BaxtersMom

There are some good points brought up by Dave & Char. None that I had really given much thought to. I have 4 birds and have had all 4 nails trimmed and 2 of the birds beak without any issues. They go for nail trims about every 3 or 4 months. It is a family owned business since the 50's and only family members work there and take care of the birds. I have not had any problems. When we first got our amazon several months ago he was pretty wild and we did get his wings trimmed there, mainly for his safety, our other birds are not clipped, but I asked a bunch of questions about wing clipping because I really don't like to have it done and they answered all my questions and gave me more info on top of it. I felt they were very knowledgable and I thought they did a great job on the wing clip and it was done by a 16-18 year old girl. I felt ok with that because she has been raised with birds and working the store for a long time. I do trust the bird store I take them too but I will be moving soon and will think twice next time or ask a lot more questions. Main reason I like the bird pet store is because the are inexpensive and I just don't want to pay for a vet visit just for a nail trim. :unsure: Do vets charge for a full visit for only a nail or beak trim? If they don't charge much then I would prefer to go to a vet but don't want to pay full office visit for nail trims. Anybody know?

I've been thinking more on it and although you have a busy life right now, you probably do have the support to keep a grey successfully and your bird probably will have a good life. If the bird is home with your parents during the day, it is going to see activity in the house and most likely talked to and even handled some. If you spend all your free time with your grey and take him out and play with him, etc and are the main care taker for him/her it will probably work out just fine. I know when I first got Baxter I would wake up at the crack of dawn just to see him. I couldn't wait to see him:laugh: and start our day. Problem with that was he wasn't even up yet so I had to wait:whistle: :silly: If you put all your effort into bonding with him and do all the main things chances are he will bond well with you. And perhaps be well socialized with all your family, too. I would make sure you were the one to give all the feedings, clean the cages and really try to bond the hardest with the grey, if that makes sense. I was worried that the other family members would be doing these things. So I am going to go out on a limb here and say that it would probably be ok to go ahead and get one now but some may not agree. Everyone here likes to help out when we can and what is good is you get different kinds of advice from all of us and then you have to decide. Let us know what you decide.

One other thought....Does your mom or dad share your enthusiasm about greys? Would your mom or dad want to get one anyway? If so, then maybe your family should get one knowing that it might end up being your moms or dads bird in the long run but you could still enjoy it and when the time is right for you, then you could get one of your very own. Just a suggestion.

I really felt bad putting my opinion in there because I "feel" how bad you want one. I do think you will get a grey eventually and think you will be perfect. If you can just wait bit longer untill you get a little bit more free time you will have that relationship that you long for with a grey becuase you are right ~ They are amazing creatures and great companions. If you got one at this time you might be cutting yourself short and might not get the bond you want. If you wait untill the time is right you will be rewarded more than you can ever imagine. It may not even be that long of a wait. Please keep us posted. Karma to you, too for researching so much and really taking the time to make the right decision for you and your future grey;) And if you get a grey at 30 that still beats me.:laugh: I just got mine last July at the ripe ole age of 44. :blink: And yes I do feel lucky to have him in my life. You will too.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/02/09 04:37

Hello and welcome to the forum! It sounds like you have a wonderful flock of conures and now a grey:) Congradulations. I too have several different parrots (including a nanday conure) and love every one of them. This is a great place to chat with other grey owners and alot of us have several different species. We are always here to help if you find you have questions. There are a lot of rooms here with tons of information to look through too. Can't wait to hear more about you, Casper and your conures.

Hi Kyle, You came to the right place to ask for advice and it's great you are weighing your decision out before you get a grey. I know your heart is in the right place and the desire is definately there and I'm sure you will be a great "parront" when the time is right. The others have given great advice and there is only one thing I'd like to add. Lets say you do get a grey. You are all excited and happy but several months later the "honeymoon phase" is over and you realize your grey has bonded to your mom or someone else in your family? That is a very strong possibility especially if she is home all day. Grey usually do tend to pick a favorite and I would be concerned that your grey would bond with someoene else. :unsure: Then again, he may bond with you most, too but just because you get a grey does not mean you guys would bond when there are other family members socializing with him or her. I have a grey and I work out of the house and we are very bonded. Baxter is friendly with my husband but I am the ONLY one who can pick him up. My husband can give him treats, pet him, play games with him but he can not pick him up without him drawing blood:ohmy: . How would you feel if your grey bonded with your mom or someone else in the family and it was obvious he really wasn't conected with you or bit you ever time you got too close? Lets say a year or two down the road you move out. Would you take the grey with you knowing it was bonded with another family member? This is just a differnt scenario to think out and a possibility that could really happen. I think you will make a great "parront" eventually but in my opinion I do not think the time is right for you. I would be afraid that your grey would bond with someone else and because of the other reasons listed above were something to really think about too. Greys are a full time job and need alot of attention and dedication and I don't think your life allows that at this time. You sound very responsible but your time is consumed with all your schooling, etc. You are just at a very busy time in your life, that's all. Also, you say you are in a serious relationship of 3 years. Ok, perhaps marriage to her or someone else may be in your future. Have you thought about having children. So many times here on the forum people have babies and decide to part with their grey:( and because a baby is born, the grey has to leave some households and get put into not so desirable homes. I am not sure why people think they have to get rid of their grey just because they have a baby because I feel like when you get a grey or any pet it is part of the family for life. There is alot to think about. Good luck in what ever you decide.

