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Does anyone know of any bird behaviour classes anywhere close to me in Liverpool uk. This is a subject I am interested in as I wish to know more about bird body language and habbits in general.Sheila

I am glad Tango has settled in ok. I am sure you will soon have lots of stories of your own to tell us all, I cant wait. Sheila

I am so glad things are getting back to normal. Sheila

Well done Ashley.I wish more people would give it as much thought before taking on a parrot. You made the right choice for you. Sheila

Go for it Pat.Gizmo needs a home and I am sure his present owner will be relieved he has found one.Take that drive, Go get him.

Fantastic photo. These birds are so funny, loved the caption aswell.

Loved the video. My tiel does the same,he can spend ages in his little paper tent.

Pippin is so cute.Cockatiels are fantastic,I cant fault them.My tiel is called Cracker and is a real character.He is a big bird in a little body.He can talk for England.

Hi my name is Sheila. OOPs sounds like the start of an aa meeting.Dam the secrets out.

Hello Gavin, Clare and Harvey. love the picture.I had a tiel called Pippin aswell. hope you like it hear.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2008/10/19 12:40

I cant go against a vet but it seems from your last post that you feel things are not right. I am with you on this. As I said in a previous post it is a balance between sleep and company. If you feel a 9.30 cut off is wrong, have h alf an hour with Monty before putting him to bed.I do not use a sleep cage but I do cover my birds up. I personally feel its best. It prevents draughts in winter and lets the bird know it is sleep time. I would never cover up of a day. I would relax your regime a bit if it is worrying you. I love my grey to be with me of an evening when I am on late shift and come home.Sometimes it is only for an hour but I feel it is quality time and he settles down for a cuddle on some occasions. From what the vet said, Monty is not plucking so drastic measures are not called for.Sleep is important to a grey but I feel not at the expense of companionship. Relax and find the right balance. you are not happy with the situation so let him stay with you for a bit longer. say 11.00 so you have some time with him if that feels better for you.Enjoy Monty.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2008/10/18 23:28

My vet phoned me up a few month ago and asked me if I would take a grey free of charge that had come to the surgery and the owner could no longer keep it.The vet had him in the surgery and I was very very tempted.I thought about it over night and came to the conclusion that I tould not take this bird. I just did not have room for 3 large cages in the living room and I knew the chances of housing 2 greys together was unlikely. It can be done as you know but it takes a lot of time and depends on the individual bird.If you are sure you have the room and time not to mention money to keep the two birds in the knowledge that they may not get along then go ahead. If you do, get as much history of the bird as you can . Sheila

Well, its Saturday so you must be over the moon. Please let us know how it goes and some photos if you can. Hope your husband gets a big thankyou. Sheila<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2008/10/18 12:18

Sorry you got such a nasty bite.My advise is similar to what you have already recieved.Parrots need ground rules to be set at an early age rather like a child.At two your grey is exerting his bid for dominance,it is quite common. Step up should be learnt at a very early age so that when this time comes you have a bird who is no stranger to being asked what to do.It is not too late to start.First off it will not happen over night. Step1 get your confidence back. feed him treats by hand and interact by talking to him and whistles,changing feed dishes, cleaning his cage.Do not let him close to your face or shoulder. step2 Have a stand or perch ready in another room to his cage that he is not familiar with.Take him to this room and place him on the stand.Using a suitable stick/perch place this in front of him saying step up or on or up anyone will do as long as you use just one all the time.I say use a stick as you may not wish to offer your hand just yet. Have treats at hand and as you give the command with the stick close to his feet and chest,lure him forward onto the stick with the treat. Some may say press the stick to his chest to encorage him,this is another way but I feel coaxing will work better for you.If he even raises a foot towards the stick lavish him with praise,good boy, clever bird,ect and give him a small treat.If he shows any sign of biting ignore it completely at all cost.Is he clipped.I would not normally sugest this but it would help a lot. If you get him clipped have a vet do it.After a few sessions he should get the hang of stepping on to the stick for a treat at the command. step 3 when he is stepping on to the stick consistantly,move your hand closer and closer to his feet on the stick untill he is stepping on to your fingers on the stick. gradually fase out the stick and replace with yout hand. step4 when he is stepping onto your hand from the stand move the stand to the room with the cage and practice their.If he goes back in training go back a stage. step5 ask him to step up from the top of his cage.with hand or stick step5 ask him to step up while in his cage. At all times give the one consistant command and offer a reward. Totally ignore any biting or bluff threats from him.Do these little training sessions in short bursts a couple of times a day.Try to end on a good note but dont persue a lesson if it is going drastically wrong,just go back a stage next time. I wish you luck with this,it can be done.Keep us informed of your progress. Sheila

I hope you get this sorted. I do feel he is ok. Was aspergilosis mentioned as the cause of your bird passing away. Has your vet checked for this and calcium deficiencey.Just more guess work im afraid.

If your vet has ruled out illness,look at any psychological reasons.Has anything changed in his suroundings.This could be anything from a new cage, new toys,feed dishes ect to more obscure changes such as new furniture,curtains,carpet, pictures and so on. Has his routine changed in any way, are you working more or less. Has anything changed about you, your hair or anything.It could be linked to his hormones as the vet sugested.Keep a close watch on him and his weight. It sounds as if the vet has done all the normal checkes.Greys are moody critters at times and it could just be this. I too would like to know why your other grey passed away,could provide a clue. What is his diet like? Sorry I cant help any more,it really is a guessing game. Good luck and if you can provide any more information I will have another go at helping. Sheila

Great tip Toni. I have had a few now and again and will give it a go.

Research is so important when getting any pet, especially the exotics such as parrots. If only everyone did this we would have far fewer parrots in rescue situations or living a misserable existance.I am always made up when I hear of someone taking the time to learn about the pros and cons of parrots and the care they need. Sheila

I have just read the link fairymyst sent and will not be using any man made sleeping huts.Charlie would not use one any way and Cracker is happy with his paper and coconut shell.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2008/10/17 21:24

Love the pictures.No way could I leave my two out when I am not in.I just know it would be a disaster waiting to happen.My tiel is like a guard dog,he shouts at the top of his voice when anyone comes up the drive.He really hates the post man and goes crazy when he sees him.Who needs a pit bull.

No I dont use one for my grey. My tiel adores getting under the newspaper for a nap and I think he would love one. The tiel also when in the aviery goes in to the sleeping part of the aviery through a little door and sleeps in a hollowed out coconut that is hanging up.Does any one know if sleep boxes cause nesting behaviouir? They seem like a sort of nest box, but then I dont see it as a bird would.

Tuki is beautiful. I love to see birds outside.

Hi. The cage for your grey is your choice.You must live with it. I prefere a bird to be a bit older before wing clipping but as yours has been clipped already just be careful incase he/she has a falls.Putting an old rug under the cage is a good idea. Also if the bird appears a bit unsure in the cage, a folded towel or blanket on the base will help soften a fall,you can cover this with newspaper. Good luck and keep us all informed of your greys arrival home.

HI Tony. Try the introduction in neutral territory.A room they are both not too familiar with would be great. Supervise them very closely. Do this on a number of occasions untill both are ok. then try the meetings in the room where the cages are.You may not get them to be friendley in the same cage,greys can be teritorial. Be carefull if you are handling both birds at once,this can also be a flash point. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Sheila

Welcome.Hope you find the advice you need hear.