Jane08

Great work with the clicker. I used clicker trainig on our female Kea as she hated me and after doing the clicker training for a few months we became best of friends. It worked wonders and I had so much fun with her where as previously I wouldn't interact with her as she would bite me all the time.<br><br>Post edited by: Jane08, at: 2009/06/24 15:14

What a great toy, Emma looks like such a happy bird and she definitely knows she's all that you can see it from the way she acts. Good to see her like this.

What a laugh no no no no, it must sound so funny and you must have a hard time trying not to laugh. We have one in the terrible 2's and the other one is nearly there. To be honest they haven't changed at all just the usual trying stuff on which they have done ever since we got them.

Ok I am going to go the other way here and say that biting is a learned behaviour. Might as well create some discussion, hehe. I think this because biting is something that is not a part of a birds genetic history like for example nesting, bathing. When birds are in flocks of the same species they use body language, vocal screams which other birds look for to warn them off. With us we usually miss all of these signals and the bird is forced into biting because we don't stop when we see these signals. We then reinforce this behaviour with our reaction so the bird learns ok if I bite they will stop, which we do. So based on this learned behaviour in future the bird will bite because past behaviour has told the bird that this is the only way to get the person to stop. Now I am not saying that birds never ever bite in the wild but just that it is rare and would happen in extreme circumstances for example fighting over a nest. It is not a common behaviour like it is in captivity.<br><br>Post edited by: Jane08, at: 2009/06/24 09:27

LOL, that is so funny cheeky koko. You must have been wondering what the hell. It's like us when we go in the car and have the GPS on and it does this series of beeps everytime a speed camera is coming up. At first we thought the GPS was playing up as there were no speed cameras in the area but the beeping was going and then we realised it was Kea making the noise. The thing is she only makes it in the car and never when we are at home.

It's so much fun when they start to talk, you wait you won't be able to shut her up soon and the things she will come out with will shock you. Wait until she makes her own sentences as well you will be amazed.

I think she keeps doing it because you are doing something to reinforce this behaviour. You probably don't even realise it but she is getting something out of this behaviour so she will keep doing it. What do you do when she flies to you and bites? Also when you ask her to step up from a favourite place where are you taking her? Is there a need to ask her to step up when she is having fun? She won't step up because what is she getting out of it, nothing, so she bites you and you go away which is exactly what she wants.

I think he is puffing up his feathers not because he is scared but because he wants to make himself as big as possible in the hope that this will scare people away. You could also try when you have visitors come over to let them give him his favourite treat, bribery always works with these guys.

Azzie how is everything going?

I would say it is a phase he is going through and the dive bombing is to tell people this is my home and this is my family, so he puffs up to try and make himself look big to scare them away and dive bombs them to try and get rid of them. Don't take this personally it has nothing to do with how well you socialised him, this is normal growing up bird behaviour, testing boundaries. Now you have to deal with this issue, by maybe not letting him out while visitors are around for the time being until it stops. Or if you let him out and he dive bombs you need to let him know this is not ok and place him back in his cage.

Great news Azzie, congrats.

I know what you mean Natasha, when we got Kea I was so scared Rangi was going to make mince meat out of her as he was quiet an agressive bird and Kea was so gentle. We let them out together and they did a bit of beak clashing but that was it. He was also very possesive of his cage and I thought no way is he going to allow Kea in there, but surprise surprise within 2 months she was Queen of his cage. All the times we have let them out with other greys we have never ever had a problem. Once they met an Amazon and a Macaw and Rangi wanted to make friends but the Amazon and Macaw told Rangi straight out that he was the wrong species, so he went back to the greys.

Good start with the toy, not so good with the flu. Hope you feel better soon.

Myafrican queen we went through this as well, Rangi hated my boyfriend and then Kea hated me. It took lots of time and bribery to bring them both around, but finally we have adjusted to each other and have a fantastic relationship. We have our own special time with each of them and do special things that the other person doesn't do. For example Rangi loves to play ball with by boyfriend, so that is their special game only they play. Kea loves to sit with me and watch out the window and this is a special thing her and I do. They both love to come in the shower with me and this is something only I do with them. As for petting that is on their terms. They will let us know if they want to be petted and we respect that. Tell your husband not to give up.

We have done play dates before with our 2 and they love it. Rangi is such a social thing and runs straight up to meet the other birds. Kea fell in love with another male grey at first sight which made me laugh. Adive I can give is if you take Ash to their place leave her in the cage for awhile until she gets used to the surroundings and you can see that she is comfortable with the situation. When you see she is comfortable take her out but don't force them together just see what she wants to do. There are no guarantees that they will get on, but from the experience I have had with our 2 there has never ever been any aggression, just curiosity. You might also want to ask them if they have check ups with their vet on a regular basis. You wouldn't want Ash to catch anything from another bird. I know this could be a sensitive thing to ask someone, but better safe than sorry. I really think it is a good idea to socialise them with other birds, it's so great to watch them play.

Ok I was one of the ignorant ones and had no idea what an African grey looked like. My boyfriend showed me on you tube and then gave me books to read. When I met Rangi for the first time I thought oh god he is big and yes a picture of a pigeon did cross my mind. He was the first African grey I had ever seen in real life. Really if you have no idea about birds it's impossible to know and I am sorry Tycosmom you are right they don't really care as I didn't at that stage.

Natasha you are an angel. If you can help her with Vlooi then that would be the best thing for him. It seems like she loves him, but just doesn't know how to handle him or what to do for him to make him happy. Hopefully with your guidance and help she will learn all of this with time. Next time you will have to take him some yummy treats to feed him and start with the bribery to make friends.

Yes we have discussed it and my boyfriend said if anythng happens to him and I can't cope with our greys then they should go to the bird society here who will then find good homes for them and no money would cross hands.

You go Natasha and I hope you are able to get her to see her grey in another way rather than this bird in the cage that bites. Really she should be angry at herself for Vlooi biting the baby and not Vlooi. Let us know how it goes.

Thanks Tycosmom and casper your comments are exactly how I feel. It really does help being able to talk about it with people who understand.

Azzie I always take the seeds out, just put my fingers in the holes that I have made and losen the seeds and wash them out under the tap. I don't know if the seeds are ok for them, but I was always told they are not good for humans so I always take them out just in case it is the same for birds.

You are right Janfromboone, I guess I just feel guilty sometimes that maybe I am not the right person to own them and doubt my abilities. It really is one thing reading about everything, but putting it in to practice is another thing. For someone who has never had birds before it is a major change. I am doing a course soon on living and learning with parrots with Susan Friedman, so hopefully this will give me more insight.

I put out a big terracota pot base (like a bird bath) on the table and fill it with water and then tell them it's bath time and use the mister as well. They seem to know now what that big dish is and Rangi jumps in right away. Kea fluffs up gets excited and throws herself in, realises it's water and flies away. She then repeats this a few times.

Reading all of your comments got me really thinking as everyones lives seem to be changed for the better when they got their greys and I feel like I must be missing something, or maybe it's just that I am not a bird person. Don't get me wrong I love them to death, but life has really changed and I do get frustrated sometimes with the limitations. On reflection maybe it's just me being a bit selfish. Sometimes all I can see are the negative changes, like cleaning every day, constant mess, the noise (constant talking and whistling). Sometimes I just want to come home from work, put my feet up and rest but never get to do this. There is always something that they need or I need to do for them. It really seems never ending. Then we have the going away and no one to look after them, so they have to come with us. Making sure that one of us is home with them if the other has to travel. I do feel most of the things you all talk about, but maybe not to the same extent. When I am away from our greys I have this longing to get home and feel Rangi's feathers, to see his excited face as he flies up the hallway to meet me. To be with Kea and stare out the window at the world and feel her soft little feet on my hand. It just seems like I have a mixture of how I feel about my life changing.

You should also try beans and peas in the shell. I give ours a whole mangetout (sweet pea thing) and they love to find a way to break it open and get the peas out. They also love beans and trying to get the the insides out of it. Another thing I do is make holes in a bell peppar, stuff it with food and hang it whole in the cage. They go nuts over it trying to rip it apart to get the food out.