chapala

It's best of course not to feed processed foods (anything made of refined grains instead of whole grains) or sugars to our birds. Plain cooked oatmeal is fine, before you may add sweetening to yours. There are some natural type cold cereals out there. I tried adding them to my birds' dry mix, but they don't eat them. They do like oatmeal though, and I give it to them a couple of times a week with their sprouted grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit (regular breakfast). Reta

I would be very hesitant to use one of these heated perches. Yes, we want to avoid extreme temperature changes, but unless you have a plucked bird who definitely will feel the cold, I don't think it's a good idea to treat our parrots as if they are hot house orchids. My birds are kept outside (well, except Cello, the new Parrotlet) on a covered terrace. Though we live in a very moderate climate in Mexico, the temperature does go down in the 40's in Dec. and Jan. Now it's in the low 50's at night, mid-70's in the day. The birds do absolutely great. They do have down vests after all You would not want to expose a bird to colder temperatures without acclimating them, but they are pretty hardy as long as it doesn't freeze (and it doesn't here).<br><br>Post edited by: chapala, at: 2007/11/28 23:39

If I read correctly, the bare areas are around her neck? And you see new pin feathers coming in? She will not be able to reach those herself. That's where you come in to help preen those feathers when they're ready. If the feathers are not ready to have the casing come off, they will be tender, and she will let you know! This is not plucking since she can't reach those feathers anyway. I would suggest bathing with plain water since it sounds like you do not have a plucking problem. Reta

Birdie soup is a favorite! But water with food in it grows bacteria, so if you can't change it frequently, I suggest a Lixit water bottle. Kali has one, and now I don't worry about him having fresh water. I do put a bowl of water in his cage occasionally, and he has a water bowl in the aviary he likes to splash in.

Your Jake is a beautiful Bidgie girl! She looks so sweet, but photos can be deceiving! Reta

It's fine for them to stay in their cages for a few days, no problem. I always make new toys before I leave, and Kali has a nice big cage 48x34. So, much as we love having our birds out for several hours a day, they are safer in their cages and will be just fine unless you have a real bird person that knows how to handle the parrots and is accepted by them. Kali can be finicky - good with some people, not with others, so I would rather he be safe in the cage than have any problem come up when I'm not there. For a longer time, if you have a place to take him where you feel comfortable, that might be best. Reta

What a wonderful looking, sweet baby Grey! Looks like he/she is doing very well in his new home. Congratulations! Reta

Yes, let him get to know you and trust you, and try to make sure your actions build trust. If he doesn't want to come out, he should be able to stay in his cage, his safe place. One suggestion is to hand feed treats (almonds are good, but he only should have a few a day - you can cut them in pieces). If he loves almonds or walnuts, "want some?" should get him running to you! Reta

I suggest feeding fresh, natural foods to our parrots whenever possible. I don't feed any dried fruit (high amount of concentrated sugars), but they get fresh fruit, especially high Vit. A fruits like papaya, mango, cantaloupe, berries. Pomegranates right now too. Also, instead of feeding any dry seed (sprouted grains and seeds are fine though) in the morning, I feed just fresh food when they are the most hungry. The dry mix comes a few hours later. That way they don't fill up on seed and nuts and not eat vegetables and sprouts. We have to be a little tricky

Kali is 480 grams - when younger (under a year) he was 454.

As soon as they are completely feathered. Reta

Sweet potatoes are already sweet, no need at all for sugar. And actually sugar should not be any part of our parrots' diets. Just a warning for others who may take this suggestion to feed sugar to their birds. Not good, totally empty calories, and they are better off having healthy food choices. Just my opinion, after much study and reading about parrot nutrition. Reta

AFter a quarantine period (30 to 45 days, usually), you can keep the birds in the same room, separate cages of course. It's best not to let them have physical contact, since they may fight and you could have a bird injured. Often, parrots do not get along, and it's up to us to keep them safe. However, even if they don't become friends, they still enjoy having another bird to watch and listen to, and it is company for them. Reta

Hello and welcome. If your birds are a bonded pair, I think you will have a lot of difficulty in taming them. They prefer each other to you If you separate them, I think they will be very unhappy. It's hard when they've already bonded, and traumatic to separate them. Is it possible you could find a single, hand-raised young Grey to keep for a pet, and let these two exist together? Reta

Parrots are territorial, and their territory is their cage. It's not surprising that your Conure tries to drive her off - it's his cage, after all and she is invading his space. As someone above mentioned, it's best to keep two parrots of different sizes apart (and sometimes even the same size!) for safety reasons. Reta

See if you can figure out why he doesn't want to go back to the cage - does he want to stay with you for the attention? Doesn't want to be locked in, then left alone? Afraid of something in or around the cage? or some other reason. If he's not afraid, I would try a special reward - Kali will do just about anything for nuts (almonds, walnuts). If you can figure out what his very favorite treat is, remove it from his daily food, and use it only when you put him back in the cage. Let him see you putting the treat in the food bowl. After he goes in the cage, try staying close, maybe rubbing his head through the bars (after he's finished the treat of course), talking to him, sitting by him for awhile, so he doesn't feel abandoned if that was happening. Takes some thinking to figure out the best thing to do. Good luck, and let us know how it goes! Reta

These Greys seem to be all different in their thoughts about bathing! Kali has come to "enjoy" (maybe tolerate is a better word!) misting. I talk to him in an excited voice, saying good shower, want a shower?, etc. He will ask for a shower now at times. He does not like the people shower, nope, not at all. Cool, warm, gentle mist, whatever. I tried a pan at the bottom of the cage, but never saw any interest. He does bathe now in a big Pyrex baking dish - I should say he splashes because it's not really big enough for him to get in. I started out by putting pieces of almond in the water and a few toys. He would reach in and get them. One day he just jumped in, and likes it maybe twice a month. The Greys are from a tropical rainforest environment, and they get lots of rain showers and humidity, like it or not. I do think water is good for their feathers that otherwise get dusty, and I am a proponent of plain water, nothing in it. Good luck with figuring out what your Grey will put up with or even enjoy! Sometimes it takes a long while, but don't give up Reta

Hi and welcome! Yes, would love to hear more about your new Grey bird. Reta

If you find an excellent breeder who socializes the babies well, how can you go wrong with either a TAG or CAG? Reta

It's an individual decision whether we let our birds on our shoulders, keeping in mind the danger of serious bites. Partly it's knowing our birds, and knowing their moods. Right now, Cello the Parrotlet is keeping me company perched on my shoulder. Of course, he doesn't have a beak that can do much damage to my face, ears, eyes! Kali my Grey is not a shoulder cuddler, but I sometimes place him there when my hands are full and we're getting from one place to another. My husband frequently has our Military on his shoulder, and she has never more than nibbled on him. So, I think with some birds the answer is never on shoulders, with other birds it's sometimes, depending, and still others fine anytime! Reta

What a beautiful Grey baby! Thanks for posting those photos

You'll know when he's ready to grow the flight feathers in because he'll molt out the clipped feathers. The new feathers soon will follow. Reta

Anything you can do to help this bird would be worthwhile, poor thing. Did I read correctly that the store owner wants you to take the bird for 3 months, socialize him so he's easier to sell, then return him to the same horrible conditions at the store? Too bad he apparently is not willing to improve his bird care. As far as importing, it is possible, but not sure if this bird (possibly wild caught) would qualify. Here's a site to check out requirements. It lists a little info towards the end for birds not of U.S. origen: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/returning-pet-bird-import.html If this bird could be brought to the U.S., he would have to be quarantined for 30 days at one of the three quarantine facilities in the U.S. I believe they are in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. It is an expensive process (quarantine fees, vet fees), but you may want to look into it. Yes, I think you could have the Grey in the same house/room with the Budgie if they are separated, and after a quarantine period. Let us know what happens with this poor Grey. I hope you can make some kind of difference, even if temporary. Reta Reta

To clip our birds, the best way is to cut 3 or 4 of the primary flight feathers, then check the bird's glide. They should not fall like a rock and can be injured that way (broken keel bone). Ideally they glide downwards, not getting any lift, but able to make a safe landing. If they maintain altitude or gain any, another feather or two off on each side and test again. I went through the same thing - Kali was clipped way too severely just before being sent from the aviary. He fell straight down, scary, and it took so many months for his flight feathers to grow. GRRRR! Kali only needs 4 feathers clipped, and he's fine. I think he came with 7 clipped, way too many for a heavy-bodied Grey. Nothing you can do until they grow out. Re the kids slipping the bird crackers or other junk food, maybe leave a small dish of sunflower seeds or cut up almonds, and allow them to give the bird one piece of those instead of junk food. It's really not good for your bird, and then he won't have the appetite for the healthy food.

I can imagine the noise she's making after being at a pet store! I took care of a Red-lored Amazon twice for a total of 3 months. He made a very irritating, high pitched bark like sound that the owner's husband couldn't stand (and he was eventually re-homed because of it). Well of course Kali my Grey bird picked it up. After the first time the bird stayed with us, Kali finally stopped about a month after the Amazon left. The second time we took care of the 'Zon was very reinforcing (!), and it took many months before Kali stopped making those irritating sounds. I'd suggest just ignoring the sounds, and rewarding talking and other pleasant noises. The screeching will not be reinforced (he won't be around those birds anymore!), and your bird eventually will stop making those noises.