Shamelessmuse

Thanks guys!! It was wonderful to hold her again! While I remain optomistic about everything it is hard sometimes to hear all the wonderful baby stories. I wish that I was her first home as a baby and that she never had to go through the stress of being passed around. But, I love her and wouldn't have it any other way. It does make me feel good to know that I am helping a baby that was in need of saftey, security and a forever home!

Hello Everyone!! Well, Greyce went to the vet today. For those of you that have been following the story, you know I had some apprehensions about having to actually take her out of her cage so soon. Well, I tried to lure her out…but she was too smart, she knew something was up. One downfall of a Grey is trying to pull one over on them! J So I decided to try and towel her, the downfall is the door on my Paradise cage is narrow (at least it is to me) and it is hard to easily grab your baby when she is a spry little Timneh (Greyce is the exact opposite of a clumsy Grey, she is actual very nimble) and your elbows are about 4 inches apart. Not the best scenario! Anyway, as soon as I pulled out the towel (a nice grey color actually pretty much matches her) she started screaming blood murder. She sounded like a Banshee!! I was remaining calm, taking deep soothing breaths and trying to keep a low and mellow energy…but, my heart was breaking. I felt awful for scaring her so. Once I got the poor baby out she calmed down and perched on my hand, no bites, nothing. Which made me feel so wonderful as it is the first time I have held her since the day I brought her home. In her carrier she went and off we go. We got to the vet, waited for a bit. On a cute side note she has learned Lily’s “help me” whine. Lily does this when she get’s somewhere she can’t get down from or stuck (it’s hard being a 2.5lb dog sometimes ) I got up for a second to grab a magazine and she couldn’t see me and did Lily’s whine…I about died! It is her second mimic since she’s got to my house. Well, we went in and were left in the room for a few. I took the lid off the carrier and she went on the edge to perch. I put my hand down, she was a tad apprehensive and I said “step up” and like a pro she did. However, she quickly scampered up my arm and around my head. There she sat utterly freaked. She remained there when the vet came in and she started preening my hair (another wonderful sign). We got underway…he said she looked great, wasn’t underweight, but gaining a tad wouldn’t make her overweight and might be a good idea. Did cultures, ect. And we did a nail and wing trim. I do plan on allowing her to become fully flighted, however until I get her trained and calm in the house I can’t afford her flying about. He did say he thought she was closer to a year (which would seem 18 months is correct) he basically said there was no way she was three. I know someone had commented on her eye color in her pictures, they really are quite light in person. He also commented that her feet looked and voice sounded much too young to be 3. Which is much of a relief because there was a possibility that she was not and 18month old she, but a 3 year old he (ex-breeder, just split from his mate and never tame). He also said that she was much too tame to be that bird as well. So, afterward she let me hold her…which I did in the room a bit before we left. We got home and she was done…I could tell she needed some rest time. She stepped up and politely went in the cage. Despite the fact she has gone to her old antics of trying to eat me when I touch the cage (for feeding, water, ect). I think we had a lovely day. I did go on and on to her at the vet, on the way home and at home about how proud of her I was and how much I loved her. It was a good day!! Oh, and last night she came and sat on the door (with it open) with me sitting right in front of the cage! Another big step, she sat there 6 inches from me and watched Lily and I play…listened contently when I sang to her and played a little peek-a-boo.

Sounds awesome! I would be more than happy to put my Marketing skills to work on this! Thanks so much Terri!

Well, congrats on your new birds! I know it wasn't what you expected at all, but everything happens for a reason. And your new babies are very lucky to have you. A couple of things for plucking - Get toys they can shred, make foraging toys. Coconuts are great for that and they can shred them. You want both interactive toys and ones she can get her "pluck on" with that isn't her own body! And lastly, one thing I have seen remarkable results with for pluckers is acupuncture. Of course they probably need a check up with an Avian vet, if you have a vet in your area that does acupuncture - give them a call and see if they have any experience of knowlage of feather plucking and treatment. I worked with a vet that did acupuncutre on a number of pluckers and the results were amazing!!

Sounds like she is trying to regurgitate food for you! That means she loves you!

I think this is awesome!! I know as someone who recently rescued a Grey that it could be a tremedous help. Even outside the medical bills, if I had the resources I would have contacted a behavorist already. I would love to hear more and find out how much I could help!

I think this is awesome!! I know as someone who recently rescued a Grey that it could be a tremedous help. Even outside the medical bills, if I had the resources I would have contacted a behavorist already. I would love to hear more and find out how much I could help!

Determined is a good word for it!! Greyce likes to grab and grind her beak while I sit there and take it with a smile. Lalala, you aren't hurting me...Lalala you aren't detering me...I usually walkoutside after the situation has passed and hold my hand while doing a little jig!

Get him some toys that are designed to be destroyed. They make these awesome natural (straw like, but it isn't straw) pinatas that have goodies inside. Or make your own and hide his favorite treats. I love this site for making your own toys: http://nalanitoys.com/

Thanks Judy!! She's doing better this evening, she enjoys me singing goofy songs to her...she loosened up a bit. She's eating her late night snake and then we are off to bed. Hopefully I can get her in soon, I want to make sure everything is AOK!

Variety! Variety! Greyce gets pellets, seed as a treat (I finally got her to eat seed, she's a rescue and only wanted seed the first week) and then variety. I can tell you a good book that has some great info on diet, what veggies and fruits are good (which ones have high chemical/pestacide residue). Beans, whole wheat pastas, really all kinds of stuff....Oh, the book...as silly as it sounds Dummies Guide to Parrots. I am sure there will be many other suggestions as well that will be fabulous!

HA! You don't want to hear my stories...but I worked in a vet office, so I had to occassionally invite a bite for the sake of the bird's overall health. I will tell you things I have learned over the years in avoiding them. First, everything Laurie said! Also, don't have fear in your heart when you approach. If you are expecting to get bit, you have a better chance of having it happen. They will sense your apprehension and fear...which will make them wonder just why are you afraid. I can tell you that I still have all my digits!

Awe! What a doll, feathers or not she's a beautiful girl!!

Great to hear!! It's nice to get other's updates on their rescues, it keeps the rest of us in positive mode!!

Well, she lucked out and we have to reschedule the vet visit. I ended up in court all day...I was a witness to a three year old case that finally went to trial today...So, we will be rescheduling tomorrow. It may have been a blessing in disguise...she's a little moody today.

The main thing that would concern me is the things catching in it if it has a rough edge. If he has a rope perch, anything that could thread even a tiny bit and he got hung when you weren't around could be terrible. If there truly is a rough enough edge that things catch on it then I would let your vet take a peaky-poo at it. But, if it isn't hanging up too much it shouldn't be an issue.

how cute is she!!

And here is the proud pooper! These were taken a few days before she came home with me.

Well miss Greyce has been very up for exploring this evening. She keeps coming out and exploring the outside of her cage. Watching me and the dogs act like idiots (at least I am sure that is what we appear to look like to anyone or her when we are playing). Well, she was sitting on the cage door and sure enough potty dance (can't wait to be able to potty train her!) and poor Lily (my tiny Chihuahua) was sitting underneath. Well, Lily got a head full of poop! I had to chase her around to clean her up, poor buggar just got a bath last night! Needless to say, Lily was not thrilled!:silly: Greyce however has very good poop aim!:laugh:

Oh, I am very careful with my glazes. I know the recipes (I have to since I work off my fees by being a studio slave). It's worked out good, I used a strong porcelain bowl that was thrown with a thick lip. I watched her the first few days as she bit on the rim. After of course I had banged it around. High fired porcelain is pretty strong. She see,s happy with her red bowl. I have her foot toys in it and occassionaly toss a few treats for her to dig for. She won't get on the bottom of the cage yet, so she hangs upside down and pulls it over and then beaks through it.

You are a wonderful person for what you did! I would however, beg you to call the humane society, animal control and get the local exotic bird rescue involved. Those other birds need help and they will need a good rescue and the authorites involved. The reason I say all three is the humane society will often put the pressure on to get it done. Good luck to you! I just started the journey of a rescue bird as well!

Oh, yea...we are all about the fist here to divert a bite. Best bird handling thing I ever learn years ago! So, we've been doing the door open thing for the past week...she's only come out a few times...but...Tonight she keeps coming out everytime I put a treat outside the cage! Yippy!!:laugh: So, I think this will be much easier! And, yes we have been putting the cage outside the cage. Most bird behavior I am pretty good with and I have been reading about Greys for eons! I've wanted one forever...It's just a little harder with a rescue, a number of the normal ways of progression go out the window when you are the third home in a short period! I'm a resuce sucker...always have to do it the hard way!:blink: :laugh:

Rambo, calm down. No one is making an attack on you. You asked questions and you got honest answers. No one is saying you are a bad bird mommie or daddy! We are just giving you our feedback with the best interests of your bird at heart, we know you have the best interest at heart to or you wouldn't have even asked the question. I can tell you after just a few days on the forum, these are some very nice people! Don't take the feedback as personal attacks, they are just the honest opinion of the people you asked a question of. And an unheated building in North Carolina is too cold at night! You asked is it okay to put him outside durning night, bedtime and his own playtime. The answers that you got were that it was too cold and that even when it is our grey's own playtime they need to be around their people. Sorry if it came across as being cruel...I can assure you that no one here ment to be that way!

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The problem isn't so much my fear...she is not going to step up. If you so much as put your hand near the cage she lunges, she bites when I open her coop cup doors. If I get close enough when cleaning the bottom of her cage she bites. She is just freaked, Again I'm not really afraid of being bitten. I of course would rather not, but I was a vet tech for 6 years...being bitten isn't really a fear, I've been mauled, mangled by every species imaginable. But, she isn't going to let me close enough to have her step up. That is where I am hung up. While using a towel sounds like a good idea, the door isn't very wide....and her coming out is a shot in the dark really. We aren't going to have hours to play with either.

Ronda, she is in theory 18 months...though the more I research her the more that is in question. I just rescued her a week ago. She is still pretty freaked out, though I could handle her before I brought her home...she is going for blood or broke now. I am her 3rd home in about 3 months. Though there is a small possibility that she is a 3 year old, he, untamed breeder. Not sure just yet as I am still researching where she came from.