LisaM

Ahmad - I think there is a strong likelihood that there was something wrong with your bird that had nothing at all to do with your inexperience. It just seems like too much coincidence. If I were you I would certainly steer clear of that particular breeder! There are really good breeders though and if you do decide to get a baby then you have some more knowledge now than you did and may be able to ask more questions, talk to people who recently got babies from them, etc. I'm always partial to the older birds who are in need of new homes, but that's just personal preference for me. There are a lot of people who do the right things and treat their birds well but just have to find a new home for some reason. Usually they have the bird's best interest in mind. The worst issue I had with mine was that she wasn't on the greatest diet when she came into our family but that's changeable. There are great birds out there needing homes and if you're not in a hurry and that's the path you choose to take, you and your perfect feathered companion will find eachother! You may be able to check with local bird rescue organizations if you have them by you. They often have the birds in foster homes so you can talk to the people living with them and get a true read on them (they are very honest with the goods and the bads because they don't want to see the bird have to come back and find yet another home). Hopefully you have a resource like that in your area. Best of luck to you. You've been through a lot and deserve to find happiness with a feathered friend!

Thanks Heather! They CAN talk and some do better than some AG's. My male, however, has never said a word. My female speaks periodically (in the most adorable little "southern belle" sounding voice). I don't think they're as sensitive to change, etc. They are a tiny bit more active than my CAG but then my CAG never really had much in the way of toys, etc., before coming into our family so she's still learning how to play. Our male Ekkie is a "teddy bird". Sweetest thing ever. Female is a little more assertive in her style, but not "aggressive" towards people. Also, our Ekkie's have not had any inclination towards one particular family member over another. My boy loves everyone. My female like to hang with people for a short period of time but then wants to just sit aside on her playstand and watch everyone else. My Ekkies both LOVE LOVE LOVE showers also, whereas my CAG just barely tolerates them. That also could be from her previous history. Neither of my ekkies received showers prior to coming to our home either but within a week just started to go nuts in there. They get soaked to the bone...really funny looking! The Ekkies are much more willing to try new foods also. Don't have to ask twice. They will eat just about anything I put out for them (well, still working on more variety of vegetables). Hope that helps a bit...if I didn't touch on something or you have any other questions, just let me know!<br><br>Post edited by: LisaM, at: 2008/02/17 06:38

Welcome Fletcher and new baby! Very cute. We would love to see pictures of your wheeled perch...we're always looking for DIY ideas!

Thank you both. They are all wonderful birds. I didn't mean to solicit replies to the post. I also didn't realize that every message I ever posted would now have the new signature! Guess I didn't need a "test" post as I could see it and make adjustments pretty easily! Thanks again.

That is absolutely adorable! You would think his tail would get smashed up or else would cause him to not be able to sit in there comfortably. Clearly that is not the case though! Very, very cute. My daughter is thinking about fostering a retired breeding pair of green rump parrotlets. Poor little male is either a plucker or else she is plucking him. They are tightly bonded though so they don't want to separate them.

If only this wasn't such an "each individual bird" type thing... Ours absolutely HATE misting from a spray bottle but they range from toleration to exhuberance when in the shower on the lowest setting I can get while still having water come out. I'm still trying the misting as that's the only way to get the aloe juice onto them, but for down-to-the-skin soaking, they have perches in the shower. I use the hand-held on low setting (and rather cool temp) and turn it so that it goes up and then comes down gently on them (not spraying directly on them from above). I also then use it to get their bellies and under the wings. The most important thing is to keep trying and you might want to start with several options while they're young as that would provide more opportunities for wet fun in the future! Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Oh man do I feel for you...I don't think I would be able to sleep at night! I don't think they're likely harmful for your pets, but I can see why you would want to get rid of them or at least control them as much as possible. Here's a site that lists some ideas for "natural" pest control: http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm It doesn't like all of the bugs you cohabitate with but it might give you some ideas at least. Good luck!

Mine FINALLY got some red palm oil! Fortunately, all three ate it, not only mixed in the "glop" I made (remembering the recipe after Lyric's posting earlier), but also straight up from the jar (just a tad, about 3 tiny nibbles). Should I not give any of the red palm oil on the days when I give them a palm nut? Just don't want to overdo it. Thanks!

I don't know where else to do this but I wanted to test my signature block pictures (Thanks Rhonda for your help!)

Here's what the Nutriteam website says about GSE for cleaning stuff: GSE Household Use Toothbrush Cleaner. Stir 5 to 10 drops of NutriBiotic into a glass of water. Submerge toothbrush for 15 minutes(or leave in between uses). Rinse toothbrush before using. Change water and remix every few days. Vegetable/Fruit or Meat/Poultry Wash. Sink washing: Add 30 or more drops of NutriBiotic to a sink full of cold water. Briefly soak any vegetables, fruit, meat, or poultry. Spray washing: Add 20 or more drops of NutriBiotic to a 32 ounce pump sprayer filled with water. Spray on any vegetables, fruit, meat, or poultry. Dish and Utensil Cleaning Additive. Add 15 to 30 drops of NutriBiotic to sink dishwashing water or to final rinse. Add 15 to 30 drops to automatic dishwasher with detergent or to final rinse. Cutting Board Cleaner. Apply 10 to 20 drops of NutriBiotic to cutting board and work into entire board with a wet sponge or dish cloth. Leave on for at least 30 minutes. Rinse with water. All Purpose Cleaner. Add 30 to 60 drops of NutriBiotic to any 32 ounce pump sprayer filled with water or cleanser. Use on all surfaces around the house. And More: Grapefruit Seed Extract is becoming the disinfectant and sanitizing agent of choice for many hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. In the laundry, GSE ensures that the linen is fungi and bacteria free. As little as 10 - 15 drops of GSE added to the final rinse does the trick. Jerry Skidmore, C.L.M., the Manager of Laundry Operations for Florida Hospitals, wrote, "I have had 30 years experience in the laundry industry and it is only since using (GSE) that I have had the peace of mind and assurance that the patients in our hospital and the other hospitals we serve have complete protection from fungal and bacteria infections that can be associated with linen. It is very gratifying to know that even after many hours of exposure to various bacteria that are always present in hospitals, that our linen has been tested and found free of all harmful or pathogenic organisms." Hospitals have also added GSE to their carpet shampooers. It is reported that, ten to fifteen drops in the reservoir per gallon is effective in killing Staph, Strep, Aspergillus, Salmonella and many other pathogenic organisms which are present in hospital carpets. Grapefruit Seed Extract at higher concentrations is used for sterilizing and disinfecting operating rooms and other areas. Ordinary concentrations used equate to around 300 ppm, while operating rooms and similiar applications frequently use grapefruit seed extract at concentrations as high as 1%. One clinic in Southern California has reportedly acquired GSE to use in their inhalators for the control of respiratory infections. If it disinfects cutting boards and toothbrushes, I'm sure it's doing a good job cleaning. As far as air fresheners...I have heard of people putting a pot simmering with lemon slices or cinnamon sticks and slices of apple or orange slices...etc. I haven't tried it but it seems like it could work. There is another cleaning product that I used that is bird-safe and did have a pleasing, light scent to it...Enviroclens. It's 100% biodegradable also. It's from a company called The Bird Care Company. I had to order it from the UK I think but it's a concentrate and was worth it even with shipping. I use OxyFresh now but it doesn't have a scent at all. http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newproductpages/EnviroClens.html Here is another link to a decent overall bird-safe cleaning strategy...(and it has a paragraph about GSE on it) http://www.eppa.ca/meetings/spring%20cleaning.html Hope this helps!

She is SOOO adorable. I LOVE the little darker patch on the sides of her face...is that typical for a TAG? Great pics! Lisa

Thanks for the pictures! Any progress at all with feather plucking is fantastic! Sounds like you've found something that is working. That must make you feel awesome! One thing I've heard is to try to get her just after she goes potty, carry her around for about 10-15 minutes (or whatever her frequency is), then put her back until she goes potty again, praise, praise, praise, then pick her up again...repeat... You can try to use a phrase she can associate to it but I don't know how well they go "on command". The only thing that I've actually found to work with mine is to be very aware of her body actions and when she does the "crouch down and wiggle the butt" routine to get her to the cage asap! If I catch it at the crouch, she'll interrupt it and let me get her to the cage. If she makes it to the "butt wiggle", it's bombs away! Good luck! (Acappella - gives new meaning to the phrase "eats like a bird", doesn't it? We could make a series of books: How to Eat Like a Parrot and Lose 50 lbs! How to Eat Like a Parrot and Lower Your Cholesteral! How to Eat Like a Parrot and Live 100 years! How to Eat Like a Parrot and Win That Marathon! How to Eat Like a Parrot and Raise your IQ by 20 Points! okay, I'll stop now.)

