Raposa

Andrew, are you out there? Any news on Tui?

I am so glad Zahzu is doing better!!

Jenna is my first grey, and I got her when she was fully weaned, so I am far from an expert. But she will not let anybody pick her up but me, and she won't even let me handle or cuddle her much. She does love company, and enjoys being around people if she can stay either on her play gym or cage top, or with me. Greys are more shy then some, so I feel no need to push her to be outwardly friendly with others. That being said, my last bird was an eclectus (he died at Christmas time). I got him when he was 2 months old and finished out his handfeeding myself, and he was taken EVERYWHERE with me. He got quite used to being around people and being handled from the time I got him home. He would go to just about anybody, and he loved to be cuddled, but I don't know if that was breed specific or bird specific, although I've been told that eclectus are not cuddly in general. Maybe it was just that I had him from such a young age? I really don't know. So it is possible that your baby will have a more sociable personality and like being held or handled by other people, but it is more likely that she/he will not, from what I understand about greys! If I am wrong about this, somebody more experienced please speak up!!!

Thanks, Judy!! It is BIG fun. My mom goes out to the living room in her wheelchair and has "conversations" with Jenna while I am at work, they both seem to enjoy that thoroughly.

Smokey is BEAUTIFUL, thanks for sharing the photo!

Jenna likes to practice flying to me when I call her, and she likes to take any toy I may have in my hands away from me and play with it. So I take it back, and SHE takes it back . . . She does not like to be petted or cuddled much, although she lets me kiss her head sometimes and recently let me scratch her head/neck a few times, I was so excited! She likes taking a shower with me, and being placed on a towel and wrapped up in it afterwards.

My last bird was an eclectus, and he could SCREAM! LOL Jenna is an 8 month old CAG, and she can whistle and make microwave noises that get pretty loud, but she is NOTHING like my eclectus boy was. One of the reasons I ended up deciding on a grey is that they are generally not screamers, and hubby got very tired of the volume! ~wink~

What fun to listen to! Harrison is such a sweetie ~grins~

I will often try to give Jenna her own dish with the SAME food on it that I have, but she is not interested in that, she wants the food on MY plate. She generally gets some of it, too ~grins~ She IS the boss of me! Hehehehe

Well, sort of . . . She says "What are you DOING?" Which she generally shortens to "Wha' Doin'?" I generally answer her by telling her what I am doing (I'm cooking, I'm making your breakfast, I'm talking to you), then ask her "What are YOU doing?" So now she says "Wha' Doin'? What are YOU doing?" She's got several other phrases she appears to be muttering under her breath, I can't wait to find out what they will be :laugh: Funny little girl!

What a wealth of information! Thank you so much! I have printed it and will keep it with my bird supplies for quick reference

~grins~ Jenna gets her oatmeal at night! This morning I put some cooked food in her cage with red palm oil on it, and I forgot to take the bowl out before I left for work. I try not to leave food other than pellets and seeds in her cage all day because I don't want it to either go bad or attract bugs. I guess one day will be ok.

Update ~smiles~ Jenna's scratch isn't even visible any more, and she doesn't have any more yellowish color, so I guess maybe it WAS the baby food! LOL Goofy little girl. But as wild as she gets with her toys sometimes, I guess I can expect a scratch or two . . .

Matt, I am SO sorry to hear about your pal. I know exactly how it feels to have a bird die suddenly and unexpectedly, and how empty and lonely your home is without your friend. You were obviously a loving and attentive caretaker to Max, and I hope you will have a new grey soon. You are right, it will never take the place of Max, but it will help heal the hole in your own heart . . . Sending hugs

A couple of days ago I noticed a scratch on Jenna's face, above her . . . cere? Nostril? It was obvious enough to be seen but was not swollen or irritated. She probably got it from arguing with a toy, or maybe she landed somewhere when she was outside her cage and managed to scratch herself? ~shrugs~ She won't tell me. But yesterday morning I noticed that the side of her head had a yellowish tint. Now, I should tell you that she enthusiastically ate orange colored baby food the night before (nah, I never spoil her) so it could have been that. But I was worried that it could have been bruising. Do greys have yellowish color bruises??? I took her into the shower with me, and the orange color seemed to diminish but it did not go away completely. Should I be worried? Does she need to see the vet? She's acting perfectly normal, but that is not always a good indicator, I know . . .

I had just recently lost a bird who was a GREAT talker, a gorgeous eclectus. I wanted a bird that did not look like him, so I would not expect it be like him, and I have been interested in greys for a long time. I wanted a bird who would probably do at least some talking because I had grown used to having birdie conversation, but that was not the main thing for me. I was fascinated by the obvious intelligence and sensitivity of these birds. Jenna is a baby and does not talk yet, but I love her sounds and vocalizations, so even if she never talks, I will be happy with her :-)

Guess it is time to get that camera out again! I've been too busy enjoying Jenna to photograph her but I suspect it is past due!

~grins~ Ah yes, those every 2 minute Kodak moments! Thanks so much for your encouragement and interest, both of you ~hugs~

Oh Andrew, my heart aches for you and for Tui. I pray that she will be returned to you whole and well.

I can't make myself watch the video . . . I've gotten enough from everybody's posts. Andrew, my prayers are with you and Tui

Of course, I adored Jenna from the first time I laid eyes on her ~smiles~ But it took her a little longer. Go figure, huh? How dare she act as if I was a total stranger??? Just because . . . well . . . Because I WAS? Hehehehe At first, Jenna was so attached to the breeder that, although she tolerated me, I was afraid she would never really become attached to me. She would let me handle her and play with her for brief intervals when I went to visit, but she always flew away and perched somewhere else, or flew to the breeder. The first time Jenna ever flew to me was the day I went to take her home, and that made me so happy I could have cried. When I first brought her home (April 12th), I was the only one in the house Jenna was familiar with, and that clearly made a difference to her. I was sort of her safety blanket ~chuckles~ However, she would still fly away from me a lot, and she got nippy with me from time to time. No biggie, we were doing well together. She would contact call when I left the room, and she clearly preferred having me around to having me gone, and I was happy with the way things were going. I didn't even realize how much better things could get! For about the past week, things have shifted. I am not sure I can even describe it; it probably does not look much different from the outside, but it FEELS different. Jenna has not nipped at me once, even when I was trying to get her to do something she did not want to do (go into her cage, for example). She chirps at me and chatters with me whenever I am in the house. She flies TO me instead of away from me. She lets me cuddle her a little more - she's not a cuddly bird, but she is definitely allowing more touch than she was at first. I have a sense of her presence wherever I am in the house, even if I am in another room. There is some sort of . . . connection there . . .that I never had before. This is such a surprise to me, and such an exciting adventure, to develop a real relationship with a creature as amazing as Jenna is. She is the highlight of my currently VERY stressful life right now. What a blessing! Anyway, I knew I could tell you all this and you would understand ~smiles~ Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Congrats on your new baby, John!!!

Oh, what a lovely story!!! I am SO happy that you and Gracie are together!

Nike sounds adorable!!! Enjoy the cuddle time, Nike may grow out of that, and you'll miss it . . . My Jenna (5 1/2 months) is NOT a cuddler, although she wants to be either near me or ON me all the time ~smiles~

Oh, you must be SO relieved to have Jessie home!!! Thanks for letting us know