BaxtersMom

Hello and welcome to the group. You have come to the right place to get advice on your new Sydney. I love the name. We would love to see any pictures of Sydney you would like to share with us.

This is a great thread and I do have a few things to add. I was a person who had absolutely no bird experience except for my moms parakeet or canary when I was very small. Both of those I had no interest in. My first parrot was Baxter, a 12 year old CAG. He was neglected with a seed only diet, put in the basement and avoided, then another owner took him and again he never let him out of his cage and he was never handled. He did not know how to fly since he was cage bound and didn't have the slightest idea of what "Step Up" meant when I got him. As a first parrot that was probably the worst match for me since I had no experience...but here is the thing ~ I was READY & WILLING to find out all that I needed to do to get him in an atmosphere he deserved. My hands were bloody the first several weeks from him biting me anytime I wanted to do something with him. Alot/most of that was from my own mistakes I made with him. But my point is that after one or two bloody bites from a parrot a lot of people will get discouraged or frightend and stop right there, regret getting the bird and the bird stays caged and the abuse and neglect cycle continues. Some people might think it was a big mistake to get the bird as it wasn't what they thought it would be and emotionally abandon it and then more problems arise out of it. But if someone who gets a baby doesn't know how to treat it the same things can and most likely will happen. I adopted a 1 1/2 year old DYH amazon that literally screamed bloody murder when I tried to handle it. He also would bite right through leather gloves!!! He came to us in a filthy cage that was plexiglassed in where he couldn't climb, was only fed sunflower seeds, never let out of his cage and only had 1 short and 1 long perch his cage and 2 broken small parakeet toys. It was a similar story but so much worse. The woman who I got him from "claimed" she loved him so much but had to let him go. (yea right) The problem was she did get a baby because they were "easier" but didn't know what she was doing which made the bird suffer. He literally stunk like urine and feces when we took him home and birds don't usually have odors like that. His cage hadn't been cleaned in months.:sick: :angry: When I first joined this forum I used to get offended when it was said to get a baby as opposed to a rehomed adult "with baggage" That phrase really did burn me up, mainly because with the help of this forum, me and Baxter ended up accomplishing so much, but the longer I have been on the forum and the more bird owners I have met, I have realized that there are way many people out there with birds, (babies and adult birds), that really have no business having them. I think it's okay to get a rehomed bird as a first bird "as long as the person has some common sense and is totally devoted to enriching the birds life". I think a baby parrot would be okay to get as a first bird too as well "as long as the person has some common sense and is totally devoted to enriching the birds life" If you don't have common sense and aren't willing to devote a lot of time to the parrot, you should not even think about getting any kind of parrot at all. After some of the things I have seen with people and the parrots they claim to love I can't help but get so angry:angry: . I will probably never take the opportunity to have a baby bird of any kind because I must admit I feel good about finding an older bird that desperately needs help and out of a bad situation. It makes me feel good inside. If I ever did get another bird it would most likely be another rescue. I find it very rewarding. There are so many older birds that need a new loving homes and just because they aren't at their best at the moment doesn't mean they can't turn out to be the most loving and bonded birds. I think more "capable" people should go out and rehomes greys and other birds that need it. I also think some baby greys might be a better fit for some owners while rehomed birds would be a better fit for others. I think it's based on the person and the birds themselves. Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/05/03 23:08 Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/05/03 23:14<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/05/03 23:18

The others have given great advice. Leave the cage door open for him to come and go as he pleases while you are there. He will come around in his own time at his own pace. Any training that you try to do with him would probably scare him more at this point and you should NEVER punish a grey or keep one locked up for days. A grey should be out of the cage atleast 4 hours a day. But training now will only back fire on you and make you lose all trust you may have gained. Right now and for the next few weeks is a time to get to know each other, not have training sessions. As you both grow more comfortable with each other and trust each other more things will fall into place. You have already said you don't want to get bitten and your grey probably doesn't want to start out with training sessions from a stranger so both of you should try to relax and get used to one another and don't ask anything from him yet. It will all fall into place in it's own time. Training should be fun for both of you. If it's not fun, your grey probably won't accept it easily. If it's fun or exciting to him, he will be lots more co operative and willing to learn. They are highly sensitive creatures and can feel strong emotions like a small child. Right now just talk to him, sing to him, tell him about your day and give him plenty of treats. Get a small table perch and take him with you to different rooms. Let him get to know you and his new home and get relaxed a little bit. It sounds like he was very unhappy in his previous home and now is the time to let him know he can relax and everything is going to be fine.

