BaxtersMom

Hi and welcome here. I can tell you are excited! Greys are wonderful birds. I adopted a 12 year old about 2 months ago and he makes me so happy. Mine does talk and he came with the words he knew from the previous owner but he is picking up on what we say here in our house quickly so I think they are continually learning new words. My grey talks in spurts. A little in the morning and a some more in the afternoon or evening. Some days he has lots to say, other days not too much. Some words turn out to be favorite words of his and he says them over and over over. Other words or phrases he will say once or twice and I don't hear them anymore. One things for sure, he always keeps me guessing. I am looking forward to hearing more about him or her. What is his/her name? It sounds like it was taken care of very well and will be a loving companion. Be careful in the beginning. He or she will have to settle in and might bite out of nervousness in the beginning. Sounds like a sweetie though.

I got my grey when he was 12 years old. He didn't know how to step up either. To get him out of the cage I had to grab him and remove him and that was no fun for anyone. I had a book and this is what they said to do to train them to step up. Get her out and away from her cage and have her perched on your finger. Keep staying step up and push gently against her chest if you have to, when she does step up praiser her a little. Keep making her step up for about 10 minutes. I made Baxter step up over and over in these sessions. Do this 3 times a day for about 10 minutes each time. I don't know if it will work for your grey but the book said they should catch on in 2 or 3 days. mM grey caught on in 2 days. Life was so much easier. I also would put Baxter on the back or our dining room chair and give him the step up command from there. Keep doing this untill she learns it. It seemed like Baxter would forget at the beginning of the sessions, but once he stepped up in the sessions he remembered it right away. Hope that helps.

I've yet to find any kind of treat that Baxter really likes to eat and get excited for. He likes treats but won't go out of his way and work for one:P The only thing I really seen him get excited about was coconut marange (didn't spell that right) pie. But it was very messy and gooey & I doubt that it was good for him anyway:woohoo: He does like to eat nuts though. My other birds seem to love any kind of noodles though and will travel all over their cage to get at it. Baxter can take them or leave them of course. :side:

In the beginning both of us were fascinated with Baxter and my husband wanted to mess with him as much as I did. He was responding better to me though and my husband eventually just started being the nice guy to Baxter and that's pretty much his role today. He goes and gives him his favorite goodies to make nice with him. Baxter is always willing to take goodies so it works out for both of them. He doesn't do any of the "training" or personal time but will go pet him a few times a day or ask him to step up for him which Baxter does willingly. He usually only does this for a few minutes at a time but leaves the serious one on one time to me. Maybe you can convince your boyfriend that he should be the good one and his job is to give him goodies and make friends with him like that because since he has bonded to you there's nothing that can be done except work on a good but different relationship with your boyfriend. It's probably stressful for Nokkvi if there are 2 of you with him and hes still settling in. I've had my setbacks with Baxter too but it doesn't last long. I think Nokkvi was more scared of people too so it might take a bit longer. As time goes by I'm sure everyone will know what their roles are including Nokkvi. I think you are doing a great job.

Thanks everyone. I think my birds will be okay then and I don't have to worry. Acappella said she uses a space heater, too but I read that space heaters are not safe because they have teflon in them too. Then I read that certain heating things have a chemical on them but burn off after using a time or two. I have a space heater than I use in my back room and was also wondering if this was safe. I wasn't sure I would be able to use it this year or not but if Acappella uses one with no problems then maybe they are ok. Does anyone know?

Here is Baxter enjoying his flight lessons. He really enjoys it. Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/08 05:53<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/08 05:54

I really like the song behind the video too. Very fitting. This is my Baxter:) He was 12 years old when I got him. I wouldn't say he was abused just very neglected. He was cage bound and handled very little if any. There is more about him on my profile page or on the blogs if you want to read more. The first picture was taken in July 08 and I think it shows he was a scared, shy little boy who didn't like to be touched at all in the beginning. The second picture was taken today when he was practicing his flying:) Just noticed it didn't come through. I will try again. Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/08 05:47<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/08 05:50

Gee Carolyn, your hubby sounds like my hubby:) . I was going to put hooks up in our walkway from the living room and dining room for a swing. He was like "I'm not going to have hooks hanging all over this house for no birds, blah blah blah" I haven't done it yet only because I don't think Baxter is ready. I mean how hard is it to put a little spackle in the hole if you don't want to use it anymore???? I don't think there is a enough room in the cage for a boing without crowding it, but I may be wrong. I want to hang it in the ceiling above his cage but I have to think it through more. I'm sure he will have though. I think I need to get it and figure out where it goes later:woohoo:

I bet they're spoiled just the same. It seems my birds have Christmas once a week anyway:)

Dave, that is remarkable! The pictures really show the huge improvement you made in Jazz's life. I am amazed. It just goes to show that a little time and love will work wonders!

Hi, congradulations on Tilly! She is still new and getting used to her surroundings but will get more comfortable each day. I got a grey 2 months ago and now an eclectus Wednesday night. Both are adults. Both would bite (hard)in the beginning. You have to conquer your fears because they can sense that and it will only get worse. I got over my fears knowing I would be bit but when the time was right in my head built up my courage and knew I had to just grin and bear it. And say "no bite" when ever I seen it was going to bite like Dan said above and don't draw your hand back either. If you show you are not scared the biting should get less and less and with less pressure each time too or that has been my experience so far. If you jerk your hand back and I am guilty of this myself, they know that it worked and they are in charge and will keep it up. It is also a good idea to ball your fist up and tighten the skin so they can't get a good bite:) Once you get past the nervousness of getting bit and Tilly sees it is not working she will probably give up on trying to bite. Do it at yours and Tillys pace. If she does bite, don't leave the room, stay there so she knows she is not running you off. Like you said your husband is not scared at all and she can sense that. You have to be the same way:) Just curious, does Tilly step up? Is she able to with the missing toes? I ask this because that is how I get through the biting process. It happens to me when I ask them to step up. The eclectus I have will step up by putting his beak on my finger then his feet. It is when he put his beak on my finger he would just chomp down on it:ohmy: and then step up. I've only had him 3 days and he really isn't biting me at all now. The first two days were doozies though and I have my battles scars to prove it:laugh: When I would pet either of them in the beginning on their back or wings I would watch the body language to see if they were getting aggrevated. I would try to pet a few strokes and take my hand away before they had "had enough" and bit me. And each petting session try to pet a stroke or two longer without getting bit untill she gets comfortable with it. We'd love to see some pictures of Tilly when you get the chance. Keep us posted. This is a great place to be if you have questions, too. Everyone here is always ready to help.

Thank you Judy. I am starting to wonder if I do have a talent for unwanted birds. Me and my husband were in the pet store yesterday and they had a much smaller grey than Baxter. I asked how old it was and I was surprised to hear it was 10 years old. Of course me and my husband were ooooing and awwwing over him. My husband put his hand down to touch him and got bit:laugh: then I talked to him for a minute or two and he put his down for a scratch:) . I wanted to take him home so bad but knew I couldn't.

LOL.:laugh: I'm with you! Every grey needs a 2009 Camero SS!

Every year at Christmas when I go shopping all my pets are on my list and they get gifts too:P I was just wondering if other people do this too and curious as to what gifts everyone is going to get their Greys for Christmas this year? I want to get Baxter a big boing or coil rope real bad but for one I don't know where I'd put it and 2 I don't know if he's ready. Maybe I can get some other ideas from you what you are going to get yours. {Feel-good-000200B9}

Thanks for the compliments. I wasn't fishing for those though. I am hoping that video will make people consider rescueing a neglected or abused grey or other species. The rewards are out of this world! I don't know if it's a grey thing or what but I think I am happier now than I have been in I don't know when:) I am the lucky one to have Baxter;) . There are several others here on the site that have rescued neglected and abused greys and my hats are off to them as well. I'd like to hear from them too. Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/07 16:10<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/07 16:12

The video almost brought tears to my eyes and I definately had a lump in my throat watching it. I did take in a negected grey but nothing compared to Erogon in the video. Each little step we take seems like huge miles stones and I guess they are. This has been the most rewarding thing I have done in a long time (if ever) I think older unwanted birds get a bad wrap of having extra baggage and thought of as a big challenge so people turn them away out of fear but to me there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a neglected bird pick up a toy for the first time and finally able to have a little fun in it's life or seeing it relaxed and know it finally feels safe and secure. This video is what it's all about:) I just love happy endings! Thanks for sharing it.

You are so lucky. I am still waiting for those words myself and you can bet when I hear them I am going to gloating and proud just like you.

OMG!! I think that's huge!!! I remember the first time I had a talking session with Baxter and I wanted to shout it from the roof tops and it wasn't even a 2 way conversation. I think they understand a lot more than we realize. Thanks for sharing that. I thought it was great and it even made me laugh while I was reading it. :laugh:

Hi and welcome to the forum. Lily is just gorgeous and looks so sweet. You will love her more and more as each day goes by, too. {Love-000200BF}

Judy, I don't think I need to tell him theres more in store. I think he knows without a word being said:P For example: he went to work one day and knew he had 2 birds when he left-when he came home there were 3:laugh: I talked about the the Eclectus but he really didn't think I was going to act on it. He was very surprised. Then he heard Tigger talk and it sounds like a girl:woohoo: . I was even surprised about that. I'm am so relieved that the temp change isn't anything to worry about. I didn't know what I was going to do. Whew! :silly:

Going back to the annoying sounds he makes. My grey came with a lot of wierd sounds too. Lots of video games and shooting blasts is what it sounded like to me. He did them alot at the beginning but now about 2 months later I rarely hear them. They will probably fade with time.

Yes, the time is going to drag! It will seem like years and decades. Time is going to go by soooooooo sloooooowww for you. Time will seem like it is standing still. You will think the day will never come and on and on and on. Just kidding;) Can't wait to hear all about the big day! I think we are all excited for you.

A harness is a little thing you put on your birds back and chest and has a leash type thing to go with it. Just like if you put your dog on a harness but for birds. Do a search on google or yahoo for Avian Harness and you should get some websites. These go over their bodies instead of on the leg like a tether which can cause major harm to a leg if they fly or jerk their leg. The harness is much safer and they sell them in a lot of pet stores. I am going to get one for Baxter next year and will try it. I have only had him 2 months and he is 12 years old. I don't think he is ready for me to put a harness on him yet:P The first week or two that I had Baxter I bled on a daily bases from his bites. You will just have to learn his limits as I did. :ohmy: If Baxter is not in the mood, I either have to back off or I will get bit:) Simple as that. He's not really aggressive unless I over do it or push him too hard. The only time he bites me know if we are playing with toys and he gets too excited but I don't think that is out of meaness at all. Don't leave the room if you get bit, stay with him so he doesn't keep biting and think if I bite he will leave. Don't let him think he can run you off. They are so smart and if you act scared they will sense it and know it.

Hi and welcome. This is a great place to be if you have a grey!

Oh Good, that is the answer I was hoping for. We do go in and out the front door sometimes but in the icky cold months we use the back door more anyway to keep the snow and mud off the carpet too. My poor husband is going through so many changes to accomodate our newly acquired flock and I'd hate to have to tell him they have be moved for the winter. Don't know how much more he can take. :laugh: