BaxtersMom

The first bite is the toughest and the most shocking:ohmy: I have given the advice not to make a big deal when they bite but Baxter bit me the other night while we were playing with toys and I let out a good loud holler :laugh: Couldn't help it. I was surprised and It hurt!! He hasn't bitten me in a long time and it caught me off guard. I think he was just so excited about the toys. I think taking them away from the cage is a very good idea. Baxter seems to depend on me more when we are away from the cage and knows I am the one who will take him back there. You said that Nokkvi was upset when your boyfriend was around so he left and things got better and you said he would try sitting and training with him tomorrow but it really sounds like he has chosen you for his number 1 person. They say they most greys are one person birds and I think that is true in Baxters case. Nokkvi might not respond to your boyfriend like he does to you. Baxter will tolerate my husband and he will step up for him and take crackers but isn't really interested in him messing with him much. Baxter talks freely around me but he doesn't hardly talk at all when my husband is around. I have been taking short videos when he does his talking so he can see. It's sad because I want my husband to enjoy him as much as me but Baxter just sits like a good bird on a perch and says and does nothing really when he's around. But I am thankful & proud that Baxter chose me:) It sounds like you guys are doing very well with him. Baxter is still a little grumpy in the mornings but not as bad as he was. I think it was the newness of everything and he wasn't ready to be nice untill he was sure of things. He has "trained" me to leave him alone untill he is ready too. It's working for us, too. I train him on some things and he trains me on some things. We have mutual understandings now:silly: Here's Baxters latest cute thing: Baxter made a noise like someone knocking yesterday. My dog went nuts and started barking at the door like crazy and wouldn't stop. Finally Baxter said "knock it off" but Jackson kept on Barking. Jackson barks in 3s. A few minutes later Baxter barked back at him "Woof Woof Woof". LOL:woohoo: It has only happened once so far. I hope he does it again. Luckily, I had the tape rolling and got that one on tape!

Oops, I posted it twice so I took it out. Sorry:side:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/08/30 00:55

Here's another thought, how about adopting a well mannered adult bird? I got Baxter off of craigslist.com. It's nationwide so you can go there, too, just put in your area and put what ever you want in the seach box. Parrot, African Grey, Bird, try a few different search words. There are tons of birds that really need loving homes and there is nothing wrong with them. Baxter is so sweet and he was so neglected and cage bound. Previous owners weren't mean to him but they never let him out of his cage or handled him:( It has been so rewarding for me. I really feel like I am making a difference his life and I can tell he loves me for giving him a better life. It is so rewarding I would love to get more adult birds that need a loving home. I check regulary and see new ones come up all the time. Most are sweet loving birds that just needs new homes. Not to mention you can get them at a lot less cost. I got Baxter, a CAG, his cage and the few toys he had for $500. It's something for everyone wanting a new bird should consider.

I say let her get what she wants. Discuss and educate yourselves on which birds she has in mind and discuss both the pros and the cons of the birds personality traits. If she feels like you don't approve or trust her to make her own decisions she may not get the bird she really wants to please you and feel like she had to get second best. If she gets what she wants she may just surprise you too and see a great relationship unfold. I think it is a personal choice and if it is going to be her bird she should make an informed decision herself. I am only saying this because my first husband seemed to think he always knew what was best for me and tried to make my decisions for me. I usually just gave in to him because it was less hassle but never truely happy in his decisions he "made" for me. Sad was more like it. I would encourage her in what ever decisions she makes. Sorry if I still sound bitter;) Not intended to be:)

Glad everything turned out ok and everyone is safe. That sounded very scary. I'm so glad you shared that story. I am definately goint to get an emergency plan figured out now before one happens and we are not ready. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. It was sweet that Mika turns to you for comfort and security. I think he loves you as much as you love him.

Wow. She is soooooo beautiful. What a great color she has. Never seen one like her before. I'm in awe. You are so lucky. Those are great photos, too

judygram wrote: That's right {Emotions-000200B8}. And I knew that, too. I really did. Another brain fart for me. I guess my age is catching up with me:dry: I can't see no more, can't remember anything no more, forget what I'm doing in a split second. My thoughts just leave my brain as quick as the come{Feel-bad-00020072} I'm turning into my mother{Feel-bad-0002006A} Nooooo!

I hope you feel better soon. I would not worry about everything being at a stand still. Nokkvi might be taking everything in and settling better with a few days off too. Besides you have the rest of your lives to do stuff together. Get well soon and keep us posted on Nokkvi.

