chezron

Sunlight is very important to Greys. I think of it as Grey valium because it eases them by creating soothing hormones. Please try to provide your grey with at least 15 minutes of outside sunshine a day. You will be amazed by the results!!!

Maybe my guy is not that smart, but he is NEVER manipulative like your video. He is kind of like a golden retriever grey, and completely honest about his feelings. It is so weird when I read all of these descriptions of manipulation and none of them has ever happened to me. Brutus LOVES Jimpster our quaker, and he tries to get close to him but Jimpster is a fighter. In fact, every morning Brutus sticks his beak out of the cage actively soliciting Jimpster to hammer it with his beak. His morning is not complete unless Jimpster attacks his beak. Go figure! He pretty much ignores Pancho, the amazon, but talks about him all the time. I really feel they are a flock because when something scares them, they all take off and fly away as a unit. Also, most of the time when I come home they are all on Brutus' cage hanging out. Amazingly, Brutus has never harbored a grudge against me and been sweet one minute, and attacked the next. It just doesn't happen. I just feel he loves me all the time. Thank you for the video Dan it was very entertaining. I hope your family is doing well in your new house.

Hi Jeff, I, too, break the rules as I leave out all THREE of my parrots when I leave the house. I have done this for years. They just chill until I get home. Most of the time they are exactly where I left them. They leave everything alone when I am gone. They tend to only get in trouble when I am around, that is when they try new things and get destructive. I wouldn't be so quick to tell you all this if I didn't think it was okay. I have years of success. I usually find them all on Brutus' cage standing on one foot.

Wow! She sure is smart!

What a cute little pink face!

The 100% red palm oil that I buy is great! Keep in mind most palm oil plantations are very environmentally destructive. Large companies destroy tropical rainforest to plant vast areas of oil palm. Nutiva, the brand I buy, is different. They get their oil from small Mom-and-Pop businesses that are sustainable and good for the local economies where they live. They guarantee the production of their oil does not harm any rainforests. The oil is also organic so you don't have to worry about your bird ingesting pesticides. http://nutiva.com/articles/nutiva-introduces-organic-red-palm-oil/

Great idea!

Probably knows how and doesn't want to. Ha ha They say the words they like-unfortunately. Brutus hates yogurt but he LOVES to say the word. We tried to teach him our address and he is only interested in parts of it, which will not work if he gets lost. Bummer. And, we tried to teach him, "I Left My Heart In SF" and he doesn't want to say the sis part of San Francisco, so there is nothing we can say or do to change that. He sings, "San Fran-co" with great conviction. It is a great mystery how Brutus thinks, but he is unwavering and adamant. You gotta give him credit for that.

Brutus went through the "terrible twos" although my husband got the brunt of it. We worked through it though, and Brutus is pretty much nice all the time now. I think the same thing will happen with Gracie. Brutus never did the "sucker punch' but he would fly at the back of your head and hit you with his body or grab your head with his feet. I think i heard him laugh when he did it A couple of times he flew at my face, but did no damage because I ducked in time. Now THAT was rather shocking and upsetting. Maybe it is a mistake, but I do kiss the top of his beak, but ONLY when I get a clear signal that it is okay. I usually ask him if he wants a kiss and he swings his head toward me, and I can tell he is being sweet because he his eyes pin and makes a sharp whistle in greeting. He really has never been territorial about his cage. I am not sure why. He used to play a little rough when you held him, but I say,"be a kind and gentle boy" and he finally knows what that means and responds accordingly. A couple of times before he would squeeze a finger too hard and I would throw him in the air. I think he got the point because he would rather be with Mama, even if it means playing nicer. Now if he has my finger in his mouth and is starting to squeeze, I say, "be a kind and gentle boy" and he eases up. The other problem we had was there was a period of time when he wouldn't go to bed. He was completely obstinate about it. I got around it by turning off all the lights BEFORE asking him to step up. My rational being, when he can't see it is difficult for him to be "bitey." This worked very well. Now we no longer have an issue. He actually ASKS to go to bed and goes to bed easily and with the lights on. FYI I never allow him on my shoulder as I cannot watch his face or body language to gauge how is feeling or thinking. One thing i do and I think it works for Brutus is to tell him how I am proud of him and what he is doing right. I usually do this in the evening when he is relaxed and listening. I really believe they want to be an asset and contributor to a good home, but when they are going through the twos this is a phase where that is not particularly true, and please don't take it personally.

