LindaMary

Raposa, check out the thread "Baxter Uses Aviator Harness for the 1st Time" - (still in the live list now) - Erika gave some good tips for making progress with the harness. Maxi's been a notorious harness-phobe, too, but I'm inspired to work a littel harder on it now!

One of the things I actually like about the adventure pack (and some other carriers) as opposed to the acrylic carriers is the fact that it has window-flaps built into the cover, which you can roll down to give the bird a bit more privacy if things are too chaotic in the environment. Like: the bird is with you, but it can be hiding if it seems appropriate.

Well, I just got a call back from my vet, and he says he would recommend one ounce of bleach to a gallon of water - so VERY much more dilute than what I have been using. Obviously I will be changing strategies, starting with my cage-cleaning tonight. I wouldn't be surprised, tho, to hear that other peoples' vets might have a different recommendation, in either direction. Just the little bit of time I've spent looking at things on the web today was enough to illustrate to me that there are opinions all OVER the map out there. (For example, there are several sites that argue that vinegar is simply not an adequate disinfectant for bird cages.) One other alternative to vinegar that looks interesting to me is grapefruit seed extract (again - very dilute). Is anyone using that here? Thanks Erika for shining a spotlight on this subject. I'm still not sure exactly what I'm going to do going forward, but I'm glad to have been shown the degree of controversy that still exists here. And I know at least Mary and I will both be happy to have less bleach around the house.... B)

Exactly, Judy! It's just like when people are talking to them. I get asked often by people "Why isn't she talking back to me?" and of course the answer is usually: "She's busy listening to you!"

OK Erika your experience with Baxter has encouraged me, and I worked on both the birds with their harnesses again last night. Tanner actually let me lay it across his back for about 20 seconds , and Max let me touch her feet with hers - she also reached out and gave it a couple of chews! :woohoo: That is just a HUGE leap for her - I think maybe she has been watching Tanner and me and deciding maybe the Aviator might not be quite The Work Of The Devil she thought it was. I should say they were having an especially mellow night for some reason - I even had one of them on each shoulder for about an hour while we were paying with harnesses and listening to music, and I don't let both of them on me at once very often.

Welcome, Jake! They ARE amazing, aren't thye? In fact your Gus sounds like he's in especially precocious: 12 phrases at 6 months old? WOW! We'll look forward to seeing some pictures of him, too!

That's a smart birdie you have there, dhorje!

BTW what "garbage enzymes" do you use, dhorje? I am curious...

Okay maybe I am going to get pilloried for this, but one of the first books on greys that I read before I got Maxi recommended a 1:10 diluted bleach solution(i.e.: 1 part bleach, 10 parts water) for cage cleaning, and that is what I have ALWAYS used on both my birds' cages! (I think it might have Nikki Moustaki's book...) I have seen no ill effects whatsoever on either bird. Guess I am going to ask my avian vet about it now.

Lisa's picture of Kenya with the rabbit maze block is pretty much what both my birds look like for at least an hour every day lately. Tanner's got the rabbit version (walnut inside), and Maxi prefers the smaller hamster version (hazelnut inside). Tanner's about to get to the nut, but it's taken him almost a month - amazing! And of course when you are tired of chewing on them and trying to pull the sticks out, you can always pitch 'em off the top of the cage and watch Mom pick 'em up! Yeehah!:woohoo:

Welcome back, Tom! Glad to have you back!

Yes, exactly, Steve - that's the way I took it as well. It sounds to me like one of the differences Jane study indicates is that CAGs simply need a longer period of socialization within their family of origin, before being asked to move on to a new family - whereas TAGs are naturally ready to become independent at an earlier age.

