chezron

I feel for you with the plucking issue. It is tough.

Sweet video, thanks. Loved that toy the macaw was playing with. I know that would be popular at our house.

I sure enjoy Gilbert's updates!

Brutus prefers to make his mistakes loud and clear. He never mumbles; he just gets it out there right or wrong. He sings, "I left my heart in San Fran-coe." I can't get him to say better. He has his mind made up on that one.

Always love to hear about Isaac!

Brutus is a CAG and weighs 496 or close to it.

Brutus never sounded robotic. He always imitated my husband's voice. Also, maybe unusual too, is Brutus doesn't mumble, he just spits his mistakes out full volume. He has always done it that way. I think Gracie will sound more "human" with time. Happy birthday Gracie!

I believe they will work it out. My guys had territory issues which were resolved with mutual aggressive behavior. They never "hurt" each other but they made their points, and now they have established areas that they call their own. Keep an eye on them though, because it may not work out so smoothly. If they hadn't worked it out amongst themselves the aggression might be ongoing.

Oh I forgot to include Brutus' reaction when I got home. His pupils all but disappeared when he first saw me. He was so excited and a total love puppy. He was not mad at all and had no hard feelings. Thank you for your support.

Update: I told Brutus i was leaving and for how long I would be gone. I talked via Skype, but Brutus wasn't comfortable with seeing my face on a computer screen. Weird thing happened. My husband reported that Brutus never said, "Where's Mama?" the whole time I was gone UNTIL the day we started traveling back home. He was amazed by this and so am I.

Ava is a baby. Be patient and kind. You will learn body language as you both mature. Try to handle Ava when she is giving clear signals that she is in a cuddly mood and not liable to bite. Don't worry about her initially choosing your boyfriend because Ava can love more than one person, and it is possible she will switch in the future. Do not punish her in any way. You need to be the source of affection and acceptance- not pain.

"After all these years, he has become very creative and makes up his own melodies along with some beat-box sound percussion's" Wow! A video would be nice!

Good advice Jeff! Thanks!

Okay, now he is freaking me out. I explained to him that i will be leaving for three weeks and that i will come back. Now he is saying (kind of incessantly), "Where's Mama?" and he only says that in the morning when my husband is up first. I think he knows that I am leaving and I feel so guilty.

I am going out of the country for three weeks. My husband will be taking care of the boys. I am not worried about the Amazon and the Quaker. I AM worried about leaving Brutus, the grey. He is very attached to me. He loves my husband too, but I don't want him to be sad when I am gone. Is that anthropomorphizing Brutus' emotional state unrealistically? I am, however, basing this expectation on what happened the time Jimpster, the quaker, flew away for three days. Brutus seemed depressed without his partner in crime. One thing I will be doing is "Skyping" Brutus while I am gone so he can see me talk on the computer screen. This is all I can do to keep in touch, so to speak. Am I pointlessly worrying? What has been your experience when you leave your birds for an extended period?

Hey Dan, we have same system!

What a great bird! I watched a few videos on You Tube. I couldn't believe how gentle they were. If I didn't have three I would definitely consider getting one.

Brutus hates water, so we get around the power struggle by rolling his whole cage outside and spraying him with the hose sprinkler. He doesn't like it but it works, and he doesn't hate me afterward. Otherwise he just sticks his breast in his water bowl which is not a satisfactory bath. We have "Shower Sunday" and every parrot goes outside in their cages for a bath. At that time I can also hose off any messes in the cage. Afterward they dry in the sun which everyone enjoys.

I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but it works for me. My rule is no one comes out of their cages unless they step up. Meaning that, I become their only avenue to freedom. Now granted, sometimes it has to be step up on a stick, (for the Amazon), but it is still enforced. It does sound that your bird is reacting to your stress level, as do mine at times. Relax it will all be fine.

Nilah is a very beautiful parrot

Sooo funny! Birds really start to look like reptiles when they are wet.

He is beautiful!

Brutus is Richie (I have no idea why), Brugee (my husband), Sqargadoodie-dute, baby weirdness, goofy boy, and Godzilla (when he is bad). I can get totally carried away with names, so I am trying to contain myself. Brutus sometimes calls himself "Broo" He says, "My name is Broo!"

You are doing so well with Sam. Good job and keep up the effort. I know your relationship will just get better and better as time goes on. Thrilled for you and Sam!

Awww! So sweet! Especially when the little guy moves into the Timneh. Buddies!