LisaM

I think the "scalloping" on their feathers is gorgeous even if it's gray and white. This was a great question! With all my reading and such I either never read that the raw beans were toxic or I forgot it! I'm guessing the other exception (other than cooking them, that is), is sprouting them? (mung, azuki, lentils, etc.?) I haven't been cooking mine before sprouting them and I'm not sure if they would even sprout if they did cook? I do what you, Dan and many others do as well and cook up a multi-bean/veggie/brown rice mix and freeze in individual baggies. (last time I overcooked the beans though and ended up with one nasty looking mush! Yikes! It still worked as a decent base for adding to though for a cooked food). As far as getting a Grey...when the time is right, you will find one in your life. :-) Can't wait to see the pics of your B&G...they're one of my favorites! That or a GW is my "someday" bird!

MBS = Multiple Bird Syndrome...i think we all catch it at some point. It's a matter of "when", not "if"... IMO = In My Opinion (also sometimes seen as IMHO = In My Humble Opinion! I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your baby! He is soooo cute! Love the video too.

That is fantastic Rhonda! You are making great progress with her...and it sounds like your husband is too! Congrats. Keep the good news a-comin'! :-)

I think if I had any flowers or herbs sitting around I would have to make sure they were edible and okay for fids because I'm certain my two ekkies would immediately dive in. I have boiled water with lemon slices in it and that worked nicely, particularly in spring/summer. I have done apple slices with cinnamon sticks in the winter. Does piercing an apple with a fork and just leaving it out really work? Do nibbles from the fids work just as well (may as well benefit from it vs. just tossing the apples). I heard someone else will push cloves into an apple and let it sit out as well. I think my birds might try to eat the cloves though.

WOW! That is some fantastic progress! What a little doll. She is sure getting fluffy! I'm so happy to see this, but I'm sure not nearly as much as you are! I do a similar thing...I take a piece of bread (my new-found sprout bread), sometimes I even toast it for some crunch. I put a tsp of red palm oil, a tsp of yogurt, oatmeal or organic babyfood and a few flax seeds sprinkled on top. Then I split the slice between my 3 parrots and the dog. They ALL love it. (I actually just tried the oatmeal for the first time this morning...no one in my house eats it so I kept forgetting to buy some...had to google it to see how to even make it...how lame is that!). I love trying new combinations of foods and I get so many new ideas from this site all the time! Again though Rae, I am thrilled to see how Angie is doing.

Thank you Siobhan. As we are slowly getting her used to skritching, we are slowly getting her used to showers. When she came to us she never had had showers or any opportunity really to bathe at all (she was 13 years old). She now will tolerate the showers while sitting on the shower perch, but as soon as we get close enough that she can step/jump onto our hand or arm, she's off to the races and up to our shoulders (which we generally don't allow) to get out of the shower. This morning she actually opened her wings a tiny bit in there while we had the handheld shower facing up with a gentle spray...usually she just holds tight and doesn't want anything to do with water under her wings if she can help it. Progress is progress though, right? She's been in our home for a year and a half and has made huge progress in showering, diet, etc. I'm actually fine with just the head skritching or whatever she wants from a touching standpoint. She's such a joy in so many ways.

That's really cool info Muse! My daughter asked me that and I told her to go look it up...i think she figured it was too much work or forgot about it.

You find you start to dance so well that you sign up for "Dancing with the Stars"...and you get paired up with Courtney Love. I wish I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight.

Oh Matt I am sooo sorry! My heart aches at the thought of what you are going through right now. I hope the vet is able to identify what happened to help give you some closure. My deepest, deepest condolences. Lisa

Wow! That's so sweet! I would certainly lose digits if I attempted that. I have s-l-o-w-l-y worked my way from her the top of her head to the back of her neck and now she'll turn her head upside down so I can skritch under her beak (won't let me do that unless her head is upside down). If I try to get a bit overzealous and push my boundaries, she immediately stands straight up and looks me directly in the eye as if to say "WATCH IT!"...then puts her head down and "coo's" as if to let me know I can proceed with the skritch session. So I'm with the others...keep doing it so he stays used to it and maybe he'll let you do it forever! (Or he'll demand his daily massages, which is what I would do if I could!).

I don't think he has any problems at all. I think he's just still adjusting to life in your family. If he's whistling to the "tune" of you saying "pretty bird", he may be practicing. My CAG does that a lot with new things...she'll sort of whistle it, she'll mumble or even whisper...then all of a sudden at some point out comes the phrase clear as a bell. Even though he was talking in the store, he's in a new environment now. I'll bet he will start within a few weeks. It is possible, however, that he will decide not to speak. Just continue to talk to him a lot, with a lot of inflection and excitement. That's really about the best thing you can do. And I don't know for sure, but I think even vets can only give a best guess at a parrot's age once they're adults. If you haven't brought him to an avian vet yet though I would do that as soon as possible for an overall checkup. I think he's just being a normal grey. Some take quite awhile to work their way into a new situation. You have a LONG time with him so try to enjoy the little positive steps along the way. :-) (My favorite sound of all is the "owl hoot"). I have convinced myself it's Kenya's way of telling me she loves me because it sounds so sweet! (And if anyone believes differently, keep it to yourself so I can continue to live with my delusion! )

Tari - does "won" mean just first place? Or first, second or third place?

I'm so glad you're making such progress with Greyce!

Guess I'd better pick up a few more vices! :-)

That's awesome Deb!

That's awesome Sandra! Sounds like excellent progress. I know my birds get really ticked if I sit in the chair at the dining room table that has the back facing them. If I'm anywhere else at the table they are fine but they HATE it when I sit with my back to them. I think if he's engaging you in games like that he is really starting to like and trust you! Keep the good news coming!

Can't wait to see it Rhonda! This was a great video. My Kenya dances but it's more like bobbing than a dancing. This grey got her head, feet, and wings into it. That was great!

I'm going to go for female...can't wait to hear the results though!

Congrats on your new little one...welcome Tiny! Can't wait to see pictures!

I like A and 3 best.

110. That's unbelievable! They must have kept good records...that's by far the oldest I have ever heard of. I'm just amazed.

Oh Shanlung! What a wonderful afternoon you must have had! Her birds are darling and I'm with you on hoping I can have a setup like hers at some point in my life with huge spaces where multiple birds can fly freely and safely. I'm so happy you were able to spend time with her and her flock!

Maybe try dicing it up really small and mixing it with a little scrambled egg and organic babyfood (sweet potato?) to moisten it up and make it stick together a bit?

Count me as three begging for video! That sounds really cute and fun!

Thank you Lysis. Tracy had mentioned that earlier as well in reference to the malted barley. I guess since it isn't any "added" sugar, it's probably okay in this small amount. I had forgotten about my nutrition and "naturally occurring sugars".:blush: Thanks again.