LindaMary

OMG Pat I think that is the CUTEST picture I have seen on here. No wonder your birds are all in love with her too....! {Love-0002011E}

Like Judy, I take Maxi to work with me occasionally in her backpack travel cage. When my dad was in a nursing home toward the end of his life, I used to take her regularly to visit (he was a real bird guy), and she developed quite a following among the residents and staff there. And one of the outings which I think we both really enjoyed was that I strapped on her travel cage and walked along next to the middle school band last year in the Memorial Day parade (my daughter plays clarinet). I actually thought the drums might bother Maxi, but they didn't seem to. I will say that at the nursing home I met two nurses who had sibling Congo greys, and they both told me that they would never be able to take their birds out the way I could - way too nervous. They thought it was a TAG vs. CAG thing - there are those that think the Timnehs are a bit mellower in temperament, and maybe that was it. I'm guessing the fact that I started taking her "on the road" very young also had something to do with it tho. Right now I am trying to harness-train Maxi, because her wing feathers are really growing in, but it's R-E-A-L-L-Y slow. She's a stubborn little girl, and does NOT want that thing near her yet!

So glad to hear this news, Sheila! Now the focus is on recovery, and she is also fortunate to have a devoted daughter at her back! Best wishes and prayers coming to you both from all here. And thank you for the update!

That's wonderful news, Erika! I'm guessing the difference is your own change in attitude. Could there have been a part of you that was resenting him, or holding back, when you were making your previous attmpts to make friends? I'm convicned they see right through any facades we have, even if our facades are well-meaning - MUCH better than humans do. Keep up the good work!

Thank you, Jane! As you know - your words were instrumental in encouraging me to proceed with this change in approach, so I think you get some of the credit as well! Good on you in return! B)

I don't know if this might help you, but your state seems to have an auxiliary children's health insirance program: www.arkidsfirst.com/home.htm Ihaven't explored that link - just found it - and I'm hoping maybe it will help you at least lower one brick wall in your equation. You are clearly a very conscientious person in a really tough spot. Keep us posted on how you handle this. We are with you!

Terrific news, Erika! I'll bet you will find that it is NOT just a fluke, because you actually have a new tool in your toolbox. Sure, Bonkers will have some more screaming fits, but now you have a new strategy when he does. You'll probably have to tweak it from time to time to fit different moods, different situations. Do keep us posted on how this continues - and I'm so glad to hear about your peaceful day! See Jane, you have really helped some folks here. Karma to you!

Good for you, Erika - keep us posted! And thanks for sharing that story about Loki, Christina. It's almost eerie how attuned these creatures are, isn't it?

What a great picture, Pat! S/he is so silky-looking! And of course s/he's interested in that outside world: it has so many different feathered friends in it! You are a real inspiration when it comes to integrating new birds into an existing flock. I am looking forward to the continuing saga! And what about names? Any ideas yet?

Good luck, Erika! We are all in this together!

Erika, check out the thread I started on the book Animal Talk. I found Jane08's comments in there very helpful, and maybe you will see a connection to Bonkers, as well. I also recommend the book, BTW. What I think really started to make a difference with Tanner was finding a way to reduce my OWN emotional response to his racket. Even when I didn't openly react (or when I just reacted by ignoring him) it didn't seem to make any difference, and I now think it was because underneath I was actually really tense and annoyed with him. So no matter how much I would speak in what I thought was a "normal" voice with Tanner, I couldn't fool him: I am sure he heard or "read" or could feel my tension and irritation in spite of my best efforts. It was only when I was able to truly change my own feelings about his screeching that I started to really see a difference. It's a pretty amazing thing. Sometimes I also "head him off at the pass", by the way. As in: as SOON as I get home (jacket still on - briefcase still in hand) I go STRAIGHT to the bird room and spend three minutes or so giving profuse hellos and greetings and cheerfulness to both birds. If nothing else, it's good for the non-plussed expressions they get on their fuzzy litle faces ("Hey Tanner, Mom's having another one of her Crazy Days, let's lie low" - "Okay, Max, I'll just sit here and make croaky noises and see if she snaps out of it..."). I'm not sure this would work for other birds, of course!