Actually, my birds appear to prefer "luke-cool" to ice-old water to bathe in. I used to mist them (using a plant-mister) with water or with aloe vera juice, which is also soothing to their skins, but now I atcually take them into the shower with me - I have a shower perch in there that sticks to the wall with suction cups. I think most here would agree that an even clip is safer for the bird (assuming the bird is clipped at all - sensitive subject...:whistle: ). Topal sounds like he has gone through a lot of loss and upheaval in recent years, and I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him a while to get adjusted. It's wonderful that you have taken him in and are trying to improve his life - you will have to be very patient, but over time you may find he will learn that you are "the good guys". B) Keep the faith! There are lots of threads here with tons of information, so surf to your heart's content. And don't be shy to ask questions - there's almost always someone here who has an answer - or THE answer!<br><br>Post edited by: LindaMary, at: 2009/03/25 21:54

Yes, I have avoided taking Max into groceries or restaurants, because I figured they might well have issues with sanitation - which is totally fair, of course. (And most of them probably don't even know that greys are powder-down birds and hence very dusty!) I hadn't even thought about the potential Teflon issue in bakeries, John - I'm glad you brought that up! I used to take Max back to visit at the store where I got her, but I have since thought better about taking her into any pet stores with me, due to the possibility that she might be exposed to some sort of as-yet-undetected illness in such places. Of course I suppose that could also happen in a vet's office, but the environment is much less controlled in a store.

Welcome back, John! Sounds like Sunshine is that luckiest of pet parrots: one who has a built-in extended family to go to when her owner passes on. We're glad you're back, and looking forward to hearing more and seeing pictures of Sunshine (great name!).

I agree about wearing toys - tho that didn't work for Max and the aviator harness. I am apparently just another Place To Be Avoided if I have that harness looped around my neck or over my head like a hat. She is hard-core!

Oh I am SO sorry to hear about this. My heart hurts for you. Take the time you need to heal: our prayers will be with you.

Hmmmmm - I think Shady's a girl. She has such a cute smile!

Now there's a concept: Max learning from Tanner! Not a bad idea in certain areas, but sssshhhh - don't let her hear you say that! She's a total snob, god bless her - you can just see her looking down her sharp little beak at him, thinking "Gawd, he is so gauche!" I definitely have one prim little egghead and one class clown!

I feel like you, Sheila - Maxi is proving a tough nut to crack where the harness is concerned. So far she won't even let it within a foot of her: if I drape it somewhere to let her get used to it, she just avoids the area where I put it. I think I may get one on Tanner earlier - he's much more of a touchy-feely kind of a guy when he's having one of his good-hair days, and he's not afraid to play with her harness (or his own) when I drape them over a playstand or cage bars. But with Max's flight feathers growing in and the New Englnd snows finally beginning to recede, I'd really been hoping I would have made more progress with her by now. I'm going to watch that youtube video and see if it helps. Meanwhile, thank you Erika for your tips and for those GREAT pictures of Baxter the Awesome!{Feel-good-000200BB}

That sounds like a wonderful place, She! I really believe little details like that can have a HUGE effect on any sort of healing process. To me, it's an example of chaos theory at its best work ("sensitive dependence on initial conditions") - where tiny details in a person being made to feel comfortable and cared for can really energize and strengthen the immune system. I'm so glad to hear the radiologist feels the prognosis is good for your mom. Thanks for keeping us posted!

I thought this was a really interesting article on some possible sources of the oft-perceived difference in temperament between Timnehs and Congos. I hope I am not infringing on Jane Hallander's copyright by posting a link to her article here - (if so, I am sorry, Jane!) don't really know how that works on the internet. Anyway - I'd be curious to know peoples' reactions! http://www.parrothouse.com/congotimineh.html

That's a great idea Jen (paper-towel wrapping)- I think I'll try that with my aviator harness. Maybe it'll help Maxi feel a bit less threatened by it. She just loves to shred paper.

I like what I call Maxi's "wooka-wooka" noise - it's like the sound often used in a cartoon when a character does a multiple double-take, or the sound you'd get when you whip a thin piece of metal back and forth. I actually taught it to her with sort of a whispered whistle, but she does it MUCH better (and louder) than I do. I also love the water-droplet noise, which come to think of it, I haven't heard in too long....again: I taught it to her, but hers is MUCH better than mine. I spend a fair amount of time praying that she doesn't decide she likes Tanner's paint-peeling severe macaw screech...:whistle:<br><br>Post edited by: LindaMary, at: 2009/03/25 16:33

Welcome here, Storm and Stormpapa! Glad you finally emerged from lurkerdom! Storm sounds like a hoot - we'll look forward to hearing more about her and her antics!