BaxtersMom

That is so sweet. Isn't it funny how quickly they learn things that is important to them :laugh:

Hi CC and Harley. i was one of the members chatting with you on the messenger. This is the welcome room where we would like to hear all about you and harley, how long have you had him and all that jazz. We love to oooh and awww over others greys and would love to see a picture when you get the chance. As for the food throwing. I don't have an answer for you but I'm sure others on here will be able to help you. Please check through all the links for useful threads in the forums. There are welcomes, health, African Greys and many others. You will find all kinds of good stuff in them. Please make sure you tell us more about you and Harley. We'd love to hear more:)

Don't they learn fast and know when they are not behaving as they should.:evil: It's funny Mika knows when he sees you that he needs to climb to the top light that:laugh: Baxter will climb down the sides to the bottom of his cage all the way around to the front door from what ever side he is on. :silly: It would be much easier to just go from the top and climb from the top inside the cage but he goes all down the sides to get there. He has never attempted to go down the legs of the cage though. He has climbed up them but never down. His cage bottom is a couple feet from the bottom too. Tigger has the cage where the bottom goes almost all the way to the ground but this cage has a seed tray skirt on it and that is where he stops and perches on the seed tray skirt:) That is still scary because it only about 5" from the floor. Maybe you can get one of those seed trays for your cage or if one could be ordered for your cage?

Oh what a terrible experience for you. I am just glad you found him in time and he recovered fine and knew that a vet trip was in order. I worry all the time about what can harm my birds. I always hear that anything good for a baby like in baby toys a grey can have as well, but I see all the toy recalls almost on a daily basis for awhile on the news and I just don't trust anything now a days. I even wonder about the toys they sell for parrots in bird store and what their lead content is and if any thing can harm them or if they are even tested or checked. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Hi Katie and April and welcome to the forum. I am looking forward to hearing more about both of you.

:whistle:

The pet store I go to get my birds food and accessories only deal in birds and fish. They sell alot of young just weaned birds but from time to time they get older birds in that need new homes. I don't know if you would consider an older bird but it might be worth a try to call a pet store near you that sells exotic birds if you would take an older one. There is a 10 year old grey up at the store I go to and I would just love to have him but I know it would not be a good idea . All my birds were adults when I got them. I have 3 and all 3 are just wonderful birds that bring me so much happiness.

Our lives changed when we brought Baxter home. He brought life, love and so much laughter into the house. I haven't been this happy years. {Nature-00020095}

I'm glad Tigger is ok, too. It didn't even phase him at all. I was just concerned about the cage now and if I should get another one. :dry: Or if I should switch him and the conures cage out. Both are the same height just the conures cage doesn't have open space all the way to the bottom. Bonkers the conure is a professional flyer :laugh: and it wouldn't be an issue for him. Problem is, each one knows what cage belongs is their home & I don't know if they could switch now??? I'm probably worrying over nothing again like ususal.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/21 05:09

she wrote: He does go to the bottom to get toys from his toy box. That is such a cool idea...to have a toy box inside the cage so they can pick what they want. I love that idea:laugh:

That is absolutely gorgeous!!! {Feel-good-000200BB} I am so jealous

Thanks for all of Tiggers well wishes;) His feathers are not clipped which was the wierd part. My husband was real close but out of view but said he didn't hear any flapping. I sure hope if it happens again that he will remember to flap those wings:) I hope in the future he will go down towards the bottom of the cage. I have put the boing rope all the way down towards the bottom and am putting perches at several different levels in the cage. It's a shame that he doesn't use all the extra space but now maybe he will;)

How exciting!!! They're gorgeous. I'll take all three;)

He had 2 long wood perches in there, a couple smaller cement ones, a big rope perch and a large swing. The only things that were kinda smooth was the wood perches. I took one of the wood perches and put it closer to the bottom and a big Boing! rope that goes all the way to the bottom of the cage. Which he just loves by the way. I think I am going to rough up the wood perches some more just incase. Tigger wasn't hurt at all but I just read the other posting about someones grey that fell and died and it broke my heart. This could have had the same outcome so I just wanted to bring a little awareness to it.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/21 00:19

I am so sorry for your loss and really appreciate you giving us the heads up on this safety issue. We can't be too careful. I just wrote a post about another safely issue but I guess I can say it briefly here, too. My eclectus has a tall 5 1/2 foot cage and it is open space from top to bottom. Eclectus don't grip as tight as other parrots or a grey and it was recommended in a book to rough up the wood perches if they are smooth. I thought mine were rough enough but somehow he fell to the bottom of the cage:( He was not hurt one bit and climbed right back to the top but it scared me really bad!!!! I have changed the cage around a little bit and put a thick plush blanket (under the newspaper) at the bottom incase it ever happens again he will have a very soft landing. It's something to think about if anyone else has a cage like this open all the way to the ground or if someone is planning to get one you might want to consider this.

