Acappella

Guys, this is a really old post.

Great job of picking up on Ziva's cues. We love pictures of wet birds!

Glad that Mali is ok and having a normal night with the family.

You guys are so funny, because I've been calling it his big boy cage. He's hardly been out of it all day. I made a slideshow on Photobucket. This is my first time trying so cross talons it works!

Another big breakthrough here. I put Dorian's new cage together about a week and a half ago and slowly moved it closer to him. If I had him on my arm I would take him over to it, even hold him inside it for a minute so he could have a good look around. A couple of days ago I linked the two cages with a birdie ladder. Yesterday he spent a lot of time climbing around the outside of it, but didn't go in. So last night after an exciting game of 'can I chew up the computer keyboard before mom stops me', I took him over to it again and held him inside. He shocked the heck out of me when he stepped down, climbed up onto the highest perch and made his tired birdy sound. I stayed in the next room on the computer for half and hour to make sure he was ok, but he was fine, beak grinding away. I'll post a picture in a bit, but he's officially spent his first night in hes new home. Yaaaaay Dorian!

It's the grey challenge. What do we love about them? That they have huge personalities and minds of their own! What's the most challenging thing about having a grey? That they have huge personalities and minds of their own!

Apology accepted DaveB) Pepper, take it easy on the poor guy. He's doing his best!

For greys' sake, Dave, put a smiley face or something next to the title next time.:ohmy: I almost missed this thread because I was afraid to read it! btw, very funny:) Poor Pepper.

OMG, the white fuzzy little behind with the little red tail! Re-start personal mantra: I'm not getting a baby, I'm not getting a baby, I'm not getting a baby . . .:silly:

Use the concrete perch, but don't make it the highest one inside the cage, or any other place he likes to sit for a long time. Dorian's concrete perch is outside his cage between where I sit and his boing. He sits on it for short periods of time, so I don't have to worry about his feet.

You don't have to apologize. All you're doing is showing how much you love SZ and that makes all of us happy for both of you. As for perch sizes, it's best to use a wide variety of sizes and materials. Dorian has everything from 2" to 1/2" perches. Some are wood, some are rope, some are concrete . . . The variety gives him a break because he's not always holding his feet in the same way. Wooden dowels are ok for moving around the cage, but not ideal because they're too uniform in shape. I'm glad SZ is adjusting to his cage well. I just got Dorian a new cage and set it up last week, but he still hasn't been in it:unsure:

Big happenings around here last night. This past week I've been either out of the house or upstairs alot, away from Dorian. When I'm in the house I leave his cage door open so he can climb around. Last night I was upstairs in the kitchen doing the dishes and little Mr. bossy was yelling for me to get downstairs to be with him. Well, I didn't obey fast enough and next thing I know I hear a great flapping of wings and he arrives on the landing of the basement stairs.:ohmy: Those of you who know Dorian's story know he never fledged and has always been clipped. A couple of times he's ended up on the second or third stair when I was upstairs but I've never been sure if it was on purpose or if something startled him off his perch. I especially questioned whether he meant to end up where he was after he lost all of his flight feathers on his left wing during a night fright a couple of months ago. I didn't think he had a lot of control over the direction he flew. Last night, though, I think he did exactly what he intended to do. When I picked him up from the floor he was wagging his little red tail, and I think he was very pleased with himself! So, my little monkey may be learning to fly. My dad's first reaction was to tell me to get him clipped, but that's not going to happen. We'll figure out a way to make it work. As Dorian would say, WhooHoo:woohoo:

So glad that she is ok!

I do remember a member a few months back who had a bird freak out for apparently no reason, then found out there had been an earthquake at the very same time a good distance away. The humans didn't feel anything at all, but it seemed the bird did. Sometimes we can't tell what upsets them, we can only be there to assurethem everthing is ok. You did good. Kises to Chimay!

If your brother didn't see any blood 30 minutes later then whatever caused the couple of drops sounds like it resolved itself. Post when you get home and let us know pepper is ok.

Welcome. Glad you and Sam found each other.

Bernie, here is a link to a thread about lighting. Dan did a wonderful job researching and explaining here, so settle down with the beverage of your choice and have a good read! http://www.greyforums.net/forums/limitstart/40/african-grey/47809-lighting.html

Hi. How goes the discipline with Sinbad?

He doesn't say it often like he did in the store, but he'll say "does he talk?" because he heard so many people say it in the store. Something else from the store he still does: he makes the sound of the chime on the store's front door, than says 'how are you today?' Then, in another voice 'fine, how are you?' then an inteliglble back and forth conversation in the two voices, then 'have a good day' and the doorbell again.:laugh: New favourite? Aaachoooo (welcome to alergy season!)

I bought this playstand for Dorian in October. Alas, he's not a big fan. The grey metal frame is an inch square and hard to grip and climb on. I know he's meant to climb on the wood dowels and ladders all over this stand, but for reasons known only to him these are avoided like the plague. I wrapped much of the frame with sisal rope but this didn't do the trick for him either. I'll try vet wrap next, just waiting for it to go on sale at our farm co-op. I had it attached to his cage with a rope perch and he did get to the point where he would go to the bowl for a walnut or climb to the top dowel and sit there, as it is the highest point. I had to take the top hanger for toys off because of low ceilings here. After he'd climbed onto it of his own free will a few times I moved it into my living room with the radical idea that maybe, for the first time since I got him, I could spend an evening with him in there watching the big tv instead of the 13" one in here. Well, after I moved it and took him in there he reacted as if he'd never seen the thing before in his life, and he wouldn't go anywhere near it. So now I roll it back into his room and do the rope bridge thing again (sigh). I suspect this says more about my DohDoh than it does about the playstand. Just thought I'd share my experience. This whole experience does not bode well for the new, huge, cage I just bought him. Might be Christmas before I convice him IT won't kill him:dry:

I'm the only person Dorian will talk in front of, although he has let a 'hello' slip to someone else a couple of times. When he was in the store he would freeze and clam up completely, doing his best impression of a grey statue. Then, when the customers left, he'd say "Does he talk?":lol:

This is a greyt illustration of the need for a harness. Not only did it keep her from flying off, she was no further away than the length of the harness, which let you get to her in time. You're obviously a good parront. So glad everything turned out well.

Welcome to the end of the honeymoon period:P Sounds like he's figuring out his place in the 'pecking order' in the house. One of the biggest tools in your discipline tool kit is attention. Greys love it, especially being the center of attention. When he's being a brat ignore him. If you can't leave the room, turn your back and give him the silent treatment for a few minutes until he is calling to you to come see him. If he lashes out again make a stern face, because they read facial expressions, say no, shake your head, whatever works for you, and ignore him again. He should learn pretty fast that certain behaviours mean being ignored. Also, when you 'catch' him being sweet and well behaved give him a tiny treat, a tiny bit of walnut or almond, whatever he likes. It really is very much like dealing with a toddler. Good luck.

Sound like you have a very sensible loving little bird, so of course my vote is female:P

OK, between this story and Carol's signature picture, I have a new Mantra I must repeat to myself. It goes something like this: "I am not getting a baby grey, I am not getting a baby grey, . . .:silly: