chezron

Good advice. Turning off all the lights at night before putting the grey to bed works great for us when we know Brutus is being ornery. Greys can't see as well as we can at night, so they are disadvantaged and more trusting of a hand in the dark. You might also try giving him something to chew on while getting him to step up, that way his mouth is too busy to bite. I think the sooner you can keep biting from being an automatic response the better, so that the behavior does not become hard-wired into his brain. This may seem a little off-topic, but getting my grey out in the sunshine for at least 15 minutes a day really mellows him out, and he becomes a love-puppy. It may work for your grey. You also might try asking his permission before getting him to do anything. If I ask Brutus if he wants his head scratched, for example, and he doesn't give me strong affirmation in body language, I refrain from scratching at that moment. I always know when he wants me to scratch his head because when I ask he fluffs up the feathers on his head in response to the question. I guess your grey needs to know he is loved, respected with choice, and can trust you. Another thing, try to outsmart him and turn a bad situation into a better choice. For example, if I want to get Brutus into his travel cage and I can tell he will not willingly go, I delay getting him up in the morning, and place the open travel cage into the door of his cage, that way he can "choose" to get out of his cage by climbing into his travel cage. That way it is all on him and not a battle of the wills. He can either stay in the cage or change the scenery. He usually is anxious to get out of his cage in the morning, so he goes. Another trick, that works most of time, is to entice him with toys or food into a smallish room, like a bathroom, then turn of the lights and pick him up and place him in the travel cage. I don't know if it is possible for you and maybe your bird is completely different, but we sometimes just leave him out while we step out because he normally just sits and waits for us in the same spot. I cannot count the times he is in exactly the same place as we left him. He shows no inclination to do much more than vegetate while we are gone. He only gets adventuresome when he has a witness. So I guess what I am saying is weigh the importance or necessity of getting him to do something he clearly does not want to do before resorting to extreme measures like toweling. good luck

Aww Sweet! So glad Marcus made the connection. Maybe he will bite less now that he understands.

Throw the stuff out! It is toxic to birds and toxic to you. Have you ever heard of the canary in the coal mine? Use glass or Revere Ware, or cast iron. They are very nonstick if you heat up the pan before introducing food or fat, and if you season the cast iron first.

Organic! Good for you! Don't you enjoy feeding your fids good healthful foods and watching them bury their faces in all that yumminess! I swear my birds eat better than I do and only organic will do. I found these little tupperware containers the hold 1/4 cup and I cook up a batch, divide it between the containers, and freeze. The little tupperwares are so easy to pull out of the freezer for a fresh batch. It is fun thinking up new combinations of veggies, beans, and grains to give them.

Update, Both our birds moved like pros! We all had a good time communing in the small car space. I felt bad about not letting them out to fly around for three days, but we finally stayed in a large hotel room, and I was able to let them out. Once in our new house Brutus hid in an open dark closet for a couple of days. He did not want a new house! It has been a month and Brutus has been SO sweet and clingy. He seems to be coming around now and is starting to be more willful. I would say both of our birds are much more resilient than I thought they would be under the circumstances.

Love ours! We take Brutus downtown to the outdoor coffee shop, so he can socialize.

My quaker rules the roost. He is law enforcement, as well as, the owner of Mom. If I reprimand Brutus (the grey) for getting into something he shouldn't, Jimpster flies over unsolicited, and chases him off. Jimpster also guards my physical space during the day. I usually delay allowing Jimpster out of his cage in the morning until I give Brutus lots of attention, just to make sure he gets his share of "Mom-time". Thankfully, Jimpster puts himself to bed really early, so it also gives me and Brutus time to cuddle in the evening.

