Satchel

I cannot get Tango to eat the pellets either. In the morning he gets a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and soak and boil. When that is gone (or he throws it all on the floor) I give him seeds. Then he gets bites all day long of whatever I am eating providing it is bird safe foods. He is a small grey only weighing in at 370-390 grams. I am not an expert but I believe the starve him theory will not work and I will not try it either. I have read somewhere that if your birds won't eat pellets try sprinkling it with some form of citrus juice like maybe orange juice. I haven't tried it with Tango because he gets so much other food that I don't really think the pellets are an absolute since they don't eat them in the wild. My macaw however will eat anything given him or her.

Here human, human.

In this photo from left to right is Tango (CAG) myself, and Tiko (B&G) Ok the photo didn't go so I am resizing and trying it again. <br><br>Post edited by: Satchel, at: 2009/11/28 03:00

Thank you, I will.

Welcome Betta246. You will find out so much information here on this forum. Anytime I have any questions related to either my grey named Tango or my macaw named Tiko I first post it here on this forum. The support is phenominal. I am not sure what 850 UK money means, but I paid $1,200.00 + tax for Tango. Then you need to add in the cost of a cage big enough for the bird, the play pen perch, the toys, and the seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, soak and boil, etc. The total initial investment here was right around $2,500.00, and have never regretted this. A good book to get and read is called "For the Love of Greys" written by Bobbi Brinker. I have read various books and this one has been the best so far. I also want to add that please do your homework in advance. These are precious creatures that deserve you do this. A life changing experience as a previous poster said is exactly the truth. What blessed birds these are. Ok I am ranting now. A welcome to the forum is all this was supose to be so again welcome to the forum.

I have found my new macaw doing the same thing. I was thinking that Tiko was finally trying to bond with me however strange that bonding may be. lmao

Thank you Christina. I did notice the same abrasiveness, so I just took what I could use and threw the rest away. I do appreciate the input you sent me since I did glean some info from the responding posts. Also thank you for taking the time to send this post as well. I too believe I am going a good macaw owner just as I am a good grey owner. I had a customer come over today, she seen me interacting with my birds and told me with no uncertainty, "those are two lucky birds right there" I smiled and knew at that time to disregard some of the comments I read. Thanks again. Lisa aka Satchel (btw Satchel is my favorite of six cats)

Thank you I have went to page and left a comment. I sure hope someone can tell me what to do and soon. I have ordered the chet womach videos, but they will not be here for at least a few more day. I want to love Tiko so much and he is making it so hard.

Hi everyone, I again am in need of help. Tiko is ripping me to shreds. Sometimes he is loving and well all the other times he is hurting me. My fingers are covered with band aids and scabs from all the bits. This morning he bit my finger so hard that it still hurts. Why is he doing this and how do I make him stop? He gets plenty of toys, good fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning, plenty of out of cage time, seeds, nuts, and lots of love (or attempted love) until the biting begins. I am starting to wonder if I made a big mistake purchasing him and am even feeling regretful that I did so. Please help me so I can correct this problem before I learn not to like him.

Thank you Judy I am going there now.

That is a good climb toy Darius is on. Where can I get one of those?

Yes you did Tycos, and today this is what we are going to do. He has went through already the one basket and another wood toy is also toothpicks. It sort of makes me laugh at how well and fast he has shredding to a mastery. I hear some people say that I can dye the wood cookies with food coloring. Is this a safe method as I did not hear it here? I am so looking forward to the next bird expo coming next month. I am already starting to budget a few extra hundreds for his toys alone. Oh the joy of parronting. Love my birds I do.

Wohoo congrats on your new baby boy.:silly:

Welcome Dan. I am sorry to hear of your previous loss, and glad you are going to be getting another grey. It will truly bring you many more hours of fun and laughter as well as lots of extra love and excitement. Can't wait to see pictures of your new love.

Thank you Judy. that was very nice to say.

Go to goole and do a search for "avian vets +nigeria" and do not haste. Silvester needs to see one quickly or it could be your regretful mistake. Please keep us posted on the outcome.

