Nychsa

Ok, I don't get what a closet talker is... Is that a grey who will only speak when no one is around?

Hi Tony, My conure has the same problem. His right side is perfectly grown in, but the wings on the left side are all jacked up and look shredded. Jiggy plays pretty rough and I'm sure this is coming from him horsing around with something. He's broken feathers playing, and I'm sure he got himself into some situation again that trashed that side of his feathers. I'm trying to catch what it is he's doing, but I'm not here during the day, so what ever he's doing, it's happening when I don't see it. But I'm sure it is something he's playing with.

When people come to visit, they are intrigued by Bella. Several have said they'd want a grey after meeting Bella. But, that always scares me a bit when they say that. I generally get on my soap box then and explain just how much time/day I spend with her and how much work it takes to keep a parrot healthy and happy. I also try to explain that Bella isn't just a "pet". She's my feathered companion. She has "synched" up with me the way no other animal ever has, and that is because of the intelligence behind those pretty grey eyes. I've had dogs all my life, and pretty much know how long it takes to train a dog to do this or that. Bella's intelligence is breath taking - you show her something once or twice and she's on it! So, I try to get people to appreicate that you can't take and animal like that and simply put them in a corner somewhere and tell them to entertain you with "talking". Bella and Jiggy together are a non-stop comic show around here, but that's only one side of them. I don't know if people understand me.. I hope they do. I'd hate to think someone hastely obtained a grey just because they thought Bella was so "cool".

I think you're right Berna. I've found that a good, gentle massage is something both Bella and Jiggy really enjoy. Bella used to get very upset if you touched her under her wings. But I was concerned that she needed to allow me to handle her in any manner as I can't help her if she gets injured and she won't let me touch her. So, I slowly started working my fingers under her wings, rubbing her. Now she enjoys it when I put her body between my hands and give her a good, gentle rub all over under her wings, her belly, her back, her legs. It might help stimulate her skin and help her when she has the itchies from something. Cheers! Terri

Hi there BMustee! That is funny with Elmo!!! So, he likes his feet played with too. I've been rubbing Bella's feet with my finger and she seems to stretch her feet out and push against my hand then for more. I know a foot massage can be very theraputic for humans, I'm wondering if it's good for her too. I tried to find something on line about it, but I can't seem to find anything about parrot masaages.

Hi there everyone! Have you had an experience with your grey wanting their feet massaged? Bella and I have a play routine, she likes to run around the back of the couch during the evening and she'll jump on my shoulder, and play fight with my hair, and I'll reach back, flip her upside down, blow some rasberries on her bellie, let her dangle upside down on my fingers and swing her back and forth (she gives kisses when she swings my way) and then I'll roll her into my arm on to her back and play with her feet. Well, during our play time, she's started to hold out her feet to me, one after the other and she holds my finger very gentley with her foot and bobs her head up and down (while lying on her back in my arms :laugh: ). The first time she did this I was watching TV, so I just massaged her foot. Then she switched and gave me her other foot. I didn't realize until after about 15 minutes that she was really getting into this foot massage things. In the mean time I'm finding myself having to give her all kinds of foot massages! She also seems to enjoy a good full body rub. I found this out when I would flip her upside down and hold her I would rub my fingers under her wings, her sides and her belly and she really seems to like that. So, I'm wondering if mssages are a theraputic treat for our parrots? Does anyone have any experience with massages for greys? Cheers! Terri

