chezron

I am still marveling at how mellow and sweet Brutus gets after an hour in the sun! Amazing!

Greywings, The Grey chariot sounds fantastic!! I might have to work on that for Brutus...

That is got to be one of the funniest and cutest birds I have ever seen!

OOO! I want to see a picture of that! Please post when you get one!

Beautiful and lucky birds to have you caring for them!

What a cutie! I love them even more now they are more complex adults. I bet you do too!

I can relate to the endless chain of duties: fix food and feed birds, fix food and feed husband, wash the dishes, fix more food and...

Brutus had been acting out, and I attributed it to teenage angst. He ALWAYs gets an hour of Full Spectrum Light everyday, but on days where the weather is nice he goes outside to get the real deal. The weather had not allowed any outside excursions in quite awhile. Anyway, we have had two glorious sunny spring days here and both our birds went outside (in cages, of course, because of resident Sharp-Shinned Hawks). Brutus is like another bird now! The new Brutus is sweet and mellow, but still full of energy! Coincidence, maybe, but I noticed the mood-altering power of sunshine last year, as well. I am putting my money on Mr. Sun! Just wanted to share. My Vet says they make more Vitamin D with sunshine which acts as a mood hormone, as well as, a vitamin.

Thanks Ray P! That was especially good advice, and also what I figured. I think they like to be with us, even for extended days in a small cage, over many days not.

Good luck Electra!

Thanks you guys! Boy, you really gave me good advice (everybody) and encouragement (Marcus) and I REALLY appreciate it! Brutus is very used to traveling in the car and I am not worried about him. I am worried about Jimpster, he might get carsick. It IS such a long time to be in a cage. I want to let them out in the hotel room (they both fly). I guess I am worried about collisions and accidents because of unfamiliar places. Good point about drinking water. Brutus likes it when I sing, so I guess I will sing (since no one else will witness my pitiful ability). Thank you so much! We are excited and freaked out all at the same time!

We are moving across the country in a couple of weeks. My husband and I will be driving two separate vehicles, each containing a bird in a cage. We are transporting Brutus, the grey, and Jimpster, a quaker. The trip will take at least four-five days. We thought that it would be less traumatic to have them with us, rather than leave them alone (with a bird sitter) for a week in an empty house. Already, much of furniture is gone, but they seem to be taking the changing home environment well. Do you have any advice for us before we roll outta here? Also any advice for introducing them to a new home? Thank you

Dave, Does your (or more) African Grey act out hormonally? When Brutus flew at my face I just ducked and walked away- showing no emotion. And I did leave him alone the rest of the afternoon. Is this the correct way to handle it? I have read about a stern, "NO!" and a evil eye stare as possible reactions to unwanted behavior. What do you think?

Thanks for the advice. Today, Brutus is as sweet as ever. I do not think it will hurt to talk to him because I know he loves me. He certainly understands much of what we say. I know this because he recombines words into appropriate sentences. Plus, knowing now, that these hormonal surges happen over the age of three this ornery behavior seems to make more sense. Thanks. I know how hormones affect teenage boys and turn them into little monsters at times. I guess it isn't too different to have a male African Grey do the same. I also take his behavior as a compliment because it suggests his robust health.

That is totally hysterical! I wish I could get my bird THAT soaked!

I am sorry to hear this. This IS a fixable problem! Also, a lovable bird, missing a few feathers, is still a treasure. Please ask more questions and the knowledgable people on this forum will help you. We are ALL here to help you. Don't feel alone and frustrated, we are here to assist you.

Dave, I just noticed that EVERY forum topic has a New Post button. I never noticed that before. I am glad you told me, otherwise I would have just kept posting incorrectly.

Brutus is turning three soon. He especially seems hormonally driven lately. He keeps trying to regurgitate and mate with our Quaker parrot (parakeet). Luckily, Jimmy is fast and will not allow it. Watching the two of them is like watching an experienced fencer (Jimmy) and a lumbering Viking with a club (Brutus). Jimmy gets a bunch of jabs in before Brutus even knows what hit him. Not only is he trying to mate with Jimmy, but his moods have become unpredictable. At one moment he seems loving, and the next, he flies at your face. Thankfully, I duck quickly. My new strategy is to pet him mainly at night when he is mellow, and to pet him during the day only where he does not have easy access to my face. ALL the books say do not try to dominate an African Grey, but is there some way to scold him? I am doing a stern, "NO!" How do you handle your hormonal grey?

So Sorry. The only page I notice an option to post a new message is on this page. http://www.greyforums.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?14-Welcome-Introduction-Room Please tell me on what other pages this is an option. Also, I would appreciate some advice on the topic I brought up, as well as, the correction to my posting location.

Do you give him exposure to full spectrum light, or take him outside regularly for sun exposure? Greys need either form to assimilate calcium and to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D especially is crucial as a hormone and also as a mood regulator. My grey had started shredding his feathers and acting a little neurotic. Once I found out about the importance of sunlight for mood, we started to take him outside 15 minutes a day or give him an hour of full spectrum light in his cage a day. We noticed he stopped feather shredding within a week. He has not resumed the destructive behavior since. We also feed him a chicken drumstick bone once a week for the calcium in the marrow. You might try this.

Brutus is turning three soon. He especially seems hormonally driven lately. He keeps trying to regurgitate and mate with our Quaker parrot (parakeet). Luckily, Jimmy is fast and will not allow it. Watching the two of them is like watching an experienced fencer (Jimmy) and a lumbering Viking with a club (Brutus). Jimmy gets a bunch of jabs in before Brutus even knows what hit him. Not only is he trying to mate with Jimmy, but his moods have become unpredictable. At one moment he seems loving, and the next, he flies at your face. Thankfully, I duck quickly. My new strategy is to pet him mainly at night when he is mellow, and to pet him during the day only where he does not have easy access to my face. ALL the books say do not try to dominate an African Grey, but is there some way to scold him? I am doing a stern, "NO!" How do you handle your hormonal grey?

I feel your pain! We have one of the backpacks for Brutus and we love taking him out to see people and pets.

What a beautiful bird and SOO sweet!

You are lucky he is such a talker! Congratulations!

Great idea Katana!