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If you think thats a long wait, I went to Kenya in Nov 2006 and I am still trying to edit my videos and put music to them. I havent a clue.My nephew is a computer fanatic and has degree in it every time I ask him for help he just laughs and tels me I will work it out. I am so frustraited. I am thinking of phoning a mobile computer buff to sort it out but it will cost a fortune.

Their are some pics of Blue on my home page.Thanks lovemygreys for the link.I will take some more pics next week. Blue is fantastic, just need to convinse Charlie. Mind you he has always been ok with him. I would love to put the two greys in the aviery but Blue has never been in an aviery and I cant risk him getting hurt or upset so thats out.

yes I hope charlie follows blues good examples, just hope he does not pick up the swear words.At the moment charlies worst is "Ill batter you" and I hope to keep it that way.I will put some photos of blue on my profile page,not sure how to do that in a post.

Hi everyone. Thought you would like to know that on Sunday I am having Blue to stay for a few weeks. Blue is a 40 odd year old grey and is like a family heirloom. He was brought back from Africa by my cousin 40 0dd years ago when he went to see with the navy. It was allowed then. Blue was almost certainly wild caught but is one of the lucky ones. He has had the same owner all his captive life and has never had any behavioural problems. Infact he is more savy and together than my own hand reared grey Charlie Blue has seen and done it all. The first time I had him stay was a challenge as he hated me with a vengence,major operation cleaning and feeding and growling and lungeing when I went near the cage. By the time he went home though he was much better. I have had him many times since and he loves me now, just makes himself right at home and enjoying a head scratch. He really does seem to remember where he is and obviousely does not feel stressed or strange.He had a hugh vocab when younger most of it I could not write hear,he is not called Blue for nothing. Now his main saying is hello my old mate. Charlie is not impressed when Blue stays but seems to tollerate him. Blue just seems to regard charlie as a young nuisance.I keep them apart but they can see and hear each other.Blue is very well behaved. He goes in his cage on command You only have to say get in Blue and he does. Infact I taught Charlie to do this by letting him see blue do it and giving him a treat when he does it right.Its so funny because when I say get in to Charlie the cockatiel Cracker shouts it as well and really tells him off shouting come on get in hurry up get in. I am looking forware to Sunday.I am also off work next week so should have fun with the birds. .<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2008/08/21 21:24

So sorry about your dog. I know its awfull,been their and wore the t shirt with cats dogs horses and birds. Still I come back for more. I am also in a delemer about Paint and wood preserver. I want to Put some wood preserver on the aviery but am scared stiff incase I harm the birds. They dont live in the aviery so could be kept away for a while.I am going to ask the vet for advice.

I forgot to say that with regards to Zahzus chest get the vet to check her out although you may think she has not done much damage an xray will confirm this and also prescribe the pain medication if needed.She will at the very least be bruised and tender.

Poor little bird. With regards to pain management when my grey Charlie damaged his wing the vet put him on a painkiller called metacam.I think it really helped him.The vet increased the dose I was giving him after a few days when it was not helping. Maybe your vet could prescribe some for your bird if needed.It is horrible to see a bird fall like that and I am sure you are as shaken as the bird.My grey was clipped for a long while but I only allowed the vet to do it and then it was only a very mild clip and Charlie could still fly, just not gain much hight. The vet was always reluctant and eventually encouraged me to allow the bird to become fully flighted.I am now very glad that he did.Charlie has soon picked up some commands such as on your cage and come hear. I hope all goes well and you all soon recover.

This reply may be a bit late but try the towel game. That is place a towel on your knee ot floor. Let Rio sit on the towel and eat treats off it. Gradually after time gently fold the towel over her stage by stage little by little over time untill she will alow you tohold her in the towel. Maynot work for her at the moment but will be invaluable for any future vet visit.The aim is to get her to trust the towel. I read this in Sally Blanchards happy bappy parrot book.

Hello Ashleymarie. Try taking Rio in to a seperate room from the cage,then practice step up giving lots of praise for the right response.Repeat this in lots of short sessions remembering to praise and NOT step the bird up quickly from hand to hand.I usually practice the down command at the same time ie I place the bird on a perch or chair back using DOWN then I ask him to step up and then repeating the down. I only do this a few times and its praise and treats all round.It sounds to me she may be a bit teritorial. Be firm but always kind

HI lOKI IS A REAL CUTE BIRD. My little cockatiel cracker did not come from the best of breeders, infact I should not have entertained him. My heart ruled my head and I could not leave him their. I waited three weeks for him and every day was horrible knowing his environment was filthy.Also he was tube fed which I hate. I was told he was weaned AT FIVE WEEKS. I just flew up to get him and got formula on the way. I fed him for another few weeks myself,I had very little experiance of hand rearing but knew a few people who gave me help.Cracker has turned out brilliant.I am sure Loki will thrive. I know he should have been cleaner but he looks well and happy in the photos. The last ones are a hugh improvement.I took Cracker to the vets soon after I got him home and he was given a clean bill of health, but I was carefull for a few weeks to keep him seperate from charlie as much as I could in a small house.Thats just common sence If you have other birds.Good luck

I bet you are so excited,you are really going all out to make your home safe for the lucky baby. Remember to check all toys are non toxic and also his cage. I am thinking of getting a new cage for charlie but he is a pain with all things new. It takes a couple of weeks to introduce toys so a cage will be a nightmare,, I know greys can be like that so I may be in for the long hall.

Thanks steve and misty, Polly was a very special bird,mind you the two I have now are amazing.Love to hear from you again soon

Thanks, its silly but I feel really nervous about it, at 44 years old I should know better

I loved your story about precious,really heart warming,

your baby is so sweet. I have given up on zippers. My grey loves them, the cockatiel is not that bothered,he just wants his head scratched.

The mag is called Parrots I subscribe on the internet.I cant wait to read it myself. It is due any day.

Hi I hand fed my cockatiel for a few weeks and I found he was still asking to be fed long after he needed it. I would slowley reduce the hand feeding but I agree it is handy to do now and again so it is easy to give any medication. My two are quite easy to medicate using a syringe, they treat it as a game.

Hi the artical is titled readers story and it is really just about my birds Charlie the Grey and Cracker the cockatiel,also its a sort of tribute to Polly and Pippin ,two cockatiels who I had for years and years who both died within a short time of each other. Hope you see it and enjoy.

I must just tell you that I have an artical in the readers story of Parrot magazine I think its in the September issue which is due out any day

HI jUST TO SAY GOOD LUCK WITH INDI LET US ALL KNOW HOW YOU ARE GETTING ON

Hello again thanks to the people who have welcomed me to the forum. I have put on some photos of Charlie the grey and Cracker my cockatiel.

While I am online I would just like to remind all bird lovers about the dangers of heavy metal poisoning.I got Cracker when he was very young to help me get over loosing my two 15 year old cockatiels Polly and Pippin. I had also had them from chicks. I got Cracker and Charlie an aviery last summer and I was thrilled at being able to let them out in the fresh air and sunshine. Within 4 days of getting the aviery Cracker became very ill. He was vomiting,very listless and just so ill. I rushed him to my vet who imediately xrayed him and sure enough he had particals of metal in his crop and gizzard. The vet started treatment right away but told me the out look was not good.I had not long lost my two old cockatiels through old age and kidney failure so I was devistated. Cracker was only a baby.The vet also had me bring Charlie in right away for xrays to be on the safe side. Thank God Charlie was fine, but Cracker was in the vets very ill and with a bleak future ahead.The vet even took him home with him as he was so worried and wanted to treat him during the night if need be. I think the vet was being so cautious because he had just put my other two birds to sleep within 8 weeks of each other. I contacted the company who supplied the aviery and to cut a long story short they were not interested. Trading standards would not do much because it it was a bird and not a person who had been poisoned. I had the wire checked and found out it was imported from China. I was fuming. The company who supplied the aviery were also having problems with other client and stopped trading or at least under the same name. I had to get another company to replace all the wire and I must say they were fantastic.I have the birds insured so was able to claim most of the vet bills back.Cracker was with the vet for over a week but thankfully made a full recovery and is now a lively and very talkative bird. So every one be very carefull when getting your birds toys and such, always get the best.

HI I am new to this group but would like to introduce myself and my pets.I am a 44 year old Liverpool girl and am looking forward to talking to some of you. I have two birds, a congo grey called Charlie and a cockatiel called cracker. Charlie came to me five years ago from an elderley couple who could not cope with him. He was about 7 months old when I got him and I can say he has been a fantastic pet, well most of the time. I have lost count of tv remote controles he has killed, he really has a thing for them. Cracker is a grey male cockatiel and a real character. He is now 20 months old and i have had him since he was about 5 weeks old. He was hand reared and I would go to see him a few times a week untill I was told he could come home. I soon realised,after a matter of hours that he still wanted feeding so for the next few weeks I became mum. He is as mad as a hatter.I have an aviery in the garden for them to get some fresh air.They take it in turns to go out as I would not be able to keep cracker away from charlie