goldn1 wrote: LOL Pam - you're either going to laugh or cry right? I'm not sure if conures are one person birds or not. They are terribly jealous, that's for sure. But Jiggy does "cheat" on me with my daughter though. But, he stayed with her for two weeks as well. He bit the stew out of her the first couple of days, but then, like flipping a switch, he because a lover boy! So, yours may come around, maybe :whistle: The grey-conure combo worked well for us because they compensate for each other. I think Bella learned to be a ham from Jiggy, and therefore over came maybe some of her natural grey shyness. When ever I have people over, Jiggy gets all the attention because he starts doing his "Jiggy dance", and clowns around fiercely in his cage, dangling upside down, doing his gymnastics and my guests delight at him. Bella used to hide behind her toys when all that was going on. Now, Bella is front and center, demanding equal "air time"! And she gets more attention then he does because she can throw in a "peak-a-boo", "beep, beep", a "what the hell" and an "I don't Knoooooooowwwwwwwwww!!!!" (that's me telling my partner to get off my case about something :laugh: And of course she does her tutitah dance and if you flap your "wings" she'll promptly copy you! So, Jiggy has had to work over time to get the quest attention, which involves flying over to me and sitting on my shoulder biting me ear! Bella has taught Jiggy to be more tolerant of fresh foods. He used to just attack any fresh food I gave him and furiously throw what ever it was "over board" as though it were some treacherous foreign object. But he observed Bella tasting absolutely EVERYTHING I had, so he started getting curious about it, and I've been able to add berries, apples and banannas, and yams to his diet (I'm still working on veggies - he's still terribly offended by them :pinch: So enjoy!! It's a three ring circus!!

Good luck with the new conure Godln! I love my grey-conure combo - they are both so much fun. Conures have personalities bigger then they are and constantly find a way to entertain.

Oh my gosh Pat!!!! that is a riot!! I'm sorry, I don't mean to laugh at your expense, but it is funny!!!! Sorry!!!!!

Acappella wrote: :laugh: Acapella! I like the TV show name!! I have no idea if they do reality tv! Bella and Jiggy definately keep the house rolling. Just when I think 'ok, I have to distribute my attention evenly' and I try to set aside some time just for the dogs, Bella decides she's going to join in, and of course steels the show! Jiggy won't be left out, so he comes flying over which immediately causes Bella to start chasing him around (that is like watching a 747 - Bella, the well fed grey - trying to chase a fighter jet - Jiggy, the nimble conure - :laugh:) and of course Jiggy, drama king that he is, screams his head off while she's chasing him (pre emptively that is, she never really catches him). I'm trying to catch some of this more on video, but now every time I break out the camera, Bella starts doing her tutitah dance (tell me she doesn't know she's being filmed!!!) Cheers! Terri

smokey wrote: Oh my! Smokey sounds like he's heading for an identity crisis!!

Ok - time to revive this thread tonight :laugh: Where is the camera when you need one!!!! Bella has taken over the couch. She marches around on the back of the couch claiming every inch. Doc, my male greyhound likes to sit at "his" end of the couch and put his needle nose on "his" pillow. So, he puts his front paws up to survey the couch and Bella runs over, leans towards him, he leans towards her, her beak touches his nose and she says "PEAK-A-BOO!!!" Doc ran off :laugh: I laughed so hard I had stomach cramps!! Where do they come up with this stuff!!!

Happy Hatchday to Josey!!!!! great picture Judy!

danmcq wrote: :laugh: Dan you're on to something! Aside from sitting on me all day, she's shared in all my meals today. You know, that's not a bad way to learn how to improve my diet. When I know she's eating what I'm eating, I'm extra careful to eliminate salt, and any other "bad" stuff (can't believe I had scrambled eggs without salt and pepper for breakfast :blink: )

Pchela wrote: Oh no Pchela, not wierd at all. Like Dan said, the first bomb in the morning is usually the biggest and most offensive one. Many parrots "hold it" during the night so when they come out the next day, they've got a serious load waiting to drop! My little conure, Jigme, his first morning bombs out do my grey's by several grams I'm sure! He drops them bigger the he is first thing in the morning (just kidding, but they are BIG). I know Jiggy holds it all night because his cage is clean as a whistle in the morning.