Congratulations! I am sure it is the first of many!

Happy to hear a happy ending to your story. I agree with the others who think wing clipping is not the answer. My bird loves to fly, just as i love to run and I would never harm his ability to experience flight.

It seriously is baby steps. Don't rush things. Build trust and affection and things will happen. Forceful actions do not work. It seriously takes YEARS sometimes. This is not a bad thing, when you are sensitive and aware of small incremental changes that are positive it works out rather well. Later, when you look back, you will see the large amount of progress he (and you) have achieved. It is really a special process and it cannot be rushed.

Good to know. The only thing that freaks out Brutus is strange things in his food bowl. He sees me in all sorts of outfits, hats, sunglasses, and large, brightly-colored gardening gloves and he could care less. Oh yeah, hair too--he doesn't care at all what I do to my hair--up or down or curled. He always recognizes me as "Mama." So weird. I never paint my nails so I don't know if that would do it or not. But something unexpected in his food bowl gives him a little hesitation. At times he needs coaxing to visit this most familiar object.

Please keep us advised of how its going. I have my fingers crossed for you and your bird's safe return.

I Love Biscotti!

Panama Amazons are good talkers and different personalities than Greys. They are not very common Amazons. My Panama Amazon guy is a rescue, 11 years old, and he is very sweet and docile even when the other two parrots are hormonal messes. I have always heard Amazons are hormonal and difficult, but I have not found that to be true. Panama Amazons, especially, are sweeter, smaller, and talk better than the more flashy and common Double Yellow Head. Another thing I like about Amazons is they are obvious in what they are feeling. If they are excited it is obvious and you stay away because you may get bit. When they are nervous they have a distinct fragrance and you go slow, etc. It is not so with Greys. They are not so obvious and it takes awhile to really see what they are feeling. Have you also considered Eclectus? My friend has two, and they are soo sweet and go to anybody. She does work with them a lot though. If you want a good mix try to get a personality that complements your present bird. For example, if he is reserved get a goof ball for a second parrot. I believe it brings out new behaviors in the other parrot. Good luck with your search!

Where do you live? Have you seen the spider? The reason there are spiders present is because the environment is right for them, change the environment, and they will go away--WITHOUT harmful pesticides. You also NEED to ask the operator WHAT pesticides he/she is using and research them on your own. They are in business to apply pesticides, and they will, unless you understand the toxicity issues. Also, learn about the brown recluse, they tend to avoid human contact if possible. Pesticides ARE toxic, and maybe far worse then the threat of an easily avoidable spider.

If you are worried about feather plucking, add sunshine to her regular diet. Just 15 minutes, on most days, will mellow your parrot out and really decrease the likelihood they will EVER pluck. Please try it.

I wish you the best. It is admirable that you are going to such great lengths to protect your Grey.

If it were my bird i would think about surgery to make flight possible, but if this is not your choice, I respect that.

I am so happy for you and Greycie! Thank you for sharing. Please don't blame yourself because it could happen to anybody.

Hey Dan, I hope it all goes smoothly. Moving sucks! If it is any help I will tell you what happened when we moved-- Brutus sulked and hid in a closet and then sat on a darkened door for a few days. He couldn't seem to wrap his head around his new environment. It seemed like he was thinking that it would all go away and be back to "normal" if he ignored the situation. It actually took a couple of months before he was back to playing with abandon. Maybe Dayo will not be as sensitive.

Glad to hear the trip is going well. My guys LOVE to ride in the car. Maybe put some newspaper IN his cage so he can shred it. It will give him something to do.

I wouldn't worry. Those feathers look perfectly normal. Brutus is losing a couple of feathers lately too. I guess it is just that time of year!

My guys hangs from door frames with one foot. It IS funny. Are his wings clipped?