Acappella

Dear Dorian. Well, you finally broke momma's favourite tea mug. I guess I'm a slow learner. I forget how fast you can move when you see something forbidden within reach. I'll do better. Please don't bite.

Have you all forgotten about our new sub room? Surely someone amongst us must have messages for our little grey companions. Start a thread, talk to your bird, give me something to do lol.

I gave myself the night off from it last night because I had a molar root canal yesterday and the whole side of my face where the straps cross is swelled up & painfull. We'll see how things have settled down tonight. Thanks for the support guys. It means a lot.

Well, an update on the CPap situation. I'm having some limited success with a new mask and machine. I can keep it on for about four hours at a time before I wake up, but at least I usually wake up with it on. Then I have to take it off for a while, read or get up briefly, then put it back on and try to get some more sleep. Can't say I've felt any benefit from it yet, but the therapist says I've been sleep deprived for so long it may take awhile to start to recover and feel better. So put me down as cautiously optimistic.

Nancy, I had a post disappear the other day after I hit the 'post quick reply' button. Maybe that's what happened to yours.

Faris54 don't let it drive you nuts, he'll pick up on your tension. They're very good at reading our moods. Just to be clear, are you talking about the fluffy white downy puff feathers? They pull them all the time, or they fall out, and it's not considered plucking. I just watched Dorian shake himself and three went flying. They're the bain of a grey owners existence because you will leave the house with them in your hair, clinging to your clothes... They shed them every day.

Beautiful job. The only thing I'd add is a bowl or two for treats. Less necessary if your bird is flighted and can fly back to his cage for food or water whenever he wants to. On the stand I built for Dorian I had to add dishes as he doesn't know how to fly.

Don't relate it to her mood. My Dorian talks a lot when he's ticked at me. Yesterday I was sitting with a friend in another room and I declined to bring him with me. He went through his whole repertoire to get my attention. Maybe she's just moved into an observation mode. Two weeks is around the usual 'honeymoon' period for bringing a re home into a new home. Just continue to talk to her as normal and if she does make a sound make it a big deal.

Maybe he's feeling too exposed? Is his cage up against at least one wall so he doesn't have to be vigilant from all directions all the time? Just throwing ideas out here.

If you think he's clumsy, maybe line the bottom of the cage with towels to pad the bottom if he falls. Glad he seems to be settling in. He certainly is beautiful.

Aw, he looks like he's smiling.You weren't kidding when you said you were buying everything for him. That cage is huge. How's he taking to it and all the toys?

Well? . . .

Another thing I forgot, is he getting a full nights sleep? 10-12 hours in the dark is optimal.

Sounds greyt. Sending good vibes yours and Issacs way. I know what you mean by engineering your life around your bird. Other people think I'm nuts when I tell them I have to go home because it's past birdies bedtime, but I know what a grump I get when he doesn't get his scheduled sleep. Glad I have here to come to where I can obsess to my hearts delight.

Egg binding scares me so much, I'm glad Dorian is a dude.

Look up something called Rescue Remedy. Other members here have had some luck with it. You sound like you're a great parront. I'm sure you've gone through looking at anything that might have changed in the vicinity of his cage, a toy that might be scaring him etc... I'm sorry you're going through this. Just keep interacting with him as if he's already the bird you want him to be. They're very good at reading our body language. If he's showing mating behaviour with you be careful just to tough him on his head for scritches. Another member here whose bird was plucking just figured out that he was touching his bird too much and that it was frustrating him. We're here to support you so vent all you need.

Knock wood this isn't a problem I've had to deal with personally yet, but from the experiences of others on the forum I'd echo the aloe and the Rescue Remedy.

Welcome to our flock. We all get the human slave notion here. Lol

Dorian does the butt feather boogie after a big preening session or when he's happy. And yes, please star a thread in the rescue room. It's a great way for you to track your progress for days when you feel you're not getting anywhere.

I think the 1/2" Supreme would be fine. That's what I use for Dorians swing and he hangs off it and sits on it with no problem. Plus, the knots would be bigger and give him something larger to hang on to if the rope was bugging him. Although I wouldn't put in a 1/2" perch in a cage as a main perch, for playing on it should be fine.

Love the last pic with her tail feather fanning out behind her. Cutie!

I think it's wonderful how you return her to her safe place before she asks. That way when she asks for more interaction you get to reinforce step up as a positive. Dare I say you've got the little monkey as figured out as you're ever going to?! Lol

It's funny, when I play a Grey video for Dorian he gets very agitated (jealous?), but I played some Disco vids for him and he went beak to beak with Disco and seemed very curious. I'd probably get a pair of budgies for company for Dorian if I didn't have a cat that definitely sees small birds as prey. Perhaps it's a thought for many, many years in the future, after Jac leaves us. Discos parronts certainly have a large personality in a small body on their hands.

Teaching them about toys is a tough one. My Dorian came to me not knowing what toys were for as he only had 1 acrylic toy in his cage. He still doesn't know how to chew wood, but he has learned the joys of ripping apart paper and cardboard. Because his only early toy was an acrylic one he mostly uses toys to batter around banging them against the cage. You'll have to experiment with toys until you find something he responds to. Try playing with the toy infront of him. If you make toys yourself make them in front of him as well. You have other birds, so let them model playing for him. There are a couple pretty much universal grey favourites. One is a big, loud, stainless steel bell. They love batting those around. Another is a roll of adding machine paper tied to the cage. Try starting with those.

Hey guys. We haven't had a 'too update lately and I was just wondering how things are going? Is Pat still in possession of all his body parts?