BaxtersMom

Oh yes, my hands are a mess:angry: and they are sore and dry all the time lately. So this problem has to be solved:ohmy: So far, I have put one cement perch by his food bowl and a gritty sand paper type one by his water bowl. I let him play on his portable table perch for a few hours this evening. It is very rough sand papery. I hope all this will help keep them worn down. He is going to get his trim tomorrow and I guess we will see how it goes. The emery board game sounds like it would work but I don't think he will let me play that game with him yet, maybe when he's been with me longer he will. Thanks for all the help on this. I never thought to move the perches where he would use them more but it makes a lot of sense. Now I am wondering after then nails are clipped will they still have sharp edges from the fresh clip?

Hi, thanks for the advice. I do have a couple of the cement perches in his cage but he isn't using them as much as I'd like. I might change them around and put them by the food bowl. I think I am lucky though I do not have to take him to a vet. I found a local bird food & supply store and been using them since I got him. She will clip the nails for $8.00. It's a family owned store and been around since the 50's and they specialize in exotic birds. I will definately change the cement perches to where he uses them more though. Thanks again.

Hi, I am going to be taking Baxter to get his nails trimmed for the first time since we brought him home. His nails or talons are so sharp that is causes me lots of pain and blood daily, they are like razors. It's his first trip out with us and was wondering what to expect. We haven't had him too long and I was wondering about a few things.. Will this traumatize Baxter getting his nails trimmed? Will he lose trust in us for this? I don't know if he's ever had them trimmed before and I know it's been atleast 2 years if he has ever had them trimmed. I have a travel cage that he seems comfortable with so that shouldn't be a problem. Should I cover him while he is riding or not? He was covered when we brought him home and seemed to make the trip okay but would rather not cover him if it didn't make a differnce. Also, I was wondering about trimming the beak? Should I or shouldn't I? Thanks for any advice.

Forgot to ask. How long have you had him?

Oh How a adorable. Congradulations. I can see why you are a proud dad!

Congradulations!!!!!{Feel-good-000200BB}

Thanks Judy, I will be patient and keep talking to him. I would love him even if he didn't say a word{Love-0002011E}

I have had my 12 year old grey for 3 weeks. He does talk but I have some questions about it. I've noticed that he will talk up a storm when I leave the room and go through all his sound effects & whistles too. But when I come back, he is all quiet. Is this how all greys or talking birds are? I understand that he is wanting my attention and trying to bring me back to him but why does he stop? Is there any way I get him to talk more with me in the same room with him. Sometimes (like now) when I am quiet and at the computer he will pop off a few words or sentences. A lot of his "sentences" are in a language only he understands:woohoo: He has learned a few new words and sounds since I have had him so I know he is paying attention. I first had to put a tape recorder near his cage when I was gone and found out he had quite a few words he was capable of that I had never heard him say. I guess what I'm asking is whats the norm for talking greys and how can I encourage it more? I tell people I have a talking grey and when the come to see and hear him he won't make a sound:side: :huh: The longer I have him the more questions I have:) I have the time to spend with him and would like him to talk more. I'm also afraid that since I have no experience he will stop talking altogher. I need help on this. Maybe I'm stressing about more than I should, too. Any comments would be appreciated or anything that has worked for other grey owners. Thanks.

Oh My Goodnes...He is just darling!!! Thanks for showing the photos.

Thanks for the replies. It probably is just a habit but me being so new to greys, I didn't want to just think of it as nothing if something was really going on. He came to me with his cage cover so he is used to that. I read another post about grey biting their nails, too and found out more greys do this and they said it was normal.

I have been noticing a reoccurring pattern with my cag Baxter and I'm a little concerned. I've only had him since July 13 but we have already bonded very well. The thing that is troubling me is he is doing something daily and I'm not sure if it's a problem or nothing at all. It happens in the mornings usually after I take his cover off. I am always so happy to see him everyday. I am talking to him and greeting him, getting his food, water, etc but when I approach his cage he will fluff up, put one foot on his beak and make a fairly loud sharp whistle. He looks like a cartoon character biting his nails but I know it's not funny. He only does the whistle once untill I show up at his cage again. He doesn't run away and I can still touch him if I want to. I noticed he is not a "morning bird" right from the start but he likes me around. He's always much more friendly and playful after his afternoon nap and after that he is a regular lover boy. He gives me kisses and wants to be close to me all evening long. The noise he makes and the "nail biting" happens most in the mornings before 10 am (he gets up around 7am)Only about 3 or 4 times and only every great once in a while in the afternoons. Does anyone know why he is doing this? Is he just a grouch in the morning, am I upsetting him somehow? Is this just a personality trait? I don't think he's scared of me but don't know why he would do this. I think he is pretty used to me now. Any help would be appreciated. Should I be concerned?

