LindaMary

I love hearing your stories about Gizmo, Pat! He sounds like such a lovable guy! And I am getting so many ideas from you on things to try with Tanner along the way ... I'm going to go update my Tanner thread and not take up yours with my details (cuz I know you'll read it anyway;) ) but I just wanted to THANK YOU for beng such an awesome birdmommy model and sharing your tricks with us! And BTW Erika: you have a new baby, too? How'd I miss this?

I just break off chunks and hide them in Maxi9's oatmeal or other frsh foods. It is one of her FAVORITE fresh foods. Fortunately I have laminated photo panel on the wall behind her cage!

What's amusing about this to me is that when we first got our rabbit, the pet stores locally had NO rabbit toys: just food and hay etc. So I actually bought our bunny a couple of parrot toys! (He liked them, too...) So it works both ways. I don't know why it hadn't occurred to me to try it the other way around (***duhhhh***) Thanks for turning on the lights in my brain, Penny! B)

Looks like great minds think alike on this one, Pat!

Thanks, Dave! As usual, you have even answered questions I hadn't thought to ask. What would we do without you?

Can anyone tell me?

Hey y'all, I was just looking around and discovered these nets are on sale for what looks like a pretty good price to me at www.parrot-and-conure-world.com.

That's great, Amberly: sounds like the training they recommend for the avaiator harness, too. Are you planning to use one of those? I love Woody saying "3" as soon as you start :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: - what a card!

At this point I am hoping to bring Tanner home Thanksgiving weekend: ideally the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (which happens to be my birthday ) Judging from the DHL tracking links I think his cage will be arriving next week, and I think I should be able to pay the store in full by then, too. I thought it would be good to bring him home on an occasion when I have a long weekend so I can spend extra time with him as he settles in. Re: that picture of the pied severe in the link you sent: is that actually REAL? If so: *eek!* I guess I'm a purist, I love the severe's traditional coloring, just as I love the greys' - I think both look downright elegant. That poor critter looked to me like it fell in a vat of tomato sauce...What do you think?

Hey thanks for the update! Tolerance is better than aggression, in any case! Has Woody's attitude toward you changed at all? Is he still as affectionate with you as he was before?

How often do Timnehs usually molt, after their first big molt?

Well, this week it's "Hi Cutie", "Hey girl", "Thank you" and the noise an almost-empty squeeze-bottle makes.

I don't know what country you are located in, but I am wondering whether there are authorities who might intervene here. In the USA I would definitely be contacting the Humane Society about this situation. What about other peoples' reactions? Surely you are not the only person who has passed by this storefront and noticed an animal in distress. I would think many people who are not even really attuned to parrots and their needs would notice the negative body language of the bird. Suggestions, folks: what's the best way to communicate to this shop owner that his abused parrot is a detriment to his business, rather than an attraction?

Don't worry, whiteflower - they all pick their own schedules. Just when I'm about to decide that Maxi isn't going to talk much she decides she'll say four new phrases in a week. (She's about 20 months old now...) Like you: I'll love her even if she doesn't talk much - but they are all different: some simply like noises better, some like whistling, who knows what they will pick? Keep the faith: your baby is VERY young - there's all the time in the world!

What a wonderful thing to do, zooman. Soon as I can give karma agaon, you're getting some...

Oh, I think you are all set, then, DJ! I really think birds are totally okay with road trips - my budgie got driven all over half the country, and Maxi is also just fine with a drive. The main thing is that they feel like (1) they are safe (no drafts, no predators, enough food & water...) and (2)you are there. After that, it's all good !

Hi Wisewun1! I haven't moved with a grey, but I have several times with a budgie (sorry I know NOTHING about conures!):unsure: I don't know how far you are moving : are you driving? flying? My moves with a budgie were by car: from Maine to Texas and back. I really just worried about drafts and loud noises. My budgie was completely okay with it all: his cage was on the car seat next to mine (strapped in of course). A vet (not an avian vet) suggested I squeeze a grape a day into the bird's water - sure didn't seem to hurt him, but who knows what it did for him. My point is: ask an avian vet for suggestions. Otherwise, I would expcet your birds will be most comfortable the closer they are to you: like if you can talk to them regularly and reassure them that all these strange noises and things are okay. Good luck - keep us posted !

How 'bout that, joking - luvparrots is even offering a backup plan! (Knowing her, she's solid on that, too.) When you can, let us know how your thought process is going. We all know what a big decision this is for you and your new husband, and I'm guessing I speak for the lot of us when I say we really respect how carefully you are approaching the re-commitment. Precisely because you are showing us that careful consideration, I am rooting for Paco to join you again. (Can't help myself....)

Hey SteveLaura1, welcome to the forum! I give you credit for joining here before you've even adopted a bird, and asking such sensible questions. You've had some great advice in this thread already. I just thought I'd add a couple of things. I have recently gone thru the process of trying to estimate the monthly cost of keeping my Timneh African Grey (who admittedly is pretty spoiled), because I was trying to decide if I could afford another bird. (I keep track of my money in an accounting program, but my category divisions need some work.) Averaging 14 months of data, I ended up guesstimating my TAG's monthly maintenance expenses at about $90: that includes vet visits, food, toys and fresh food. (I'm trying to work with the fact that I didn't really adequately separate my accounts between my TAG and two cats and a rabbit - so I think the average range could realistically be anywhere from $60 to $120...). Just one more issue: I don't know how old you are, and I don't mean to be morbid, but please think about making some backup plans for the care of your (possible) grey, in case it ends up outliving you! (I am an older adopter, so this is a fact of life for me - my best-case scenario is that my bird will outlive me!) Just because it has feathers, weighs a pound or so, and has an axe on its face for life doesn't mean it's not really your child. The same advance planning needs to take place: for child or bird. Good luck to you! I hope we are not discouraging you, but only contributing to your thought process!

cflanny, I don't know how the sun accesses the are you have ZZero in inside, but here's my experience. Maxi's cage is in a room that has skylights, but I was careful NOT to place the cage right under the skylights, and I'm glad I took that precaution. Because I do notice that when she is out of her cage, she is keeping a sharp eye on those "holes in the ceiling", and I know that she sees every little tiny con-trail 5,000 feet up and of course every bird no matter how high it's flying. She really prefers not to be right under the skylights, it's obvious. So if Zzero seems to be afraid of the sun, I would suggest you take a really close look at the sky when she's spooking, because when Maxi spooks and I take a really good look, I ususally notice either a hawk circling REALLY high up,or an airplane, so tiny I can hardly see it. Their vision is amazing!

I think that's a great idea, Pat! Maybe you should try the same trick with other veggies, now, too, like parsley or lettuce. Thanks for the tip! You are so creative!

I'm so glad to hear that Gizmo's health report is coming out well so far! ANd thank youso much for your detailed updates on his behavior, how that's progressing,and what you are doing specificlalyto help him along. I'm looking forward to the next installment!

Well not only do you have photobucket licked, but that's a pretty amazing first run at making a playstand, if I understand you correctly. It looks terrific! If you guys keep this up I'm going to start imagining that even I might be able to put together a junior version of another playstand (to replace or supplement my store-boughten one that Maxi is really not all that nuts about - she only wants to sit on its top perch...) Great job Jan! Thanks for sharing that with us! And by the way Patrick : thanks for starting this thread with the blow-by-blow on your great playstands as well!

Welcome, Joking! Luvparrots has given you some great advice. I know I have read a couple of stories on here (wish I could remember from whom...) from people who have gotten their greys back after several years, and the birds definitely remembered them. Go through the thought process that luvparrots suggested, and be sure to include your new husband in the discussion, so he also understands the commitment level involved. I think it would be fair to expect that Paco will need some time to adjust, especially if he hasn't been handled in a while - remember: they are like young human children. But if you had a good relationship with him 7 years ago, I think you would probably be the best person to undertake that rehabilitation process. I hope you and your new husband will come to feel that you are able to take him back. Please keep us posted!

Well, I know my Maxi really HATES the color pink, so it may be that Kaskoo is reacting to the color of the blanket - or he could just be scared of a strange new object in his cage. A question : is Kaskoo's cage outside? Is that why you are so concerned about the season change? If so, how cold does it actually get in the winter in Kuwait?