Carolyn

The cost of a new or second hand cage in good condition far out weights the chances you will take with paint. Please reconsider the idea of paint and look for a good second hand one - try e-bay or craig's list for some good deal you may have to check every day as postings are put up daily. But you will no that your cage is Grey safe. Carolyn & Mika

You can also try to soak the pellets for a few min in warm apple juice, and offer them this way. Carolyn & Mika

To clip or not to clip will always be a controversial subject even with veterinarian's, but what it all boils down to is personal choice, only you can make the choices for what ever your personal reasons are. I have read all the threads this forum has to offer and all the books I can, and I admire people for making the choice to keep there bird flighted. I myself at this time choose to clip for my own personal reasons. Carolyn & Mika

Dan my heart goes out to all of you Kim, Dayo and you to have had to go through all you have over the last 2 weeks. But you really have hit home here, as I often leave Mika alone on his cage while running down to do laundry or up to make beds and clean up stairs. We to have a very large doberman and a cat that share space with Mika and I have not really thought about it till reading this at the chances I take doing this. Thank you so much for the much needed wake up call in this house, I appreciate it. From now on he will travel with me or be put back into his cage. I am glad that all turned out well with you, dayo and the dogs. Carolyn & Mika

As there are many debatable issues that continue forever such as this one, the peanut debate, pellets and seeds. I think that it really would be in the very best interest to follow the direction of each of our own licensed avian veterinarian's, if we choose to get a second opinion as we would with our own health then follow your feelings and seek another veterinarian. There are so many links on the Internet that contradict each other that it is very hard to no what to believe.For every site one can find to defend an issue there will be at least 2 more out there to discredit it. With regards to wikipedia, even they follow there comment with (citation needed) which if you follow this means "statement is likely to be challanged" so there editor has covered any challanges to what they print. I still feel that only a trained Avian Vet should be the one to give information on debatable food related issues, and I myself would never follow a lot of the information that is on the internet. There are web sites that are very very good out there, but a lot are put up by people that really have no experience or very little, and tend to mislead novice people into believing that it must be true. If any food or health issue becomes a debate, I would not take chances with misleading advice. If you have been feeding what ever it is that is debatable and it works for you, fine. Like a lot of people say " in moderation" now the debate may start with " what is moderation" so around it goes again. Take the advise of your vet. Carolyn & Mika

Hi Robert and welcome, I myself live in Canada so I cant help you but we have many mebers of this forum that live in California and I am sure you will here from someone soon. Just while you are waiting there are many good threads here to help you with your learning, sit back and take some time to go throught them. Again welcome Carolyn & Mika

I keep a spray bottle of white vinegar in the fridge and just spray it on a cloth for the occasional dusting down between cleanings. Its safe for all birds and white vinegar is cheap. Carolyn & Mika

Parrotdise Perch is the greatest bird store, I can spend hours just wondering around, great people there I try to visit every couple of weeks and get some of my toy making supplies. Carolyn & Mika

Tiger Lillies and Easter Lilies are fine, tulips have not been proven as yet Carolyn & Mika

My thoughts are with both of you, get back when you can. I hope everything works out well for Kim. We miss you;) Carolyn & Mika

She seems to be making a quick recovery, just keep an eye on it over the next few days. I am sure everything will be fine. Carolyn & Mika

Thank you so much Dave, experience speaks volumes. and you my friend have that:laugh: I just may have to go read a few seed labels tomorrow, maybe my little perch potatoe might like a new addition? Carolyn & Mika

Great information Caroline. Could I just add, before the date of the new arrival please consider how you are going to transport your new baby home. Do you have a carrier? If you are picking up the baby from breeders will your breeder allow you to leave the carrier there a few days before the journey home so the baby can get used to it, you may be able to place him/her in it a few times before the big day arrives. Carolyn & Mika;)

I am so glad that you had it removed, I am sure after a couple of days her leg will be just fine. Karma to you for acting so quickly to get this problem looked after. Carolyn & Mika

