Acappella

I almost didn't open the thread because the title scared me. If it makes you feel any better greys don't usually continue with the cuddle bug behaviour past one year. Just continue being open and joyful to be with her. If you're tense or unhappy she'll pick up on it. Remember, you have literally decades to work this out.

Well, Dorian is very fearful of new things. It took over a year to get him to accept his boing the first time. Now we've moved and I'm going to have to start all over again. Put it in a corner away from his cage and play with it in his view. Gradually move it closer, stop when he shows signs of fear. Get to where he will let it be clipped to the outside of his cage, low down at first, then higher. Watch until he begins to touch it or climb on it. With him, adding a bell helps. Anything with a loud stainless bell is immmediately more attractive. The first time we went through this it took months. Hopefully the second time it won't take so long.

Another sucessful example of parront behaviour modification. congrats! lol

That's when I'm glad I live alone. No one to complain about Dorian and I singing but the cat!

Mu first instinct is to tell you to hold off because your situation is far from ideal for a happy healthy grey. There aren't a lot of members on right now because of the new year holiday. Can you hold off until others weigh in with their opinions and experience?

Dorian chews his nails when he's nervous. I don't do this so maybe it's something he learned from his first owners. He isn't blunting the ends, though, he's making them extra sharp. I have the scarred hands to prove it.

Great progress. I agree - always leave them wanting more. If you end the shouder sessions before she starts misbehaving she may want more time. You're doing great when she Does start to nip though. An immediate end to shouler privileges sends the right message. If the sessions you end do so on a positive note with praise and a treat she'll be able to see the contrast and will learn what behaviour is expected of her.

If it's at bedtime, I agree with making the room dark to put them into the bedtime mood. Dorian sometimes likes to play 'ring arund the playstand' at bedtime and I've found gradually turning down the lights until it's quite dim in the room makes him more compliant. Of course, he doesn't fly so I Only have to chase him around a stand, not the whole house. When he is perched on your hand or arm, bring him right into your body and put your other hand on his back so he can't take off. Do this at other times than when you're trying to cage him. You are probably already giving him a treat when he goes into his cage. Make sure you combine this with happy sounds of praise and big smiles. It sounds silly, but it helps. Don't let him know he's agravating you - that can just seem like a big game to these guys. When Dorian is getting me to chase him around his playstand the little blighter starts shaking his tail and making lovey sounds because it's all a big game to him. grrrrrrrrrr

Glad the toy is a hit and not viewed as a "potential parrot killing device". Here's a tip for getting a fid used to a camera. Buy a cheap tripod and leave it up all the time. Move it around from time to time, turn it on & off, until the sight and the sound of it becomes background noise. Then we can get to see what you're seeing!

Sometimes I wonder if these guys give us the honeymoon period so that when their true issues surface we can think back and know what kind of companion they're capable of being. I'm sorry you're both getting bitten. It's going to be hard to keep Gus off your shoulder but no matter how handy it is to have both hands free, it's also nice to have both ears. Evens you out aesthetically I know we don't have to tell you to be patient. When you get frustrated just think of those of us here that have walked this road with greys and other birds and remind yourself there is peace and joy at the end of the journey. Oh, and buy some earplugs!

Oh, it's an adventure alright. They are the most delightful, confounding, inspiring, clever, entertaining creatures you'll ever encounter. Welcome to the Grey ride!

Congratulations on your new flock member and thank you for re-homing an older fid. It sounds like he was loved in his first home, which may make some things easier and some things harder. He will know how to trust, but he will mourn his former owner. I wouldn't rush the bath right now, even though he clearly needs one. This is such an important time. You have to build trust and make him feel safe. Scaring him with a new experience, even if you know it's for his own good, may damage his ability to trust you. If you have other birds let them lead by example. Just let him watch your interactions with his other new flock members and let him figure things out. If you do want to give him the option to bathe, try putting very cold water in his water dish. Most greys prefer very cold water to bathe in. If he starts to try to dunk himself in his dish, praise the heck out of him! Lots of smiles and happy sounds - not so loud you'll startle him though. With my Dorian, who had never had a bath before he came to me, it took years before he figured out water will not kill him lol. Even so, it has to be his idea. When I see him itching, or feel lots of pin feathers coming in, I change out his water several times a day and wait for the urge to strike. Typically for a grey, that urge usually hits when I'm on the way out the door, in the middle of a job, on the phone. Then and only then can I mist him with a small sprayer I found that gives out an extrememly fine mist. It's actually meant for people, the type sold in the summer to mist peoples faces. I mix 50/50 cold distilled water with 100% aloe juice for the first couple re-fills (the disadvantage of this sprayer is that it doesn't hold a lot so I have to re-fill often), then finish off with 100% aloe juice. Works like a charm, but it was a lot of trial and error to get here. There is actually a forum room specifically for rescues and re-homes. You may want to start a thread there so people know where to go to get an update and help you with questions. Threads here in the lounge can get bumped to the second page pretty quickly. Again, thanks for giving Casey a new home.

I also can't say step up. The phrase makes him tremble. Just part of having a birdy with baggage.

Message from Peugeot . . . "STOP putting me down, I want to be WITH you alllllllll the time"

Dorian will probably never be allowed on my shoulder. He's too moody and unpredictable and I need to be able to read his body language. It's not a punishment, it's just a reality of his personality. Takes some consistency on your part. All greys are stubborn, some more than others, so it may take some time to get the message across, but if you like sporting the dual-lobed look, it's worth it!

Jellybean looks very comfy on his mobile home. Kudos to Carl. Very well done and very creative. Jellybean is a lucky fid. You might want to wrap some vet wrap around some of the PVC to make it more comfy and easier to grip. You can also use it to build up the diameter of the PVC to create some variation in the perch. A word of caution about the metal screw-in eyes you're using. They're open loops, and Dorian got a talon caught in one of them once. Now I always cut some vet wrap into thin strips and wrap it around the top of the eye to close the loop. Makes them a little safer. <3

I echo what the others said about his age, at 4 he's still a baby. I am going to caution you about letting him on your shoulder. You need to be able to see him to read his body language. Read the thread in the training room titled 'body language most frequently seen'. It will save you some involuntary blood donations. Lol. I noticed in the chat room you were having trouble getting him back into his cage. If it's at night, ask for a step up. If he declines, turn off all the lights but a night light and leave the room for a moment. Tell him you'll be right back. Then go back and quietly ask him again. This usually makes Dorian more compliant when he's fighting bed time. Glad you're enjoying your new flock member. Hope your finals are going well and that you're not too distracted lol.

This is exactly what we mean by "grey time". I have a feeling that your journey with Rosie is going to be filled with more and more happy breakthroughs like this. Cyber hugs to you for your patience and love.

I remember when the Principals office had a strap hanging by the door. I remember when no one ever paid for a dog because no one fixed their pets and every farm had free puppies. I remember when it was safe to leave a 12 year-old girl (me) at the side of the highway all day with a wagon full of vegetables to sell. I remember when a manual push lawn mower wasn't an Eco choice, it was the only mower you had. I remember when it was a big deal to get a store bought dress because mom sewed all my clothes. I remember packing a lunch and setting out on my bike for a 3 hour ride into town. I remember my first portable radio took 8 'D' batteries. I remember "Tiger Beat". I remember saving bubble gum wrappers and mailing them in to get toys. I remember replacing the ribbon in a typewriter. I remember when carbon paper was a precious thing. I'm 46, and no spring chicken.

AKA Lulu Congratulations!

Hoping Sinterklaas was good to all my family in Holland. When I was young I tried to convince my parents we should all visit Holland in early December. That way I could have presents on St. Nicholas Day in the Netherlands, and make it back to Canada for Christmas. Sadly, they never agreed.

I remember a couple of years ago a member (sorry I can't remember who) had a bird that kept trying to land on top of their head. they had to duck and weave every time they heard wings flapping for a while. Someone also tried wearing on of those headbands with the long springs and pom poms on their head to make their heads scary. Best to close the blinds at these times! lol Try putting somethis Alfie is afraid of on top of the TV. Sometimes big stuffed animals do the trick.

The eye of death is effective. Follow it, and a stern "No bite", with turning your back on her for a minute and ignoring her. Sorrow, I really laughed at how appropriate her words were in each situation. We all say we want our fids to be smart. Well, be careful what you wish for ...

Dee, as a favour to you, I have tapped into Gilbert's thoughts. They go like this. "Sure she loves me when I'm all sweet, but what about if I do THIS (throws food). Or THIS (throws dish food was in). Or THIS (dumps water). Or how 'bout THIS (swears). NO, I don't WANT THAT ALMOND that you spent good money on. How 'bout THAT?! Huh? She's still Smiling?!? What's that about? I gotta think about this further. (tucks up a leg and begins to grind beak 'cause all that activity is tiring). . . Look, Dad's home. Bet she'll get mad if I suck up to him (chuckles evily to himself). She'll really get mad if I let him scratch my head. hee hee hee... Ooooh, that feels good... ... ... .... wait, I was trying to make a point ... what was it? ... COOKIE!!!