Hi, just wanted to share what could have been a real tragic experience. This isn't about my grey but about the Eclectus I have. We bought him one of those tall cages about 5 1/2" tall and it is open space all the way from the top to the ground inside. An eclectus doesn't hold on or grip a perch as tight as a grey or some other birds...I read that in a book and realized this is true. I thought his wood perches were rough enough to get a good grip on them. The eclectus book recommended roughing them up or cutting grooves in them. Most of his perches are ropes or textured anyway.  I really don't know what caused him to fall or how it actually happened or where he fell from. My husband just said he heard a thud and went to see what happened and Tigger was on the bottom of the cage. :ohmy: :unsure: He climbed right back to top with no problems and was not hurt at all, thank goodness. It didn't phase him a bit. But it could have:( I really don't like the tall cages like that because he only uses the top half anyway and if any bird was to fall from them they have quite a fall:( I can't get another cage at the moment but I did rearrange things so this hopefully will not happen again.  I also folded up a plush blanket and it put it under the newspaper so if it should happen again he has about 5 inches of cushion and would have a soft landing. I put the newspaper lining on top of the blanket so it would not get too messy. I do not use the grate at the bottom of this cage because he doesn't go down to the bottom on his own.  I just wanted to bring attention to what happened with me incase someone else has one of these tall open cages that go down to the floor and also to bring attention to this if someone might be getting a cage like this, it might be something to consider. I may be wrong but don't think most birds would go down to the bottom of cage when it is so close to the floor. It's a beautiful cage but there could be a safety issue if a bird should fall. Luckily Tigger was no worse for wear and I am so thankful for that.Â

Thanks for sharing that with us and letting us know the results. I'm sure I can speak for all of us saying that we really care and are heartbroken with you. I love the pictures you posted, too. Don't stay away, though. I seen Judy write that you have another Tag so please share her with us, too:)

Hi and welcome to the family. I've been a member for a few months now and really like it here. Sorry about your previous grey. I have gotten 2 birds, an african grey and an eclectus and I found them on craigslist.com. I checked your area too and see they do offer birds on craigslist.com in your area, too. I just did a quick search cuz I didn't know an area close to you but did see a few parrots that are being offered. You might want to check there from time to time to see if any greys or DYH come up. Most are adults and needed a new home but I have seen breeders advertising their babies as well. You might find something in your local or big city newspaper, too. Good luck finding another wonderful companion.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/20 22:46

I teared up half way through and have blurry eyes typing this. Thanks for sharing that wonderful story. I could picture it as I read it.

Hi Andrew and welcome to the forum. Gosh, I am so excited for you!!!! Parrots make wonderful pets and even better companions. LoveMyGreys was right about the huge difference in macaws and african greys. I don't have a macaw (yet:) ) but I do have a Grey, a Conure and an Eclectus. Each one is soooo different from the other in personality and things they do, but I love each one of them. There is always someone here to help with any questions and even a "other birds" section if you are considering other birds;) Can't wait to find out what you will be getting. Keep us posted.

Hi and congraduations on your new grey. Joker is very lucky that he has you to turn to. Everyone above has given great advice. I rehomed a 12 year old grey and he acted the same way when I first had him except for the growling. Only thing I have to add to what the others have said is that when I brought Baxter home, he bit me every chance he got:S And drew blood many times:( I wanted to spend as much time as I could with him so he would get to know me but learned I had to go at his pace and let him get comfortable with me. I finally would check his moods and if I could tell he was not comfortable and high bite risk, I would not try to get him out, but come back later and try again. I found he got real curious about me and wanted me to come for him. If I forced it, I got bit, if it was his idea, everything was fine:) I would sit and talk with him or sing or whistle to him all the time and he seemed to like it. He liked the attention without me messing with him but eventually wanted to be friends with me. It took Baxter a good month to really feel comfortable and safe around me. It's been a little over 2 months now and we are the best of buddies:) He may bond to your husband more, they are known to pick a favorite person but you can still have a good relationship with Joker:) I am not for sure but think greys will bond more with the main caregiver. Who ever gives them food, water, tucks them in at night, etc. Keep up posted on him and be sure to ask any questions you may have and read through the threads here on the forum. Someone is always here to help if you have questions;)

Hi and welcome to the forum. My husband is from Chicago and has family there. We got a 12 year old grey a few months ago. It did take awhile for him to settle in and he does prefer me to my husband. I have heard they will pick a favorite person but my husband still has a good relationship with Baxter. It's different relationship that we have but him and Baxer do just fine. Tell the hubby not to be discouraged. In time they will be friends. Baxter didn't want much to do with my hubby at first so what he took on the "good guy" role and was always there with a treat of some kind when he went to the cage. Baxter couldn't resist. He loves a good bribe;)

Hi Matthew. Welcome to the forum. Good for you taking in Burnie and giving her a good home and congraduations on Tucker. Can't wait to hear more about you and your flock. Any questions,just post them, if you've been luriking you know there is always someone here to help. We'd love to see some photos when you get the chance.

Hi and welcome to the forum. If you have questions this is the place to ask. There are tons of experienced grey and (other bird) owners here always ready to help.

Congradulations on your new grey. I'm sure you and George are in store for many happy times. When you get the chance please post a picture of him. We'd love to see him.