Lupa

Since Shani came to us in March, I haven't smoked in my house. My Boyfriend however smokes and craves it and doesn't really want to quit. So after months of not letting him smoke in the same room as the birds I found this on the Internet http://www.gamucci.com/gamucci/index.html He ordered one and it came last week, since he got it he hasn't smoked a real cigarette and has even decided to slowly kick the nicotine habit to. Because it doesn't give off smoke he can be in the same room as the birds (although I wont let them come in contact with the vapor). Just thought I'd share this with the smokers out there. Thanks to Shani, we are getting healthy B)

You dont have to worry that youre being cheated on, if you are your grey would have told you

Ok, sorry guys. Had no idea

I have no idea, it could be, was worried cause they are such special birds and there are just too many people here that would take advantage and mistreat them.

Hi Guys I stumbled across this on Gumtree Cape Town http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Community-pets-Pair-Female-And-Male-Hyacinth-Macaw-Birds-For-Adoption-W0QQAdIdZ54518509 I thought I'd put the link here in the hopes that someone with experience would want to adopt these gorgeous birds. I can only imagine the kind of people that are going to try and adopt them for the wrong reasons.:unsure:

Hi Tabba I'm also in Cape Town, I think you should take the baby to the vet for a check up, the vet will be able to tell you what you should be feeding him and if he is too young to be eating only solids. Dr Nisck is a great avain vet in Panorama his number is 021 5581625, you can call him and describe the symptoms he will give you advice over the phone or ask you to bring the bird in.

Shani (pronounced Shaa nee) means marvelous or wonderful in Swahili.

Ahhh... I really hope it doesn't it's so cute almost like a birthmark.B) Her other feathers are edged with grey but this one is solid grey. I'll try posting a pic a little later.

Hi All My CAG Shani has one dark Grey tail feather at the bottom of all her red feathers. Its really cute and makes her stand out and she seems to take special care when preening it, although thats probably just my imagination. I'm really hoping its not just there cause she is a baby and turns red with the next molt, Any one know if this is likely? Thanks Andrea

Hi Guys Thought I'd share this link. A Grey in Tokyo that got lost and told the vet that was looking after him his name and address. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080521/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_parrot_returns I'm thinking of trying to teach Shani my phone number Whats the smartest thing your Grey does?

wow... Dave007 you really have a vivid imagination. :laugh: i didn't put a mirror in my Tiels cage but they are a pair so they have company. If i had a single Tiel i would definitely get a mirror

oh and its only with his one foot that he does this...

Hi Everyone! We added to our flock yesterday and brought home a baby pied white-faced cockatiel. We have named him Zeus, and he is currently in quarantine, we don't want him making Shani sick. I had a good look at him this morning and noticed that with his feet instead of two toes forward toe toes back he sometimes walks with three toes forward on his perch. Its almost like the one toe is lame. Does anyone know if this is normal? I'm taking him to the vet on Monday for his first visit but if this requires immediate attention i can take him today. Thanks

Good Luck! Its not so bad when the vet knows what they are doing!

News Update! I refused to go to the first vet, when i called her today she told me that she wont under any circumstances handle any bird without anesthetic! And she was the avian specialist. But i found someone else this afternoon, who actually owns birds of his own .:thanks to alot of luck and the advice from you guys:. Shani went for her first vet trip. This vet knew exactly what he was doing and it was all over in minutes. She is now properly clipped and she even got a pedicure, but she is not to impressed with me. But i know she will get over it. She is officially very healthy Im so glad i looked into it a little more before just going to the "Specialist"

Thanks guys for all your responses... I am going to ask her not to use any drugs unless Shani becomes impossible. But I will keep everyone posted on how it goes, the trip is tomorrow. :unsure:

I was given the explanation that the bird becomes calmer when handled and she says she does this with all the birds she handles. She will be clipping her toe nails and other wing (only one was clipped when we got her and she is off balance and flies into the wall). But i haven't read anything about a bird needing anesthetic for a clip either, so i thought i better check with you guys.

Hi Everyone I have made an appointment for Shani to go to the vet on Monday for her first wellness check. There is one thing that i am concerned about and that is that the only avian specialist i could find in my area says that she gives the bird a mild anesthetic (injection) before she will look at them. Is this normal? I thought i would ask because i have a really bad feeling about it. I didn't like the idea at all and tried to find someone else but i keep being referred to this vet as the "specialist" Thanks Lupa

Oh sorry and Dave007... its not her tail feathers that where clipped its the feathers of her wing that cross over her tail, they are only clipped on the one side. *sorry didn't explain that too well After reading all these posts I'm almost certain that her wing has been clipped incorrectly and if the one hadn't already have been clipped i don't think i would have clipped her at all.

Thanks for the responses. It makes more sense now. Unfortunately i don't think she ever learnt to fly properly and her wing was already clipped when we got her. However she has her first appointment with the avian vet today so we can ask her to do a proper job while she is doing the wellness check. Lupa

Thanx for the response, but you have me a bit worried now. From what I could tell she only has her one wing clipped. Most of the long tail feathers bar 2 are clipped on the one wing and the other has all the long feathers. She has very little control when she bails. It's a general direction thing and she can fly up to 3 or 4 metres untill she hits into something. I was playing with her on the floor earlier today and she actually took off from the ground and made a few feet. Is this one wing clip normal or should we get it looked at? Thanx again Stephan

Hi All Shani's daddy here. This is such a great place to share and learn. Firstly, it's been almost 2 weeks (tomorrow) that Shani's been with us and she's coming on great. My folks adopted my grandparents grey when I was little and have since got another so I grew up with them, but this ones really special. She's a quick learner and is already vocalising and has a few whistles (yes "the wolf" from the petshop) down pat. We'be been fumbling a bit with getting her in and out of her cage, but thanx to your help have learnt a few tricks and things are going great. She now has a really cool perch that she sits on when we're around and seems to be enjoying it. I just have a concern about her flying off and hurting herself. She does this a bit too often for my liking. I presume a baby falling now and then is how they learn, but I'm concerned she really hurts herself. Her wings are clipped, but she still seems to get some speed up when bailing off the perch. We have tile floors in areas and I have heard about how painful it can be if they fall on their breast bone. She also tends to fly after me or Lupa when we leave the room. Sometimes into a door or wall or some furniture. She always seems to shrug it off, but she does sit and preen for a bit after a 'dive'. I'm worried that she could get hurt bad, but she really enjoys being out of the cage. Please help! Should we leave her in the cage for longer or am I just being paranoid?? Great work and thanx for all the help! Stephan

Hi Nick! Im also new, and this place is great for anything you need to know about bobby!

Gorgeous! :lol:

Well i was amazed when the pet store owner told me that Shani eats apples and seeds and thats it... they had been feeding her pigeon mix soaked in water with an apple every week for the past 3 months and she is only 4 months old. She is adjusting really well to her new diet tho . I really do want to do something to help new Grey owners and the local pet shops, even if it is just directing them to this site to do some reading. As a new mom it really has been such a help! I'm actually originally from East London, 2Girls, very nice to meet you :-)