Hi Annmarie, I too was wondering what kind of bird you were going to get and it turned out to be a grey afterall. They are awesome birds and even if your grey does eventually pick a favorite that does not mean the rest of the family will not enjoy him or her just as much. My grey picked me for his favorite but my husband still has a good relationship with him so it all worked out. Later on my husband got an amazon and it favors him but I can still do a lot with him too. At our house it's not so much they only like one person, it's more like they pick a person that they prefer to handle and touch them. My husband can't pick up Baxter at all but they do do alot of stuff together anyways so I still think it will work out. Many of us here on the forum start with one bird and end up getting a second bird after that. They (parrots) are so amazing you can't help but want another one. Please let us know when your knew addition will be coming home. and just so you know, you would have been welcome here what ever you decided:)

Merlin is loving that corn!!! :laugh: Got a good grip on it too I see:laugh: It's been awhile since I've given my flock corn. It goes everywhere and I know what you're talking about scraping it off the walls.

Have you tried putting your finger up near his belly and asking him to "step up" when he is in a friendly mood like that. It sounds like he is taking to you quite nicely and adapting well in his new home. It's not uncommon to get bit every now and then by your grey, especially when they are in a new home. They are still getting used to everything and it can be a little frigtening for them. I brought Baxter home when he was 12 years old and I got bit quite a bit the first month. Most of that was probably my fault for pushing him too much but after I don't think I've gotten bit since the first month. Just go slow like you are doing but proceed when it looks like progress is being made. It sounds like you are doing a real nice job and not adding more stress to him at this time. I'm sure you 2 will be best of friends in no time at all. Just make sure you go at his pace and not yours. Karma to you for doing such a nice job and taking his feelings into consideration.

Hello and welcome to the forum Akili. That is a beautiful name. Your owner was right thinking this would be a great place to find out more information on you and how to care for you and keep you safe. There are lots of wonderful and knowledgable people here and it's a great place to make some new friends. If you or your owner ever have any questions please feel free to ask. You can look through the various threads and find a ton of information there, too.

You are right, there are so many different methods and each person has their own way of doing it. It sounds like your baby is already enjoying the benefits of the bathing and is taking to it well. That is great!!! You don't want to stress him out or he will be frightened later and it sounds like you also have that in check:) As for your questions, here is my opinion. 1. I take my grey in the shower once or twice a week, spraying is just as good, but they need to get soaked down to the skin. They have dry skin and it helps with the dander/flaking & itchiness of the skin. 2. I like to bathe mine during the day time but that is just my preference. When I have bathed mine at night I get worried b/c it takes Baxter so long to dry, (several hours) and I wonder if he gets cold or if he can sleep with damp or wet feathers:dry: I am probably just an overprotective mom on that one though;) 3. You can use 100% Aloe Vera Juice. This moisturizes the skin and makes their feathers look nice, too. Some people use it full strength in a spray bottle and some dilute it with water. You can get this at most pharmacies or Walmarts. Mine came in a 1 gal. jug and costs about $10 and lasts a long time (atleast for me) 4. I take Baxter in the shower and he gets a nice warm shower at the temp I take (but not hot) and use the Aloe Vera with the mist bottle when he gets dry flaking skin. Some people use warm water which is my preference but others use cold water as well. I hope this helps you out. It sounds like you are doing a pretty good job of it so far.

I feed mine nuts and seeds too and it does become a problem for me, too. They will eat the seeds/nuts and ignore the pellets.:angry: What I do once it gets to the point of them avoiding all or most of the pellets is cut them back to just a pinch and not enough to make them full so they will go eat the pellets. I think it's time for me to start cutting them back again. And I also quit giving them seeds or nuts in the afternoon when I refresh their bowls. I hate doing it b/c I know how much they love their seeds and nuts but they have to eat those darn pellets, too:S I'm glad you posted this because it was a good reminder for me, too to cut back on the "goodies".

Oh how sweet:kiss:

:woohoo: I know Judy! That's what I thought. He might have topped Coopers pic. So glad to know I'm not the only one who has serious messy bird faces. I knew there had to be more out there. I'm anxious to see more.:lol: :side: :silly:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/26 23:05

OMG!! That is a seriously messy faced Rhett!!!:laugh: I love his pose for the camera, too. Thanks for sharing it. karma coming your way

I did a yahoo search for "SI eclectus average weight" and it took me to a website called www.birdboard.com There were many different answers to the ekkies weight question but one specific one was said the Ideal weight is 350 to 425. Whew!<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/26 19:41

If that is the case my baby is underweight:ohmy: I know I've read the weights before and do weight from time to time and wasn't alarmed about it. This is about his normal weight since I've had him, but now I will do some more research and refresh my memory about his weight. He was on a seed diet with some fruits and veggies when I got him. No pellets though and it took me several months before he took to the pellets. He eats pellets daily but to be honest I wish he would eat a little bit more. And as for the honking...:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I know the sound well. That is the squaking sound I was talking about. Mine does that in the mornings once he sees me and is waiting for his food and every now and then when he wants attention from me. That is how he lets me know if I have been neglecting him time wise:) I love mine too.

