Acappella

Hi. Welcome to our grey family. If you're not sure of nonesense's age you must have re homed her. What's her story?

Well, I saw a doctor yesterday and she said they don't do MRI's on sciatica until it's been going on for 6 weeks. Unless I lose the feeling in my whole leg! She gave me a higher dose of the anti inflammatory than the emergency room doctor had given me, and more of the muscle relaxant. She also gave me some exercises to do, since I can't afford physio therapy. Problem is, some of the exercises require me getting down on the floor, and I don't know how they expect that of someone with this condition. Particularly someone who lives alone. After all, if I do get down there's a very real chance I won't be able to get up! I already had one living alone scare. By accident I took too many painkillers. I lost track of when I'd taken the last one and accidentally took another dose too soon. I got really nauseous and dizzy. I had to go over to my neighbours for a couple of hours until it passed and I felt safe to be alone again. My back's gone out on me a few times again, so my hope that it's getting better is lost. Dorian's been a real angel, if I ignore what my floor looks like! I haven't been able to sweep so you can imagine the amount of seed, and torn up little pieces of cardboard, are littering my floor around his playstand. I'm just trying not to see it. lol I've managed to force myself to the floor to clean out his cage but it's soooooo painful it requires me to psych myself up a lot before I do it. Now I have to psych myself up to go to the drugstore and fill my prescription. Guess I'd better get going. ttyl grey family <3

Wow, that game went on a little too long lol. She really loves this game doesn't she? I don't know what to tell you. Maybe go inside with the other two the first time she flies off so there's no one to play with, then come out and ask for step up again. See if that takes some of the fun out of this. Dorian did his version of this last night which is he climbs all around his cage at bedtime, gets a snack, a drink of water, anything but stepping onto his sleep perch and tucking in for the night. He didn't go to bed until I left the room and ignored him for a couple of minutes. Then he rang his bell that is by his sleep perch and when I went in he was ready for bed. I wonder if a similar technique would work with your adorable little bratty pie.

Congrats on your imminent baby. My advice is to make sure they let the baby fledge (I don't think my guy ever did) and to not get him/her clipped. It's a controversial subject sometimes, but I for one wish my Dorian knew what his wings are for.

Love hearing about your relationship. I'm glad you've come into each other's lives.

I love GreycieMay and your relationship with her. You've sure got a cutie on your hands there.

He and Jac really are my good boys. Today was the first day in weeks that my back hasn't gone 'out' all day, so maybe the prescriptions they gave me in emergency are starting to work! I'm still in a lot of pain, but at least I can walk short distances with a cane, so cross your fingers and toes for me. Lol. I'm cautiously optimistic. Thanks for all your words of support and encouragement.

I agree with the bell. Dorian has one on every place he perches and two in his cage. Two of them he loves to beat the snot out of, one is used for calling his servant.This is an example of the beat the snot out of bell. Get at least one of these.This is an example of the calling for his servant bell. This type of clapper is supposed to be grey safe. I, personally, do not see any way he could get the clapper out of this bell but note, I do not have a destructive grey. Maybe someone who does will chime in (pun intended). Dorian loves his boing and hated the orbit. Mind you, his cage is large enough to place a boing on the inside. He absolutely refused to perch on a pedi perch. Note: be prepared to buy at least one expensive thing that your grey will hate for no logical reason. Dorian doesn't have a sleep cage, but he does have his own bedroom. I can see how a sleep cage might be necessary if you can't do this. Sounds like you are going to have one well spoiled birdy!

I've done that once, cut the quick of Dorians nail. Now I take him to a groomer to have his nails done. It means over the winter his nails get really sharp because it's too cold to take him outside, but I'll take some scratches on my hand. I won't try to do his nails again. I'm glad Charlie forgave you pretty quickly. Now you have to forgive yourself!

Thanks guys. I knew I could count on you. This episode has made me feel very alone, mostly because I've been housebound for two weeks with no end in sight. Pain on this level is really isolating. Dorian loves having me home all day of course. So does Jac. I lay on the couch and he lays on top of me purring away. It's very soothing, until parts of me start going to sleep (he weighs 21 lbs-thyroid issues and diabetes). Dorian makes his grunting noise every time I stand up. It's literally comments from the peanut gallery, but it makes me smile. That's worth a lot these days!

I would do acupuncture in a minute but I can't afford it. I know people who have gotten very positive results from both acupuncture and acupressure. I figure it wouldn't be around as a treatment for several hundred years if there wasn't something to it.

