birdmom

Generally speaking, that is the Bikini Test. (Of course, 6 pak abs are always desirable but those feathers might just obscure a really buff physique.) Just kidding. But a vet did tell me if you can't see the breastbone at all, or even feel it then maybe your little porkie ate too many franks and beans. (or millet or sunflower seeds) You don't want that bone to be sticking out, either so you gotta figure out waht the happy medium is for your bird, weigh it, and watch for any fluctuations. Keep track monthly or something. Whatever works for you.

I have an idea. Lets name the lost little birdie. It's harder to ignore something when it has a name, because then it becomes personal to us. So I'll start: How about Winter?

Yeah wow! I just know that poor bird must need help. I am so diappointed that it's still at large. I would have called in the fire department by now but that's just me. I mean, living in our world is like outer space to a bird like that. It could be eating bird seed from a feeder, but if the people stop putting seed in there, the food source could dry up. Maybe its been lucky so far but what if there's an electrical storm? What if it gets caught on some power lines? What if someone shoots it, you know kids sometimes do stuff like that? Or an owl could get it. There are so many things that could cause it harm. I think she should call her local newspaper or something.... no? Gosh I don't even live in the UK but I found lots of resources there, but you have to pick up the telephone right? Well maybe she did to no avail.

Hey, I can't find any pics of the famous baby in diapers. Where are you guys seeing this birds pics? joanne

Hah! Well, I am smart enuf to remove the cold water dishes, I must have washed and dried about six crocks that day but it was very funny. Anyway yes, I put clean water dishes back in there, and put tepid water, that they don't try to bathe in. It's just that once in a while, I run out. See I have two Brita water filter pitchers, one on the counter that I use for cooking, boiling water, and bird water dishes. The other is full of ice water in the fridge. I use it to make cold beverages, or drink cold water.... so when I realized the tepid one was empty, I took the cold one out and refilled their dishes. Big Boo Boo. But I was in a hurry and I made a mistake, I forgot it would start a Waterrrr Parrrrty!!!!!

Wow! Hey Dan, do you live near Tulare? I have cousins there. So it sounds like somebody down there breeds Hawk headed Parrots? They are so beautiful, they get them in the Bird Shop here periodically and they're soooo sweet! Buddi and Charlie also like to bathe in ice water.

hmmm. well occasionally Buddi crash landss and bumps her forehead into a wall or whatever she lands on. It usually results in a tiny little nick but they always heal up on their own in a day or two. I figured that in the wild they must scrape on branches and bushes, so unless they are getting dirty....which they don't...it should heal. I'll try getting some aloe just in case tho thanks! I have pure aloe juice in the fridge but I tried spraying on buddy when her feathers were really itchy and she just screamed. So I thought maybe it stung? Anyway the palm oil is working wonders on that!

Congrats this was fun! Thanks for posting your beautiful photos. I just wish I were so talented. Makena, what is the story behind your picture and where was it taken? joanne

Also GreyGoose posted a thread on this in 8-28-07. He posted pics in Photo Album, keywords, Preen Gland.

heres something I found on http://www.secondchancebirds.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37428&sid=9fce8a99c8cc8a023f91d83a023af577 An FYI the uropygial papillae is the little "pimple" or nub and the uropygial wike are the nubby feathers that grow out of it. The way I remember it is papillae>pimple, wike>wick. check out the web page Makena. Good Luck birdmom.

Well thats what I thought, if its comfortable for me its okay for them is the rule of thumb I go by. I like it 70 to 72, at 76 I get warm and 68 I get cold. I do have a thermometer on the wall out of their reach, for that purpose. Just thought I'd do a reality check, since you really live in a cold place. I know of someone here in Northern California who breeds birds and has an outside aviary in an old barn. She says they are out there all winter, no problem. But it's below the snow line, and I guess in the barn they stay warm enuf but we get some nites down in the high 30's or low 40's between Dec and Feb. She says her birds have always lived out there, and has greys. They must have nests and stuff to stay warm. No heater.

Click on the tab at the top that says: Forums. Then look for the thread entitled, Welcome Room. When you post there, others will read it and respond. Nice to meet you! bird mom.

Danni, Many electric portable heaters do contain some teflon, and I have learned that the manufacturers don't write it on them, I checked. I even returned a bread maker, because the breadpan was coated with a non stick finish. Be sure not to use teflon coated or non stick cookware it contains PTFE, toxic to birds. It's pretty risky. I ditched all mine for stainless steel. You may have to look at it and make a guess but I'd rather not guess. The problem is if the manufacturer coats the parts with the non stick stuff, it likely contains PTFE, which will omit an odorless gas when it reaches high temperatures, that is toxic to Parrots that we cannot smell. But it can kill you Parrot. I wouldn't try it. Better to wheel the cage to a warmer spot in the house during cold months. joanne<br><br>Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/05 01:20

