Acappella

I'd advise you not to let Miranda on your shoulder, period, full stop. Shoulder priviledges are only for birds that are trustworthy there, and she has proven she is not. You can't see her to read her body language from that position. Don't let her climb to your shoulder. If she is on your hand, keep your hand high, elbow low. Birds don't like to climb down. If she is flying to your shoulder don't let her land. Duck and weave, dance and jive (oh, and get it all on video so we can enjoy !!!!). Make sure she has alternate places to land that are near you. A playstand, a hanging boing etc...

Hi Shelbie. I went back to read your introduction post. You've only had Irwin since the beginning of March, so you're in very early days. You and I know that everything you're offering is fun, healthy, and exciting, but to Irwin it's all just NEW. In most of African Grey world, NEW=BAD. It took months for my Dorian to come out of his cage on his own, and years before he would step up from inside it. I really advise you to re-think what fast and slow is. Does Irwin come out of his cage and wander around on the outside at all? That was Dorian's first move toward freedom. I spent literally hundreds of hours sitting on the floor infront of his cage, or in a chair beside it, just hanging out. I let him see me interact with the cat, playing with toys, petting, cuddling, grooming. I started to take small parrot toys, pretend to offer them to Jac, then show them to Dorian. If he moved away in fear from the toy I'd remove it immediately. If he moved towards it at all I'd praise the heck out of him. Eventually he got brave enough to 'beak' it, then touch it with a talon, then after a long while take it from me. I put a perch on the outside of the cage near to wherever I was sitting. Soon, Dorian was coming out and sitting on the perch near to me. This was huge because there wasn't the safety of the bars of the cage between us. Then I started to introduce larger toys to him. Start out with them across the room when you unpack them. Dorian was always less afraid of toys if he saw me making them in front of him. With larger, store bought things like his boing it took weeks, slowly moving it closer and closer to his cage, then hooking it on the outside right at the bottom, then slowly up the side of the cage. At any sign of fear I would move back one step. This isn't 'babying' them. What you are doing is proving to your bird that you are paying attention to their warnings of danger, and that makes you a trustworthy flock member. Soon, he will look to you for clues about safety. Now, when something statles Dorian the first thing is does is look to see what my reaction is. When he sees I'm not scared he trusts that evaluation and calms right down. So, even though you want to show Irwin how full and exciting his new home is, and how much you want to provide everyting he's been deprived of up to now, just take a deep breath and REALLY let him come along at his own pace. It is worth it, I promise.

How are you feeling today? As soon as you're able to, I'd love to hear exactly how you managed to get bit by a lemur!

Welcome to you and your new charge. Isn't it amazing how fast they can steal your heart and become your focus? I agree that she needs a sleep cage. In my experience, if they're not getting a good nights sleep all other progress is slowed. I would look to see what kind of perch she likes most, be it rope, manzanita, java, and put that in the sleep cage for her. Add a small food and water dish, a bell so that she can summon her servants, and maybe a small preening or shredding toy that she can use to self-soothe and wind down with. Put the cage in a room that can stay dark and quiet. Dorian's cage is in my office/music room, which means after he's in bed I don't have access to my PC or my printer, but with wifi and a tablet that's not a big deal. Your morning routine will depend on who can move her. If she will only come with you, you could get her out of her sleep cage in the morning and put her in her main cage. If you offer her anything cooked, there will have to be someone else in the house to take it out of the cage after a couple of hours, like Jayd recommended. If she will let someone who gets up later transfer her to the big cage that would be ideal, because you could put her to bed a little later. With a 5:30 wake time, that makes her bedtime rather early. It's normal for a grey to not want to step-up from inside the cage. There's no shame in a little bribery. Maybe put a treat dish and a perch on the outside of the cage. Once she is out it will be easier to get her onto either your arm or a portable perch and move her that way into the big cage. Or, until step-ups are in place, you may have to pick up the whole sleep cage and place it on the floor next to the big cage. Again, put a treat in her food dish, then let her move herself. IMHO, the sleep routine is one of the most important things to work on right now. A sleep deprived grey is less resilient to changes and much harder to work with. Once she becomes used to getting a full nights sleep she will probably start demanding to be put to bed. They seem to have more built in good sense about a full nights sleep than we humans do.