Hi Leigh! This is Lisa (with the Dad in the Keys)... I am thrilled that the suggestions from this board have been helpful to you. I can't begin to count what I have learned and continue to learn on here (even today I took a new recipe from what someone else fed their bird over the past couple of days!). This place is a huge "sanity check" for all of us. Is it possible to get a playstand or perch that is high enough that it is not possible for the kids to get to her? Even if it's one of the two-sided rope perches that you could attach to the top of her cage (if she doesn't have a cage with a playtop already). I'm assuming the adults will be able to listen to the "rules", but it can be hard to keep an eye on the kids at all times. I think it's good to have her out for awhile. If it seems she is getting stressed or it's too much for her, you could put her in the room where she can still see you but may not feel as threatened. It's amazing what they do get used to though. I would give her plenty of verbal attention and encouragement through the night, particularly when she's just sitting quietly and observing. That will be reinforcing to that behavior and let her know that things are still "okay". You are a very caring birdie-mom and that will help gain her trust in all these new situations. Good luck and be sure to let us know how it goes! Lisa

Welcome Adelt! I had one parrot that for the first two days after I brought her home she was as sweet as an angel. It was almost as though it was new and a bit scary so she was putting on her best behavior (which shows that she certainly did know what that entailed). Starting day 3 she turned into a little she-devil. We continued to be consistent with her, play the eye-blinking game (search for this on the forums as there are threads about it), and gave her some more space and time. That lasted about a week and then the sweetness came back and has stayed. I think she may have just been testing her boundaries and figuring out the house rules, so to speak. She is more assertive than those first two days, but she is still very sweet. Like others have said, give it time and sometimes it will seem like one-step-forward, two-steps-back...but in the end it will all be so very worth it. Just wanted to let you know my story in case the same thing happens to you. It may not as yours is quite a bit younger than mine was. I think it's huge that he's coming out of the cage on his own and going in on his own. I would have the kids be "hands off" for now. They can do some damage to tender skin with their beaks and I'd hate for the kids to get bitten and then have them hesitant or scared around the birds. My daughter got bit by a bird when she was about 6 and it took awhile before she trusted our birds enough to handle them (we got them when she was 8). She still has differing levels of trust in each bird as she's getting quite educated at reading birdie non-verbals! Good luck to you and keep us posted on progress. People on this board have encountered just about every situation imaginable and are very helpful. Lisa

Excellent point Acappella! I have two kids and that has been a difficult thing to work through with them (you can imagine how much patience a 6 year old boy has!). Also, one of mine has learned to screech really loud when new people come over because they ALWAYS react. Great parrot fun! I try to remember to tell people before they get into the house to just turn their backs and don't even look at him when he does that but it seems that people just can't resist!

I can't even express how much I hope you are kidding or toying with us. If you are even 1% seriously considering taking the approach you mentioned with a bird, please please please do the bird a favor (like you claim you're doing now...though there could be some serious debate about that) and find a new home for him ASAP, tomorrow would be too late. Turn it into a bird rescue group or put an ad in the paper or anything other than what you're talking about doing. Heck, if you let us know where you're from there may be a member here willing to help rehome him. I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight not knowing if you're really serious and if this bird's future mental and physical health is in jeopardy.

I keep waiting on my Grey...she came from a home where she grew up for 6 prior years with two teenagers who certainly didn't watch their language when I was over there much... The worst she's said so far is "What the hell?". My 9 year old daughter looked at her and then looked at me to see what I was going to do with the bird who just said a "bad word". I told her we have to ignore them altogether. I'm sure she was thinking that she hopes I do the same with her if she ever says one! :-) I'm sure she'll let out the F-word at the worst point possible at some point in future years, like when my daughter's future in-laws come over to meet us in 15-20 years to meet us...yep, that'd be the time! :blush: If I ever raise my voice to the kids Kenya goes into a major tirade that can last more than a minute...she's apparently been party to some major argumentative environments in the past. The good thing about it is immediately lightens the mood and we all start laughing. You can't really understand any of the words but it's clear that it's at least two people engaged in heated "discussion"! So back to Ahmed...I can't wait to see what you decide to do! Lisa

I think they're fine, particularly since you're buying them with no preservatives. I was surprised to see how many frozen vegetables in the store had added salt! I felt really guilty after seeing that on the ones I had been using (and immediately switched, of course!). I actually just finally went to the store and bought some of the Red Palm Oil. It's the same brand that a lot of folks here order online (Jungle Products). I found it at the Natural Foods store nearby. I put a tiny bit on the edge of each of my three parrots' food bowls (like I do with peanut butter periodically...I was hoping they would try it thinking it was peanut butter vs. just looking at it as something new). Well, all three of them did try it...and better yet all three went back for more nibbles. I then put some in a bowl and microwaved it for about 10 seconds to soften it up (it is a thick paste in the jar), cut up a piece of toasted sprouted grains bread into tiny pieces, put a Tbsp of fat free plain organic yogurt and a 1/3 jar of organic sweet potato baby food. Mixed it all together (got the idea from another post on this site earlier today regarding Sally Blanchard's Glop recipe)...they all dug right in (they hardly EVER all like the same thing, particularly first time around). Two of them are STILL eating it...the other ate about 1/2 and then started scooping out chunks and dropping them on the floor for the dog (very generous bird :-)). www.junglepi.com/products/red_palm.html It has many benefits for humans as well as our birds - even topical skin moisturizer! (Pretty expensive to use as "lotion" though!). For birds it is a healthy fat that has helped with feather destructive behaviors, dry skin, etc. It has some Vit A and Vit E also I think, carotenes and anti-oxidents (i think carotenes are related or a type of the vitamins above?). It is also apparently widely consumed by African birds in the wild. Generally speaking I think people have been using about 1/2 tsp each day per Grey. I'm planning to re-read through the forum threads about it because I should know more than I do.

That's funny, Judy! You could be right...unfortunately I'm pretty lazy so the chance of me actually doing any adding on at least until summer isn't very high! :blush: And actually as mine hardly ever move around on the ones they have I'm concerned a bigger one would just be taking up more space and not get used. There are so many great ideas here! Lisa

Holy Playstands Batman! WOW! I'm in total and complete awe. I'm not so happy with mine anymore...looks like I have some adding on to do! (and a new saw to buy!) :-) Awesome. Lisa

Thank you Rae... I get what you're saying. Funny thing about my situation is that I have actually improved the diet of my family overall because I'm buying a better variety and healthier, fresh foods for our parrots (that are a lot cheaper than pre-packaged, boxed and sugared foods anyway)! How sad is that? I'll have to say that at times I think it's easier to convert my birds to new healthier foods than my children! Best of luck to you. Lisa

Thanks! I was quite happy with it as I'm not the most handy person and I'd never worked with PVC before. The food/water bowls are the 4" PVC end caps with a 1" (or whatever size fits into the other size of pipe) glued onto the bottom piece which I used larger PVC pipe for. I was paranoid about the glue so I left them in the garage for several weeks and then ran them through the dishwasher several times. I used Vetwrap on the posts so that they could get a better grip. I have the ladder that goes down to the floor so they can climb up on their own if they fly down to the floor. The biggest pain was making the many, many cuts of the PVC. I almost went out and bought a table saw (which would have increased the overall cost significantly)! Lisa

Does anyone know if this kind of coloration generally stays through the first molt into adulthood or is it often something seen in babies but then standard coloration comes in as they mature? They are beautiful! I've never seen anything quite like these! Lisa

Hi! I hope I don't come off as offensive because that is not my intent at all. I think you were offended by people asking why you stopped feeding her parrot food, but I don't think they were judging you and your decision as much as true curiosity as we all are continuously learning and change the ways we do things based on what we hear from others at times. There is some great information on the Food section of the site, particularly some great ideas in the thread called "What did your Grey get today" or something like that. I'm not sure why you think you need to rehome her? Even without feeding "parrot food" (which you are clearly not in favor of), which could have meant anything from a crummy store-bought seed mix to an organic, deluxe pellet, you can provide a healthy diet for a parrot. It just takes a lot of effort and knowledge (and continuously learning as the general knowledge on the subject does change periodicially as time goes on and people learn more). If you're trying to go to what they would eat in the wild (per your other comment), I would suggest that they don't eat spaghetti, cheese and frozen vegetables there either. If you're going to take the all natural food route, you need to do some good research on the right mix of food to provide. Be sure to add some protein like lean chicken (no skin), fish (no added oil or butter), etc. They also get protein and healthy fats from good nuts like almonds, etc. Plenty of variety of vegetables, fresh when possible, is great. Be sure if you use frozen vegetables that they don't have added salt/sodium. I'm shocked at how many do! If you can't find one without it, soak it in pure water first and rinse well as that can get rid of some of it. Sweet potatoes are great and they seem to love them. Fruits are great but in smaller portions than vegetables due to their high sugar content. They also love a good cooked mix of rice, beans, veggies or "birdie bread". One fantastic food to provide is to sprout seeds/beans. Here are some links to good information on sprouting and general parrot nutrition: http://www.landofvos.com/articles/sprouts.html http://www.greyforums.net/forums/bird-food/28994-do-you-sprout-.html#30491 http://www.greyforums.net/default-category/20-things-you-must-know-about-parrot-nutrition.html Another note is that their life in the wild is quite different than their life in captivity. They don't get nearly the exercise in our homes as they get in the wild so they don't need as much fat, etc. Please don't feel the need to rehome Angie. I hope that you have a stronger relationship with her after a year that would surpass some inconvenience in food prepartion. Providing a healthy diet even in the absence of "parrot food", can certainly be done! Another great thing to add to whatever food you are serving is Red Palm Oil. There are several threads about it and it is a big part of their diet in the wild. Good luck to you. Again, I didn't mean any offense by any of this. Lisa

Hey Tubescreamer - Ditto what Dan said about the food. Leave some good quality dry mix of food in the cage...for now probably what he is used to eating but trying to get him to try new foods (mix with the old) will help in the future. One way to "extinguish" sayings from their vocabulary (and it's usually not gone forever, but will come up periodically just for effect), is to really make a big deal out of some other noise or sayings he says. That will make him more likely to do the other noise more often because it gets the reaction. The best course (though not always the easist) is to just flat out ignore the words/noises you don't like...even a stern look or "no" can be construed as a "reward" for them as it is attention. One way to get step-ups without getting bitten too painfully is to not go for the step up with your fingers or the side of your hand. Try to tuck your thumb into your hand and curve your wrist in so that the skin on the back of your hand is as tight as possible so it is harder for him to grasp any skin. His beak may scratch along it but won't be able to actually get a "bite". Put the back of your hand towards him..again trying to not be anxious (easier said than done, I know) as they pick up on that. Go in with confidence and put your hand just slightly above his feet level just in front of him. It is true that you might have much better luck, at least at first, by having him step up from the outside of his cage or from a playstand than from inside his cage. Another option is to hold a potholder or something in your other hand (not a towel at first as some have a definite fear of towels...depending on their past). Hold the potholder off to the side a little to distract him and go in with your other hand for the step-up. You didn't say how long you have had him in your home. It may be best to just give him some time to adjust to the home first before trying to get him to engage physically with you. Good luck to you. I also echo Dan's hopes that this is your Grey's forever home. You can spend hours on this site and learn what you could learn by reading several books. Please ask away any questions you have. And it's probably difficult at times but try to not take people's responses personally. There are some very passionate people on the site who really want to help and have the bird's best interests at heart. The discussions sometimes get heated and there is a lot of healthy debate as well as there are so many varying opinions on several topic relating to these incredible feathered companions of ours. Please stay with us and let the experience and knowledge of the various folks here help through the adjustment. It has helped me to learn some things to try to prevent from the start (vs. stopping once they start) also, which is helpful in learning to live with thparrots! Good luck to you! Look forward to reading your intro in the Welcome Room. We love pictures as well! Lisa