Safe Herb Additives Alfalfa leaf, Parsley, Flexseed, Bee Pollen, Chickweed, Red Clover blossoms & leaf, Red raspberry leaf, rose hips, milk thistle, barley grass powder, dill weed, dulse leaf, garlic powder, ginger powder, wheat grass powder, astragalus powder, chili powder, cinnamon powder, turmeric powder Ingredient Definitions: Alfalfa Leaf helps assimilate protein, calcium and other nutrients. Contains chlorophyll. Richest land source of trace minerals. Very rich supply of Beta Carotene, Vitamins K and D. High in Calcium and contains Phosphorus, Iron, Potassium and eight essential enzymes. It is also high in fructo-oligosaccarides which fertilize healthy bacteria in the gut and neutralize bad bacteria overgrowth such as Candida. Parsley is used as a preventive herb. High in Vitamin B and Potassium. It is said to contain a substance in which cancer cells cannot multiply. Rich in iron, chlorophyll and Vitamins A and C. Contains sodium, copper, thiamin and riboflavin, silicon, sulfur, calcium and cobalt. Flaxseed supplies the body with essential fatty acids. Not only are flaxseeds richer in these fatty acids than fish oil, but they also taste much better. Flaxseed also promotes strong nails, bones and healthy skin. Bee Pollen contains 35% Protein, 55% Carbohydrate, 2% Fatty Acids, 3% Minerals and Vitamins. High in B-Complex Vitamins A, C, D and E. Also contains Lecithin, Beta Carotene and Selenium. It is rich in vitamins and contains almost all known minerals, trace elements, enzymes and amino acids. It contains the essence of every plant from which bees collect pollen in combination with digestive enzymes from the bees. This combination of elements make bee pollen an excellent source of antioxidants. Bee pollen is rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and stimulates immunological responses. Chickweed contains Vitamins A, C and some B, Flavonoids, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. It is used for skin problems, to treat blood disorders, gout and arthritis. Dandelion Leaf benefits liver function. Contains nutritive salts, protein, and is a rich source of Vitamin A. Also high in Vitamins B, C and E. Rich in Potassium, Calcium and sodium. Contains some Phosphorus and Iron as well as Nickel, Cobalt, Tin and Copper. Red Clover Blossoms and Leaf contain Vitamins A, C, B-Complex, calcium, Chromium, Iron and Magnesium. Ed Clover has also been used effectively as a blood purifier and antibiotic. Red Raspberry Leaf contains Vitamins A, C, D, E, and B. It is very high in available Calcium. Rose Hips is abundant in Vitamin C and helps combat stress. Milk Thistle Seeds supports the liver's ability to maintain normal liver function. Milk thistle works due to its ability to inhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact it stimulates production of new liver cells to replace old damaged ones. Milk thistle is also an antioxidant that is more potent than Vitamins C and E. Barley Grass is rich in Beta Carotene, B Vitamins and Vitamin C, the minerals Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Chlorophyll, 8 essential amino acids and enzymes, including antioxidant and superoxide dismutase. In total, it contains 92 minerals and 22 vitamins. Dill Weed is high in Calcium and soothing to digestion. Dulse is rich in Protein. It contains 22% more than chickpeas, almonds or whole sesame seeds. Very high in Vitamins B6 and B12. Relatively low in sodium and high in Potassium. Rich in trace minerals. Garlic Powder fights bacteria like an antibiotic. Garlic's sulfur compounds, in addition to Selenium and Vitamins A and C containing compounds, make it a potent antioxidant, protecting cell membranes and DNA from damage and disease. Garlic directly attacks bacteria and viruses and stimulates the bodies natural defenses against foreign invaders. Ginger Powder is an absolute favorite taste of parrots. It is an excellent herb for the respiratory system as well as an effective cleansing agent for the digestive system. It contains Protein, Vitamins A, C and B Complex, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium. Wheat grass contains to many nutrients to mention them all. It is especially high in Fiber, Protein, Chlorophyll, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin B Complex, C, E and K, most minerals and contains 18 Amino Acids. High in Fructo-Oligosaccharides. Astragalus Powder is an immunomodulator. It contains Glycosides, Polysaccharides, Choline, Betaine, Rumatakenin, and Beta-Sitosterol. It activates the immune system, thus enhancing the body's natural ability to fight disease and protecting the body against a number of toxins. Chili Flakes is a digestive aid. This flake acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and aids in controlling pain. Cinnamon Powder is a favorite taste of parrots. It is a digestive aid and recent studies have shown it may help to eliminate E. Coli in food. Turmeric Root has five times more antioxidant power than Vitamin E. Contains curcumin and many other phytochemicals. Makes foods more digestible and possesses anti-fungal and antibacterial properties and protects the liver by detoxification and scavenging free radicals. It also breaks down fats. These are just a few I have found that are 100% proven parrot safe. Carolyn & Mika

