Bad. I have not laughed so hard at a movie in years! It does have some raunchy language, but it sounds just like real teenage boys conversations. I was worried it would be one of those movies that are made for 13 year olds, but the critics were right and it was hilarious to me and my boyfriend...I'm 22 and he is 31. I don’t think it would be for everyone, but if you don’t mind hearing what is really going on in a teenagers head then you should be good to go. So, does anyone have any thoughts on these movies, or seen one you think should be mentioned?

Yeah...That movie was soooo cool. I loved Barricade as the new Mustang. I'm thinking of changing my layout to a 300 skin though...that’s like the best movie ever! I'm not able to look at yours though...it says it's under maintenance. At first I was never going to start a myspace page, but when my brother went to Korea and my sister being on it so much I caved and made one. I'm actually glad I did because I have found old friends I never would have without it.

LOL...I had that problem with my Sun Conure; he would dive-bomb everyone but me. I think spooky is right...you might want to consider just "trimming" his wings. I have read many training books by parrot behaviorist and they all say that clipping is very important when it comes to "problem birds" and initial training. I did what I call a "long clip" on my Grey so he can fly from one end of the house to the other but just can't get lift. He does not seem to mind, he didn't even fight me when I was clipping his feathers, but he knows that he can't get everywhere and has to rely on me. Grey’s are very smart (as you know) and although your raven is a creative and absolutely hilarious way of keeping him away from your son I'm sure it will not be permanent.

I have seen the training method for parrots to lie on their backs and it isn't too difficult. First, get them comfortable with your hand on their backs...if this is already ok with the bird then skip. Second, start to lean the bird back with him holding you finger...if it nips then go only as far as he wants, hold for a few seconds and reward with a treat. Keep going further back in tiny increments that the bird won't notice and do the same thing, hold and reward. Do not reward if the bird nips, so don't rush it because it can take longer in the end. Third, once the bird can be held on it's back and hold for a few moments start to remove your finger. Reward for any improvements, not for setbacks. Fourth, TAAADAAA!!! Your bird should be on his back for you!' I would like to say though that not all birds will do all tricks and not to push if the bird wants nothing to do with it. You normally want to trick train a bird to do things that are already in their nature to do. You may want to start with a easier trick like waving HI or nodding yes and no.

A late Welcome! Jar head huh...My brother is in the Army and is over in Korea. Your going to make a great Grey daddy when you get one because most people jump into getting parrots not knowing what to expect.... not to say anyone here did that. Am sure everyone here will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have before making the plunge and any you have after. {Holidays-0002010E}

I know that at the fledging age they drop a lot of weight so it is easier to fly. Mine lost so much that he was looking thin, but he was eating like a mad man and was playful as ever. I'm betting thats all that is going on with your baby. If he isn't flying yet then he will be shortly.

I guess I’m a prude and not really into bars, but from what I hear the chicks that work at these places are supposed to be hot, right? Well, from the grape vine of the family I heard that one of my step/in-law relatives just got a job at one of these bars in FL, so I'm thinking this is like a backwoods Coyote Bar because she isn't what I would want to see dancing on a bar if I was a dude unless it really would turn into a Coyote ugly situation and there would be arm chewing involved the next morning. :sick: :laugh:

Mine LOVES the car...when I have him outside and I walk near the car he gets all excited! He could ride for hours just watching out the window and flapping his wings showing off at the street light. :laugh:

My Grey started eating Apple Sauce and blueberries for it's first foods. I'm sure you know how to wean so I won't go into any of that, but that seemed to be what worked best for mine. I also gave him cherries (pitted) and corn. From there I started mixing in a normal pellet diet with a little seed in the mix. My baby Grey was abundant weaned so he was about 15 weeks before he weaned, so yours being at 7 weeks should still be hand feeding for another 3 to 4 weeks from my understanding of the normal weaning times. As for bedding I used aspen shavings with no sent...my breeder told me some horror stories about paper, paper products, and strong odor shavings (like pine) that he had been told by other breeders and told me to do what he did and heed the warnings...so no paper pellet stuff or strong smelling stuff. B)

Nice ink...I want to get a tattoo one day, I just want to be sure it's something I can live with the rest of my life. :laugh: I was thinking I would get a bird, I seen a cool picture of a macaw I would like to get.

From everything I have read parrots do hold grudges...for a long time. That is one of the big reasons never to hit one...they remember. That's why I gave my Sun to the couple on the farm...The day he latched on to my 18 year-old cat's face I smacked him off her. I felt sooooo horrible that I "hit" him but I did what I had to to save the cats eyes and face. I knew if it kept happening he would hate me, and then I would have a loud, cat assassin bird that would want nothing to do with me.

