Marlene

AAAhhhh, that is just so cute!

We have a tiel as well as the grey and I am too afraid to let them wander around in the same room together. I know that one nip from Gus and the tiel is done for, even if I am right there. They each get their free time and if they are out together someone has control of the one whilst I control the other. I just cannot bear to think what we will go through if something happens and I'd be much happier to be safe.

Thanx Tari, Everything Gus does makes me more convinced that there is so little difference between him and my human children. They do the same things. Gus, however, manages to get away with things my human children never did.

I have managed to get Gus down to 2 feeds a day. I am more comfortable and see that he is not starving. However, this evening he seemed starved and more than ready for his formula...till I gave it to him. he bobbed, took about 10ml and decided he had had enough, wiped his face all over me and tootled off. Later whilst cuddling he just about swallowed anything that he got near his mouth, my fingers, my glasses, even my ear. I thought "OK, were now really hungry." and mixed up some formula. 20ml late he was done. Is this normal???

I find my grey does the same, as did my previous one. I rekon they are trying to have a bath. I do spray all my birds and I find that Gus (CAG) does the same thing when I spray him.

Thanx for all the advice. I'm sure this will be fun but at least I know it can be done.

Don't all fall over and tell me I'm nuts. How do I get Gus to stay put. My TAG was pretty wild (as in not hand reared - not taken from the wild) but as time went by he learned that his cage door would always be open. He never ventured far from his cage (probably security) but he would spend his entire day on top of his cage and only go inside to eat and sleep. I now have a young CAG who's an absolute sweety but unless I am in the room I cannot let him out. He will not stay on his climbing tree or his cage. I suspect he is looking for me when he does this. I feel a bit of a heel leaving him in the cage when I am in my workshop but I cant risk him eating my home or getting hurt. He does have food and water on his tree. Am I expecting a bit much?

Hi, Yup, that morning he did not want too much formula. Since then I have skipped lunch feed each day. Hes now really climbing into the few seeds I leave but pretty much just picking at the other good stuff (fruit, baby food & oats, pellets, etc.). In the evening he's pretty hungry and takes about 60ml of formula. Taking him to the vet for his check up this week so I'll have all that checked out too.

I drew up a long list for the family to mull over. I so wanted Sheakspear (a way with words...)or Cromwell. Sadly I was outvoted so Gus is plain old GUS. I also have a tiel called Burt, a female ringneck (inherited) called Pete (decided not to confuse her after she had lived with a male name for years) and a gar called Sweety-Pie. I got to name Burt because when he was given to me the family were letting me do anything whilst I was in mourning over my TAG that had been killed by my brothers husky.

Thanx for the advice. I skipped lunch again yesterday - plenty good stuff in the cage for Gus - in vain. This morning he did not want too much food I did not force the issue. He's now back in the cage with lots of goodies. Will check out with the vet this week.

Ok, it is now mid afternoon - day 1 of no lunch for Gus. I am turning into a neurotic woman.... His crop is now a deep dent in his chest, he's hanging on the bars of his cage looking at me and squeeking. He has a good range of foods in his cage that I know he has sampled before and seemed to enjoy. I am at the other side of the room trying to not make eye contact. Should I leave the room? should I be talking to kim and prompting him to eat. If I relent and haul out the syringe will I still be hand feeding him at 25 years old??? This is not such fun - I feel like a traitor.

As far as sexing goes...I read on some site that besides DNA testing one cannot be sure unless an agg appears. However, they also said that females sit with their feet further apart than males and that females tend to hunker down when sitting. Is this true?

What a truly touching story! Somehow these little angels fill holes in our lives that seem to eat us up. I'm thrilled that you shared this with us.

Thanx - I feel a little more cofident that I will not starve my darling. I'm gonna give it a bash and see hoe it pans out.

I hear you - now please explain how. If his crop is empty and he's hungry (asking for food) I can't simply starve him into eating.

I have been putting apple baby food into my grey's formula. He loves it but I'm gonna try your oatmeal thing with veggies - awesome idea - thanx. I never thought he'd go for the beby veggies but he's way past weaning age - maybe this will nudge him.

I have an unweaned baby of 20 weeks (check out my post under food) that is really chatty. Whilst he's chatting he adds a number of whines - very much like a puppy's whine. He does this at any time - even shortly after a feed. Is this simply part of his vocalization or does it mean something?

Hey All, Greetings from Sunny South Africa again. My lad Gus - now 20 weeks old is still wrapping me around his finger(?). He is still on 3 feeds a day of about 50ml of formula. Between times he toys with the stuff I so lovingly prepare for him constantly. However, his crop is still getting desperately empty (is this not dangerous?) I am feeding Avi-Plus handrearing formula and the consistency is that of thick tomato sauce (Ketsup). What am I doing wrong? I have resorted to offering seed which he seems to think is really great - but still the empty crop. I also give him Kaytee exact pellets - which he nibbles a wee bit. He also gets grapes, apple and other fruit and veg as well as pasta which he seems to adore. But still - the empty crop and me running with the formula. What can I do?

Thanx to you all for the suggestions, welcomes and hints. I am so impressed with the responses! I will be submitting a pic of Gus as soon as I get a moment. He is such a card and I simply adore him. I also have a cockatiel, a budgie and a very crabby ringneck. They are loved like they are the children - in fact they get away with things my kids never will. I will move onto the topics forums, read what's been suggested etc. but I;m sure I will be submitting lots of questions. Thanx again!!!!

1st issue: Gus is now 18 weeks old and whils he does not come running for his food he also has no interest in weaning. He picks at his bowls (AviPlus mixes, Corn, peas, egg food etc, pellets, fruit, veg etc.) but his crop is only full after a hand feed (for a short while). I'm still feeding 3 times a day - about 40ml - with no end in site. As a result of him not being interested in treats I'm not progressing with training....

I think I'm getting the hang of this. Sure I'll learn my way around soon enough. Is this where I can ask my questions about raising my baby "Gus". I have questions on weaning, behaviour, nipping (particularly my one daughter) etc. How do I go about this?

Hi, New here and completely illiterate - don't know how to use a chat room. Need help with my baby grey. Whare to???