There are a great many of us in this forum that have already or are getting leg bands removed. If you check there are posts in regards to this. If you are thinking about removing this band please see a Avian vet to have it done, this is NOT something that you would try to do on your own. Carolyn & Mika

I no very little about some of the foods you have listed, so I would check them out before feeding with a Avian vet. With the wide variety offered that we do no are safe, I would not try these till I found out for sure. Better to be safe than sorry Good luck Carolyn & Mika

Do you no if your baby was fully weaned when you got her, and what was she being fed by the breeder? You dont say what you are feeding your 7 month old, if you are feeding pellets, I would soak a few in warm water to make them into a soft mush and offer them to her to see if she likes it that way. There are many experienced people here that will offer you advise with this, and I am sure they will be along to help you very soon. Carolyn & Mika

After a lot of reading, and asking questions to several Avian Vets - I have come up with some conclusion's on this most controversial subject. As these are my ideas only, I would appreciate input from people with a lot more experience than me. 1) If the only healthy diet for a pet is what it eats in the wild, then we should be feeding our dogs and cats whole small animals, too. After all, "pelleted" dog and cat diets aren't found in the wild, either. 2) Parrots don't eat much seed in the wild, in fact, and certainly not the types of seeds one finds in commercial parrot mix. They eat a wide variety of foods that you can't hope to duplicate unless you start importing them from South America. Parrots in the wild eat plants, tubers, fruits, grains, nuts, flowers, seed, insects, and sometimes carrion. 3) Seed diets are deficient in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. In the wild parrots can compensate for deficiencies by eating other things. In captivity, they are dependent on what you give them, and if that's mostly seed they have no way to make up for what the seeds lack. In particular, an all-seed diet lacks calcium, which is very important to parrots for maintaining their delicate bones. Seeds also are lacking in complete proteins, which birds need in order to replace and grow feathers, which are something like 98% protein. 4) The premise that "birds eat seed" comes from watching small seed-eating softbills. We don't have many parrots native to the U.S. and Canada, so we don't have first-hand observations about what they eat. (And many of these seed-eaters also eat insects for protein. Remember "the early bird gets the worm?") You can't determine what parrots should eat by watching starlings and sparrows! 5) A healthy diet for an olympic athlete would be a good healthy diet for you also - right? The comparison is valid. African Grey’s (and other parrots) fly miles daily in search of food and need a high-energy diet. Our "perch potatoes" will tend to be overweight and have associated health problems if fed the same type of high-fat diet that they eat in the wild. Research has determined that a parrot's diet should be about 12 - 15% fat. Most seed mixes are much higher in fat than that, and it gets worse by the time they have picked out and eaten their high-fat favorites, the sunflower and safflower seeds. 6) Research done at The University of Guelph, Avian Studies, say that parrots on pellets and a varied diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, and table food live longer, are healthier, have better color and feather condition, and are more active and playful. 7) Parrots have taste buds and in some ways are like small children - they will eat the most of what they like the best, which isn't going to be what's good for them. Although a high-quality, supplemented seed mix -may- actually be a fairly well-balanced diet if eaten in its entirety, it won't be after your little darling has finished picking out the parts it likes the best and dumping the rest on the floor. In conclusion: Your parrot's diet should consist of a pellet BASE ( 70 - 75% pellets), vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, other table foods (25%), and some seed, used as treats only. The greater the variety of foods you offer your parrot, the more likely it is that it will be able to meet its nutritional needs. —–More About Seeds and Seed-bearing Treats—– Seeds are not inherently bad, they are just incomplete, and some are high in fat. When used in combination with other things that make up for what they lack. The "small" seeds, such as millet and canary grass seed, are high in carbohydrates, relatively low in fat, and a good energy source. I think you'll find that most of the seed content in Nutriberries and Avicakes is this type of seed rather than the high-fat sunflower and safflower seeds. The treats then have pellets and other things such as grains and dried fruits added and are coated with a sticky coating, sort of like honey, that dries hard and holds the treat together and contains nutrient additives. Because of the nature of the coating, the parrot almost has to ingest it while eating the treat, which is not true of the methods used to add supplements to loose seed mixes. Because of the coating and the way the parts of the treat are "glued" together to make it difficult for the parrot to eat only the parts it likes, these treats do overcome some of the problems associated with loose seed mixes. While I personally wouldn't feed them as a main diet, they probably come far closer to being a complete diet than a conventional seed mix. The problem that arises with seed is when people try to feed a seed mix all by itself, as the whole or great majority of the diet. It's not so bad for the small birds like canaries and budgies, whose seed mix consists mostly of the "good" seed like millet, but "parrot mix" is usually mostly sunflower and safflower seed, which are calcium deficient and very high in fat. So, don't be afraid to feed your Grey (or other parrot) treats that contain seed as long as it is otherwise on a good, balanced, low-fat diet that provides the nutrients the seeds are lacking, such as vitamin C, calcium, and complete proteins. As I said in the beginning, these are my thought only and would appreciate, the more experienced owners and breeders to chirp in on this delicate subject. Carolyn & Mika<br><br>Post edited by: Carolyn, at: 2009/01/02 20:39

