LindaMary

I just came across this conversation, and I am so sorry to hear of this trial you are all going through! You and Kim and Dayo are all in my prayers.

Max, our TAG, has never done this, but Tanner, our severe macaw, does this all the time. I have even noticed that he will often very gently "preen" any scars or cuts I have on my hands - (some of which he may have made in the first place :angry: - tho he is getting MUCH better about not biting). He is particularly interested in my fingernails and earlobes, too. It's as tho he likes the feel of keratin-on-keratin with the fingernails.

I agree - I love it when Maxi blushes! It turns out that our second parrot, a severe macaw (also with a white face) also has the ability to blush. It's the cutest thing: warm feet and blushing...

Great video, Cait! What a character he is!

Boy, Jen, if you can bring yourself to let these two move on to other homes, you're made of sterner stuff than I am! On the other hand, I can really appreciate the balancing act you must be doing with them and Lyric - especially since they are all flighted! Does Lyric take it out on YOU at all? Your pictures are wonderful, and your greys are all just beautiful! It was a terrific idea of yours to make this timeline for us, with pictures. Thank you!

Thank you, Dave! It's clearly one of Tanner's favorite games. I'm glad to hear it's not some sort of neurotic acting-out that I should be concerned about. If it just means he wants to play, that's fine with me! (He also likes to hang by one toe from the top of the cage and spin in circles - spot on...!)

I wouldn't even have felt I could get Maxi if my daughter Mary (age 12 at the time) hadn't said she'd help out with her and take her over when she has outlived me. It turns out that for now at least, I do almost all of the "bird work", and both Maxi and Tanner are primarily bonded with me. But Maxi has always willingly gone to Mary also, and I honestly think she is becoming more even more fond of Mary as Tanner (who joined us about two months ago) settles in and Max has figured out that she has to share me with him. Mary's enjoying the added attention and I notice she's helping with Maxi more now, too. Maxi also readily steps up on Mary's best friend (my semi-second-daughter) Brianna, and depending on her mood she may also go to my mother (who would love to have her any time, but is still a bit nervous about her beak.) She will go to certain other people too - it's always interesting to see who she picks and who she'll have nothing to do with. Tanner still doesn't really want to be on anyone but me, but he will go to Mary if we really insist, and has never bitten her (tho he has bitten me). Everyone else is too afraid of his bigger and very black beak to try him...:unsure:

For anyone who may know, I am curious about a posture my severe macaw often assumes. He will hang by his beak from one of the horizontal bars on the side of his cage, completely letting go with his feet (he just curls them up to his belly.) Then he repeatedly sort of flicks or half-flaps his wings, and periodically vocalizes - not a screech (his mouth is full of bar, after all), but sort of a squeaky squawk. The first few times he did this I interpreted it as just clowning around, but it's something he does a lot of, especially when he first sees me in the morning or after I've been out of the room for awhile. Is anyone familiar with this? Maxi (my grey) never does this routine, by the way.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

For Maxi, the demon color is bright pink or fuchsia. She has always hated anything that color. You are not alone, Caroline!

I feed the whole flower for those three. She actually seems to like the nasturtiums best, and I love 'em, too. In addition to having a pretty range of yellows through oranges and reds, they grow well in poor soil (which I have plenty of), require almost no maintenance, and have coin-shaped leaves so according to the feng shui folks they should bring money into the home. B) (Really like that last part...) Nikki Moustaki's "African Grey Parrots" also lists the following as safe flowers for our buddies: African Violet Begonia Bougainvillea Christmas Cactus Dandelion Dogwood Gardenia Kalanchoe Magnolia Marigolds Roses White Clover

I feed Maxi nasturtiums, petunias and hibiscus, Erika.

WOW, Carolyn! Great post! Keep 'em coming as you find them!

Thank you, thank you, Dave - the Voice of Reason speaks again. And thank you, Carolyn, for starting this particular thread on this much-belabored topic - I found your comments very thoughtful as well!

This is just a heartrending story. I know how hard you tried with Shadow, and I am at least glad that you now have an explanation for all the frustration you went through. I know that doesn't help much with the pain. Please keep us posted about any steps you take to shut down this criminal's operation. You are a determined lady, and knowing you you will at least win one for the birds.

Interesting post, Mingus! I agree with Carolyn on the checking-with-a-vet, but you may have already done that. Maxi also enjoys nibbling on nasturtiums, petunias and hibiscus from my garden. I haven't checked out lilies, tulips, iris and daffodils, but will find a few of those in her bowl this spring if they're okay.

{Feel-good-0002006E} OMG Dave you are too much. Now I'm just going to have to try this on the next call telemarketer that calls me...:evil: :laugh: :evil:

This is a great thread, mixtressariadne - karma to you for starting it! I love your pictures of Bella and Zeus - and yours, luvparrots of Ana and Lily! Kinda hard to compete with Dave's grey sitting on the pointer's tail :laugh: - but what different categories! Maxi's just getting used to her "new" (since 2 weeks ago) roommate, Tanner, a severe macaw who is sometimes pretty noisy. Tanner's very smitten with me and needy at present, and she's really being a lady about sharing space with him, tho the expression on her face when she watches him is often sort of "What undignifed behavior! Hmph!":P By contrast, she and the albino Rex bunny seem to like each other - he can often be found under her cage, and she likes to hang out on top of his. I have a picture of this, but it seem to be too big to post here - still trying to figure it out...)(Tanner will also chase the bunny around...) The cats - well - neither of them is at ALL trustworthy, tho the older one at least knows he'd be in trouble if he ate a family member, so they are very strictly monitored. I was very interested in what Dave had to say about which animals get along with which - it does make a lot of sense. They DO make sense, you know - even if we have to watch them a lot to figure ot what the logic is... BTW, check out SweetFX's threads on here about her Great Dane and Rexxy - I love this little family and its stories!

Yep - certainly looks like it, she.

Somebody once defined a parrot as "a flying toddler with an axe for a face". Yikes - your mother is a trooper!

I think he looks very relaxed! Aren't you glad you made the plunge? I still can't convince Maxi to sit anywhere but the top branch willingly, but she does love to hnag out up there, and it's so handy to be able to roll it around to different rooms in the house. Merry Christmas, Charlie!B)

Hi Rosie, I am sorry to hear that you feel you must sell your grey. Maybe I'm going to be out of line here, but from what you describe of the relationship you have with the bird, I find myself wondering why you feel you need to give him up. It sounds like you really love each other, and it sounds like he does get attention from you when you are there. I guess the comment that first made me wonder was when you said that when other people come over "he doesn't like it and just sits there quietly". Maxi often just sits there quietly when I have guests, but I don't interpret it as her not liking it: I think she's just listening to everyone - just as she does when a stranger talks directly to her. I found myself wondering whether you might be worrying too much about his needs. What arrangements do you make for him when you are away? I realize this is an emotional decision for you - and please don't feel you need to reply to my comment directly. I am just wondering whether the situation is really so dire that you need to give him up. He doesn't sound like an unhappy bird at all to me. I wish you the best in whatever you decide.<br><br>Post edited by: LindaMary, at: 2008/12/26 15:46

Erika: you are not a Crazy Bird Lady - you are a living, breathing Bird Tower! Thanks, guys, for the input! I hesitate to give myself any credit, but I'm just so delighted with their progress. It's not like Tanner doesn't still have his screech-a-thon moments, or his nip attacks, but they really are settling down. I just LOVE Maxi's approach - she is being SUCH a lady: interested, but reserved. They both chewed wood toys to bits while watching me wrap Christmas presents this afternoon - a new one for Tanner, who hung by one foot for what must have been 1/2 an hour. Can't wait to get our tree up in the next day or two (right now we are in the middle of a blizzard) - that'll get him going, I'm sure!

John - delighted to hear you found an avian vet (on a Sunday!) and have started treatment. Good for you and keep us posted! Just out of curiosity: does Tonks get her name from the Harry Potter character? Because Max's middle name is Nymphodora (sic!). So glad you have joined the forum!

I think you are wise to be looking for an avian vet. It looks angry! Please let us know how this proceeds. And welcome to the forum, Tonksdad.