chezron

My experience is the same as luvparrots. I have a Grey, a Amazon, and a quaker. The little quaker can be a dominating terror, but the other two have figured out how to deal with him. I let them work it out amongst themselves. When something spooks them they fly as a team into the other room, which I think is so cute. Brutus, the grey talks about Pancho and Jimpster all the time. I think they are happy to have bird company when I am not home. There certainly is no "lovefest" going on here, but they hang out on their separate cages and chill together. I don't know how cockatiels fit into everything. I definitely would watch them closely until they work it out. I would be afraid of one of the little guys getting hurt.

Congratulations Bubba and Murfchick. I hope to see Bubba in the air soon.

I don't know how old Jasper, although that wouldn't change anything. We love greys because they are smart. Well smart kids get bored easily just like greys. I am lucky if Brutus plays with the same toy more than twice. He is always looking for something new to chew, experience, or destroy. Your bird is no different. You gotta keep their powerful little brains occupied with new experiences and new things to explore. As far as the scared reaction your guy displayed, mine does this at times, usually in response to something unrecognizable in his food bowl. Greys are prey animals, so they must constantly be on guard against sources of danger. Sometimes that "danger" is something totally ridiculous. They usually get over it though. Jasper may never play with his play top anymore because "he's been there done that." Keep him busy with stuff you want him to play with and cover the stuff you don't with pillows or quilts. It is a constant readjustment to cover new discovered items.

As many as will fit that and still allow him to move around, yet keep him entertained. I change them as he gets bored, or destroys them.

Hi AW64. I have 3 parrots from 5 to 12 years old. One is a rehome. He is my easy one. Just to let you know they never stop learning and growing. Brutus (CAG), who normally hates water, took a bath all by himself for a change! Pancho, the Panama Amazon, can now fly back to his cage and land successfully! I make sure and fall all over them with praise when they accomplish these new behaviors. My most difficult one is a Quaker Parakeet as he is very willful and domineering. Sometimes he has to spend a little time in his cage when he gets too full of himself. He thinks he is the king of world and owns all of the cage real estate within sight.

Good question about getting him back in the cage. We used to use favorite toys and/or treats. We jiggled the toys and made them seem REALLY enticing, and that usually worked, although, sometimes it took the better part of an hour. But in the end it was HIS decision to return to the cage, and he made it of his own free will, which I think is really important. Also, at night we turned off all the lights to get him to step up willingly. He is much more trusting and sweet when he can't see. ha ha. Once again, I minimize handling or asking things that will likely not be popular requests when I know the chances of success are slim. Parrots do not understand dominance. To them, you are an equal and you are just being mean when you try to force things. They also don't forget when you are mean and raise your voice. A good relationship must be built on trust. CAGs like to know they are of value and a contributing member of the flock. My guy knows because I frequently tell him how much I value him and all the things he does right. Just the other day I told him I love to listen to him talk and I would really like him to talk more, and you know what, he is talking more now. I do not underestimate how intelligent my parrot is, nor do I overestimate my own intelligence. I think that is a mistake that some owners make when they try to dominate. It might work for dogs, but it does not work for birds. Maybe, change the cage cleaning schedule to a time when he is more submissive, like close to bed time? Just a thought...

Try to decrease biting by only handling your bird when it gives clear signals that it will cooperate. Anything you can do to lessen biting as an automatic reaction is good. To get your bird to move you do not always have to get your bird to step-up. I use a saucepan lid anytime I want Brutus to move from where he currently is. He knows what the lid means, and now all I have to do is pick the lid up and he flies away. I do not pick up my bird unless he is offering his foot or giving me clear body language that he will be kind and gentle. In fact, when he wants to wrestle, he used to get a little rough and bite down. Now I grab his beak and redirect him and say, "be kind and gentle." He knows what it means now. He plays much nicer now and does not get carried away. I can pick him up anytime now and I feel assured that he will not bite because he knows "kind and gentle." Try to give choices. When you had the situation with the knife, give your bird a more exciting alternative to distract him from the knife, and often the bird will prefer the alternative and the situation is resolved easily and without conflict. Do not let your bird on your shoulder. Bend over and shake him off. The shoulder is a place that is easily abused. My bird gets to sit in my lap where I have control over the situation. Any decision you make you must not waver. If you decide to not let your bird on your shoulder, never let your bird on your shoulder. There are places my bird is not allowed, like my desk, the stove, part of the kitchen, and Brutus doesn't even try to land on them anymore because I was relentless on shooing him off so he knows not to even try. They really want to cooperate. I think it is more a matter of letting him know what he can do and not so much a matter of correcting him. Try to stay away from corrections and negativity and encourage good behavior.

Guess what?! I have noticed that Brutus is chilling out a lot more lately, and that includes not talking as much. He just seems really comfortable. Anyway, the other night I thought I would "ask" him to talk more. As I was putting him to bed I said how much I enjoyed him talking, and that he was a very good talker, and I asked him to talk more tomorrow. Well the next day he wouldn't shut up! It was so funny. He was hauling out phrases he hasn't said in quite awhile. They really do listen. I know he loves his Mama and wants to please her.

Wulfgeist, I will make sure he doesn't have a costume on. haha. Brutus will only let my husband pet him in the morning.

It is so funny that Brutus doesn't contact call. When we leave he just says something like, "See you in a little while" and that's it. When he hears the garage door he just waits until we come in to say hello. We work out in the yard quite a bit, and while he can often see us, he doesn't call. He is just calm and watches when he can. So weird!

Brutus is a snuggle bug! He excels at soliciting scratches, kisses, head rubs, neck rubs, and even big birdy hugs- especially at night. He likes being rocked like a baby too. When he raises his wings, he likes the sides of his body stroked. I even rub his toes. He will sit in my lap until the cows come home. I guess they just have different temperaments.

Loved your video. I never get tired of listening to them.

Good advice from Dan. He needs some barely warm (not hot!) mushy oatmeal. This is a baby! Treat him with the same care and concern as an infant. Lot of snuggles and warm mushy food.

This was a phase for my grey. Your grey needs redirection and vigilance to keep him out of trouble, but on the good side he IS sharing his exuberance with you. He is testing his new found self confidence and abilities. Try to find what I call "the sacrificial lambs" so he can be destructive with things that have little value, and be kept away from things with value. You will soon figure out what he likes to destroy. Keep those things out of reach or covered. Most of my furniture has quilts covering it, so he cannot chew nailheads or cording. If he likes zippers buy an old garment at the flea market that he CAN chew, or get lots of chewable bird toys, or give him broccoli stems, corks, clothes pins, or other entertainment. Part of the way around this phase is to realize that some stuff is going to get defaced. My guy is five, and he still has his times of the day when he gets into stuff, but we deal - no problem. I love that I can almost see the wheels in his head turning as he tries to figure out how to destroy something. He feels accomplished and smart when he does and that makes me happy. I just steer him to the stuff he CAN destroy.

I had been looking for a Gray for over a year and a half. When I saw Brutus, I was impressed by how much bigger and sturdier he was next to his more diminutive counterparts. Unlike the numerous other times, when I offered my hand, he stepped right up and proceeded to make himself very comfortable- like he had found his home, and he had. I believe when he really started to grab more of my heart's real estate is when I was taking him home on the plane, and he stuck his beak out of the cage so I could comfort him. To this day he sticks his beak out when he wants contact and reassurance.

Well I guess I learned poppycock. Thank you for correcting my erroneous thinking. Brutus sure loves "The Andy Griffith" Song.

Yeah Luna!

Please give me reasons why my husband should refrain from continuing to teach our Grey whistling instead of talking. I have read, I think, on this forum, that they would rather whistle than talk. If that is the case, I need talking points to convince my husband to stick to words.

We just got an atom. It has been hanging for ten days before Brutus finally started playing on it today. He was interested but scared this whole time. Yesterday I took him up to it and he chewed the rope, so I knew he would get on it soon. He now appears to love it. Play with the boing and just let it sit around, you bird will come around if he sees how fun it is.

He's so funny when he sighs.

So funny about the bath. I can't even go to the toilet alone, unless I am quick to close the door. The room is small, so he lands and bumps the door with his nose. What little characters they are! Does Romeo fly yet?

I just feel it is rude not to share when I am eating. I don't always eat stuff they consider yummy though. Sometimes i eat salad or spaghetti with lots of tomatoes, but I still offer bites for everyone. Even though Brutus likes to say "yogurt" he doesn't like to eat it, but I still offer it. I pretty much eat standing up. Ha HA. I mean wild birds in a family share their food, so I do too. Plus, when I leave for awhile I always give them a little treat when I get home because that is what the MAMA bird does when SHE gets home. My guys don't beg, but they watch me very closely. When I get something they recognize as good, they all show up front and center. Brutus starts spinning and Pancho starts saying his name to get my attention. SOOO funny! I also make them each do their respective tricks before they get a bite of anything. They totally crack me up. We eat dinner after we put them to bed, so we can have one meal in peace.

I know you must have been upset by being shunned. Glad to hear you guys are on track again.

Good job Sophie! Keep up the good work.

I spend a lot of time with the guys. I am in school, so I am at my computer, right next to their cages, for hours. They love it when I am here, usually all grooming, eating, talking, playing, or grinding their beaks. I love to spend time with them too, and am becoming hesitant about traveling. I always tell them when i will be back home. Brutus, the grey, does not like it when I leave. He flies to the railing near the door, and says, "See you in a little while." I guess I am turning into the crazy bird lady...