bettyboop

Pat , I have no idea, what does the vet say?Mary

Hi Pat , maybe you could try hanging the toys lower on the sides of the cage , that is what I did for Sammy to allow him more room at the top . Also does Tyco have shredder toys . I bought the shredder tape , it's on a roll and I weave it in and out of the cage , which they tear up and it doesnt take up space in the cage.If Tyco doesnt play with these toys maybe it would be better to take a few out and reposition the ones left. The extra room may be welcomed. Also , why do the feathers break so easily ? Does the vet have a comment on this ?Mary<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/06/15 16:53

LOL....we can't have that , I'll take it all back , just kidding .You know you love it !!!!! Mary

LOL....Traumatized in childcare, you ae so funny. I am no expert , I am only going by Sally Blanchrds advice . She has several books The Beak Book and Companion Parrots , which are both wonderful problem solving helps. I have great results with everything I have tried with her books . You can visit her website at Companionparrots.com . I know your husband loves Echo , I am not implying anything ugly happened .I know my husband did some pretty weird stuff once or twice when our birds bit him , nothing abusive to the birds except probably scaring the turkey out of them .LOL. I would suggest the tech comes over several times per week before the trip so Echo isnt thrown into stress.That's all you could do to make the transition. Good luck , and I do hope if someone else has some ideas they will chime in .The people on this forum are very smart with their birds. Glad you are here . Kind Regards , Mary

I read something about a triangle situation which is what you have with the two of you and Echo. First it said , to get him away from the cage as much as you can , because they are so territorial around the cage . Allow your husband to work with him in the neutral room . If he bites , do not run in to rescue Echo or your husband .Ask your husband not to respond ever again when he bites , just walk away . Parrots love drama , and if he is screaming ouch then Echo loves it , also he knows what he is doing , he bites to get your husband to go away . So as I said they need to start over , in the neutral room and be very calm around Echo. I think something between the two of them took place while you were away ,which I understand .My Sammy is a toot , we had to step back , just watch and learn .We didnt handle him for about three weeks , he bites and one time I yelled OUCH , now he says ouch all the time then laughs.So I have learned by reading and watching . I go into the bird area everyday and spend hours of time , reading , making toys , cleaning etc....But he needed to adjust and things are changing . Also it suggested your husband be the one to care for him for a while with you out of sight. Just stop rewarding anything he does that is not good , ignore him when he freaks out , praise the good . I think I would keep him at home for a while till he calms down .If he bites , show no reaction . Good luck , Mary

You got that right Sobhan , gorgeous, super intelligent,really adorable ....... Great name , great person. Mary

I agree Toni , Irish Creme yum yum , Ya know the spelling can be changed also like on Corbin if it is a girl it would be Corbyn . So it's up to Mama Pchela.....Ok Mama Pchela it's up to you , please so we can celebrate this babes name .

Yes it could , except I thought you said he has always been this way .Are you saying it is worse since the trip ? Perhaps he felt like the flock had abandoned him . Did your husband have a bad experience during the time you were gone ?Everything we do with these guys has to build trust , so I ask myself before I do anything , will this be trust building or trust destroying . Sounds like the two of them may need to start over , which I have done with both of my birds several times.LOL...Another thing I read was not to make direct eye contact with him and to allow him some time to do his own thing , no force step ups or anything , just cool it , still talk and play but only with things he is comfortable with .When company or repairmen come to our house , our birds go to their cages and the doors are shut . My Alexandrine is very uncomfortable when new people are here.Is he getting 10-12 hours sleep every night , undisturbed sleep?Also could there be an outside light at night or branch rubbing on the house making a noise that could be bothering him ?Did the vet do any blood work ? If not , you might consider to see if some health issue is causing this . The trip might be the culprit . Mary

I am reading about this in my Sally Blanchrd Parrot book . She suggest everyone in the family work towards bonding with the Parrot. One thing she suggest is you taking the bird into a neutral room and placing on a T stand or chair , then you leave the room and your husband enters and shuts the door .During this time he can read to the bird , eat snacks so that the bird becomes interested in what he is eating or he can work on something to get the Parrots attention .Like my bird loves it when I wrap presents , he wants to be right there pulling on the ribbon , playing and chewing on the paper .Or when I pull out the toy making box , here they come , one on each side , they actually start digging in the box. The neutral room is somewhere where the cage or playstand can not be seen and you need to allow them the time alone . My birds also love to sit on my shoulder and watch you tube , the Alexandrines and the Greys . This needs to be done daily and see what happens , hopefully a relationship will take place . Ask your husband to lower his energy before working with the bird , take some deep breaths and relax. Also he does not need to try to handle him right now. Now as far as the fear thing for no reason , I have no idea. Like Burna suggested , something is wrong or causing a fearful reaction .I will continue looking in the book and see if something pops up .Have you painted a room , hung a new picture , new hairstle or color , new nail polish , anything different anywhere? Mary<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/06/14 02:13

I think I would talk to an Avian Vet about this . Mary

Corbin and Bailey are both very cute names.Even if I did suggest .LOL...Corbin means Raven. Mary<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/06/14 00:36

Still noname , here are some more suggestions Beacon Bailee Baldwin Corbin Errol I like Errol , I think that has a warm touch to it. Good luck, Mary