I have been visiting a 10yo Panama Amazon who has been in foster care for three years. He seems very sweet and docile, yet silly- a good combination I think. I would like to take him home and add him to my flock of a grey and a quaker. How do I do this? Should I quarantine him in another part of the house until I get him checked out at the vet? Should I keep him in another part of the house and only roll out his cage for small periods of time to gradually introduce him? I am worried about my birds feeling deprived if I divide my former attention in three ways, instead of two. I am also worried about my quaker bullying the new arrival. I imagine that if I finally do roll his cage permanently with the other two, when can I let him out? Do I have to keep him locked up while the other two are free? According to his keeper, Pancho (the Amazon) is very social and comes right out of his cage when it is opened. His keeper says he is very sweet and one of his favorites. He is also in a small cage in a room full of other birds in small cages. He looks like he needs better nutrition, regular baths, regular sunshine, and a toe nail clipping. I know I can provide him with a better quality of life, and I would like to do that for him.

Brutus always refers to the person he is talking about. Actually, surprisingly so! I was amazed when he started calling me, "Sharon", my name, and it is because my husband calls me by my name. To Brutus, I am normally, "Mama" but now he knows I am both. I am continually amazed at their powers of cognition. My husband taught him to say, "Yippee, Dad's home" but now he only says, "Yippee, Mom's home" because he likes seeing me come home because I am his favored human.

We say to Brutus, "You're are nice boy" or "You're a good boy", so now he has put together, I guess, what he feels is a better description of me. He says, "Mama is a good nice." I suppose he is trying to convey that not only am I good, but I am nice too. Logically, to him anyway, he thought that using both words makes for a top notch assessment of his mother.

Please take care with this precious tiny one. This life depends on your skill.

I am so sorry Shelley! I wish I could bring your dog back. I just can't believe how awful this must be for you and your son!

They choose and there is really nothing that you can do about it. You can, however, expose them to many people and circumstances so they get comfortable with many people, but there will always be a favorite person. My bird picked me but he still kisses my husband. The more you expose Greys to other people and situations the better it is for them. If I had dominated my time with Brutus I am quite sure he would be protective of me at the exclusion of anyone else, but because my husband has taken an active roll in trying to assimilate, my husband gets lots of acceptance most of the time.

Hey! I was wondering if taking Nilah outside for a little sun exposure would help. Lately Brutus has been into EVERYTHING! But the last few days we took him outside (in a cage) and he seems much calmer. Just a thought...

I feel your pain! When it is quiet it is a sure sign they are getting into trouble or destroying a valuable object.

Maybe you could foster a bird, and see how it goes. At least if it doesn't work out you can give the bird back. Better than to buy a bird and to potentially have chaos. Although not so good for the foster if it has to change homes again. Just say you do get another baby, he or she will also grow up at some point, and not be as cuddly. And there you are with no cuddly baby-again. It happens. I think it also depends on the grey, because ours is still pretty cuddly at three years old and will sit for long head-scratching sessions.

Wow! Pretty birds. Do they get along?

I think you are doing well explaining things. My guy always mixes up "is and are." He mixes up words he uses and sometimes he says "You is" because he doesn't know he is supposed to change the pronoun. It is funny. I just don't think they are aware of the particulars just the meaning.

Good luck on the introduction! Hope it goes well.

That is SO HORRIBLE! I am so sorry. Why was the officer in your yard? Why didn't he come to the door first?

When you think about it, in the bird world, they always share. I think it is kinda mean not to. I always fix more lunch than I will eat since I know a good portion will go to feeding the birds. If I give them their big portion first, I usually can sit down to eat with no interruption, as long as we are close together. There is something nice and family-like to eat nearby the birds and to make eye contact while enjoying food.

Do you have a birdie true love at home too?

That Glade stuff is made of aromatic hydrocarbons, many of which are carcinogenic (to humans & birds), not to mention bad for your health and deadly to birds. Why not just open a window for fresh air? Good for everybody too. Any of the plug-in devices also emit aromatic hydrocarbons. All of these, so-called air fresheners are BAD for your health and the health of your birds.

Welcome to you and Buddy. What a cutie!

I am so happy for you and Cocoa! How old is Coca? It gives me such warm feelings to think of the gift that Cocoa has given you! We are here for you on the forum if you have questions.