Here's a simple leather strap that can keep him occupied for a long time

Great Question. Mine likes bells and chains the most, foot toys and other simple toys. Leather straps and ropes are his latest discovery. The big hanging toys seem to scare him.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/08/28 05:27

Oh, so sorry to hear about Bandits broken toe. It must hurt but sounds like you are doing all that can be done to make him comfortable. Poor thing. I broke my toe once and it was just awful:unsure:

Me and my husband, a cat, a dog, a conure, an eclectus and a hermit crab:)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/09/26 05:47

Judy is right about them saying what they want. I have found with Baxter that I can sit and repeat words or sayings untill I am blue in the face trying to get him to say funny things that I would like to hear. He has other things in mind though. For Instance, My husband was poking fun at me saying "Have you noticed that Baxter only gives orders?" Sneakily Implying that I a have controls issues:angry: The words that Baxter has picked up haven't been funny or cute. They are "Shut up, Knock it off, Come Ere and Stop it" He also picked up my smokers cough, our squeaky chair and our creeking gate and he came to our house belching:lol: Baxter seems to like to point out my short comings:( . Sigh... But he's the only one who can tell me these things and get away with it:P:)

I think Dan is on Baxters side{Feel-good-00020069} LOL

LOL,:laugh: I was going to put that in but didn't want anyone to be offended and get their feathers ruffled. But, yea, Thats what I was thingkin~Baxters a typical man. Wants the love without the commitment.:laugh:

Yes, I love reading these kind of stories too. Here's one more. Baxter has just learned a new word. It's "uh huh" (as in yes) Well, I tell him I love him all the time. He never says it back though,I say "I Love You" and he just says "uh huh". Like Ya I know. He will take the love but won't commit:P<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/08/27 16:22

Baxter is starting to talk in context and I think it's pretty clever. We got a new conure that we named Bonkers and Bonkers took off flying where I didn't want him to go one day. I was a bit excited. I guess Baxter picked up on it and as I was chasing after it Baxter kept saying "Knock It Off! Knock It Off!" all excited, too:laugh: He also watches our Dog Jackson alot and goes to the end of his cage from the top and says "Jackson Come Ere"

Oh, thats so funny:laugh: I bet you 2 have a blast with that game. I can picture it, too. Thanks for sharing it.

Hi, Siobha9 and Judygram are probably right about giving him some time but I started messing with Baxter right away. He was 12 years old when I got him, not scared of people but he was never handled or taken out of the cage so he was leary. Anyway, that's the first thing I did. Let him out of the cage (to go in and out as he pleased) and pet him when I could. I had him perching on my hand several times a day. I was pushing him a little hard probably and he bit me several times. I didn't recognize the "I'm tired of this ~ leave me alone" look right away he would bite when he had enough. I quickly learned the warning signs:) After the first week he didn't bite me anymore but I also respected him more too;) . If you do get bit don't make a big deal of it, no matter how bad it hurts:ohmy: that only encourages them. I also gave him lots of treats, I had crackers for him that he liked and would give him one when ever I was near him. I have now found out that if he likes a treat I am offering he will take it. If he does not like it he tosses it right away. I let Baxter out of his cage and he didn't want to go back in at all. So total opposite from Smoke. I was worried he didn't know how to go back in but I asked around and everyone said he knows and to let him be. His food was in there and he did go back. Now he does come and go as he pleases but is usually perched on top and just goes in for snacks and to go to bed.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2008/08/27 06:38

I agree with the others. I would wait untill he's more comfortable with you guys but it sounds like he is really coming along great so far. Baxter didn't know how to step up either and getting him out of his cage or back in was terrifying for him because I had to grab him and that wasn't helping the trust issue much. I got my directions from a grey book. It said to teach him outside and away from his cage. It said to have him perch on your hand and have him step up on the other hand over and over. Each time say "step up step up" so he will learn the command. It said to do this 2 or 3 times a day for about 10 minutes each session. The book said it should only take a few days for them to catch on. By the second day Baxter knew exactly what to do and I do believe it even helped him trust me more. It worked great for us. Baxter wasn't a scared bird when he came to us so it may take Nokkvi a little longer. Life is so much easier now that he knows step up. I first tried the stick perch approach too but that only scared Baxter more. He would run from it but it may work for you especially if he's already put a foot on it. Only other thing to tell you about our learning sessions was and I don't know if it was right or wrong way to go about it but I had to grab Baxter to get him out of his cage the first couple times we did step up lessons. He screamed and squaked when I grabbed him but settled right down once I had him out of his cage and I gave him a few minutes to calm down and started the step up stuff. I did give him little breaks in between too but he really caught on fast. You will know when the time is right to start teaching him step up. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week or maybe next month but it will happen. Good luck with it. Keep us posted. Oh by the way Baxter flew off his cage again and onto the couch all by himself. He's getting better:)

{Feel-bad-0002006A} Nooooo I just couldn't take it if you left. I would miss you, Cloe and Buddy. You can't leave us. Please say it isn't so!{Feel-bad-00020072}

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I am so impressed. I watch Animal Cops on TV:) and see some of the saddest things and I can imagine you see some real devastating scenarios at times and I don't think I could handle it.It takes a special person. I'd be killing people and beating them up if they mistreated & neglected animals on my watch{Feel-bad-00020080} Sounds like you have a very full, fun & happy life and a great family to go with it. Glad to have you. I think you have a TAG like they are all saying. I was told the difference is CAGs (Congo African Grey) have red tail feathers and TAGs have grey;) I don't know what the T in TAG stands for though:S

Thanks everyone. I guess I shouldn't be such a worry wart about it and quit being so over protective. It's time for my baby to fly:P

Me and my husband were surfing through african grey videos on you tube the other night. It gives us a good laugh and we like seeing other peoples greys and other birds. We got our grey out and he was perched on my husband hand and I couldn't believe that he was glued to the computer screen and watching every video and very interested in it. He couldn't take his eyes off it. That one threw me for a loop:P