If I put ice water in their water dishes, they both go nuts and try to stand in their dish and play in it. Does anyone else have a bird that likes Ice Water baths? They slap their feet in the bowl and flap their wings, try to get in the dish but don't fit, it's so funny! They only do it if I use Ice water and the room temp water Brita was empty(I Brita filter all my water). Big mistake; Buddi decided it as time to play in the cold water dish and they LOVE playing in cold ice water-- I forgot all about this dilemma. So, Monkey see Monkey do. Next thing I know, Charlie was in his dish of ice water too flapping wings so much they hit the bars and I'm afraid he'll get a broken feather. So I decided to give them both a big casserole dish of cold water in the bottom of their cages. It was was Party Time at the water park in Joannes Living Room! It's been a very entertaining hour and I have quite a mess water everywhere and still, no errands run. Charlie was tossing one of those plastic chains around is his casserole dish while standing in about two inches of ice water. Later when I saw him standing on the top perch shivering, I said, "Was that fun Charlie?" He replied "Woo!"(I'm really not sure if -Woo- means Woo that was fun, or Woo, I'm cold. So I turned on the furnace.) Buddi managed to throw a ceramic crock off the top of her cage in her excitement, that fell on the floor and broke..(she gets really flocky when she is in the mood to play in her water) so that really killed the mood. Oh well the water party's over! I had to clean their cages again, I haven't trained them to do that yet... now that her cage is spotless, Buddy says, "Mmm hmmm." I'm glad she's happy.... Maybe it was all a plot to get me to clean their cages again, you think? Well it worked. Off I go to the bank and I haven't had lunch. Whew! I feel like a Soccer Mom. Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/05 00:23<br><br>Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/05 01:08

Hi Judy, Yes I do too Buddi has always perched on my shoulder, but only when I am alone with her, never when others are in the room. We got to know each other slowly that way and she has never in four years bit me or attacked me while on there, nor is she any problem to get off my shoulder. But Charlie my newer bird (since April 07) is just learning to perch on my shoulder, since I am still training him about using his beak. He still makes mistakes with his beak about once a month, but it's less severe each time. When he makes a mistake, I correct him but I still tell him I love him. He is learning to be held more and scritched, his previous owners did not hold him or scritch him. He is slowly becoming more and more gentle, so I have only had him on my shoulder twice just recently, and he is just now asking to go up there because he sees Buddi on my shoulder. I proceed with caution, and only for short times like five minutes, with him as I establish the protocol...

Yes I thought so too. Maybe the bird knew what was coming bcuz either: the crate was in sight, or, she spoke about it, and the bird know English. They are very smart. I am sure my birds know English. Especially keywords such as, go to the vet/doctor, put him in crate, get him out of his cage, things that he hears often enough to learn their meaning quickly. She may have to learn not to say the exact words, but use code words, much the same as people do around small children; I used to own Border Collies and instead of saying Go For a Walk ( which started squalor) I had to spell it out Go for a w=a=l=k.) After a while, they knew that Go For A ....anything, usually resulted in a walk. Those dogs are so smart. So are the AFrican Greys. I think Kat B, you may need to watch what you say in front of him; you may be tipping him off. Is that possible? Also, don't let him see the crate. GEt him out of his cage first. Then take him to the room where the crate is located. Good luck. joanne

Hi there, Thanks so much! So, I checked and it looks like shipping from UK negates the ROI, however, I followed my nose and found this, for those of us in California, there is a great supplier right out here: Red Palm Oil: Fruit of the Dura Palm, from Jungle Products. http://www.junglepi.com/buynow/retail.html According to their website, (you can search by your U.S. Zip Code too) it is sold at : Whole Foods Market Wild Oats Vitamin Cottage New Seasons Market Andronico’s New Leaf Community Markets Berkeley Bowl Tops Market Rainbow Coop You can also buy it on their website. 16 ounces for $15 US Dollars is a good price compared to what I paid my Veterinarian. Further it says: We love hearing form you. Really, we do. It is what makes all of this effort worth it. We love to hear your thoughts, constructive criticisms, and experiences. Please feel free to contact us at the following: By Mail Jungle Products, Inc. 121 West North Street Healdsburg, CA 95448 By Telephone 707.433.8777 By Fax 707.433.8778 By Email info@junglepi.com Business Hours Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5PM PST Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/04 09:53<br><br>Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/04 10:06

More wood! Argggh I thought I was tough, I used to live in Denver. Here in Cali I keep my thermostat at 70 and start to chill when it gets 68 in here. We had a cold snap last week and it got into the high 30s and low 40s at night. Does anyone know how cold a temp the Greys can tolerate?

Yes, Greys are big testers. The first thing my birds did was test me. I didn't flinch at the first test nip; I said "Oh Yeah? Try it again, here": and I offered my entire fist. You know what they do? They cock their head sideways, and look at your hand right under their nose, they they look at you to check your face. You can see them thinking, Hmmm this human is verrrry interesting....not afraid of me and my pointy beak. Then I say, "Please don't do that." They look at me. Then I offer a finger and say: "Don't bite." If they don't try to bite it, then I immediately tell them Good Bird and they get an almond. (They never did). (If they did, I'd try the same thing again. However, if I get nailed, then they go immediately on timeout in a neutral cage in another room. There's a post on that.) They learn very quickly that I'm good for an almond, if they don't do it. So right away I taught them, Don't bite, and what constitutes Good Bird. You know, if your bird is flighted it's no wonder its getting territorial with your partner. Your bird is probably in love with you and views you as its partner, and that guy is the competition. You may want to consider trimming wings, and limit birdies territory while you correct this behavior.