Tigger speaks very clearly too. I am amazed at how clear he is. He sounds like a high pitched person:laugh: I just weighed Tigger and he was at 355 grams. In Verdes last picture I can tell he is more rounder across the belly. Mine is an SI (Solomen Island) Eclectus and they are the smaller of the species. The VOS are the bigger eclectus's. Is yours a Vos or SI? Since you brought it up, what is the average weight for a SI ekkie, do you know? I just looked through my ekkie book and it said to weigh them regularly but it didn't give their average weights:huh: The longer he is there the more he will talk I bet. Sounds like he already has a nice vocabulary:)

Sure, I have plenty of birds to send to another country;) ..I'll send you some McCaws & Eclectus for $500 each. Just send me the money and I promise to get them to you. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :whistle:

When Tigger came he mainly just made some noises. He was saying Be Be Be Be over and over again:S Then day by day he opened up. He says Hello, Woody (which I have no idea who woody is:lol: ) Then he amazed me by saying this phrase "They call him Tigger, Tigger, King of the Jungle" all in one sentence.:woohoo: and emphasis on the gle or gull sound. JunGUUUULLLLLLL. I about fell out of my chair when that happened. He says Good Baby, Good Baby Boy, Pretty Pretty Baby, Whatcha doin, Whatcha doin here. I have taught him to sing "I'm a bird" but he pronounces I'm a bir" or gets confused and sings I'm a Gull. :laugh: So funny. He picked up "Step Up" I also taught him to say "Mama's Baby Boy". there might be a few more I'm forgetting but those are the main ones. I got him last September or October and he caught on to the new things I taught him pretty fast. I really should spend some more time teaching him new things. I seen his beak in the photos. That is about how long Tiggers is right now, too. I think it's ok but I am already thinking that I need to have Tiggers beak trimmed pretty soon. He is the only flock member I have grows the beak so fast or needs trimming. I last had it trimmed in November or December I think. His nails grow fast too and get so darn pointy and sharp! I even have some cement perches as well as wood in his cage. Here is a picture of Tigger around Christmas time and there is a good view of his beak. I think that is the perfect lenght of the top beak but it has grown quite a bit since that picture. <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/26 15:55

YAY!! He made it home. Sounds like he is settling very very well. I think it took Tigger about 3 days to feel comfortable and I thought that was good, too. He is just beautiful. I love the green color and the candy corn beak:kiss: I think the females ekkies are beautiful too but I still favor the males and that lovely green. Tigger doesn't beak through the bars except at night time like I was telling you about. He gets a little grumpy at bedtime and does his little "roar" and if he is near the bars he will beak at them like he is really going to get me:laugh: I don't think he means any harm though. Let me know if Verde makes the roar noise I was telling you about. I've only talked to one other lady who had an ekkie and she said hers did it, too. Now I am just wondering if Verde will do it too. I bet you are just tickled pink that it all went through and he is finally in his new home. Just curious, how did his former mom take him leaving? She sounded like she really did care for him and wanted to do best for him and I figured she might have gotten a little emotional. Now that he is home, you must give us regular updates...BTW, Does Verde talk? If so what does he say? Congradulations again!

Yep, it's Saturday. I'm twiddling my thumbs on Verdes arrival.:whistle:

I absolutely love Lyrics baby picture. Now that brought a huge smile to my face. He is so cute in the little plastic container with all that baby food all over his face. What contentment. And as an adult he seems to enjoy it just as much. I love to see mine with messy faces. I feel like it means they really enjoyed it. I don't think I've ever seen it on their toes though:laugh: How did that happen. Too cute. Thanks for adding them in.

One more day!!! I bet you are so excited. Tigger does the lunging when I go to feed him. That is about the only time he does it. He lunges/punches the back of my hand with his beak. I thought it was just something that ekkies do and a game to him. I am his main provider and the only one who feeds him but he was raised from an egg by a breeder who was a man. Hmmm, maybe is actually is mad at me when I go to feed him. He has never lunged at my husband at all. He loves to spend time with us and a true snuggle bug. I can't wait to hear how things go with you & Verde. It may take him awhile to settle in though before he gets comfortable in his new home. Let us know when he gets home.

My dog likes the bird food and one of my birds loves the dog food:blink: It's a mixed up world isn't it?:laugh:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/24 15:08

Ok, apparently all greys and other parrots are not as messy as my Cooper is, thank goodness:laugh: so the messy face pictures might be tough to get so how about any of your birds pictures that have to do with food or eating.

I guess I just have parrots that make a mess sometimes. This one of Cooper was the messiets I have seen any parrot ever. Baxter sometimes makes a bit of a mess but not real bad and nothing like Cooper does. He is so funny looking after he gets certain foods sometimes. He really loves his food.

Ooops Judy,:blush: Pardon me for thinking that Josie would make a messy face. I forgot she is too much of alady;) Seriously, I think you have the perfect grey, she doesn't bite and takes care of her appearance as well. She was raised right with great manners. Give my apologies to Miss Josie. :blush: :whistle: She might not get a karma for a messy face but she will get one for being such a lady. :silly: Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/23 04:13<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/04/23 04:14