sinnie

Thanks all. He is doing better today. I've been trying to convince him to take a bath. He only wants to do it in this tiny water dish on a table stand, and of course he doesn't fit. I have noticed he is usually more on edge when it's rainy or stormy outside which it was yesterday.

Yeah it isn't problem solved so quickly. He's still being odd to me. Randomly super sweet, randomly really mean. Hopefully he'll continue to come around. That day when the incident did happen, he bit my thumb and it bled for a week straight before it healed up! Today he nearly got me that bad on my finger but it didn't break the skin luckily. It's amazing that I can't seem to yell at him or feel too angry over his bites, they just make me sad.

Well moments after posting, my husband took the quaker in the other room to his roost cage, giving me and Hiei a moment. Hiei was on top of his cage, so I just leaned on it, putting my chin on it and looking sad. Eventually he ran over to me and put his head down for me to scratch and then he stepped up. No, him flying into the hallway wasn't the first time it has happened. He has always been clumsy and lost his balance frequently. It was the first time I had to wipe off his foot, so it might have been the paper towel. He doesn't seem to like them much. I can't believe how long they can hold a grudge!!

We have owned our African Grey for a few years now. He was bonded to me, extremely loving and gentle, stepped up on command, didn't bite or anything. A few weeks ago he lost his balance on his cage and flew into the wall in the hallway. Doing this he broke one of his feathers, crapped on the floor and stepped in it. I snipped off the broken feather (hoping to avoid him from picking at it or causing discomfort) and then I took a paper towel to wipe off his foot before he stepped up. Ever since then he has been biting me, refusing to step up unless it's bedtime. He has also gotten more close to our Quaker, where as before he would run away from him, as though he found him annoying. The quaker is needy and always trying to stand near the Grey. They have started preening eachother and acting like they want to feed each other (both are males.) Their cages are together and Hiei loves to get out and play on both cages and play inside the smaller cage for the quaker (we usually put the quaker on a play gym so they only get together when we're watching.) Anyway, I don't know what to do. Hiei keeps biting me horribly and it seems like he is scared of me for some reason. He looks at me and looks scared and shakes slightly. I have not done anything to him, no yelling or hitting. Did I somehow traumatize him by wiping off his foot? I seem to remember doing it once before with no issues. I need some advice on how to get my friend back. I am considering separating the bird cages but thinking that would be a bad idea also as they would just call to each other and drive me nuts with screaming.

Thanks! Here is a picture of him when we were visiting him at the breeders' house.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! I can't wait to get my baby! What do you all think of the cage? I just don't want him to hate it because of size and start plucking or something! He is 5 months old now.

Hi all! My name is Kim. I live in north AL. I am going to acquire my first African Grey in a couple of weeks. We already have him picked out from a breeder. I am getting things ready at the house for him. I already have a cage picked out for him to be in when I'm at work, or when he's unsupervised (otherwise he'll be out.) I also own a Quaker Parrot and we've gotten into the habit of giving him a roost cage to sleep in, which doubles as his travel cage. This is HIS cage: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754303 It 14x18x22. I was thinking of purchasing a second one like this for travel and for our new baby to sleep in at night. Is this too small? Or should I look for something bigger?