Maybe a vet check is in order, with a fecal gram stain? I've heard they can have weight loss from worms or parasites of some kind. It's worth taking him in! Is his breast bone sticking out?<br><br>Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/01 16:12

Oh wow! Well I don't think it was the vet assistant, because the problem started b4 you even left your house. See? You know, I find that my greys sometimes just don't feel like coming out of their cage. Regardless of whether the carrier is there, or not. This could just be a power struggle associated with the terrible two's kind of a phase, how old is he? 21 months? Sounds like Oliver is heading into terrible twos. Sally Blanchard wrote a book and she really delved into the stages in their development, and they go thru terrible twos. Then many also go thru another period later on when they approach sexual maturity, but that varies by breed I believe. Buddi went thru a 'flocky" period as I called it she really tested me for about 3-6 months when she was between 2 and 3. I later figured out it was the color of my nail polish that triggered it initially, on one particular occasion. Anyway, now when I know I am going to have to get them out of the cage for an appointment or a bath, I open the cage door well b4 and have them step-up, or if they don't feel like it, I let them climb out on their own, and then I promptly shut the cage door so they can't go back in. Just today in fact, I had to entice Charlie out with almonds because Buddi had just had her shower, so he knew. Now, the crate is another story. I think Buddi goes in the crate well bcuz I travelled across country with her several times, and she enjoys rides in the car, she likes to go with me. But now Charlie, his previous owner told me I'd have a time of it getting him in there but she watched with astonishment while I just placed him in there b4 he had a chance to protest. His crate has a wire door on top also, so I just open it up first then pick him up off a perch, and put him in top down: I hold him on my right fingers and lock him down with my thumb, have him facing my body and I place my left hand gently over his wings, then I lower my hands down into the crate so fast he can't grab onto anything and then I just let him go by flicking my fingers and he steps off. While he is getting his footing on the floor of the crate, quick as a bunny I close the lid. Why don't you try that, and put the crate where he can't see it, in a neutral room outside his territory. Then go for rides in the car and just come home and he will start to realize it can be fun. Play the radio and sing in the car and so on just have fun driving around the block. LOL. Well good luck! Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/01 14:19<br><br>Post edited by: birdmom, at: 2007/12/01 14:31

Yes, blowing on them does work, it distracts them. I've used it many times, good suggestion.

Hellooo and welcome! Well its a sticky wicket isn't it? I try to teach my birds a vocabulary that I can live with but its not always so simple. I took in a roomate a few years ago, who thought it was fun to go outside and wolf whistle so loud the neighbors two blocks away could hear, it --she had the blue jays trained to come and get peanuts from her. So, Buddi picked up on it right away and within 30 days, she started to make this reallllly loud wolf whistle. As you can imagine, the roomate was history when she refused to stop. I don't want to live with that for 80 years. Since then, I learned that unless I repeat the noise regularly or they hear it, they sort of drop it from their repertoire, unless I guess it was something the bird had ingrained for many years, I am guessing it takes some time for a new thing to stick. Is she hearing the screeching noise from another source, is it something you can eliminate? If not, what I try to do is give my birds sounds that I like, that they can go crazy with, so I whistle alot, with the radio and we have a call out/answer whistle, they say the first part and I reply with the second part. Sometimes I hear them doing it inside the house, when I comehome, they recognize the sound of my car I think and they know I'm coming so they start the whistle in anticipation of my arrival. So, maybe try to teach them a little jingle that you can associate with your arrival and it could replace the squarking? It could take a few months tho. On the biting, I found that Buddi would do that to me, if she was jealous of another person too close to me to whom I was paying attention. So I found that if I picked her up and kissed her and told her I loved her, in a demonstrative way, while speaking to this person, she realized that I placed her in a higher status, and she stopped the nipping. One thing tho, try not to react when they bite, and did you try the bobbing up and down of your hand to distract them when they bite? Sometimes you can distract them from what set them off, by just bobbing your hand up and down. My birds both know what Don't Bite means. I tell them, Kissing Only. So, if they start to react to something and I see a nip coming, I'll bob a little, and say dont bite, kissing only, and they'll cock their head and then I'll get a little kiss instead of a bite. Well, thats alot of information. Good luck and give it time.

too funny dan! sounds like a mad scientist sketch on satuday nite live! you should email that to leno or letterman, maybe even the funnier craig ferguson. they all like to take stabs at Bush. I've been watching craig ferguson lately, that guy is so funny, i hear its all ad lib he doesnt use a script?

I am so sorry. I can't thank you enuf for telling us. I just read the same info on birds n way a few weeks ago and I bought some fresh garlic to give my birds. I only tried once, they didn't eat it, so I am not going to give it to them anymore. Please don't blame yourself and feel guilty, owning a Parrot is a big learning experience for all of us. But, you can try again, maybe give a rescue bird a home? Our condolences, joanne buddi and charlie