Hi guys. I'm writing because I am in so much pain and I don't have anyone to talk to. My back has gone out. I was to the hospital yesterday and they told me it is sciatica (not sure of the spelling). It's been on and off for a month and a half, and intensely bad for the past two weeks. I can hardly lift my right leg off the floor. The pain is unreal. The hospital gave me an anti-spasmatic and a anti-inflammatory. I've been housebound for two weeks except for going to classes I take at the hospital which I've had to get my neighbour to drive me to. If it doesn't let up soon I'll have to get a friend to grocery shop for me. I'm just sick and tired of this pain, on top of the regular pain I have with my fibromyalgia and arthritis. Dorian's been a very good boy. We've been hanging out in the living room during the day and if he sees me sleeping he's quiet as a church mouse. I don't know if it's appropriate to post this here but I had to basically whine to someone.

The name thing isn't an easy call. We had a birdy on here once whose new owner tried to change his name and he told them very clearly "my name is ______" (I forget the name). I didn't change Dorians name, but then again I liked it. He definitely knew his name though. Once your new fid is comfortable enough in your home to start verbalizing you may hear him saying his own name. At that point it's a question of how much you hate it. I do think gradually is the best way to change it. He'll be confused enough being rehomed again so soon, you want to avoid putting unnecessary stress on top of that stress.

Thank you for considering a rehome. My advice to you is to get as much information as you can from the current owner. Ask about diet, out of cage time, bedtime routine, how he/she is with kids, other pets ... ANything you can think of. Maybe other members will log on with questions you should ask

Welcome to you, Charlie Parker and Andy. I had a Bunny 27 years ago named Charlie and his nickname was Bird. Sounds like you and Charlie are off to a great start.

From the amount of research you've been doing makes I think you'll be a good parront. Greys are a tough bird and often not recommended as a first bird, but we have had others here who, after a lot of thought and research, have made a grey a member of their family with success. I did it. Not only was Dorian my first (and only) bird, he was a re-home out of a less than good situation. I did a lot of reading and asking questions here before I brought him home and, with help, we've made great gains. I now have a happy, beak grinding birdy, thank goodness. I believe you could too. I'm glad you were able to cancel your order.

Gooooooooooooooo Isaac!

So tough watching such an abused, neglected birdy. Lol. Swing away Greycie, swing away.

Yeah, it's been years since I've seen Dorian in the bottom half of his cage.

Rehomes are def a different kind of challenge but soooo worth it. My Dorian was completely cage bound and terrified of hands when he came home with me and it took literally years before he would step up for me or leave his cage and venture into a different room. Every little step in the right direction was something to be celebrated, mostly here where people understood what a big deal they were. While a rehome unpacks their baggage there are heartbreaks along the way as you try to convince them that all you are trying to do is open up their world with caring and love and all they see are potential threats. Even a rehome coming from a good situation may take a long time to unpack and accept their new flock, but understand there are no guarantees with babies. A fid that you've had since babyhood may hit the age of two and develop all sorts of behavioural challenges that can have a parront on here begging for guidance. These birds are nothing if not challenging, but that's part of their magic. They make you work for it! lol

I wouldn't expect you to be able to feed him treats from your hand any time soon, at least not and expect to keep your fingers! Lol. You could aim for being able to put treats in his food dish without him growling. Just keep up the good patient work letting him observe you and his new household and settling in. It sounds like things are moving in the right direction. Welcome to the forum Ed!

To give you some idea of what 'grey time' can mean, it was around 2 1/2 years before I could pick Dorian up. He wasn't growling at me, but he was terrified of hands and of being outside of his cage. Here's something that worked with him. When I approached his cage I would approach from the side so that he was seeing me in profile and seeing only one of my eye's at a time. The idea behind this as it was explained to me is that birds are prey animals and always on the lookout for threats. Most predators have front-set eyes like we do, so that approaching the cage from the side made me look less threatening. I also tried not to approach him from above so that I wasn't looming over him in a threatening manner, and I half closed my eyes - again making myself look less threatening. When I approached him this way he did seem to treat me as less of a threat and calmed down a bit. I still use the eyes half closed technique if something has startled him and he's reverted to his high-alert ways. He usually calms down right away. Your new baby is terrified at all the changes in his life. Even if the situation he was in was not good it's all that he has known. He doesn't know that your intentions are to love and care for him, so he needs your patience and understanding. Always remember that in the wild they are prey for larger animals, and we are significantly larger and more threatening to them. He is using the only techniques he has to defend himself. It's going to take time and patience to convince him that even though you could hurt him you aren't going to. When you get frustrated you can come here to vent so that you can go back to him with love. We're here to support you as you build your relationship.

Good News! I'm glad.

She is so cute.

Hope he news from the vet is a minor problem. Keeping good thoughts for you.