Hi Smokey, Mine does the head bobbing when I sing or whistle to him and sometimes when he does something funny he bobs his head like he is amused with himself. I always thought it was a sign of happiness.

I think it would be best if your cockatiel was seen by an avian vet at this time. That way you will know more about what your bird is going through and if theres anything you can do to help her recover. It may be something serious or perhaps something that a little medicine can fix but either way she should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. It may be something that she can recover from but you will never know unless she goes in for a check up. I really feel for you because I can tell you are really worried about her. Good luck and keep us posted.

I am no expert but I think if you don't have fresh fruits or veggies on hand frozen would be okay. I use frozed veggies myself but have not tried frozen fruits yet. Hopefully some others can give you more advice on it. I would just recommend reading the ingredients on the package to make sure they are not full of additives and preservatives. I also feed mine other things in oatmeal and it's usually a big hit. I have even put pellets into the oatmeal on my birds that used to have problems eating their pellets. I would still keep on trying to encourage your grey to eat pellets. I've had a couple older birds that didn't like pellets much and it was a difficult road but they are eating pellets dry now. Yea!!! It took several months but they eat them now. Perhaps you can try soaking them in apple juice to soften them up a little bit. I tried that with one of birds and he liked it like that, but not all will. I had the best luck hiding the pellets in other foods like corn bread, pancakes, oatmeal, eggs, etc and it worked pretty good for me. Good luck.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/02/08 23:54

I got my grey last July and he was 12 years old. He didn't know how to play with toys either. I would spend tons of money on great toys for him to play with but he could care less or so it seemed. After asking for advice I was told was probably never taught HOW to play with toys. The advice I got was to play with the toys in front of them first and laugh and act like the toys are the best things that ever happened:woohoo: Let him see you playing with them, eventually his/her curiousity will get the best of them. I did that and I also hung some toys on the outside of the cage and on the inside too. Not too many at one time though. I started playing with the toys inside his cage. Baxter didn't show much interest but I played with them anyway and made laughing noises, etc. I'm sure I looked like an idiot but hey I will do anything for my flock;) :silly: :whistle: The progress started out slow, he would occassionaly grab a toy I was playing with with his foot but let it go quickly. He might watch me but he actually seemed embarrassed to play with them. Anyway, I did this probably ever day, play with his toys whether he was interested or not. Some days he did show interest. After several weeks I started hearing little clinking noises which was odd to me and I would peek around the corner (so I wouldn't be seen:whistle: ) and there he was playing with his toys. It took a long time, forever it seemed but eventually he started playing with toys, not real all out playing but on occassion he would even get aggressive with them and really seem to get into it. Now, he still doesn't play with toys all the time but I do find several times a week, usually when he doesn't think I am looking, the little sneak will play with his toys:laugh: He doesn't play with them as often as I'd like and I do try different ones but atleast he does play with them now. The thing I have the most luck with is cardboard boxes or anything cardboard. He will chew and chew and chew for hours. Those are better than toys according to him:P It keeps him occupied forever!!! I have given him the cardboard oatmeal cannisters, cereal boxes, cracker boxes and corrugated boxes. A couple other things are old magazines rolled up and tied or even just a paperback book. If he's not used to those, tear a few pages over and over in front of him in little shreds. He will eventually get the idea. I had to teach Baxter about tearing paper but he really liked that and caught on quick. But yes, my bird was lazy and lacked interest in everything. He's still isn't a real active grey but he is playing now. Just play with him or let him watch you play with his toys and don't give up. If you haven't tried cardboard boxes I would definately give that a try. Start with small boxes at first and then you can gradually go up in size you want. Just keep in mind if they've never been taught to play and it didn't come naturally for whatever reason they just may not know how but it can be taught:) , Good luck!<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/02/06 04:09

I started off using soap & water mixture, then rinsing it off and I had no problems. I have now switched to vinegar and water because like Judy said, You can't beat the price:laugh: I also use the "poop off" One tip I got from my bird store was to put a piece of wax paper down under the newspaper or what ever you use in the areas they poop the most or hotspots as she called them. This will keep the cage protected so it wont wear through the powder coating. When I got Baxter my grey he came with his cage and I noticed that the powder coating was worn through to the metal in a couple spots where he went to the bathroom and now I realize this is why. He has a new cage now but and I always put the wax paper down now because the poop cant seep through it. I know thats not what this post was about but thought it was a good tip to share;)

Dave, I like your reasoning of why your birds are not allowed on your furniture. :laugh: That's a good one.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/02/05 23:29

I change my birds perches around too and pretty much on a regular basis. I can definately tell when I do a good job or not by my flocks reactions:laugh: Sometimes its a great hit and they seem happy and excited checking out thier new arrangements:woohoo: , sometimes not so much:S . When I can tell it's not quite right I will make adjustments. I don't think they mind at all and it never spooks them.