This is cool. I remember the first tie Tango said "it's love" I about fell over not to mention called everyone who would answer and told them. These birds are such a treat.

I think all greys have the ability to talk. Whether they choose to do so or not is entirely up to the bird. My grey Tango (the love of my life) started talking at 6 months and 28 days old and hasn't stopped since. He is now 16 months and 4 days old with a vocabulary of approxiametly 50 different phrases. I talk everyday to him, and I explain everything to him as if he were a young kid...oh wait he is. The most important thing about Tango though is the love and joy he brings into the house. He is intelligent and very entertaining all on his own even when he is not talking. The love you get from a grey if you treat them well and tend to all their needs regulary is beyond my wildest dreams. Good luck with your grey if you decide to get one, however I do urge you to do your homework before purchasing one of these beauties as they require more than a cage and seeds. They are a lot of work and must be nurtured as great gifts of GOD or whatever your maker is called. Treasure them and treat them as so and you will have a great friend for life. Post edited by: Satchel, at: 2009/10/01 18:55<br><br>Post edited by: Satchel, at: 2009/10/01 18:56

OOOps last piucture was to big here it is now....I mean I hope anyway.

Here is another picture of the three of us at dinner time.

Thanks for asking. I was able to pick him or her up again on Tuesday. The vet said it was just nerves and that he or she is healthy. Of course I have been watching him or her very closely and there have been no more throw up incidents. I think Tiko is settling in nicely. My fingers are extremely sore though. lol. I imagine will have to go through a few weeks of this at least. Boy is he destructive. I have two big baskets, heavy duty baskets that Tiko and Tango must be on if they want to be in my room, and well Tiko has been through one already and working on a second. I read somewhere in here about how a macaw turned a toy to toothpicks in no time at all, and I can confirm that there was no exageration in that posting. Tango seems to be taking the new addition okay too which is a blessing because I was very worried that he would think I was betraying him. Tango is over there on his perch rambling all his phrases. He sure does know a lot of them already. I hope he teaches Tiko to talk too.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. It seems like it is taking forever to reach 10:00 when I can go there and see what they intend to do.

I have bad news to report to everyone. Tiko was throwing up and I had to take him or her back to the store. They told me they would do everything in their power to take care of the situation, however that does not leave me feeling very good. Now I know why everyone says QUARANTINE. Tango isn't showing any signs of being sick yet I am watching him like a hawk watches their prey. I am hoping that Jeff (he is the guy who owns exotic birds unlimited) will take Tiko to the vet today. I calle dthe vet yesterday and they said to watch Tiko for a few days, but with Tango in the house I didn't take any risks since he is my first love. The vet also said they could see Tiko but stressed the importance that I have a right to purchase a healthy bird. Jeff quickly offered me the kin to Tiko, but you know I just don't like that bird. It looks at me from inside its cage like it hates me and has even bitten me to proove the hate. I will be going to the store today to see how Tiko is doing and might even offer to take him or her to the vet myself if Jeff hasn't done so yet. This is my update and hopefully it will change with a happy ending soon. I guess what this rambling post is really all about is listen listen listen when other members tell you to quarantine your new bird before introduing it to the flock.

Thank you Tyco your post is very informative and constuctive. I brought Tiko home today. Jeff my bird breeder told me that this bird is totally healthy, and since he has been in business here for over 20 years I believe him. I do hope I don't live to regret it. He is where I bought Tango from. Exotic Birds Unlimited. So far the day is going ok. I will keep you posted as to how the new living arrangements are turning out. I have noticed that since bringing Tiko home Tango wants to be sitting on my shoulder more, so I am letting him. It was funny first thing I put Tiko in his or her cage and Tango started asking if he wanted some seeds. It was really funny. I am already in big love with Tiko. However between me, you and GOD Tango is my 1st and always will be my first love. Well it is getting way to hot out here in the garage so I will keep tuned in and tell you how it goes. Thanks for taking the time to respond sp thougouhly. Satchel

Here are some pics of Tiko Tango and me on Tiko's first day home.