I found my Grey by calling a bird rescue. I originally wanted to rescue an adult grey but they didn't have one so she told me she would give a fantastic breeder a call for me and sure enough I got a baby Grey.

sweet! Back at ya'! I couldn't live with myself if I didn't step in and say something...the birds can't say that kind of thing for themselves so someone has to do it.

And thanks Dan and Judy...it's always a great thing to hear when someone thinks your tips are helpful!

I thought of one more thing that may help... I found that when my Sun Conure Otto would get testy I would start doing more trick training with him...two or three 10-minute sessions a day. The action of you giving orders and lots of positive reinforcement when the parrot follows them is a great way to show the bird who is boss but have a great time doing it. After only a day or two working with him he would quit giving me such a hard time...he had more important things to do like wave hi!<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2007/09/19 15:12

{Feel-good-0002006E} LMAS Joe, love how you mentioned "group" lessons...you better bring some of those Oranges!

I do...I haven't been on it as much sense I started posting here though... lets see if this works... www.myspace.com/mustee_er

LOL...yeah! One topic (i think everyone knows which one) could have started a Bar fight! {Sports-00020059}

Yes, I'm sure Donna is a very good parrot owner...I posted the money issue just to bring up a point to anyone reading up on caging multiple parrots together, it wasn't directed at her. I posted that because I go have grave concerns for birds owned by people that can’t afford the proper housing. This one time I was at a local pet store here in Fort Myers, FL that always has a ton for macaws and other large parrots. I overheard a guy talking with one of the staff there about getting a B&G. He then started asking about the cages they had and wanted to know how much the HUGE cage the pair of Hyacinth macaws where kept in cost. When the salesman told him it was about $1,000 the guy was like “WHAT!” He then went on to say that he was going to just keep the parrot “free-range” in the garage! That’s when I had to jump in. The sales guy and I were like “you can’t do that! The fumes would kill it.” He then went on saying that it was a new house and he wasn’t planning on putting anything in it other than the bird. In the Florida heat a garage gets well into the hundreds…with no air circulation…so I continued to tell him that it could kill a parrot and to think how he would feel after one afternoon in the garage. I really wish I could have knocked some sense into him with a broomstick, but fortunately the guy was shocked when he was told the B&G was $1,300 at that store…he left with no bird thank god.

I think I read somewhere that around 5 is when they become sexually mature, but it sounds to me you are in a "testing stage". Just let her know who is boss and when she starts to misbehave give her a time out or put her down and turn your back. I have had days that my 6 month old will get nippy and that what I do...the earthquake just makes him want to bite harder.

Check to make sure the eyes are clear and bright, the nares are free from blockage are discharge, feathers in good condition, and make sure the vent (butt) is clean. If any of these seem to be not right with the bird then you may want to continue looking for a different one, or ask the guy if he will give you a health garentee and take the grey to a vet for a total check-up.

That is so true Dan, I would also like to hear from more people with the 2 bird setup. I myself have only owned one parrot at a time so my personal experience does not cover two parrots in a single cage. My expertise is with finches and those are a whole different ball game than our larger feathered friends. After reading Donmar55's response I think that he would be a good candidate for trying to house two Greys in one cage...given the past and present ownership of large parrots. I would like to bring up a point of why I'm sure a lot of people want to try housing parrots together...money. Parrot cages are very expensive, I myself am saving to get one that will put me back almost 5 bills, so I can see why it would be so attractive to get just one cage. This, in my opinion, is the worst-case scenario. If the birds start to bicker that is the signal to remove one and give it it's own cage, but if you're trying to save a buck then this hypothetical person would be more likely to ignore the warning signs, which in turn could and most likely would cause serious problems like missing toes and torn skin. That is why I would pretty much always refrain from giving my endorsement for this type of living arrangement.

Well put Dan. Like you said, it's up to the birds. My concern is more of the owner...there has not been a peep out of donmar55 sense the original post so I'm not going to bother asking him anything about past parrot ownership and the time he will spend with the Greys each day. I know everyone that I have really interacted with on these forums (Dan, LMG, dblhelix, Joe, + more...) all take care of their Greys as if they are children...so I would feel comfortable saying yes to trying it with them, and I would know that if it didn't work they would separate the birds Post Hast. We don't know these things about this person so I (the pessimist) would say no. Just my thoughts though….

Black Cross by Greg Iles is really good too. It's about two Americans working undercover in a Nazi concentration camp to get the formula for a new chemical weapon.

Dan is the man...He is always right...DARN YOU DAN :: shaking fists at the sky ::!!!:laugh: :laugh: I love a good debate, but when people don't open their minds and eyes to the other side and refuse to admit when their point is wrong then it is no longer a debate and becomes a head-butting match...those can be fun but not on a "family forum" setting...cuss words come into play then. :laugh: <br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2007/09/18 19:45