Acappella

Hi. Fellow Canuck here. I'm in Ontario and found 100% AV juice in the local health food store yesterday. Also 100% organic. Brand name is Lily of the Desert from a company in Texas. Dorian's first Aloe spritzing is planned for tomorrow after breakfast. Wish me luck!

Dorian's cage is in the room next to my office, but there is no door on the office so he can see and hear me plainly. I also have a piano in the office and I often sit down to play and sing for a few minutes when I need a break or to relax. Now, I'm not sure whether it's praise or critique, but almost every time I start singing, Dorian starts with his most vigorous vocalizations. I don't know if he's saying 'that sounds good mom, can I join in?' or, 'I must drown out that horrible noise':laugh: One thing is for sure. My vocal teacher used to tell me to smile when I sing because it brightens your sound. Pretty hard not to smile with all the 'joining in' going on around here!

I don't know about this guy, but some of the people on this site like Barbara Heidenreich at Good Bird Inc. I don't know if she's 'trick' focused though. Her dvd is the next thing on my to buy list and I'll post when I get it to tell what I think.

Wow, that's a great day! You must feel so relieved. Isn't it amazing how almost all animals can tell when something is up, even though we think we're approaching them just like we always do. Wish they could teach us what they know about body language!

I'm so sorry you had this experience with Chloe. Just reading about what you and she went through made me feel ill. I read the forum about aspergilosis and have a couple questions. There are peanuts in the shell in Dorian's Fiesta mix but somethimes I notice the outside shell doesn't look so good and I pull them out before I serve him. Can I trust them if they're already in pet food, or should I keep pulling them. My second question is I've been buying peanuts in their shell at our bulk store that are meant for people. I know human grade nuts are a must, but if you guys tell me that they're even safer if I shell them, I will do that for the rest of Dorian's life if it makes him safer.

Dorian came to me only eating what he wanted out of the Fiest mix. I've found two keys to getting him to try fruits & veg. 1/I have to sit by him and eat it first and make a real show of enjoying it. Sometimes the first time I offer it he still refuses to try, so then I make a big show of eating the piece I just offered him. Usually the second time I offer he tries it! 2/He will immediately refuse any fresh food that has just come out of the fridge. Doesn't like the cold feel I guess, so I have to let everything warm up before I offer it. Clued into this when one day he spit apple back in my face after greedily eating it the day before. As you can see, he's training me well:lol:

My big problem is I live in a rural area of Ontario, Canada, and I've not been able to find an avian vet anywhere closer than Toronto, which would be a considerable trip and trauma. I have heard a rumour about a bird groomer who will come into your home and am trying to track that person down hoping that myself and a couple other bird owners in town could get together to make her trip worthwhile. Meanwhile I keep searching for a vet. I have started out with medium/small toys, mostly because Dorian is so scared of anything new, but he doesn't chew, just beats them up! Anyone have any ideas on how to teach him to chew? (This may end up being a 'be careful what you wish for' situation:P )

:woohoo: Sounds like she's starting to feel safer. Otherwise you'd be a full member of the bite club by now.

She's adorable. What beautiful big baby eyes. Makes me wish I'd know Dorian when he was this age.

Thanks Tari. I'm definitely not asking for cosmetic reasons - I think he's gorgeous! I'm trying to learn what is normal/not normal and when it's time to intervene. I've noticed he's been dropping almonds (when they're still in their shell) and I'm wondering if his beak may be a reason.

I've been browsing around this site and others to try to figure out if Dorian's beak needs to be trimmed or filed. The reason I first became concerned was when rope he was chewing, or his own down feathers, were getting caught in a rough ridge edge about 1/4" from the tip of his beak. (he lets me pull these off his beak) Now I'm looking at some of the other pictures of member's birds and his beak looks overgrown. Also, the top 'layer' of beak has formed into a point that looks like it's where his beak should naturally end. He's not a big chewer. He'll rip paper and chew on the ends of a rope perch, but he's never chewed on his manzinita (sp?) perch. He also doesn't have a clue what a foot toy is, although after his first trip onto the floor yesterday I'm hoping I'll be able to introduce some. I've put in toys with leather and rafia etc. but he never chews, just swings from them and bats them around. I'm going to slowly introduce a concrete perch that I have but he's so wary of any stick-shaped object that will take time. It doesn't seem to be interfering with his eating, playing or groming. Will this overgrown tip wear down on it's own?

I can always count on post from this group that will either make me laugh or tear up. Thank you for the laugh of the day!

Hi Rambo. Just the fact that you're here asking questions shows how much you care for your little guy!Like Woody6, I would wonder also if a room with many windows would be too stressful for your baby. We all want whats best for our birds and logically feel that lots of windows would naturally be more interesting, but to him it might feel like potential danger from many angles. I was wondering if you could get a smaller cage, maybe with a great play stand on top, and have that in your living room where there is more 'action' with his flock and let him alternate between his room and this one? I don't know, just a thought.

Big hugs to you and your husband for recognising two animals that needed you and changing your plans to get a baby. As much as it hurts you to see them in any distress, keep telling yourself that every single minute they spend with you and away from their old home is another minute towards a life where they can be healthy and happy.

What a pretty girl. Such accuracy must be admired, a chihuahua head is a small target!

Well, my plan for tonight was to write a post about how Dorian would still not let go of his cage or walk on a flat surface, ever, except when startled off his perch, and ask for advice. I got home and sat on the floor in front of his cage to open my mail, while he came out and wandered about the exterior of the cage as usual. I was glad I had my cheap little camera at hand when he started playing 'peek-a-boo' at the bottom of the cage. I was thrilled I had the camera when, for the first time ever, he stepped down onto the floor. (I just wish he'd done it after I cleaned up under his perch:blush: I'm a good mom, really)

Congrats on your milestone and on giving Greyce a stable home. She sounds like a resilient little soul.

I'm so happy for you. I couldn't even make myself read the whole story of what happened because I could imagine how sick you were feeling when she was gone. Glad to hear you're back together.

Dorian mostly tosses food when he's mad about something. He's very good at making his feeling known!

I put my voice recording mp3 player in a niche above Dorian's cage one day when he was really on a roll 'cause nobody believes me when I try to describe exactly how vocal he gets. It's sooo hilarious, I'm thinking of taking all the various versions of 'hello' that he said and making it my new answering machine message. OMG, :ohmy: I'm becoming one of those annoying people who put their todler's talking on their voice mail lol!

Congrats on Dayo's first word. It's so exciting when your grey says something you know for sure he learned from you. Makes the bond between you even stronger. Can't wait to hear what he choses to say next! Dorian also just started saying hello in my voice this week. He's still 'rehearsing' my cat, Jac's, meow. Right now it sounds more like someone strangling a cat! lol

Another new sound Dorian loves he picked up from my elderly father who, when he needs me to do something, stands in the kitchen and yells "Hey". Well, Dorian's version has earned him the new nickname 'bossy feathers':laugh:

Hi. Sorry I've been absent so long. Computer crashed and burned right before the holidays and I've just gotten it back. Missed reading the posts here! The reason for this post is a McCain's commercial for their new slow cooker meal kits. If you and your baby watch TV together be fast with the mute button if you see this ad: Mother comes home & walks by teen daughter on phone with friend. Daughter say "hi, call me when dinner's ready." Mother walks out of room, walks right back in through other door and says "dinner's ready" Daughter screams! You must hit mute before the scream. Dorian saw this once and picked it as his new favourite sound! My only hope is that he cycles through new sounds pretty fast if he doesn't get any big reaction.

Thank you dan. (I've even forgiven you for your enjoyment of my poop question:P ) I don't want him to feel that the cage is a punishment, or to get even more fearful of me holding him, which is why I hesitated to towel him or to force him (gently) to let go of the bars. Does anyone know a good book/video on dealing with recue birds, since that's essentially what Dorian is.

Not the human!! :unsure: (this is a long post. please bear with me) I entered into a battle of wills last night with Dorian and lost big time. He was so cage bound when he got here I took to leaving the door open for a couple hours a day and he started coming out for 'walks', climbing the exterior walls and roof of the cage. He's always gone inside for his favourite treat, a shelled almond, with no problem. I've been careful not to leave right after I close the cage door so that he doesn't figure out an 'almond+cage=mom leaving' link, plus I always put a favourite toy and a foraging toy in when I'm gone. Well last night a couple of hours before I was planning to put him to bed I decided it was time he went back inside, and he didn't agree. I tried every bribe and toy he has and he wouldn't budge. Since he still will not let me hold him at all and has never stepped up onto a hand or a stick, after a couple hours of bribes I tried to very gently separate him from the bars, which also didn't work. By 1:00 am I had to go to bed, but I was so worried I even had a nightmare about him hurting himself and me not hearing him from my room. To make things worse, he is sooooo very pleased with himself this morning, playing and talking his little head off, that I'm sure we'll have a repeat performance tonight. I'm desparate to stop this before it becomes habit. I need to be able to cage him for his own safety, and he used to love his cage so much I never saw this problem coming. Any and all suggestions are welcome.