Oh oh Dan - I'm starting to worry about you!!!! :huh:

Today I thought about this thread because Bella has been in an odd mood all day and I thought how remarkable it is that these wonderful creatures can demonstrate their state of mind so easily for one of our kind to understand! She's not nippy, but rather if I had a word to put on it, I'd say she's been needy today. She is usually very busy with all of her stuff and doing her parrot "thing", but today she followed me around all day, constantly wanting to sit on my shoulder, giving kisses and in general not leaving my side for anything. I have no idea what is causing this behavior. I tried putting her back on her playtop a couple of times and she did play for a few minutes but then she wanted to be with me again. It did make me worry that she might not be feeling well, but for that, she is eating like a horse, so I can't believe she's not feeling well! And then I thought - just like Christo's guy who just wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, maybe Bella is just in that kind of a needy little mood today. That's ok - we all need a day to just love up and snuggle in addition to having days where we tell the world to go away!

Awwww Pat, look at that girl striking the pose! She is lovely!

danmcq wrote: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Have to know your poopology!!

Siobha, Bella's poop is like that too more often then not - clear with one little green or brown sausage and no white. Other times she does poops that have all three parts, and then sometimes she only pees and no poop comes at all, just water. My avian vet told me that when it comes to poop, I should get alarmed if it looks like puss (greenish puss or yellow) or blackish (that is when she didn't eat blue berries - when she eats blue berries she has blackish poop). He told me her poop should always look the color of what ever she's eating. Since Bella has a varied diet, she has some pretty colorful poop, but nothing that looks like puss.

He is too cute!!! Thanks for sharing Dan! Bella got a bath today too, but it was a good hosing down. She had rolled around in her food play fighting with one of her toys and she had crud all over her wings!!! :blink:

madisimmons wrote: So I should be doing this with my newly adopted Grey as well.. when she goes to bite?? I thought I was suppose to ignore the behavior so she wouldn't think of it as a game or that she got me?? Well, the breeders from whom I got my Bella socialized their babies quite well before releasing them to their new homes and they taught them quite early on the "no bite" command. So, I took my ques from them. Bella was never really a biter. It only happened when she was with my daughter for 2 weeks and she realized my daughter would let her have her way if she acted like she was going to bite. Bella being the smart girl that she is figured this could work with me too. So, that is when I reminded her that we don't bite.

I hope the diary works out for you Mary. I've found keeping records of things I'm trying to understand help me put things into context. It's funny how if we don't do that, we formulate impressions that may not necessarily be correct (Ok - I'm guilty - I did read Freakonimcs :laugh:

Wow that sounds very dangerous. If it were me, I think I would take a very systematic approach in learning more about Sammy. I would use the next couple of months to maybe begin documenting trends - I really mean actuall writing it down in a little diary of sorts. Since you got him at 3, it might help you fill in the gaps as it relates to his triggers and behavior patterns. I do think like Dan said though it is important not to let him get away with that. He does need to hear "no bite" and see in your face that you mean it by giving him a stern look (they can read our facial expressions). Good luck with him and be careful!!

shanlung wrote: Shanlung, that's what I think I'll do. The house is large with 9 foot high ceilings and Bella and Jiggy have favorite places they like to hang out in. Their cages are their favorite spots with all their toys and food, but they like to sit on the back of the couch, on the towel rack in the bathroom, in the palm tree in the bathroom and their playstands in different rooms. I know they feel safe and confident because neither one of them thinks anything of trying to nip my greyhounds on the nose! I've had a keen interest in the behavior of predators, in particular wolves, and in researching that entire enviornment one is confronted with the environment of the prey animals as well, and that is really a stressful existence. I was thinking about it the other day again while watching humming birds. At first they seemed so happy and delightful but then I realized only one of them was feeding and that was because he was terrorizing all the others! Thank goodness they are so small because they are down right vicious!!! So, I think we as humans over romantisize nature some times. The truth of the matter is, in nature, the big fish eat the little fish amd the cycle of life and death is very viceral. And in addition to that - one day an animal may get lucky and find food and then other days, there may be nothing on the table. Bella can't even wait for me to peal an orange leave alone have to go find something to eat! :laugh: