Acappella

I was just so excited that I saw him do it, I was in the room with him. I made such a big fuss of him, his little tail was wagging, it was ​a big moment.

What is hard is that I don't think Dorian was ever allowed to fledge. I don't know this for sure, I'm just guessing, judging by how scared he would get when he 'accidentally' flew when startled. Even if he still chooses mom's taxi service for long distances, I would be thrilled if he started being able to use his wings to fly around a little bit by choice. I agree, I think it would do wonders for his confidence levels.

Nice video. I love the look of lovebirds but could never handle having them. Their particular cry goes through my head like an ice pick (I have migraines). It looks like you have a nice aviary set up.

I don't know anything about baby birds, other than what I read here on the forum, because my guy was a re-homed adult, but I wanted to say welcome and thank you for taking on the responsibility for raising this baby. Maybe there is some information on weights and/or a growth chart of some kind in the nursery room on this forum. Take a look anyway, there's lots of good baby info there.

Hello Darci and Shadow. I echo the others when they prescribe patience. I would not push step up, especially from within the cage, which will be Shadow's safe zone as she supervises her new digs. I found with my re- home that the key was to make things outside the cage look so intriguing and fun that his natural curiosity overruled his fear and he asked to come out.. It works much better to work with their nature than to try to assert our desires onto them. They are curious, and they are flock animals, so they naturally want to be 'with'. Build and play with toys within Shadows sight, play with your other animals (I think you said you have cats) and let Shadow see you give them attention and love. Make being outside the cage with you so darn appealing that eventually your fid will have to join in the fun, but don't rush. Just offer your hand for step up and if you see any sign of refusal tell him 'ok' and withdraw. Don't force anything. Also, it worked better for me and for others here who adopted older birds to provide a perch on the outside of the cage and to ask for step ups from there. That way you're not invading their safe zone. Good luck, and thank you for giving Shadow a greyt new home.

With great consistency and grossness! Dorian is a pioneer in the field of half walnut shell boats, and every yellow pellet from his seed mix ends up in the water not in his crop. Add in other shells and dehydrated fruit and it makes for a mess at least a couple of times a day.

He's being as typically slow as he usually is. Dorian's top speed is glacial, even for a grey, but I really do think he's starting to work things out. I know it'll be a case of 'be careful what you wish for' if he does and "whatchadoin?" can follow me around the house at will.lol

Dorian never goes to the bottom of his cage. I use newspaper under the grate.

So, a couple of exciting moments here yesterday. First, I had Dorian on his play stand in the living room with his travel/outside cage a couple of feet away from it, with plans to take him outside for a while. I went outside to get ready for him, got my weeding supplies, extra water, spray bottle in case he opted for a bath (he loves his outside bathing lol). When I came back into the house, here he was sitting on the top of his travel cage. He can't climb down from his play stand, so he must have flown! Then, later in the day we were in his room and something startled him off his cage and he flew into the closed door, 'landing' on floor. I decided not to run and rescue him,, since he knows how to climb up onto his cage from the floor. But instead of walking over to his cage, he flew from the floor up to his cage. This is the first time ever Dorian has flown from the floor, ever!!! It's taking years, but I think my boy really is realizing what his wings are for. Now we have to work on Mama's habit of rescuing him every time he's in trouble and to give him a chance to figure things out for himself.

Welcome to the forum. Here's hoping the second half of 2014 is a huge improvement over the first half. So sorry for your losses. ((( )))

Welcome to the greyt life!

I agree with Sterling. Looks to me like he wants to play. When Dorian gets into this kind of mood he doesn't have the option of the pterodactyl flight because he doesn't fly, but he does attack the stuffing out of his bell in his cage. Does Rio have a bell to take his extra energy out on?

Tease!!! ;(

I 'make' a version of this toy everywhere Dorian hangs out. A long zip tie, or a length of untanned leather cord works around here to tie a roll of paper to the side of the cage. Dorian won't be without it.

He simply may be too young to survive on seed and fruit/veggies alone, or as others have said, even if he was fully weened, he may have regressed a little when moved away from his clutch mates. Some warm food offered a few times a day could solve this. Some babies leave the nest ready to take on the world, some need a little more support and comfort. You may have more of a cuddle muffin on your hands. Contact the breeder and ask what formula Rio was on and for instructions on how they prepared it. After all, we humans like comfort food when we're feeling upset or lonely, why should baby bird feel any different?

I think kat has made a great point about cage placement. If you can put the cage against a wall or in a corner Stanley may feel a bit more sheltered and secure. You're right on track trying to do the right thing teaching him how to be in his cage alone. You don't want to have him on you all day now, and then have it suddenly change when you go back to school. I can tell you're going to be a great parront!

Congratulations on getting Pookie to wear a harness. I'd be a finger amputee if I tried that on Dorian. She looks like she's really enjoying being outside.

Congrats! Now she'll be an even more confident little girl, although from your stories of her, that's a little hard to imagine! Lol

So cute. She obviously loves her burrito time, if she's trying to re-create it on her own.

First, I would think that a full exam with blood work etc... would be a good idea in addition to the visual once over he's already gotten. Then, if everything is alright, my guess would be it's some form of separation anxiety/attention seeking. Others have given good advice. Dave007 has suggested a product called FeatherIn to others here with pluckers. I know it's easy to say try not to stress. I know full well that if Dorian started plucking tomorrow I'd be upset, just like you are, but having said that, try to treat Levi just like a fully feathered baby. Lots of praise for positive behaviour and lots of positive energy around him. Hugs to you ((( )))

So sorry for your loss. He was beautiful. I'm sure your birds are looking for him, but I honestly believe that they can put together the fact that you're sad and Sunshine's absence and figure out, at least on some level, that he's passed away. They may be more needy, or more cuddly for the next few days. I'm sending you a big cyber hug. ((())) Love, from me, Dorian, and Jac the cat

Yeah, you def don't want something happening over the weekend. Hope all is ok.

I wish I was close enough to come volunteer at your house and give you a bit of a break. I met a Too in a new pet store in town. Someone had foolishly set off a home alarm in his vicinity and boy, can he duplicate it. When I was there I saw the owner pull out a water bottle and I thought he was going to use it as punishment, but then the bird opened up his wings and I realized he was loving it. Apparently birdy uses this sound not only to ask for attention, but to ask for a bath. Anyway, let's just say I got a close up and personal appreciation for the volume these guys can put out. I'm sure a scream is even worse than that alarm sound, and my eardrums bleed for you. Your birds are truly blessed to have you, even if they don't seem to know it most days. And poor Gussy. Why does Lilly have it in for his poor head? (I know, if you had the answer to that question everyone's life would be better). <3 to you and yours.

Welcome to you and Gabby. That's one cute baby picture!

I second (or third) the bell idea. Make sure it's a heavy duty one meant for birds that are Storm sized. I've never heard of a grey that didn't love beating up and swinging from a bell. A roll of adding machine paper is a pretty consistent favourite. Tie it to the inside of his cage with a strip of untanned leather or a couple of zip ties. If Storm is leary of new toys, start out by laying them near his cage, and playing with them yourself. (It's usually a good idea to check and make sure no one is filming you for YouTube during this step. Lol). Gradually move them closer to the cage, then tie it to the outside, low, moving it up slowly, then finally on the inside. At the first sign of alarm back up a step. Once he learns to trust you he'll probably also learn to trust most thing you introduce to him but right now it's not unusual for him to see every new thing as a potential Parrot Killing Machine!!!