Janfromboone

Me too! Maybe we should plan a trip and make our own. I always felt I missed my calling and should have been a wildlife photographer.

Another note. The pet shop where I got Tobie has had a Congo African Grey which is 6mos. old that they haven't sold for some reason. Already talking and very sweet. Unfortunate that he is still in his small cage and has only the store employees to love him. Of course this is in Boone N.C. Guess you couldn't come get him. My heart breaks everytime I go in there. They do a great job with the birds and handle him when they can. Just another note about Greys. I'm hearing you guys about how high strung your greys are. I just haven't experienced it yet with Tobie. He gets nervous with new experiences, but if I persist he starts to relax and eventually seems to enjoy what we do. He can get nervous also with old experiences initially and then calms down. I think they are like children. If they never experience new things then they will be terrified of anything new. Tobie is only 1 and a half years old. I guess we still have the terrible twos to look forward to. <br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/11/04 20:28

I guess you guys are just used to reading into these posts -- things. I didn't get any impression that this person in canada wanted more than a companion. Isn't that what these guys are? They are so smart that they can learn to adapt to alot. If you never put a harness on when they are young they may never learn to wear one, and if you never take them out in the car or outside while they are young they may never learn. Maybe all she needs is a young bird! I think you are hard on her. I can see the bird enjoying everything she mentioned and being exactly what she wants if she starts with a young bird and spends time with it -- Isn't that what she said she wanted to do. She doesn't want a cage ornament. What's the big deal?

I'm just really trying to figure out photo bucket here so bear with me and here "may" be some more pictures

This is an old post so I suppose no one will see my pictures. Didn't think the photos were worth a new post. Here it is. After reading and seeing all of the great playstands built by you guys I found myself laying in bed and designing one for Tobie. Don't know if he is having as much fun with it as I had making it. Also this is my first try at photobucket so the pictures may not come out. This is a good opportunity to try it out.

Thanks for sharing this. Anyone know if there is a video that documents wild african greys. I did see a short blurp that described how the natives net and crate them for sale. Not really what I was interested in though. OOPS - just saw the last note. Guess there isn't one<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/11/02 03:39

Great picture and what a nice cause. Your horse ( the police horse) is beautiful. I grew up riding too. Kept a horse until I was 40 or so.

I also love taking Tobie for walks and I even took him into Walmart with me. The greeter wasn't sure if that was allowed but I was brasen. I told her I just needed to make an exchange quickly and I'd take my chances at being thrown out. Before I left Tobie had a fan club of employees, one of which had several birds of her own. He goes for walks with me and to visit my mother at the retirement center--all the residents love him.

Tobie does that when I go up to get a kiss sometimes. He does the pretzel neck thing and makes kissy sounds while he nibbles my chin. Very endearing. He also does that when he is having fun with a toy - he chatters and rolls his head all upside down. I too think it is playful excitement.

This is really fun to me. Danmcq and domyoburk found videos of birds I've never seen and Riley is a hoot. I love when Riley kisses under his wing "Like that". I looked at somemore of paulixia. Besides batting the ball with gusto that little bird can really dance. Here is another one for you -- I love his little wave. edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/29 22:14

There was a recent post from someone was just showing a video she liked on you tube. I love cruising through you tube to find really amazing birds and their videos. When I brought Tobie home I knew he might be able to talk, but not until I saw some videos did I know how well he might talk. I thought it might be fun to see what videos people have found that they like. -- I don't think it should be limited to Greys either. What do you think? What's your favorite you tube bird or video? Here is one of mine-- I have many.

I'm no expert, but Tobie does the same thing. I don't know if I would reward the behavior with a grape or any treat. Really, Tobie's just having a little separation anxiety I suppose. I always say "nighty-night. Don't let the bed bugs bite" as a ritual to mark the time to go to bed. And just turn off the lights and walk away. He has learned this and now if I go back to the living room he is sound asleep.

Judygrahm - I didn't know that onions were forbidden. Do you have a list of forbidden foods?

I loved your video though I had seen it too. I love cruising through you tube looking for great videos of birds. Here is one of my favorite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTZlQny5tJE and the same bird http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WYrZ9rI-Kg&feature=channel<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/27 02:14

I've found it is easy as pie to just upload to you tube and then post the link.

Tobie has been clipped since babyhood. He is molting now for the first time. I will clip him again for his safety. The porch door is very near his cage and if he was fully flighted he would have been gone by now. No other really good places in my house for the cage according to what I've read about cage placements. I would hate to let them grow out and let him fly then clip again. Wouldn't that be more traumatic than never letting him know about flying.

Wow! I never thought about this. We have a fireplace in the living room with Tobie which of course has a flue. We used it several times last year. We also have a gas heater with thermostat but no logs and no flue that mounts to the wall. If it has no logs is it o.k. It is our main source of heat upstairs. We spend most of our time up stairs. We also heat with gas downstairs and if we watch television thats where we do it and Tobie comes with us. That is a vented fake wood stove type. Are we o.k. or do I need to consider a whole new heating arrangement.<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/22 00:05

Tobies wings are molting out now. In my house the best place for the cage is very near a porch door that is often opened. If I grow him out he'll have to have his cage moved to a wall that is high traffic and he can't quite see into the kitchen or living room where the traffic comes from. I'm thinking I'll leave him clipped - I'm so worried about loosing him out the door. Also, I wonder if I don't clip him and allow him to fly for a while, then clip him again, isn't that more traumatic to the bird than never knowning he can fly?<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/21 23:56

This is just a cute video from you tube that shows a grey trying to make friends with another parrot. I have no experience with trying to sociallize two parrots, or what the situation was with this very sociable grey.

Thanks for the information. Glad to hear that it looks ok and I don't need to do anything -- Tobie's glad too.

Here's another attempt at a picture.

I'm wondering how do you know when to trim the beak and what is the best way to do it. I saw those new files on TV for trimming pet claws. They are motorized. If you could get close enough with one wouldn't that be a safe easy way to do it. What do you normally use though. Human nail trimmers or dog nail trimmers or nail file?? How long does a beak have to be to trim it. I'll try to find a picture of Tobies beak. I think it looks long. Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/18 01:47 Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/18 01:49<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/18 01:50

Of course I have no idea what the circumstances are in these videos, but don't you imagine that they are as diverse as the birds themselves. I just don't know what the big deal is. I wouldn't think greys getting along with other bird would be more of a stretch that cats, dogs, birds, rabbits etc. learning to get along. Please understand -- I only have Tobie and the dogs. I'm not speaking from experience.<br><br>Post edited by: Janfromboone, at: 2008/10/17 03:24

Tune in to you tube and listen to 4zebird or Einstein from Texas. This bird is one of the cleverest talkers I know of and he was 17 months before he said his first word. I think I've got the age right. Anyway, he was way past a year old. I'll try to give a link here.

What a wonderful story. I'll bet I'm the only 58 year old that can tear up over a story like that with cartoon pictures. By the way I loved the art work. Did you do that too?