My eclectus came to me "potty trained" and I didn't even realize it untill a month or so after we had him that he never pooped on me out of the cage or on any piece of furniture ever!!! I've had him about 7 months now and he goes to the "bathroom" in his cage or if he is on a perch but not once on me, my furniture or carpet. Its the greatest thing ever! My other 3 will go when ever and where ever they please:angry: so I have to keep towels or old baby blankets down on furniture if they are out. Also all the rehomed parrots I took in were settled in and comfortable in about a months time. I do hope you keep Mika but if it turns out you rehome him then please just make sure he is going to a loving home and that the people know how to properly care of a grey. I have seen soooo many people now that have parrots and think they are taking good care of them when they really aren't like keeping them in their cage 24/7, not giving them attention and feeding a bad diet. Treating them as a ornament or converstation piece instead of a living creature. I hope it all works out for you. I'm glad you are going to give it more time.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/02/05 20:57

It is my opinion if a grey or any bird for that matter is not welcome or wanted in it's own home for what ever reason, I think it should be placed in a home where it is loved and wanted. I have rehomed (taken in) 3 older birds and think they are better off and happier because of it. I think it's much better to be rehomed to a loving home than keeping it and have ill feelings towards it. If it does not get the attention it needs it's not going to be happy in it's environment and that is not fair to the bird either. I am concerned that when the baby comes the bird will not have out of the cage time or the attention it needs and it's not fair to them either to be locked up all the time. I think it's better to place the bird in a loving home than keeping it and avoiding it. It is certainly not a light decision to make and it's not something I encourage but if you think your feelings will not change it might be better if your grey was placed with a family or person that will be able to love it like it should be. Now if your husband can provide all the love and attention the grey needs that is an entirely different story. Like I said I have taken in 3 older birds and the transition went smoothly and they were not traumatized by it. I think you should do what is best for the grey. Good luck with what ever you decide and please keep us posted.

Thanks Dan for posting those links. I knew I could count on you. You are a doll:)

Kimberly, I did not know your mom and your family were going through these scary times. I am glad everything is going good at the hospital and hopefully she will recovery quickly. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Ok, I was wondering about that. Where are you from? You can order pellets online as well. There is one thread on here called "Free Food" put that in the search box at the top of the page and hit the enter key. In that post another member has put toll free numbers where companies will send you free samples and you can try them out to see which ones he likes best. But you can order pellets online and they can be sent directly to your home. I am hoping some other members will put some links in for you so you can look them up on the internet yourself. If not I will try and find some and post them in this thread later. It's good he has not gotten sick. Over long periods of time a seed diet can take it's toll though. Its like giving your child candy every day to eat instead of well balanced meals. They like it and they live on it but eventually it can have bad effects. It's great you are looking for other healthy things to feed your grey.

I would suggest giving him a diet of mostly pellets, about 70% pellets. That is what most avian vets recommend. Along with a small amount of seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables. Nutritionally, Vegetables are better than fruits, especially green vegetables. Pellets have the most nutrients that they need in order to stay healthy. If parrots are not given the proper nutrition they can get vitamin defiencies which could lead to illness. If he is mainly on a seed diet he is not getting the proper nutrition he needs. I would start him on pellets right away. Sometimes it takes them awhile to start eating them because they are not used to them but persistance is the key. Some parrots start eating pellets with no problems either.

Hello and welcome to the forum. I really enjoyed your introduction. Omar and Ozzie sound like a lot of fun. Look forward to hearing more about them.

Hello and welcome to the forum. Congradulations on getting a new baby grey!!!You will find lots of information here on the forum and if you have any specific questions all you have to do is ask.

Why not give him fresh vegetables or fruits? That would be a healthy alternative. All cereals have some kind of preservatives in them and too much might not be good for him. I would recommend healthy natural foods. I give my flock a variety of mostly pellets, then vegetables, a small amount of seeds and healthy human foods that I cook. You can also look through some of the threads in the bird food room about Deit and Nutrition. There is another good thread called "What do you feed your greys" or something like that and alot of members have listed their greys diets in there. There are some good ideas in them. I was wondering what you meant by "normal seed diet" you talked about in your previous post? Parrots need more than seeds in their diet to stay healthy. I didn't know if it was just seeds in the morning or if that is his diet?

I don't know what musli is so I can't help on this one. Maybe some of the other members will know.

You must be getting a heck of a snow storm. They were showing clips of it on the evening news tonight here in the US. It's big news! Hope you all stay warm and don't slip and slide too much on the roads.

{Feel-good-0002006E} That was great!!!!