Hi Trust, love the pic of the first bath. I seen suggestions about the spray bottle. I have one and have used it on Baxter a couple of times...It just doesn't seem like he is getting enough water that way. The mist just rolls off. It looks like yours got good and wet and I might try it with Baxter in the sink, too when he's a little more comfortable with us. Did yours enjoy the bath though?

He's fallen for you...you can't give up yet. How long has he/she been with you? I'm sure someone on the community can give great advice but I'm a new owner myself with only 2 weeks of experience but If you do need to find it a new home. Please sceen the people very good and make sure they will give it lots of love. How long have you had him/her? I just got adopted a 12 year African Grey Cag. I hear over and over it can take lots of time and patience. Hang in there. Keep us posted

I like Delilah and Dylan the best but they were all good:woohoo:

Yes, I am quite proud. Like a new mommy showing off her baby. As far as the name goes I am going to use both of them. Sometimes he is Homie and sometimes he is Baxter. He's Homie when he's acting silly and Baxter when he's mellow:silly:

Oh Goodie, the last photos showed up. Here's a full view of him looking out the window. One day I will figure out how to get a profile picture in. Anyway, I just think he's beautiful. I'm a proud mom.

I am trying to post a photo of Baxter aka Homie so everyone could see him. Had trouble my profile and images so thought I could get one up here. Hope it shows up.

Thanks everybody...all the posts really helped me out alot. I really appreciate all your inputs. I have still been calling him Homie several times a day but I still call him Baxter most of the time. I think I am going to keep using both names for now and see how it goes. I have called him Baxter since I got him that is who he is to me now and I think he will get used to it and learn it as well as the other new things he is learning. He's really smart, that's for sure. So he will be Homie and Baxter both. Thanks again for everybodys help and for everyone being so friendly. You guys are great!!!!

Hi, I just got a 12 year old CAG and have already found it very rewarding. I've only had him 2 weeks and I am fascinated by him. We are still getting used to each other but it's going very well. Good things so far is he's very entertaining all by himself. I can hear him talking and doing his sound effects where ever I am in the house but he is not loud or disturbing. His "sounds" are comforting and never too loud. He is very willing to learn new things and not scared to try (I guess because he trusts me) The only bad thing I have to report is there are times I want to play with him or handle him and he isn't always in the mood. I have heard they are moody and have their own personalities and I am finding this to be true. I have heard they are very intuitive to your moods as well and if you are upset they are aware and try to make it better. He talks and learns new words and phrases and I find that very rewarding. It's like if you invest the time, they will invest it back so I like that. I wasn't sure when I got him what to expect and was hoping for the best. If I could go back 2 weeks I would make the same decision again. I may even get another one in the future. Hope that helps.

Hi, thanks for your thoughts on that. It was almost unanimous to keep it Homie. He has already picked up new words and phrases in the last 2 weeks and I am kind of surprised I haven't heard hims say Baxter yet. Maybe I will make Baxter his middle name :blink: :silly:

I am having the same problem with my Grey. I've only had him a few weeks and previous owner did not let him out of his cage at all. That's the first thing I did was let him out and he loves it. He's a sweet bird but sometimes he is so mean (mostly in the mornings) when I want to touch him and he bobs his head at me and will bite if I'm not careful. His first warnings are pushing his beak against my fingers and shoving off, he will bite if I don't get the message. I've noticed he is not a morning bird but in the afternoons he is much better and comes willingly then. I have come to the conclusion that if he doesn't want me to mess with him at a certain time I will try again when he's more "open" to it. Usually if I try again later he is friendly. Talk about "moody" He owns me, I don't own him;) I just wait it out.

Yes, Homie is cute. It was my hubby that didn't like the name. I will tell him that it's back to Homie. So now when you see BaxtersMom online I'm actually Homies mom;)

Hi, thanks for the reply. The name change seemed innocent enough at first but the moe I thought about it the more it seemed wrong. Just wanted to get some opinions on it to make sure. Thanks again. Erika

Hi, I got a 12 year old African Grey in july of 08 so i've really only had him a couple of weeks. I totally love him and he is adjusting well. His name has always been "Homie" and he does say his name alot. I kind of wanted to change his name to Baxter and I am calling him that and "Homie" both, kind of a transition thing I guess. He has never said Baxter yet and now I am just wondering if I should keep his name as Homie or if it even makes a difference if I change it? I don't want to cause his psychological problems or anything like that. I was just wondering if it's okay or not okay to change a greys name?