Cage Location Considerations Being very social, parrots like to be where the action is. They want to know what is going on and it is important for them to be part of the interaction of the human flock. If you spend most of your time in the living room, that's where the cage should be. If you spend most of your time in the family room, that's where their cage should be. However, if you stay up late watching television, the bird should also have a sleeping cage in another room. It also helps to have a variety of stands and playgyms in other areas where the family spends a lot of time. Bird owners who think it makes sense to keep their parrots' cage in another room so they don't have to listen to its screaming. This is faulty logic simply because most parrots will tend to be louder if they can't see what's going on—they need to be a part of the family flock. Being out of the loop creates a much greater potential for screaming. This can start with the parrot's contact calls and if no one responds to the calls, the parrot may start to scream so he will get the attention he wants. If he lives in the same room where people spend most of their time, the parrot can get his social needs met more easily with ambient attention. Ambient attention is defined as the time spent in the same room where there is occasional calling back and forth. The parrot is in his cage or on his playgym but he is not receiving physical attention. If he calls to the people in the room with a simple sound or a more elaborate, "What are you doing?" he receives a response such as, "I'm reading the paper," or "I'm watching the TV." For most parrots this is a very significant interaction. A response is reassuring and helps keep him secure about his place in the family flock. Although it is important that people share their living areas with their parrot, the parrot's cage should not be in an area where there is a great deal of chaos. Some parrots may thrive on lots of action while others may be intimidated by being in an area with too much action. Lots of kids coming in and out of the door, dogs barking at a nearby window, people going up and down the stairs, and a loud television or radio are examples of activities that can create too much chaos for a permanent cage location. A quieter corner where the parrot can see all the activities going on, but is not in the middle of them is a far more suitable place for the cage location. While many parrots love to have their cages next to a window so they can see the outside world, this location also comes with a warning. Too much activity can be intimidating for some parrots. Many people like to have their parrots' cages at a window so the parrots can derive entertainment from watching the outdoor bird feeder. This is a good idea and does give the parrot something to observe while their human friends are away. However, it can be scary for the parrot if a larger bird flies down and gets one of the birds at the feeder. The area around the cage should not be cluttered with tempting chewables. If a parrot can reach it, a parrot is going to chew it. This is like putting chocolate in front of a chocaholic ... most parrots cannot resist chewing on an available piece of wood even if it is the frame on your favorite painting. It is best to locate the cage in an area where the destructo-beak can't reach anything valuable. A permanent cage location in or near the kitchen can also be a problem, especially with a gas stove. Overheated Teflon or any nonstick coating is toxic to birds but so is the smoke or fumes from burning just about anything. Many pots and pans have hard plastic handles that are highly toxic if they are burned. If you are a smoker, your parrot should NEVER be in an area where people smoke. Carolyn & Mika Post edited by: Carolyn, at: 2009/01/02 14:44<br><br>Post edited by: Carolyn, at: 2009/01/02 14:46

Just sitting here and looking around at all the decorations that have to come down and be packed away for another year, so I better get myself in gear and start today. Looking forward to getting the house back to order, but not looking forward to doing it. Oh well that's going to be my day. Carolyn & Mika

You are doing a wonderful job Adhaincroi, the little guy was so lucky to find you. Carolyn & Mika

Welcome Swan, Joe & Rex You will find lots of great people and information here, if you don't see it just ask. There are many members here that have both conures and cockatiels and will be able to offer you advice. When you have a chance please post some pictures, we all love pictures:laugh: Carolyn & Mika

What beauty and grace, I could only wish:ohmy: Carolyn & Mika

This is a wonderful way to start the new year right, and the great strides you are making with your Grey is helping as well. Good luck with your move, I hope everything goes well. With this wonderful outlook to start 2009 with, I am sure it will for you and your little family. Carolyn & Mika