Jane08

I am biased here and say 2, but probably not at the same time unless you feel you can cope. It is a lot of work bringing up 2 babies as remember you have to teach them everything and they will go through many phases. We got our first grey as a baby and then waited 8 months to get the second baby. Both have been totally different to bring up. 1. If you handle it right then they will interact with you. Our 2 love each other but also love the one on one time they spend with us. The birds and us offer different things that they can't get from the other. 2. They won't talk less because there are 2. Both of ours are jabber jaws and they actually learn off each other. 3. Doesn't make a difference. We went for a male and a female as we wanted them to be partners. 4. Lots of people train them separately as this is easier. However I train both of ours at the same time as I find that they teach each other and watch when the other is being trained. 5. If they are born together and know each other then no problem being in the same cage. If you get them at different times then they will need their own cages and you can introduce them slowly and see how it goes and they might be able to go in the same cage.

We got her DVD's as well and have found them really good. We also did a workshop with her which was excellent.

We have 2 greys and they live in the same cage and we have never had an problems with them bonding to each other and not wanting to know us.

Hello Azzie I am another one from NZ, but unfortunately don't live there anymore. Good luck with Cleo

Sounds like he is molting. Our male also gets these nearly bald patches on his neck and when you move the down feathers aside you can see small spikes which are the new feathers coming out.

Really common problem you have and your bird is young, he will grow out of it with your help. As Judy says ignore it, but as soon as you hear him make an acceptable noise turn all your attention on him and praise him big time. Like you say also when he is quiet between screams then also praise him in the quiet times. He will soon learn the times he gets attention are when he makes an acceptable noise or is quiet. You can also take note of the times and why he screams and try and pre empt it. So if you know he screams when you give attention to the other birds then given him something to keep him busy while you are giving attention to the others. Something that will make him forget to scarem, a treat or a toy. It will take a few months, so stick at it and be consistent, don't show any frustration or aggitation, he will pick up on this and scream even more.

Isn't it wondeful how a small grey ball of fluff can give you so much pleasure. You have years ahead of you now of constant enjoyment and wonder. Our 2 amaze me every day and I am sure Darwin will as well.

I am also scared to use bleach products near the birds. I always think to myself if I can smell it even a tiny bit then it will have a bigger impact on our birds because of how their respitory system works and is so sensitive and efficient at taking on board oxygen. I use an avi safe product on the cage and for my floors etc I use another product which is a natural product made form trees.

Yay, I am so happy for you Baxters mum. It is very hard when they are attached to someone else, Kea was attached to my boyfriend. She was also downright mean to me until I made an action plan of how to become friends with her stop her screaming. I also never really talked to her becuase I really hated her. Once I let those feelings go and realised it's not her fault she is here with me, she didn't ask to come here it really helped me to feel more compassion for her and understand how tough it must be coming to a strange home and trying to fit it. Everyday now we have our talks together, train together and I treat her like a Queen. I sit with them on the window sill everyday looking at the world go by and all the action. We are all quiet just looking out the window and this is the time I feel so much love for them and direct it at them. Kea had to go to the vet a couple of weeks ago for a broken feather and as soon as my boyfirend was out the door with her I was in a flood of tears becuase I love her so much. Rangi kept asking me "where is Kea where is Kea" and calling for her "Kea come Kea come sweety". I then had a talk to him and explained where she was and that she would be home soon. He looks at me and goes "coming soon" and this is when I knew he understood.

Lindamary this is great news I am so happy for you. That is a real achievement and I certainly know how big an achievement it is. Good on you.

So sweet. Don't they just love sitting at the windows. Our 2 sit on the window sill in the kitchen and check out the action. I sit there and watch them because their expressions are so cute when they see things that are new. Kea saw someone with 6 dogs this morning and the look on her face was priceless.

Rangi also does that to me he will walk across the couch and tap my head with his beak because he wants attention. As soon as I look at him he turns around and puts his tail in my face and this is the cue for cuddle time.

The spiral perch that hangs from the roof. The best buy ever and hours of fun. Both of them hang upside down on it and flap to spin the spiral around and around and then let go and swing all the way back while going "whooo" "whooo" "whooo". You can attach toys to it and it's a great place to have them out from under your feet. When we go away I take the spiral with me hang it in the room that I am sleeping and both of them sleep on the spiral for the night. Multi purpose.