Reviving this thread to share an artist not much known outside of Canada, but he's been making hit music here for 20 years. If you like blues and guitar driven rock you've gotta know this guy. He was discovered by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Here's one of his biggest hits Here's a little 'side project' he did for years called Colin James and the Little Big Band (Side note on this. Oh My Gawd, I just realized this special is from 20 years ago. I AM OLD)

Thanks, I hadn't, obviously, noticed the date. Maybe getting a msg the thread is revived will inspire her to log on and tell us how things are.

Of course you'll make it. Just be 100% consistent and he'll get the message. Just look at it from his point of view. He went to a new place where they responded to his noise in an entirely different way than mom does. Now he's back home and tring to figure out exactly what the rules are. The next time he goes to the sitters you'll have to impress upon them the importance of keeping the same rules there. Like Judy says, just like going to gradmas and coming back totally spoiled and testing the boundaries. He should calm down soon.

Yep, sounds about right When Dorian lived in his previous owners pet shop, people would come in all the time and ask "Does he talk?" We'd tell them yes, but I don't think they believed us because when there were customers in the store he'd clam right up and just stand like a little grey statue. Then, when they left, he'd start up right away with "Does he talk? Does he talk?" Don't tell me they don't have a sense of humour! lol

Poor Alfie just had a scare. If he's OK today, just take him around to all the windows and mirrors and let him feel them, bang with his beak, rap on them with your finger, so that he learns there's an obstacle there. You could also get some vinyl decals, the kind people use to decorate walls, and stick them on the glass so he can see the hard surface. You're a good parront. I know what that guilt over a bump feels like. How does it look today? Sometimes I put a tiny amount of aloe gel on a bump if Dorian lets me near it. I have a plant so I know it's 100% safe.

Thank you for rescuing this grey. You're right not to expose him to too much new too soon. After all, you know these changes are only good and in his best interest, but he only knows his whole universe is in upheaval. Be cautious when taking him outside. Make sure most of his cage is under shelter and that only a part is exposed to the sky so that he can feel safe. Otherwise the difference between his previous dark, enclosed space and the whole scary sky will be a big shock. Even if he doesn't get any direct sun exposure right away, the fresh air will be a good start. Looking forward to hearing what the vet thinks about his condition and hoping there isn't any permanent damage from his previous home.

Hi and welcome to you and Bobby. It sounds like your baby may be a little more on the nervous side. It's often just their personality. Greys are known for being a little high strung, some more than others. My grey Dorian can be the same way. It doesn't mean you can't raise a confident resilient boy. The best thing to do is to always explain what you are doing and be calm and reassuring when something startles him. For example, always warn him when you are coming into the room carrying something. If I'm carrying a box or something else that he might not expect I always warn Dorian "carrying something big" before I come into view. He'll take his cues from you as he learns to trust you. If something scares him the first thing he'll do is look to see if it worries you. Eg. When we first moved here any storm outside scared Dorian, because in our previous home we'd been in a basement where he couldn't hear big winds. Now he's in a room with big Garden doors so he hears everything. At first if it stormed during the night I'd have to go in to calm him and sit with him for a while. Now he sleeps right through storms. Your biggest job right now is to form a bond of trust. After that is in place everything else becomes easier.

This one made me laugh out loud. Dorian constantly alternates between the microwave beep and the sound of me hanging up or returning the handset to its cradle when I'm trying to talk on the phone. Even if he's been perfectly quiet for the hour preceeding, mom on the phone is a cue for vocalizations and pestering. That's why we tell new owners having a fid is very much like having a young child in the house...well, it's one of the reasons anyway. Thanks for the laugh. I'm afraid we've got a long wait for parronts day.

So great that you have a safe place for Tango when you are away. Maybe his screeching is worse because they didn't follow the ignore rule. Now that he's back home he's seeing if the rule is still in place. Once he sees you haven't changed how you respond to the noise, it should extinguish sooner than it did originally. Just dig out the ear plugs again for a few days!

I'm wondering if you could wrap a piece of untanned leather around the breast strap and hand stitch it in place. Make another layer for her to chew through that may be more resilient.

I was wondering how your baby is doing?

Oh geez, beginning recorder. My mom was a junior public school music teacher for almost 20 years. That means, every year, she started a new class on recorder, and a new class on band instruments. 20 years of squeaks, squawks, honks ... I always marveled at her even tempered patience as she guided a new group of kids into the joys of active involvement in music. Plus, then she went home and taught piano until 9:00pm. Y'know, she might have made a good parront!

