Janfromboone

I'm so sorry your first vet trip was so traumatic. Tobies first vet trip was scary for me and for him. He screamed. I swore I'd never take him again until there was an emergency. And he didn't have an injury or anything sore. I took him to a different vet the next time and poor thing screamed even louder being toweled by the second vet and poked getting cultures from the crop and the cloaca. I stayed in the room with him both times. At least I know what went on while he was screaming and I know that he wasn't misshandled. I wish there was an easier way.

Get a lawyer if you need to, or as jayd said, call the police. Whatever you do, DON'T take this lying down!!!!!

Sounds similar to Tobies game. Tobie has never gotten too rough either while playing this way.

What a smarty pants. I like the "go poop".

What a great picture. He looks like he is trying to be cool and give the impression that this is what he ment to do.

Oh!! I'm still laughing picturing you two sticking your tongues out at each other. I didn't know there was a pinky part of the tongue. PLEASE!! Video Please!! Reggiero gave me a great idea! I doubt I can get Tobie to stick his tongue out with me but I know he will run to me for a kiss. Great idea.

Cute! Isaac was hoping you would grab the camera.

He's smart but even I will conceed that he's not that smart. Tough concession though.

I love it Dan. What a pair!!! I find it interesting that Dayo gives the command or names the sound he wants and you do it!! Like 911 and you make the siren and Dayo sais whistle and you do the andy griffith. I think he is a great trainer. HA!HA!HA! Also I love the interaction when you whistle he bobs his head and you two dancing. What fun they are!!!

OK! So I got up this morning and didn't have to go to work so I thought I might engage Tobie into his "who's in the cage" dialogue. I set up the camera and Tobie was just doing what he does every morning and then suddenly starts counting. So here is the video. I wasn't kidding when I said I could tell a story every day. To be honest I heard the 4-1-6 and he has said 4-0-6 before (a week ago) and so that part wasn't new. You'll hear the new part. My husband swears he isn't doing this. I know I've never said this to him. We still can't figure out where he got the 4-1-6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpVXIk5Qu_U

It's amazing to me that they make that association of the sound of bombs exploding and things falling. I always thought little boys got that from watching TV. I've seen children playing around and doing the same thing.

luvparrots, JJshoney - Yeah, my sounds don't hold a candle to Tobies. He also does a neat lasergun sound. I wonder where they come up with some of this stuff. Do Ana grey or Rene use the laser when she is throwing things. Tobie does the crash and Laser sound when things are being thrown like pelleted food. Pearlyn - I will try to get a video, but it's usually so spontaneous if I stop to set up a camera I'll bet the game will be over.

Yep! They don't like you taking what they think is theirs. Be quick!

Wonderful video! Yes what a star Alfie is!! We all love her videos.

reggerio - I'll bet murphy's got some cool games already in the back of his mind. You do have to get on their level though. Another one Tobie likes is gotcha. He runs up to me all fluffed up with his head down and swinging side to side and the trick is to touch right and left on the shoulder, foot or side of the beak without getting bitten. If he bites hard of course the game is over and he knows that. Mostly it's just a little rough and tumble fun - my finger tapping against his swinging beak. If he gets me he releases my finger right away and off we go again. It's funny when I touch his inner thighs, right-left-right. He ends up with his head between his legs and tail straight up. Jillybeans - I've seen pictures of bird on their backs. Tobie never learned to do that. Odd, he never played upside down either - like the photos in the topsy turvey contest - until recently. I wonder if he was afraid because he couldn't fly and was nervous about falling. I think that must be dear to see.

It's so wonderful that they have each other, even if they do annoy each other at times. OK - I actually could tell a story every day, but half of them nobody believes. Here is one though. Tobie's newest phrase is to do with "the cage". I think he has just figured out what to call that wire box he lives in. This is how it goes. "Where's Tobie? Tobie in the cage?" Where's Mamma? Mamma going in the cage? Tucker in the cage? I'm going! I'm going! I'm going in the cage? (now he goes in the cage and eats a bite, then ......) Bird in the cage!!! Jan, Jan, Jan, Hey Jan, ---Bird in the cage". About that time I've just gotten the camera set up and he stops the chatter.

I wondered if the forums wouldn't help place birds. I told my nephew and neice to get on the grey forum and see if someone wanted Tobie. I really don't have anyone in my family that would want to make the commitment. My neice and nephew are too unsettled now. Who knows about later when I die.

It's just a game. Tobie made it up and then taught me how to play. Silly little game really. I'm usually trying to check my email or watch TV. He comes and sits on my shoulder and presses his beak firmly against my cheek next to my mouth. He then makes a sound. It could be a raspberry, burping sound, farting sound, kissy sound, cooing etc. you get the idea. Then I respond with a sound of my own. He does another and then me etc. The idea is to make the coolest grossest or silliest sound and to top the one he or I do. No words are exchanged unless I start to laugh and move my cheek away from his beak and then he sais "stay" (meaning come back here, don't quit). I can look down on his golden eye so intensly he watches my mouth for the next burp, squeek, or coo. Then I think, "I'm almost 60 years old, and here I am burping and farting with a bird!!". They really do bring out the inner child, don't you think. Please share the games your birds share with you. Do you play similar games or other games Tobie hasn't thought of yet.

abula-similar to how I do it. He sees it coming but I've already conditioned him to alow me to hold his beak with my right index finger and thumb and stroke him with the left hand on the head. I do this several times while counting to 4 like on the tape. Then I start again - take the beak with the harness on the right hand and thumb and index through the neck strap. 1-2-3-4 while stroking I pull the neck strap over the head. He stays calm through the whole process.

I remember reading on this forum that if the bird is very relaxed when they step up on your hand their feet will be very warm. It has to do with how comfortable they are sitting on your hand. So I've tried to see if that was true. I've noticed that when Tobie is tense and squeezing my hand like a vice grip his feet are cold. If his feet feel warm it is always when he is holding my hand very softly and not squeezing me hard at all. See if you can notice this correlation.

So sorry. I had feather chewing issues with Tobie and know how heart breaking it is.

I had trouble with Tobie grabbing the strap in the front before I could tighten it too. Now a year later he is pretty good with it. I had to slow down back up and start with the basic training this spring after a long lay off over winter, but his training came back pretty fast. I just spent an hour out doors with him today and he really doesn't mind the harness. The main thing I can say is don't force anything. If he objects to it by biting, then back up and go back to the basic instruction on the tape. That's what I did this spring even though he wore it all summer last summer. I still modify the instructions a bit but use the 1-2-3-4. Tobie knows whatever I'm doing stops when I get to 4.

They are too smart for their own good. Tobie learned one a year ago or so and now he has an uncanny way of slipping it into other phrases. Unbelievably he puts it in the right place so that it makes sense in the phrase.

My reading list suddenly grew. The only one I've read was the Michael Crichten one with Gerard. I loved that book all because of the parrot. Good story too though.

What a smarty pants. Love those puzzle toys. I don't know if Tobie loves a puzzle toy or just likes to eat. He only has one. I put peanuts in it.