BaxtersMom

What a great story. I loved it!!! Thanks for sharing it.

Oh, I am sorry to hear this:( I knew about your mom but that's just awful about your fiance. Please let us know what's wrong with him. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

Hello and welcome to the family. This is a great place to share your grey stories and get information. I have a grey, a conure and a eclectus and they are my babies. Unfortunately as you have already noticed people who don't have birds just don't get it:( I am always so proud to show off my birds and I get funny looks from company as they move away from the cages:unsure: . If they only knew what great joys they are;) But fortunately for us this forum is here and we hang on every word!:side: :silly: Can't wait to hear more from you and what sex and name it's going to get.

Gosh, those are so neat. I just love that chimp. I love how he is sitting in that chair!!! He looks so human{Feel-good-0002006E}

I am so excited for you. That sounds like it would be so fun!!!! I'll be waiting to hear how the day went and the photos, too. I'm sure you'll have a blast!!! Hope the kangaroos don't box you around too much & lions don't eat you for breakfast;)

Berna, I love all your posts but this one really made me laugh!!! You are so good with birds and I always learn from you! Good job on potty training Elmo! Wish I could hire you to train my birds.

Another thing I forgot to mention. There are no stupid questions on this forum! The only stupid question is the one that is not asked;) So ask all you need to. That's what we are here for. To help and support eachother and our greys:)

OMG!!! That is such a cute little baby!!! Yes it's true they can get more attached to one person more than another, especially if one person does the feeding, playing, talking, cage cleaning etc, but if they are socialized right and there is more than one person giving it regular attention it should take to more than one person. My grey does like me best because I am the main one who plays with him, feeds him, talks to him but my husband gets along with him too. Although last weekend he did bite him:( It is very possible that a grey can get along well with several family members. It is all in the socializing and other people willing to be involved in it's life on a regular basis. Hope that helps. But it's true lots of people have 1 person birds because they are the main care giver;)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/10/09 03:53

I think the link was taken down now and I didn't get to see the beautiful bird. Please keep us updated and send pics when you can:) I would love to take a look! I am assuming you got him em right?

I loved that video!!! My grey will bob his head up and down and side to side but he doesn't use his wings or feet yet. That was cool!:laugh:

Hi and welcome to the forum. You came to the right place if you have questions about your grey. There are lots of members here with lots of experience and always willing to help. You got some good advice from the others above. I don't have anything to add to it but wanted welcome you here. I am thrilled that you decided to take in a bird that needed a new home with someone who really cares! Please keep us updated. <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/10/09 02:43

I'm not sure why he is doing this but I bet its funny to watch:laugh: I would love to see him attacking the boxes and bottles! Maybe he thinks he is old enough and is trying to help you out somehow;)

HI Erin and welcome to the forum. Please keep us updated on Elmo. and show us some pics when you get the chance.

Excellent tip Dan. Trouble is they act quicker than we can think LOL:laugh: But that would probably work.

Thanks Dan. I have learned so much with this experience and definately know I'm not above getting bit now:laugh: My husband did have the closed fist approach but Baxter must have known there is still the fleshy part between the thumb and first finger that is still exposed:silly: Thats what he grabbed on my husband. Maybe that is why he actually did step up on his hand so he could get a better grip on it. Darn bird is too smart for his own good.{Nature-0002009B}

Things seem to be back to normal. My husband hasn't picked him up yet but he is talking to him and petting him. He is still the same little angel with me as always:) I think we stressed him out the first time my husband got bit and it carrier over into the next day. We were in a hurry and it wasn't the normal "go in the cage" routine. The way he bit, full beak and lots of pressure the earthquake wouldn't have helped on that I don't think.:blink: He had a really good grip. I have learned something from it though. That something like this might happen from time to time and not to think he is not a biter. I had in my head that my bird would not bit for some reason but reality has definately set in. Thanks everyone for your comments. It was such a big and unexpected issue I kind of freaked out but we are fine again.

Hello and welcome to the forum. This is an excellent place to ask any questions you may have. There are a lot of very experienced members here with tons of great advice if you ever need it. . I have a grey and a conure and an eclectus They are all a blast, although the conure has too much energy;) Good to have you here and can't wait to hear more.

I knew enough when I got Baxter that I could not yell, scream,hit or be rough with him from the start. So far I have kept to that. Although I'm sure there are many that do on a regular basis. My neighbor for example, said he used to have a grey a long time ago and when he seen ours he told me when they bite or do something you don't want them to do you have as he put it "Flick their beak":ohmy: I just can't imagine that :angry: and every time I see him he always asks me if I have Flicked his beak yet? I just want to cringe when he says it and I tell him I will never do that and he always tells me they "need it" I am not going to get into a discussion with him about it because he thinks he is right and there is no changing his mind about it. I'm just glad he doesn't have his grey anymore. I guess we all have our moments with our greys but we have to keep our heads:) What's funny about your story is the same thing happened to my husband the other day. He had a very important phone call to make and had to go through all the voice activated crap we have to go through to get anywhere and our conure loves to be in the middle of everything. Then near the end of all the voice messages he let out a big "SQUAK!!!" and he had to start all over again.:laugh: My advice to everyone is go to another room for those automated phone calls;) or you'll be sorry:)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/10/08 15:21

Hello and congradulations on your new grey. It sounds like she "landed" in the right place with you:) . It's great you took in a grey with a few issues and sounds like you are just what the doctor ordered. Glad to hear she is doing so well. Yes, we'd love to see some pictures and hear more about her. What's her name?

Congradulations on your new grey. She sounds like a real sweetheart. You do have quite a few of food chain species and it sounds interesting and exciting but aren't you scared the python will eat Juliet?:ohmy: I would be terrified of that. I hear on TV how the pythons who never get loose have "gotten loose" I would also be worried about the baby too. I also have an adult grey that is the sweetest thing too and is not known to be a biter but he tore my husband up this past weekend for no apparent reason. I was told that even the best birds can have their bad days just like us humans so please be extra carful with your daughter. They can easily take an eyeball out or split a lip or ear and disfigure a face for life and it would not be the fault of the grey as they do have a natural wild instinct. It might not ever happen but just know it's a possibility. I never imagined Baxter would bite like he did. I think it was an isolated incident but just know it can happen at any time. I do not mean to lecture but sometimes a little heads up can do a world of good and prevent a terrible accident. I do wish you all the best with Juliet. They are amazing animals. And I am very curious about the rest of your pets. If you get the chance please post a picture of Juliet and let us know about you guys.

Thanks Dave, I thought Baxter might have went "through something" and caused a change in his behavior. I was panicking in my head cuz it came on so unexpectedly. Baxter is usually so nice and we were both shocked at it. I guess it does make sense that he can have a bad day, too and I might have been over analyzing his behavior. But he really was biting my husband hard and did draw blood. What really surprised me was Baxter had a very mean :evil: look on his face that I have not seen before.:ohmy: Today is a new day and no bites yet:) . I hope he is over his mood and we can all get along again;) Thanks Dave

Thanks Judy, I hope Dave helps soon. I am just as surprised as you are to see this reaction!!! I never thought I would see Baxter be down right mean like this. But yea, Baxter was acting friendly to my husband with his greetings. He didn't run at all and stepped both feet up on his hand and attacked. He knew exactly what he was doing:evil: . We did talk about it a little bit more and the first time he was bit him (Saturday) was when we were getting ready to go to the bird show. Keith (my husband) was trying get him to step up so we could put him in the cage to leave. We both put him in his cage so it's not like it was unusual to baxter. He just didn't want to. Neither one of us could get him so I said I would be on one side of the cage and herd him towards my husband so he would have to step up. We were trying to corral him I guess, that is when he first bit Keith. Baxter has never been that difficult to get in the cage either, this was the first time he acted like that and I know Baxter was getting upset and stressed about it but he had to go in. Anyway, that is the how the first bite happened. Hopefully that will shed a bit more light on it. I was looking for Dave or DanMq, too but they weren't on. I just know we have to get through this quickly. My guys have to sort their issues out!! I am very concerned. This is not the Baxter I know. He is so sweet and gentle with me. I just don't know why he would turn on my husband so quickly.

Baxter gets along with me and my husband. I spend the most time with him but he and my hubby get along just fine untill yesterday. Yesterday he bit my husband really hard and did not let go. I thought it was a fluke.This evening it happened again (right after posting that my grey gets along with both of us so well) It happens when my husband is asking him to step up. It happened twice this evening so I know something is up. The first time today my hubby let out a good yell as anybody would cuz Baxter was being vicious and not letting go. He was out for blood!:angry: The second time today I watched it all. My husband put his hand up to him and was greeted by baxter, he petted his head and asked him to step up. Baxter stepped right up on my husbands hand, both feet and tore into his hand and would not let go for nothing. I have not seen him this vicious and I am worried. My husband told me after that that he was not messing with "That Bird" again. I was upset at baxter too so I went over and gave him a good talking to. No yelling just in a stern voice told him that he was not a biting bird and we would not accept this behavior from him and things like that Then I put him in his cage and I covered him for about 10 minutes. I have never had to do anything like to him before. When I lifted the cover & I got him out he acted like he was so sorry. I was telling him again in a nice tone this time that he could not act this way and all that jazz. He seemed like he was really sorry, can they understand all this???? He rested the side of his head against my chest, kind of pouting and then he kept putting it down for scratches. (Now how can I stay mad after that) I am just really worried now. My husband wanted me to ask why he would change like this so soon. Nothing has changed. We did buy a new bird cage for another bird but the first bite happened before that. Please help> I don't want my husband and baxter to be mad at each other. How can this be corrected??? And why did this happen in the first place. My husband loves the birds and is good with them.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/10/06 05:10

I agree with the rest of the members. Sounds like he is ready for you to interact with him more:woohoo: When I got my adult grey he would put his head down for me to scratch it but petting him was out of the questions. He kind of let me know when he was ready for the next step or steps. I did notice that he wanted the attention and when I would try petting him down his back or on his belly, new places, he would let it happen for a second and then realize this was all new and either look uncomfortable about it or back away. But just keep going at it. Pet him a little farther down his neck and a little farther down a little at a time without getting him too nervous. He will figure out if feels good and you aren't out to hurt him. I would start working on the step up too. Life is soooooo much easier when they know how to step up. Congradulations though, it sounds like great progress is being made:) Thanks for giving us the update. Keep us posted.

I have gotten 2 adults birds. Baxter the grey is 12 who had a man as previous owner and Tigger is an eclectus who I was told was more of a mans bird. I am happy to say they both love me:side: I also have heard a lot that they are one person birds and will bond mostly to one person but then I read online that that is a myth. It all depends on how you socialize them. My grey likes both me and my husband and so does my eclectus. :woohoo: :side: :silly: :lol: