she

omg they are fantastic.I have tried to catch mine on camera flying but they just come out terrible.

Tyco is acting as a parrot,thats brilliant,what can be better than a parrot being a parrot.Adaya can only benefit.I am sure you will keep your fantastic relationship with them both,even if it does change slightly.I would give anything for Charlie to have a little grey feathered friend,so much better for their mind set.

Sorry I cant join this club.Charlie is not a real biter. He has bitten me badley only once,that was when he had an injured wing and in a lot of pain.

Thats fantastic he came out of the cage.Please dont rush things,just let them happen.We are talking weeks maybe months before your grey has adjusted.I am a little concerned about the cats,I recomend you have them in another room when the cage door is open for the birds safety.

Let him go in and out the cage as he wishes. I would just let him settle in for a few weeks before anything.As I understand he is stepping up but screaching as he does so.You are probabley right in respect of this being a fear response,but it has probabley just become a habbit.This can take some time to sort out.For now just leave him to get aquainted with his new home before even thinking of training.You may well find that as he adjusts the screaching will stop. He is feeling very insecure at the moment and has shown this by nipping you.He may not trust you enough yet to step up.When he has settled, ask him to step up on to a stick first and gradually replace this with your hand.If he goes to bite rock your hand a bit,just enough to unbalance him slightly so he concentrates on his balance and not biting.This must be done gently so as not to discorage him from stepping up.For now sit by him and talk to him and offer him treats by hand,dont stare right at him as he may see this as a threat. I share your love of horses,I had a tb/arab and a tb many years ago.

Stephanie I could not agree more.I was one of those people who believed a baby bird would bond better with me.I became Charlies slave when he was 7 months old and his previous owners no longer wanted him. I know 7 months is still a very young bird but we are very bonded.Many people on hear have adopted older greys and have fantastic relationships with them.As you said many cute cuddly babies end up in rescue situations needing good homes.

Your baby is just gorgious.

Charlie is six now and he has matured in to a really nice boy.He is quite willful and very determined to have his own way about things.He is a bit like a teenager going through that rebelious stage.He is not a very cuddly bird but when he wants to we have some very good cuddle sessions,these usually happen before bed time when he is quiet and settled.He has bitten me, but that has always been when I have not taken enough notice of his warnings.He is more likely to just grab my finger and push my hand away, a clear hands off sign.I also got a bad bite from him last year when he injured his wing because he was in pain .He will lie on his back in my hand and play and can do a few tricks but it is all on his terms. You just get to know what the signs are and when you can interact with them.I do think he gets a bit hormonal at times but this just means being a bit more sensative and backing off a bit. I do feel it is important to teach them some commands such as step up so that you can maintain hand controle and tameness as they mature.

Fantastic news, I am so pleased for you.

AnnMarie I am so pleased for you.Far from making a mistake I feel you acted spot on in questioning the suitability of a grey for your home, I wish others were as sensible.Barbera Heindrich is fantastic,you wont go wrong with the dvds. Keep us posted.

You asked if the rewards of owning a grey outweigh the negative side. I will answer you honestley.For me yes it does,but the majority of people who purchase greys very soon find out that they are a constant worry and need far more time and care than they can offer. These greys end up being passed round from home to home which is so hard on these very sensitive complex birds.They form very strong bonds and suffer a lot of the time when moved into a strange environment.Please think of a grey as a life long companion who you must care for and love through life changes you may go through.Marrage, children,home moves,work commitments.Are you prepared for that sort of challenge?A Boa also has its own needs and I have a feeling that its care is more involved than you imagine,I have no experiance of snakes but do know that they need a lot of specialist care to look after them properly.Please look very carefully at both animals before you even think of getting either one.Money, greys cost a fortune to keep and as Pat said very little money is left over once they claim their share.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/05/03 12:42

Wow thats fantastic Janet.You sound like a very very proud mum and grandma, and so you should be, congratulations.

fantastic photos.You have quite a zoo going on at your house.

Hi and welcome.This is a great place to learn about greys.You also meet some wonderfull people.I am off to look at the other photos.

It is hard to say.The lady is not asking you for money up front which is the usual scam.With regards to cotact numbers, ask her directley for her rnumber. If she has just lost her daughter she must be distraught at the moment and probabley not thinking of everything.Try talking to her in person and get a better feeling for the situation.If it progresses any further my advise would be to pick the birds up yourself and have them vet checked asap.Also make sure they are quarantined from any of your other birds..I must say though that if things sound too good to be true they usually are.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/05/02 07:35

I agree that Beau is most probabley practising his speeking voice.

Yes please let us know what the vet has to say.

I am lucky, Charlie does not get on my head,only arms and shoulder.My arm is cut to bits. I done his nails the other night and he was a star. Just let me pick his feet up and trim the very edges of his claws.I still cant get over him letting me.I think a nail trim is in order.or place a pedicure perch where they spend most time for a few weeks.A base ball cap sounds like a good idea,it will either deter them from landing on your head or at least cushion the blow.Also as Dan said wobble your head as they land so it is unstable. Post edited by: she, at: 2009/04/30 20:48<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/04/30 20:51

I wish the poor little bird a full speedy recovery and thanks for the warning.

Mine let me know when it is time for bed.funny that is round about nine aswell Pat.

Carol, TRIPLETS, omg I can just imagine your next update.first one , then two, is it now THREE.

I am glad everything is fine. It did not reach us in Liverpool,thank God.The one we had last year was enough.That one spooked my two but they settled after a while.We are just not prepared for earthquakes in the uk.It would be crazy if we had a serious one.

Well, Blue goes in to his cage on command very easy, I am not sure how my cousin taught him.Charlie learnt to do the same when Blue was staying with me.Blue is so easy..charlie does take a bit of bribary at times,but will step up to be put in without any problem.

Just brilliant.Our birds have such a hard life.

I subscribe to "Parrots" magazine It does offer lots of ideas on feeding and care.<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/04/27 20:25