Jesse

Foraging: There is a site that offers some activities and foraging ideas for Parrots. It is Captive Foraging for Parrots. The wev site is as follows. http://community.livejournal.com/captiveforaging/tag/introductions Parrots need to keep there minds busy, to stay happy and content. We need to find things that they can do and reduced the chewing of the furniture and other items that they find to destroy. This site has some ideas. Check it out.

No, my vet offer us no advise. She stated Jesse would never perch, and in the wild a bird like this would never make it. She also stated the heart rate was too slow, @ 108 and that she had cardiac malnormalitys, and wanted to know if I wanted to do cardiac x-rays. My daughter and I left devestated. I didn't have her do any x-rays. We went home and deceided to research and do the best we could. I was too attached to Jesse to not help her. I have done the research all on my own. I have a friend who's sister is a vet, in another state and we contacted her. She reasured me that a heart rate of 108 for a baby african grey that was comfortable with her owners and was hand raised and traveled in the car, normal. She stated that diet and splints with the splay leg and working with exercise, that Jesse would get to perching as she would develope her own balance. I know that god, wanted me to have Jesse, and were made for each other. Because Jesse needs some one to help her with her disablitity and I am a nurse, may not be experience with birds, as this is my first bird, and a baby bird to raise. I find this website to be very helpful. Thank you everyone.

Thank you for your wonderful comments. Splay leg, when the legs / leg is deformed and Jesse has a R leg that protrudes out. She was apparently born with it, and it can be caused when people breed parrots and the mother parrot doesn't get enough calcium in her diet. Splay leg can also happen from trama or injury when young in the nest. But, it is felt that the breeder didn't give the parent enough of the needed diet that she needed to have when her eggs was being formed inside of her. Yes, Jesse has a personality of loving, and wanting to be included with what is going on. She went with me on a trip from Mo. to Fla. and back. I went down for one week to see my dad. Jesse, is adapting to what we do. I am really glad I got a baby to start with, even though she is my first and were both learning as we go along. I have been doing a lot of reading about African Greys and this site is awsome. I am still new and learning my way around this site, and so far starting to get acquainted with some members. Thank you very very much.

I have also read, that when people have lost their african greys. That if there is a Aloe Vera plant around that you will probably find them there. That is where they usually go.

I purchased a used one, and wouldn't do it again. It was for 200. and I had to clean it and the pan was in rough shape. It also had rust on it, so I ended up sanding it down and then painted it with black grill paint. It was alot of work and I could have purchased a new one on ebay for 200. After all the work and exta paint I had more than 200 dollars into mine. I will shop on line next time.

When my bird was 2 months old, I took her to the vet and she was diagnosed of bowed legs and pelvic deform and boney angulation. My vet told me my bird, will never be able to perch. I came home and did some research on line and made some splints to help pull the legs in which we used for several weeks. Also gave my bird, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese to along with beans and rice and the weaning conversion food that she is eatting. I also modified her cage, by attaching a couple of wire grills to the inside of the cage, so my grey could climb up and sit on them. I also make a tree stand with limb going around the tree like steps, to the top. I am working with flight, to help with the balance and I have gotten my bird to perch on a wire rope that she is able to grip on. Does any one have any advise, experience or knowlege they can offer me?

Nick thank you for the wonderful question to clip or not to clip the wings. I also want to thank every one else for the advise. I have a 3 month old and she also has splay legs and due to balance I have felt that it may be best not to clip her wings. She uses her wings like arms to help her with balance and she is still unable to sit or get on to perch with out using her beak to help her hold and steady herself.

I hear that they learn by watching. So you may try putting on some music and doing a dance in front of your grey at least once a day every day till they learn or you get tired of it. Hope that is of some help

My 3 month old female african grey is weighing at 350 gms. It is good to keep them active because they can get too heavy, I don't know about obesity.

diarrhea is maybe once or twice a day and it doesn't smell all the time, I believe I notice it after eatting people food, and I have been watching carefully and believe that granola, and cheese, may be some of the foods that is causing the diarrhea. I try to give her vegetables, rice, beans, and fruits. But, she wants what we have and because to the splay leg that she has, I have added occ. egg, cheese to increase calcium. See she was born with splay leg and I have also been working to help her over come her disablity with splints and motified cage to sit rather than perch..

My african grey is now 3 months old. She has diarrhea, and It can be real smelly at times. I realize it is worst with some foods that she eats. She is on the conversion and weaning food as well as bird seeds, and adult parrot food offered. She also gets people food, and I try to be health with food, yet she does prefer to have peanut butter crackers and granola, etc. Is it common for these birds to have diarrhea or is this something that I should be concerned about.

We got Jesse, when she was 6 weeks old. She is now 3 months old. We later discovered at the vet that she has splay leg and we have been working with her withthe use of a splint, and teaching her to perch with a modified cage. She is managing very well with her disablity. Were on conversion and weaning food and hope that with in another month, she may be off it. I don't know how much longer she will need to be on the weaning food, but, have seen African Greys at 4 months in the pet stores for sale. I am also introducing her to people foods and am finding her to have a love to junk foods. She would prefer junk food and sweets to her vegetables. But, that is no different than the human species. She is getting a personality and is bird whistling a lot, when every one has left the room. She also responds to noises that she associates with food, such as the microwave and running water. She is also aware when were eatting and wants food from our plates.