Fab photo, I am so jealous. I haven't seen the sun in over a week now and have had snow storms the last few days. That is one fine looking grey, looks like Rishi knows how to pose for the camera.

When we took our 2 for their yearly check we got the nails filed, very quick process with the file. Our vet also encouraged us to do it ourselves at home with a file. Most people use cement/sand or pumice perches in the cage which works to keep them in shape. Don't be scared of the vet visit your grey will stress even more if he feels your stress. The first couple of times our vet actually made us wait outside while she did everything and then brought them out to us. Of course they are a little chocked but when we get them home we give them lots of treats as well. I also make sure I don't act different when we get them home. So I don't go up to them and go poor you are you ok and make a big fuss. I just carry on like it's a normal day. Our female was fine last visit a couple of weeks ago and even got out into the vet reception area and proudly announced that she wanted to go for a shower.

Muat admit we use the palm nuts for 2 reasons, the nutrition and also the pleasure the birds get out of sitting there munching away on their palm nuts. I try to give them 2 palm nuts a day

I wanted names from my home country and for them to mean something so we picked Rangi (god of the sky) and Kea (mountain parrot). We talked alot about the name "manu" (means bird in maori) so maybe we will have to get a 3rd grey.

I am another one who is working on the devil harness. Nearly 2 months now trying to train both of them. I have it over their heads and resting on the back, rubbing it all over their body and under the wings. It has taken many sessions and lots of treats. Next step to try and get it fully on, which I am afraid they will freak and fly off so I have to take it very slowly.

It's better to teach them with props first before trying with the non prop training. Also use a clicker (like they dog ones) so everytime he does something that you want him to do click and give a treat. He will soon learn that the click is a good sign and the treat follows. There is no need to wait unitl he is older and no need to stop the sessions, just modify the sessions a bit. Try to look at it from the birds point of view. You stand there and wave at him and tell him wave, but he has no clue. If I made a movement with my hand (that you didn't know what that meant) and spoke in Swedish to you, you would also stand there and have no clue what I wanted you to do. You need to show him in baby steps exactly what you want. You are speaking a foreign language to him at the moment which he needs to learn.

Are you sure the screaming when flying is not playing. Both of ours have a session everyday where they fly like crazy and scream like banshee's while they are flying. This can go on for 5-10 min in the afternoon. It seriously looks like they are nuts. They even sort of dive bomb us and come down and fly past us as close as they can. It is so funny and they seem so happy. I would think if the wing was sore he wouldn't want to fly. Our female had a broken wing feather and was miserable all weekend and wouldn't fly at all because it annoyed her and was sore. My boyfriend had to carry her everywhere.

Sorry to be so blunt but it really sounds like you want to just make money off of selling them and think that it is easy and a quick way to make a buck. It makes me feel a bit sick when you say you want to hand them over young so you can keep a rolling inventory, like they are goods in a shop. I really hope this is not the case, because these wonderful birds deserve more respect than that.

Yes that is wonderful news, he is definitely bonding with you. All the things you mention, regurgitating, whimpering, dropped wings are all signs that he is in love with you and he has chosen you. This is the ultimate bonding. You are doing great in just letting Joey tell you what he needs and then responding to that and just going with it. Keep doing what you are doing, take your cue from Joey. Learn his body language and over time you will know by the way he moves or reacts exactly what he is asking for.

Oh yes the grates are maintenance. We clean ours everyday. I guess our thinking is that it is easier to clean a little bit of poop off everyday. Ours slides out and we take it into the shower and spray it and then leave it for a few minutes which makes it easier to get off. I am a bit of a clean freak as well so we have to clean the bottom out of the cage everyday. We spend about 1 hour when we get home everyday cleaning. Like you say with no grate you have the problem of them standing in the poop and probably getting poop on their tails then I am always scared of the food that falls in the poop which they will then eat. That is just me though and I am a bit over the top when it comes to cleanliness.

Dan you are so right so this is why he had to sleep with the light on as well, so I don't think he slept well either which made him change his mind pretty quick.

Thanks Raposa, she seems happier today and she is off to the vet tomorrow. I am sure she will be fine. My boyfriend is the one freaking. He is so dramatic and says to me I hope she makes it through the night, lol, I tell him don't be silly she is fine. I hope Jenna's feathers get better, it sounds like you are doing a great job.