bettyboop

Thank you Judy , You should get one , they are awesome birds and so much easier (TO ME) than our Grey . Hugs, Mary

Yes , I agree , we do have the smartest and the prettiest , so we are set . Zsa Zsa wants to be on me all the time , she is as curious as a cat and has to see everything I am doing.. Sammy is happy on his playstand in the same room as long as Zsa Zsa isn't on me , now if she is , then he wants to be on me also , so I am working on this because she dive bombs him when he is on me .She is so jealous , so normally my Husband has Sammy and keeps him entertained.Sammy loves him , and I mess with Sammy during the day while Zsa Zsa is in her cage for at least an hour or so . It is working out , Z was the first bird and she lets him know it . Sounds like Tiago is getting back to his sweet self , that is great . Pat on the back for the tricks you have taught , that is wonderful .You are doing such a great job with those guys . M

My first TAG was in the same type of situation .After this bird comes home and gets all the attention and love you will give , Just like our bird it will stop . Our TAG had pulled out all his chest feathers and he stopped as soon as we brought him him , gave him plenty of attention , baths , and good food , and try spoon feeding to help with the bonding issue for about a week at breakfast if you can . Congrats to you and you are a good person to do this . Lucky Bird !!!!! M

bmustee , gave great advice , as well as the others , If you do decide to have the wings clipped , make sure whoever does it is an expert , a bad wing clip to a bird especially a Grey can really be bad . One thing I do to help my birds adjust when they first come to live with me is sit by their cage with the door open and read childrens stories to them , after about three or four days they climb out and eventually will come sit on your shoulder .Don't rush her , just let her hang out on her cage and she will grow to love you .Make sure she has plenty of toys to keep her busy .I clean the bars on the cage daily also the newspaper . Dried poop is not healthy for the bird or you . Good luck .

Thanks Zooman , Tonight for dinner she ate chicken , baked sweet potato, broccoli , and fresh corn on the cob .Now is that a little piggy , or what ? She is so funny , she gave me kisses all afternoon . She is for sure getting much more tame as time goes by . How is the training going with your boys ? I am really interested in hearing all about that and exactly what you are training them to do . It is so cool here , a front came in and our temps this AM were in the 50's it's a miracle for Texas . LOL.... I plan to have Miss Z out this weekend .Did you ever figure out a carrier for the guys ? Well I guess Pat is busy with her new cute Birdie , so that is why she wasnt visiting with us today . I don't want any more birds , two is enough , they keep me busy enough . Sammy said today " LOVE YOU ZSA ZAS " , HE IS SO SWEET , she growled at him ...LOL... Take care , M

Thank you....My flash sort of bleaches her out a little . She looks slightly darker than the pic , but I think Tiago looks awesome , so pat yourself on the back . Thanks , about wishing my Mom well wishes . This is hard , she has always been so healthy and strong .She is getting older and we are facing some changes .She falls , so now we have a cracked hip. Also a walker , which a month ago she was running circles around me .Sad to watch them grow old . M<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/10/08 11:57

Zsa Zsa again

Here is Zsa Zsa , age 19 months old

I will get some pics up tonight , My Mom is sick and I am running . Pat , congrats on the new bird , she is pretty. M

Well , unfortunatly the all mighty Dollar rules as we have all seen this past week on the news . There is nothing against the law to breed birds and sell to chain stores .So good luck on getting the laws turned around . Perhaps the attack should be on the stores as it has been on Petsmart in the past .They are the ones who need to educate their employees , to speak knowledge about the animals , and they need to make sure who they are purchasing from is a high standard breeder .Breeders are out there , as with anything we buy , research should be conducted , as long as people demand the best , they will get the best . I know there are many pet stores that should be out of business , as well as hair salons , grocery stores etc....Also , there are many pet stores that run a very knowledgeable staff and really care about the birds and animals they sell .So , lets don't push so hard that we put the good ones out of business. Now , I am off my soap box . Mary

Perhaps , you are directing your coments to your store . Which is understandable and I am sure you didnt mean all pet stores and employees are liars .Of course not .Every store in the pet market should have an employ as dedicated as BMUSTEE, I wish she worked at our pet store . There are many bird breeders that will be happy to ship a bird , and the people I know who have done this , have great birds and they were in great condition when they arrived , maybe a bit scared .Also , you could check into adoption in your area. Good Luck

ZooMan , I think Tiago looks wonderful , his colors are very vivid .I think sometimes our bird look powdery , sort of Greyish , and I understand what you mean about their looking dull , but I do think which type of light they are under makes a difference .He looks great to me , actually he looks just like ZsaZsa. So no more worries Bird Dad , you are doing great . Mary

Pat , when they mix the Alex and the IRN , they are not Alexandrines anymore . The word mutation makes me ill. As ZooMan stated God made the perfect Alexandrine. I agree with him M

I don't have an opinion about this, except I don't understand why someone wants to mess with changing these beautiful birds . M