Poor little one. I'm so glad you found each other. I just wish places like where you found him didn't exist. Your main job right now is to prove to him that you're nothing like the humans he's had contact with up to now. Bring something good to every interaction, even if right now it's just a calm and loving voice and presence. One cue that he's starting to feel comfortable is if he starts to preen, or sit with one foot raised. Read the body language thread (I thin it's in the training forum room stickies at the top). Watch him for cues and let him lead the way in your relationship. I wouldn't worry about handling him right now, but let him see you and his other 'flock' members interact. He'll take it all in and make some decisions about his new home. Good luck with your new fid. <3

Welcome to the forum. You can fill up those long days of waiting reading all you can here. Start with the stickies in each forum room, and ask ask ask if you have questions. Can you visit your baby as it's growing? If you can, will you take baby pictures so the members here can get their cuteness fix!?!?!?! lol

Hi Leonilli. I've no doubt you love your baby. Please don't doubt that everyone here wants the best for both of you. I hope the on-line vets advise is helping. I was wondering, did you get your bird from a breeder? I know it's been 20 years but they may still be around and be able to help. I don't have much to add to the advice of the other members, but if Zhakuna is falling, put some towels down at the bottom of the cage and underneath anywhere she perches to cusion her fall. Poor baby probably can't use her wings to balance normally. We're all here sending good thoughts. Please keep us updated on how she's responding to treatment.

Wow, it's almost like he purposefully gives you moments of laughter and joy because he knows a brat session is on the horizon. I don't know anything about Too's other than a)what I've read here and b)I don't have the patience for one. Is there a forum like this one dedicated to Too's? Maybe people focused on them could give you some new coping tools.

As much as my brother and I have not been getting along since my dad's death, it's chilling to see bombs go off right where he was running, and my sister-in-law was waiting for him, just a year ago. He's in Holland right now after running the Rotterdam marathon Sunday. I know he'd planned to run Boston again next year when he jumps to the next age category. It's hard to comprehend how the evil actions of a small group of people can forever change the direction of a multitude of lives. My thoughts are with all the persons hurt by Mondays violence, especially the responders whose first instinct was to run towards the danger. I am in awe of your courage and sense of service. <3

We're here for you to vent to, so don't ever apologize for that. <3 She may indeed be hormonal and that may be intensifying her behaviour. Is she getting a full 10-12 hours dark sleep time? I second, or third, the advice about sitting by her cage and just hanging out, reading, talking to her. When she is out and flying at you the ducking is good - the sqealing isn't. That's making it a game for her. The bigger the reaction the more it re-inforces the behaviour. When she mis-behaves you have to communicate to her your displeasure without being entertaining. Think 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' range of emotion. A sad face, a sad shake of the head, a quiet 'no', drooped shoulders, turn your back, all very subtle and boring lol. Then try to catch her being good, reward with a treat, big happy face, voice etc... Make it so there's a very clear difference in your behaviour when there's a difference in her behaviour. I'd also completely give up on trying to give her scratches right now. Your nervousness is going to make her mercurial. Really become a student of her specific body language. Study her when she is with your husband and being loving so you can begin to tell the difference between when she is truly asking for interaction and when she is pulling you in for a sucker bite. Meet her where she is and be happy there. Do everything you can to stop negative interactions before they start. If you are going to start giving her more in-cage time, can you put the dog in another room when she is out, or let her out when the dog has it's regular nap? That way you are removing one of the situations where you have to correct her behaviour. Let the favoured human have the responsibility of teaching her that the dog is to be left alone. Of course you can't eliminate all potential conflicts. Most of us meet an annoyed beak once in a while when we have to remove them from danger or take something away from them, but set yourself up for success as much as you possibly can. And you can always come here to vent.

You got a great buy even with the poop!. Bleach water is OK to start, but then you have to make sure you rinse it off obsessively. Rinse it off, wipe it down, rinse it off again, leave it in the sun to dry. These are the times when I realy love my hand held Shark steam cleaner. I can get into all the nooks and crannies and blast them with steam. It looks like it's made of Java wood. If it is, you'll notice it has an odour when it's wet. (It really stinks when you cut it up. Phew) It's great stuff for these stands though. Really tough and easy to wipe clean. Hope your fid isn't afraid of it when you introduce it. lol

Hi from Lindsay, Ontario, Canada.

I think I've mentioned these before, but Dorian is Angelboy, DohDoh, Demando, Bossyfeathers. Oh, and squeaky beak.