Hey, thanks, Judy! I just know I'm not alone with this screeching subject! I am lucky to have a grey who makes almost exclusively pleasant or funny noises. Tanner sure makes up for that. When he goes on one of his screech-a-thons, my two domestic shorthair cats suddenly look like Persians! :blink: :pinch: :blink:

Well, it sure is slow, but there is definitely hope! I've been working with my severe macaw, Tanner, for several months now on trying to reduce his screeching, which can really peel the paint off the walls. (There's a bit of discussion of this under the Animal Talk thread in this forum...) About a month ago, I had an epiphany which resulted in a little change in my approach - kind of trying out the Relaxation Response when he screeches. When I understood that his screeching, which sounds AWFUL, was really just him trying desperately to get my attention and tell me he loved me, it really helped me quell my own irritation at it. And I could govern my own reaction much better, specifically: silence for 10-20 seconds after his screech, then calling back in a GENUINELY cheerful voice "Hello, Tanner!" ("Hello" is Tanner's primary and clearest human word.) When he responds with "Hello" or his gentler macaw croaks (and also any time he just volunteers those noises), I make a HUGE fuss over it (even if I'm not in the same room - I just make sure he can hear me saying "Goooood Boooooyyyy! Yay Tanner! Woohoo!") And it is gradually - but NOTICABLY - working! He screeches MUCH less now than a month a go, and makes the transition to speaking or croaking MUCH more quickly. I am SO proud of him! I know he will not give it up entirely, but he seems to be really learning some self-control - and of course he's getting a lot more positive attention because of it. Everybody wins! So for all you folks out there who (like me) can be short on patience: just hang in there! I am now convinced it can be done! Oh and by the way - he and Maxi are now BOTH starting to say "Good Boy!"

Welcome, dreamz - and congratulations on your recent successes! If you check out GusandGloria on this website - Gloria says Gus is a non-talking grey, but a real sweetie-pie.

Oh, I'm just guessing he's going to figure it out allllll by himself! (If his perch is high, he might want a pillow to land on!)

I need a two-part one (a mobile?) for my severe macaw that says "Jekyll" - "Hyde"

Dan! You are so NAUGHTY! {{Holding hands over 13-year-old daughter's eyes...}} :laugh:

What a great toy, Erika! I think Baxter is one stunning handsome fella, too.

Good for you, Kipsie, for being so open to learning and pacing yourself in your plan to adopt a grey. In fact: good for you for planning to adopt a grey - so many formerly-owned birds need good new forever homes! You are going to make a great grey owner someday. And don't be a stranger until you actually have a bird - your interest alone makes you part of this family!

Welcome back, Mali!

What a great story. God bless you. I want to see that video of Louie banking his money, too!B)

Woohoo, Pat - congratulations! I haven't been on much latley either (internet's down at home for some reason), so I've missed a couple of chapters: I know originally you were thinking of raising two and keeping one? Anyway, your new baby is a doll - I know you're excited - and now you have an even eight birds! How about Lucky as a name for this lucky litte birdy? And I'm hanging fire to hear how Tyco and Gizmo react. I LOVE Fergie's respnse!

Here you go, Ms - it's a backpack-style travel cage with a canvas cover. http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/adventure-pack-cage.html

**sigh** I seem to have the only bird I know of that hates boings. Maxi won't have anything to do with hers -even after 18 months! Tanner will at least use it as a bridge to get from one playstand to another. I think maybe it's the adventure pack for Max - because it really opens up her world when I can take her along. She loves it - always steps right in if I open the door. I'm trying to save up to buy a travel pack for Tanner now, too - a challenge with his l-o-n-g tail!

My then-12-year-old daughter does all the animal-naming in our household, and everybody gets 2 names. Maxi is Maximum Nymphodora: Maximum for the main character in the Maximum Ride series of books (about part-avian kids who have escaped from an evil laboratory, basically...) and Nymphodora for Nymphodora Tonks (from the Harry Potter series).