Acappella

Just have your wife suck up a little right now. You know, sit by the cage and talk, feed favourite treats, read a children's book, introduce favourite toys (don't put them in the cage if that is going to generate a bite.) Just don't give him an opportunity to bite. Be hands off, but don't let him drive her away. Let him decide to let her back in to his good graces. Sorry this happened, but glad you had a chance to get away.

So, when is your wife home?

Since your bird is still a baby, it's a good time to try the aviator harness. It's easier to train a young bird to accept it. You have to go through the steps they give you on the dvd that comes with the product, but many members here have had good luck with it. Then you don't have to worry about a loud noise or a strong breeze startling your bird off its playstand and out of your control and possibly your life.

He's a beautiful happy little fid. I echo others concerns about having him outside without a harness on. It looks like he's on a balcony so he'd have height if something startled him off his playstand he could go a long distance and you could easily lose sight of him. You obviously love him a lot. IMHO he shouldn't be outside without either a cage or a harness.

Dorian consistently uses his bell to work out his aggravation when he's been told off for doing something naughty. He'll look at me, make a disgusted noise and then proceed to beat the stuffing out of his bell, all the while muttering under his breath, presumably about what a bad mommy I am. It's really funny, to me at least.

Grapes are fine as a treat but only a couple a week because they have a lot of sugar and no nutritional value. As for signs, just look for how close she will let you get your hand before she fluffs up, pins, and otherwise takes an aggressive posture. Just be prepared. It could take weeks of sucking up. I got Dorian when his mommy got breast cancer and 'dissapeared' from his world for weeks. When she got back he wanted nothing to do with her, and she decided, since he'd adopted me as his person, that she would sell him to me rather than do the work to get back in his good graces. It could be some hard slogging before your baby wants contact with you again. You can always come here to vent and for encouragement. We'll be here for you!

Happy Fourth to our American members. We've already lived through our fireworks here in Canada on Wednesday. I definitely have to sit with Dorian while they're going off to reassure him that he's ok. It can mean a late bedtime and a cranky birdy the next day, so I'm glad they don't happen very often! Again, Happy Fourth!!!

You're reacting right when she bites, but for now I wouldn't give her the opportunity to bite. I would treat her like a new bird you're just getting acquainted with. That is, I wouldn't try to handle her right now. Part of re-building your relationship is re-building the trust between you. Spend a lot of time by her cage talking with her. Feed her treats if she'll take them nicely. Let her see you get the message that she is unhappy with you right now. Let her see you make toys in front of her, play with other pets, make being outside the cage look fun. It may take a while, and I'm talking grey time here. Stop thinking of it as letting her win and think of it as slowly re-building the relationship. Flock members are equals, not leaders and followers. Let her make the decision that you should be allowed back into the club!

You do an amazing job around here Talon. I'm sure you'll get it sorted out.

How thick are the trimmings? Branches that could be perches, or stringers like people use to make wreaths? If the later, soak them in a laundry tub or other deep vessel and form into actual wreaths. Then you can hang them up to store. What are you going to make with it?

Thank you for your very nice intro and welcome to the forum.

Hey Barb, I just sent you a friend request on Facebook. My name is Marguerite Rendering, so you'll know who I am. I don't know who told you to feed him aloe juice but I've never heard that. Many of us here use aloe juice in a spray bottle to shower our birds, especially when they're molting and they've got a bad case of the itches. I've heard many member here say they find it in the medicine section of WalMart. It's sold as a remedy for stomach troubles I think. As for molting, I know Dorian tends to lose feathers at a slower pace. He'll lose a wing feather from one side, than one from the other side will drop. At its worst he'll start looking a little scaggley, but he's never lost a ton of feathers at one time. Dorian's done the head bobbing/regurg dance for me ever since I got him at the age of 3 1/2 when he made it clear he'd chosen me as his new mommy. You're right not to touch him anywhere that may be stimulating, even if it is a little early for it to be hormones. Why get in the habit? You're also right to keep his days short in the summer. They need their 10-12 hours sleep a night. Honestly, it sounds like you're doing everything right. Are you spoiling him for his hatchday? Then again, how would that be different than a normal day, right? lol

Oh, and I forgot, the sight of the cordless phone seemingly enrages him. He attacks it and is not satisfied until it hits the floor. I'm surprised he hasn't started saying "no Dorian" or "be a good boy please", he's heard it enough lately. Thanks for the 'sympathy' guys. He's definitely starting to keep me on my toes. I just wish I could interest him in a toy when he's on my desk but he will not be re-directed. What happened to my little grey perch potato!

Obviously horrible birdy abuse going on at your house! Lol. Hopefully your wife will be home soon to stop these atrocities.

Don't laugh at me. I know I've been spoiled for a long time. Dorian really gets into very little trouble. Well, he's begun to make up for it. He likes hanging out on my desk with me, but lately hanging out hasn't been enough. He's chewed through phone cords, chewed through an upholstered wall that is at the back of my desk, discovered the joy of throwing my mouse off the desk, chewed the buttons of the tv remote, and, finally, has figured out the fun of popping keys off my computer keyboard. Every time I get up from the desk, even if only for a minute, I have to put the mouse, the remote, the keyboard out of reach, and not be gone long enough for him to chew through the protective wrapper I've placed around the various cables running up the back of the desk. It's more than my little brain can handle many times, and so I forget something and he tunes into whatever I've forgotten like a laser guided missle. He'll get me trained pretty soon! Oh, and he gets mad if I try to discipline him. He's turning into a right brat. So go ahead and laugh. I'm finally experiencing some of the troubles I've only heard about up to this point. Sigh.

I'm a big fan of getting those bands off. They always look as though they'd be irritating to me. Hope everything goes well at the vet on Monday.

I can't imagine how you manage with your flock-. It's not like with huge families of kids when the older ones start to take care of the younger ones is it lol? How's the sunburn?

There is no hard and fast rule for when greys begin to talk. Of course, some don't. Mayday hasn't been with you long so my advice would be just to talk to him a lot. Even read to him from children's books. Give him sounds to imitate. The fast that he's picking up sounds fast is a good sign, but it doesn't mean words are going to follow. Just spend a lot of time with him interacting, and establish good contact sounds like Nancy says.

Thank you for starting a thread for Alex here. Now we'll have a place to come and check up on his progress, and you'll have a place to ask questions and seek support as you take this journey together.

Yep, coolest place on the web. lol Welcome to you and Peanut.

A very interesting and well written article. Thank you for posting.

Samansad, you should start a thread for Alex in the Rescue Room Haven here. That would give you one spot to put all your Alex updates, and a place where we could follow him and you. It's further down on the Forum Rooms page. It's where the "Gilbert is Home" thread is. I loved the video btw, you're doing greyt!!!!

There should be a parrot friendly condo in every city!

In that case I would look to a vet for advice. I agree with Dave about the coconut oil, it might taste good and actually increase the way your bird is worrying at the site.

I spent an afternoon watching the videos on Youtube of dog rescues. There was one dog that had had all four paws cut off that they had fitted with orthodics. I wish I believed in heaven and hell because I would wish a special hell to those that are cruel to animals.