Bella , such a cutie pie .Good girl for talking to MaMa. Thanks fot the adorable pic . Mary

Skuffy , have you ever wore the patch ? My husband wears them , at least he is saving his lungs and I don' smell it .He always smoked outside , never inside .Good Luck . Mary

Has he always been this way ? Towards your husband also , or did this just develop since the move ? Mary

Sally Blanchard mentions in her Beak Book that they practice being adults way before sexual maturity sets in, and that very young parrots begin to cout their caregivers long before they have the hormones to back it up .Regurgitation simply means he has a very special bond with you .What a compliment ...Parrots feed each other and he just wants to feed you .Parrots who are loved and nurtured usually do not have agressive attitudes towards their caregivers .Sorry I got the sexual issue going ....LOL.... Mary

I think I would be asking the maintanence people some questions . They aren't suppose to talk , mess with or look at anything except what they are there to fix.Why would a bird get so upset because someone came in ?If they were doing their job , was it around his cage? Mary

Just curious , how long have you had him? Mary

Who knows , I would think it is a bonding issue , which is good. Mary

I am sorry , I didnt explain that well . You said you purchased him at a bird show . I have heard that some people breed just for the profit . So they are not too concerned about the well being of the future in a parrots life, meaning as chicks they are not handled enough , exposed to enough different sights , sounds , toys , or people. Some are breed , weaned and left in the cage .I am not implying this is what happened but possiable. You said that when you were at the bird show and he didnt want to go back into the cage and clung to you , that is a firm indication he was begging for human interaction and please don't put me back in the cage . If this is the case , he needs to have plenty of out of cage time , and different people interacting with him without forcing him to step up . He needs quiet , calm , slow attention .Greys are known to be cautious of anything they are not used to .He obviously loves you . My bird bites me when my husband comes into the room , so I can't handle him when hubby is home , we have our time in the mornings and during the day . He thinks he is protecting me , I just sit there so he bites me to make me fly away as he would do with a mate in the wild, then she would return when all is safe.He is so sweet when my husband isnt around me , now my husband steps him up great and he likes him , it only happens when I am holding him . If your husband can just sit and talk to him or read children stories to him , he will come around , all in good time. Hope this helps . I am sure some of the others will have better tips . Sorry about the comment about child care , I was very young and had not been around children.That's great of you to devote so much into our future generation . Mary<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/06/13 15:14

I think this is the way they practice sexual bonding , isnt it ? Mary

I have read that improper handeling as a baby and improper skills from the breeder can cause this type of behavior. Also I worked in a day care center when I was around 17 years old for one day . I never went back , it was earth shaking LOL...Maybe if Elmo were introduced to the daycare slowly , like take him there after hours and then have him there for a short time when the children arrive , then take him home .It sounds as though he is in overload . If your husband could offer a treat when he approached him in his cage .If Elmo refuses the treat , then just place it in the bowl and walk off. He needs to understand other people have good things to offer with their loving hands. Also slow down the energy around him, if anyone is fearful , he will sense this and bite .If your Husband is fearful of being bit again , maybe he needs to just sit and read or visit . Also not making direct eye contact while around the cage might help. We forget they are prey animals and sometimes everyone looking at them is scary.My first Grey , would not accept anything new , it had to sit in the room for weeks , and I had to play with it and act like it was the most wonderful whatever in the world , then finally he would accept it . My Alexandrine does not like for strangers to just walk up to her cage , she likes them to sit for a while and see that I am OK with them , then I introduce her to them . If they just walk over , she screams till they leave. The flying off your hand when someone comes near is escape , he is afraid . Some birds are more shy than others , these are the ones who need everything to move very slowly. Hopefully some of this will help . Good Luck , Mary<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/06/13 13:06

Dave , thank you for sharing the neat pics and the information . I have made a copy of the post and will go searching for branches this Saturday . Most of the branches on my Oak trees are way too large , but I will visit friends and neighbors yards to collect some . What kind of tree is the one you are using for your friends perches? Looks familiar, but not sure . I won't cut on my Jap.Maples , they are small like yours . However , I have sooo much shade mine turn a burgandy color instead of red , they are red in the spring . The playstand info is great . Thanks again , I will let you know how it goes. Mary (BETTYBOOP)

Pchela, you are calling that baby noname . He is going to say NONAME good boy , please give him a name .LOL.... Mary

Hi Dave , great tips and still a few questions. Do the branches have to be dead? Also I have 29 Oak trees in my yard and I always have branches on the ground , so are Oak branches safe? The only other trees I have are Crepe Myrtles and Japanese Maples. What type of wood is that , you are showing on the play stands? It looks like the Grapewood that I have purchased . Is Grapewood recomended? It is smooth in places. Your birds are very pretty and look as though they love the camera especially the third one down , looks like a pose ... The playstand you made is great , I will get to work on one as soon as I figure out where and what type of branch to use. Thanks for your help . BTW, Sammy is doing much better , we have figured out why he chooses to bite on me when my Husband comes in . He is protecting me. He is as gentle as a lamb when I am alone with him . So I don't handle when hubby is home . Thanks for all the great help. Mary