Raiderbabe

Malibu is only 4 months. He mumbles alot but has not said his first word yet! Hopefully it will be coming soon!

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the info...its really been great. I guess I just didn't realize that it will take time and patience. I taught him to shake and he mastered that in about 5 minutes but then turn around he was just not getting. I knew he wasn't any kind of dummy . THe book I was reading was called Parrot Training by Bonnie Munro Doane. I borrowed it from someone I know who has a grey also. Everyone on here has been soo helpful and I really thank all of you for dealing with all my questions. I also enjoyed learning about the facts that some of you wrote. For example, your bird doesn't always do tricks when you ask. LIke if they don't feel like it then they don't do it. I guess I just had this image in my head that he would do whatever I asked him to do whenever I wanted him to do it. I being the key word and not him. I am starting to understand that he has a personality too and it is much like a baby where he really likes to play and play and only learn sometimes! All your info has been very helpful!

Hey everyone! What is the best age to begin trick training. I have taught Malibu to "shake" and he seemed to get it very quickly. I tried teaching him to "turn around". He does it for me if I show him the treat and do the hand signal. But the book says he should do it just when I say "turn around" and no hand signal. We have been working on it for like 3 days now. How long could it take for him to learn something like this? Is it too early to be teaching him tricks? He is 4 months old. Thanks everyone. And can anyone tell me any other good tricks to begin teaching him?

Hey everyone I went to the store tonight and bought a whole bushel of collard greens. Can someone please tell me how to make them. I know someone already mentioned to steam them for 2-3 minutes or boil them for 5 minutes. Is this correct? And can they also just be served right off the bushel after rinsing off? Do they have to be cooked? Please help!

Hey Everyone! I am trying to get Malibu's feeding schedule down to a science haha. I read a lot of you feed oatmeal in the mornings. I really don't have alot of time in the mornings before work and I do plan to get up a little earlier. What kind of oatmeal do you buy? Can you buy the packs of oatmeal that you just microwave. And what kind does it have to be? THanks

Hey THanks everyone for posting. I am going to the store tonight to see what I can find. I was reading on another post and it says all veggies are ok to eat raw except potatoes. Like I said, I am not a cook. I didn't even know what collard greens were. Do you just buy them in the veggie section and rinse them off and cut them up and serve? Thanks for all your help everyone. I just want to make sure I am feeding him all the things correctly.

The squash is yellow and has a soft skin on it. DO I just peel it and serve it? Can you give me a list of good dark green veggies and fruits that are the best?? I know spinach but what else??

Hey everyone. Well, lets just say I'm not a cook and nor have I ever been. I am trying to experiment with all kinds of fruits and veggies for Malibu. I bought a yellow squash and no idea what to do with it! Please help me! Also, I bought a three pack of peppers at the store. One is red, one is yellow, and one is orange. I know red and yellow are on the list to feed. Does anyone know about orange? I just am being a cautious mommy and don't want to feed him anything bad. Thanks!

Hey everyone. I have only had Malibu for a week now and I introduced brocolli and apples pieces. I also tried grapes and he did not want any grapes. He seems to enjoy the brocolli if I break it up and put it in his food bowl and the same thing about his apples. I was just wondering how much fruit and veggies people give their birds everyday because I have only tried these once a day and it was using in the morning. Then I don't give him any more after that and he just eats his reg. pellet diet and treats. How many fruits or veggies do you give them a day? And how much do you put in the bowl? Like I said I only put one piece of brocolli in and another day I only put one or two pieces of apple in. Thanks for the help!

Malibu spends all day home with me while my boyfriend is at work. I am a teacher so I have the whole summer off to spend time with him until I go back to school. He is really bonding with me and we are working on step up and he is getting that. He is also very lovey with me and lets me hold him and pet him. When my boyfriend comes home he does not want any parts of him. He makes squaking sounds if he tries to touch him. He backs away from him and runs to me. I have tried letting them sit on the couch together and have him try to hold him. The only way he will actually go to him is if he shows him a treat and he will actually get on his hand for it. I know they are one person birds usually but I would like him to be able to try to bond with him. Any suggestions on what to do? Please help!!!

Thanks for the comments everyone! He was not tested at the breeder and I'm not taking him to have it done so I officially made him a boy. Do most people have them tested?

Hey everyone! I am trying the pictures again and I hope that it works this time. I think you will need to copy and paste them to see them. I hope it works for everyone to see my baby! http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u331/Raiderbabe2008/IMG_1104-1.jpg http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u331/Raiderbabe2008/IMG_1103-1.jpg http://i517.photobucket.com/albums/u331/Raiderbabe2008/IMG_1102-1.jpg

I want to introduce everyone to Malibu!!! I brought him home on Monday. He is about 4 months old. I am going to try and post the pictures with this message but I'm not sure if they will work. He is just starting to get used to me and we are working on step up. He is checking everything out around the house and is very interested in what I am doing all day. He is making noises and playing with his new toys and eating very well. We have made some progress since Monday when I honestly thought he was not going to like me at all. Time and patience is the key I think. One question for everyone, is it normal for him to be still be hesitant around me and not want to do step up every single time we practice. I know it is only day 4 with him. Hope the pictures work!

Yes he was handreaded. Is it ok for him to be this cautious around me and keep backing up?

Hello everyone!My baby grey is finally home!! He came home yesterday afternoon. First off he is beautiful. He is making noises and climbing all over his cage checking things out. However, he will not let me hold him. Now before this I have only seen him 2 times because the breeder was far away from me. He really doesn't know me and I'm getting very nervous that he will not let me touch him. He backs away from me and will not step up. He is even trying to nip at my fingers. I know this is only the morning of day 2 but am I getting too worked up here? Please help!!

Thanks Everyone for all the welcome messages! I can't wait to get my baby home! I'm sure I will have lots of questions for everyone. Thanks again!

Hi everyone! This is my first time using this website so I am trying to navigate myself around here. I am from Pennsylvania. I am bringing my Congo African Grey baby home this coming Monday August 4. I am very excited but also very nervous! This is the first bird I will own. Does anyone have any advice for me for the first few days at home? What to do and what not to do? All the help I can get is welcome! Thanks Everyone and I hope to hear from you soon. P.S. I still don't have a name picked out so any suggestions would help