Our breeder sells them both in Texas , CAGS $1100, TAGS $950 Fledged and weaned

I gave my birds raw corn for a while , but I gave them cooked corn on the cob and they love it .In fact They seem to prefer everything lightly steamed. Zsa Zsa eats in the bowl , and only throws out what she dislikes, Sammy throws food everywhere. I bet they did like the squash , I have bought winter squash before , shredded it with a grater after cooking and sprinkled light seasonings on top , they seem to like that. I like to try different stuff and so far they adapt pretty well .My birds don't care for oatmeal either , however my TAG did , he would eat oatmeal with me every morning .They are cute with all that food all over their beaks . I think both of my birds eat right handed, I have noticed this but they use the one which is most convinent . Sammy has taught Zsa Zsa to come to where we are when we are eating , it is such a pain .They will fly over , land on the table and start towards our plates , and they will help themselves.We have even given them their own plates , nope they want ours .So now they are served dinner via cage ..... It is the only way we can enjoy our dinner .What do your birds do at dinner time? OBTW, don't eat the muffins with bird pellets in them , if you make some ...LOL... Mary

Hi Pat , I read one of your post before about french toast, so I made some for Zsa Zsa and Sammy , they loved it .How do you put the sweet potato in the egg mix and make it stick , that even sounds yummy to me .I buy sweet potato french fries and the birds love them . Sammy says "yum yum " for the fries . He is so silly , but loves that warm cooked food . Hugs , Mary

Speaking of Tiagos color being more dull , they sort of have a grey cast on them , sort of powdery looking , is this what you are describing? How does the coloring look outside in natural light ? My birds are under an Avian light , so they are getting alot of light and ZsaZsa looks different outside than inside . M

I try to make their food fun , like for example ....I take peanut butter , cereal that is low in sugar (that contains pumpkin seeds , flax seed, omega oil ) , I buy in the health food dept . at my grocery store and the fine pellets. I mix the peanut butter and cereal , roll in small balls , then roll in the pellets .The leftovers go in the fridge and they love them . I also use a skewer, safe for birds and load it up with veggies and fruit , they forage off of it all day . You can make my birdie muffins . I take a pkg. of cornbread mix , 1 egg , and 1 cup of applesauce, (no milk,)then I add chopped veggies , rice , nuts , baby food , any kind . If the mix gets to thick just add more applesauce.Then I throw in some pellets , and some bird seed .Cook according to the pkg.directions.They love these thing and they don't even know they are eating all good stuff.They keep in the fridge for over a week or you can freeze them .My birds do not like them cold , so I ususlly pop in the microwave for about 8 seconds . I also hide food in paper cups , and tie with string , they will work for some time to open and eat the treat inside. Gotta make it fun ,and I do think they get bored with food. So you moved away from the bird section , what can I say .LOL....I would have also .My birds take it all , sometimes I feel as though , I wish I could tell them go to camp .Love them dearly but they do take alot of time .Glad you are cooking squash , sounds yummy. M

No , they would not eat it when I bought it , so that is when I ground it up and put it in my Muffin Birdie mix.I throw nothing away .So , I buy the fine pellet and cook with it .They eat it because they love the Bird Bread and they get about a Tablespoon in each muffin , which isnt much .However they eat a muffin everyday which has veggies , fruit and an egg in the recipe.I have noticed they really like moist food over dry .The flax meal is great , you can sprinkle it on their food .Our first Grey when he came to live with us had plucked all his chest feathers , after eating Flax for about 7 months , all feathers were back .I think as long as you give them an assortment of healthy foods , it's ok .Try giving them some baked fish once a week , my birds love it ,make sure there are no bones.Pasta tossed with light olive oil is one of Sammy's favorites. Sweet Potatoes , red bell peppers ,carrots .One thing I do is , I try to make their food bowl have alot of colors in it , red , orange dark green etc....If I have food they wont eat , I clean it and freeze then I cook with it....I thought looking at Tiago's pic , he looked very healthy... M<br><br>Post edited by: bettyboop, at: 2008/10/03 12:43

I have never used Palm Oil , however I have heard it is good .I sprinkle flax meal on their dry food and use it in my muffin mix that they eat .It has a lot of omega's in it .I think both of my birds feathers look pretty good . I push the veggies , Sammy (CAG) isnt as fond of meat as Zsa Zsa . My birds eat Harrison pellets , I think this is good for their feathers .I like the results , perhaps you could try a different pellet .Just for variety . M

LOL...They aren't stupid are they ? They know whats good .I just make sure she eats a lot of veggies ,also she loves fish, chicken and pork but dislikes beef.How about your guys? M

Sorry , I didnt mean to sound as though you were taking the issue lightly, I was just bringing it to her attention, perhaps it was what her friend was talking about. Mary

No , I do not have a link , perhaps you could contact Bird Talk magazine and ask to purchase a back issue . It is the June 08 issue .If this fails PM me and maybe I can scan and email it to you .It is lengthy, so I'm not sure if I can , I'll check. M

There is a great article in the June addition 08 of Bird Talk Magazine , about Bird Keepers Lung . It is worth reading. Bird dust should always be taken seriously , especially if you have allergies ,asthma , or smoke .It can effect some people more serious than others . M