Char

How adorable. I too cannot believe that furniture is not chewed up.

Whisper came home to me when she was 4 mo old. Just a few weeks after she was home she started whistling. she was saying her first words at 6 months. Today at 21 months she says over 90 phrases and adds to that every few days. SHE NEVER SHUTS UP! :laugh:

Oh Julie, It is wonderful news. I am so happy for you and Argyle.:kiss:

The breeder I got my Dyh from has a pet Grey 6 yrs old. I was amazed at the difference in the way she looks compared to Whisper. His Grey has smaller slanted eyes while Whisper's are round.

There is nothing wrong with being an overprotective parront. I am the same way. My DYH baby is off to the vet this weekend because his poop does not look quite right to me. This will be the third time in 3 months that I have rushed one of the birds off to the vet just to be told they are fine. The vet doesn't mind. He can use the money.:laugh:

Jill, Whisper went through her big, bad molt in the winter when it was so dry inside, I felt so sorry for her. She scratched and scratched all the time. I tried baths, aloe ect. The thing that helped most was a humidifier. I could really tell the difference. I know it is not winter now but air conditioned air in the summer is also very dry. I also believe that it can be counter productive to bathe every day. Just like how our skin dries out if we wash too much. I would limit down to the skin baths to 3 times a week at the most. Just my opinion. I would never question our member Dave but it also seemed to get better when I started giving her the Harrison's treats with the RPO. It seemed to me that the oil we intake helps our skin and hair so I thought maybe it helped hers too. Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/09/23 22:27 Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/09/23 22:30<br><br>Post edited by: Dave007, at: 2009/09/24 21:22

Oh Jill you are so funny. You don't have any kids do you?

I think you did the right thing. How much were you playing. Did she get all worked up from the play? Were you playing rough and tumble? If you saw the reaction immediately after a certain game then I would avoid that game for awhile.

I am thrilled that everything went so well. It sounds like you two are working things out just fine.

A few weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my shoulder and was having terrible muscle spasms. The pain was unbearable! I awoke with it at 3 a.m. and walked the floors the entire day moaning and groaning with the spasms. Well you can guess what happened! I am back to normal but now Whisper interjects some of her phrases with these painful moans. Ohhhhh, ohhhhhh, Ohhhh. You would think she was dying. It is hilarious!:laugh:

We have days like that every now and again too. I always just keep a close eye on her but she always returns to normal the next day. If she had 2 quiet days in a row then she would be off to the vet because that has never happened.

Whisper did not talk around other people when she was young (she is now 22 months old). In the last 3-4 months she is talking more in front of people but never if they are standing there staring at her. If we go on about socializing she will chatter away. When it is just us at home SHE NEVER SHUTS UP.:laugh:

SchroedersJen wrote: Jen, I am no expert but it would seem to me that if you let him finish on your foot then your foot in his eyes will become his mate. I would think he would become preoccupied with your foot and treat it like a mate which is not always a gentle thing. He would soon become a bird that chased people's feet. Because well..that is where the "good stuff" happens.

I also limit my pets to head and chin scratches. My vet warned me when I first got Whisper that to pet a bird anywhere else is confusing to them. Birds in the wild don't pet each other all over except for a mate. A parrot has a hard enough time trying to figure out who the heck we are and where we fit in to their lives without trying to make them into a bunny,cat,dog,or any other mammal. Whisper will sit on my shoulder and I will scratch her head and neck but that is it.

They definately choose what they want to repeat. I used to wonder why Whisper would say all kinds of things but not "I love you" even though I said it many times a day for many months. Then one day she just said it and has not stopped. I also tried for a long time to get her to say "peeka boo" but never once heard her repeat it. I would say Peeka boo, I see you. Then one day many months after I gave up saying it I looked around the door one day and said "peek a boo" to which she chimed in "I see you." Now she will say it pretty frequently. I believe she was able to say these things all along and perhaps was saying them when I was not around. Another thing I can't under stand is she will sing "Bad bird, bad bird, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for.... She will not put the "you" at the end but will always leave it hanging even though she used the word "you" all the time in other sentences. I sure can't figure out her reasoning.

Ahh poor baby is molting. Have you tried a humidifier?

Oh Jen you are toooo much. Thanks for the chuckle today. I divert Whisper when she starts acting too lovey dovey. I also don't do anything to encourage it. It is very, very confusing for a bird to think of you in terms of their "play toy" and to encourage will only lead to frustration and behaviour problems. On the other hand I know someone who has an Amazon 13 yrs old. He says that when she gets too worked up that his avian vet masterbates her and it calms her down. I have the same vet but he has not offered this service to young Whisper yet.:laugh:<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/09/21 14:59

I believe that Greys are smart enough to know that it is just a reflection and not another bird. I often put Whisper on a stand in the bathroom and she can see herself but does not pay ANY attention to it whatsoever. She has never acknowledged it. She can also see herself in the large mirror when she is on the shower rod. My Amazon however tried to do battle with his reflection while Whisper just looks on with a look that says " What a silly bird!"

They certainly do! I have told this story before but I will repeat it here for you. I had a headache for several days in a row and just could not get rid of it. I was feeling kind of depressed about it and with Whisper on my shoulder I went over opened up the cupboard and stood there looking at the aspirin and stuff trying to decide what to take this time. I said " Whisper, Mom has a bad headache." in a very discouraged voice. I wasn't even turned toward her I was looking in the cupboard. Whisper just reached around and gave me a kiss on the mouth. Nothing more just that kiss. I really believe she was sympathizing with me and wanted to make me feel better.

Looks like she is really enjoying that wheel. Whisper loves her foraging toys too.

Everything said in this thread is right on. I would not call Whisper loud but I would call her noisy. Certain sounds she makes if they go on and on can be annoying but she can usually be distracted. For instance the outside bird sounds. I have always loved the "pretty, pretty, pretty" call of the Cardinal but it does not sound so great in your living room over and over again.:laugh: That being said I would not hesitate to have her in an apartment. The bird will not be as loud as the other residents children or barking dogs, television or stereo.

Yeah I know what you mean. I tried it once. Whisper wasn't interested but I remember thinking while I was cutting it up that man this is messy.

So sorry to hear you are going through this. You and sully will get through this difficult time. You are a trooper!

That is great news Pat. I am very happy they found each other.

He is beautiful!