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Mike, Contact bird and pet stores, and vet's offices because they might have some information if someone found him. Post flyers. I did those two things and I got my bird back. Good luck! Don't give up hope and keep trying to find him. If your neighbors know he is missing and they find him, they have a way to contact you. Here is a link with good information on locating your lost bird- http://www.goodbirdinc.com/help-escape.html Please don't lose hope because it will stop you from actively trying to find him. Don't admit defeat before the battle has been fought.

I look at it as a bite is "a bridge" to deeper understanding and trust. Some birds test you with a bite. The point is not to react when bitten. My guy USED to bite but now he sees the value in cooperation and trust. Also, if they bite (and they will) you can start to understand when they might and how you can get around the circumstances that lead to biting. This is the fun and clever part! Distraction, treats, and other sorts of rewards like petting seem to work for me. One sign my grey uses when he is definitely going to bite is he lowers his head quickly when I go to pick him up. I fixed this with picking him up from the rear (he steps up from the back of his legs) while occupying his mouth with something fun. He doesn't expect this and so it works. Try to make every interaction positive and biting becomes something, "they used to do."

My grey is 3+ years old and it STILL surprises me when he talks which is most of the time. I think you just need to be patient. I talk to mine all the time and he definitely responds appropriately when I say certain things. I too, was nervous that he wouldn't talk, but he did, and I consider that a bonus not a qualifier. He is a riot, and a love, with a strong life force that I cherish everyday. Don't let a little thing like talking discourage you. It will be okay and rewarding regardless of what happens.

So happy for Missy, Ella-Rose and you! Please keep us posted with new developments. So excited for your family!

Brutus used fly by and "bonk" our heads regularly with his feet. I don't know why he stopped, (not that I am complaining) but he has gotten sweeter and not as mischievous. Maybe it had something to do with our move. We don't allow him on my new desk, so he doesn't get into things like he did previously. Plus, our kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, so he can't ambush us there anymore. He used to fly to the top of the cabinets and drop toys into whatever I was cooking, or give us a little fly by swat with his feet. He just seems much more content to hangout with the other two parrots, and not as intent on destroying every new thing in his environment.

Love to read Marcus stories!

About the feather problem: Have you tried getting him out in the sunshine 15 minutes a day? It worked for my bird.

Thank you! Your story was absolutely adorable!

Ravena sounds amazing! How fun.

Bird House, So sorry about the link, I got so excited I didn't post a direct one. Although, "The Happy Management Plan" is in the link I posted which is a really good synopsis about how to create a healthy environment for your bird. I did not see a more direct link. Did you also see the part about sprouted beans and seeds? Good stuff!

I guess the attachment is unreadable. Sorry

I just found this on the web. Near the bottom of the page is the Happy Management Plan. The part i liked was the information on the seven-layer salad and the sprouted seeds. I am going to try these suggestions. I think I have been feeding too much fruit. http://www.justanswer.com/bird-vet/3uvix-african-grey-parrot-shaking-head-frequently.html

Good Luck! How frustrating for you!

That is REALLY funny. I know whenever Brutus drops something, depending on the noise level, he will either say, "sorry" or "oops."

Keep us posted. I wish you and your baby the best.

It goes like this at our house- Brutus learns from my husband. He basically ignores most everything I say, except for, "what's your problem?." I don't know if he looks at Larry as the competition for my affections, and so wants to talk just like him or what. Anyway, my husband is an airline pilot and is gone several days a month. When he gets home, Brutus becomes his alter-ego, "the recorder." Larry will pick him up and you have never seen such rapt attention in your life! At these times you can almost see the wheels turning in his head as Brutus is trying to record every word out of my husband's mouth. Sometimes when Larry is in his office and conversing, Brutus will pick up the rhythms and just mumble a bunch of stuff, like HE'S having a conversation. Funny! And then, when Larry is gone Brutus will practice and perfect (or not) what he has taken in. In case we ever lost him, we thought it would be a good idea if Brutus learned our address. So far it is just, "four, zero, zero, zero", maybe we should move to a 4000 number address?

We were trying to teach Brutus our address, except he fell in love with the sound of "zero." So instead of saying, "4560" he says, "Four, Zero, Zero, Zero." He loves to over enunciate zero. It is funny.

Thanks Dave, but I think those are from a different palm, Wodyetia bifurcata.

Do you know if the palm fruit from Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm or Cocos Palm) is edible for birds? We live in Southern California and these palms are all over the place. I would like to feed some to my birds if they are wholesome for them to eat.

If you could see my house and how my birds act around the fans - it is a "non-issue." Please respect that.

Good news! Congratulations!

The fans are never off, and the birds avoid them. I mean for several years, at least for two of them.

My two cents worth of experience---I have three flighted parrots AND operable ceiling fans. For some reason there has never been a problem. You would logically think there would be, but maybe it is the wind created that keeps them away.

Maybe let his feathers grow back, so he can fly?

What a great idea! I never thought to let my birds watch tv. Sounds like it could be fun for them.