Versatile

He's a Congo, around 4 years old. He's decently sized and looks healthy (although, I *hate* it when he plucks out his back feather once in while) I'll see if I can post a pic of him soon. Thanks for the good advice Rrrma~ I'll be looking at those sites and if you have any other ideas, feel free to let me know. And on Kevin - I'll let you know if I end up giving him away anywhere near there; It might not be for half a year after all. I actually want to get to know the people the people that are going to take after him - that's all. I bit too much to ask? =\

Hi. I wasn't too sure on where to exactly put this, so I put it here! I'm 17 - going off to college *next* year. And I'm pretty much the only reliable/good owner of my African Grey. My dad bought him - but abandoned him right after, so I started taking care of B.G./Baka Grey. Right now I'm looking for a grey parrot rescue center to have someone adopt him - and I'm wondering where to find one in my area? As I'm getting into college it's becoming harder and harder to actually take great care of B.G. - and when I get out of college things will ONLY be tougher. I have a year to get to know B.G.'s future owners and sort all of this out. Might any of you have suggestions?

"NO! Don't leave me. =["

I just might try it! I suspect they're full of sugar, though... =\

Thank you, luvparrots, for the karma. I'll figure by the end of the week we should be set in terms of Baka. I'll have a basic idea of what to do by them - in the meantime I'll be around~<br><br>Post edited by: Versatile, at: 2010/02/03 01:03

I'm sorry guys, but my mom harshly said no to the request on sending Baka to the vet. I wish I had money and a car to do this. I will soon, but time isn't always on Baka's side. I'll look for daily essentials three and gather money and trip for the vet. Shouldn't take more than by next Saturday. Baka is being good again anyway, as I've been sitting and eating with him + giving him more exciting foods at more times of the day. It's VERY pleasing. I'll give him another bath tomorrow. Will be back~

I live in NY. I really, REALLY would adore bringing Baka 'upstairs' so that I could eat and hang out with him, but I can't. My mom has this insanity where she goes around cleaning EVERYTHING and just ends up cleaning things that were a few seconds outside. She freaks at the thought of seeing all these feathers fly around upstairs. ... I was thinking, maybe a small (but not too small) cage up near a selected section that there's usually traffic and keeping him there a couple hours a day. Then I would take him out and put him back downstairs, and I would vacuum and 'clean' everything my Baka left behind. Won't Baka make too much noise? He's already noisy, and he's soooo loud when he starts up and does it for a while downstairs. ******************************** I'll take him to a vet this Saturday - ask for a nutrient test (or whatever anyone here cares to offer). Tonight I'll ask my mom if I can get a designated cage for Baka and let him stay 'upstairs' for a little while a day, I'll pay for the cage. I'll *try* to find him some pellets or something soon. Seems like most of you oppose supplements. I'm not stupid, I won't overdose him. He means a lot to me, so I would never act reckless on him. Just saying~

I'll try and take him to the vet this weekend. But like I've said before, both doctors and vet have almost never significantly helped me figure out my health problems (or my bird's problems) or help treat it. I somewhat loath doctors. I'm searching in the meantime.

He hasn't LOST his appetite, rather, it's becoming lost and I have to sit with him there to eat. I think it's more an emotional problem - poor B.G. is never let upstairs (where me and my parents live - but the basement is kept nice and clean by me). Starting today I've been sitting down and eating with him on my own time. For food I offer him almonds, usually roasted, peas, corn (which I'm adding coconut oil to - he doesn't seem to mind), seeds, and egg yolks. I seldom feed him fruits, as they're expensive and my parents oppose. Perhaps dried fruit. Just how much food should he be eating a day? B.G. is usually hyper (TOO hyper) so he almost never seems sick. But I know he has some problems with magnesium and calcium because he doesn't eat much of these. I have bad health trouble too, so I see some of his health problems in me and I know what to supplement with. That's why I'm here - to figure out the SAFE upperlimits. I'll try to set up an appointment, but usually that never gets me anywhere. I've learned to take care of myself and others from research, unless its an emergency. This is how I'm healing from my own health problems. =P

Usually my bird gets by fine, his feathers alright intact, and his feces always perfect. But then, there are times when I'm concerned about B.G. (Baka - Baka means foolish in Japanese - Grey, my bird), because he'll just completely skip meals. I'm only 17, my parents bought B.G. without really reading anything up on him. I saw that he was starting to get a bit sad (plucking, poor diet, etc) so I took after him. It's been years without serious problems, but now I see he's starting to lose appetite. I'd like to ask if anyone knows how much vitamin D and other nutrients my bird needs for optimalhealth. Just how should I go about giving it to him, if he doesn't really drink water or eat much either? I'm giving him a bath once a week, under the supervision of my mom. I'm also giving him coconut oil today and couple weeks before. P.S. Is an African Grey's system similar to human's system on processing foods?

If it really isn't too late, keep in mind you shhould never scream at your Grey for doing that. That's almost as good as reinforcing it. Try to get a beginner's book/Internet article on Greys from somewhere and read the section on biting. Show it to your parents too.

I never knew there was such a thing. I've thought and joked about it, but I never thought it was actually in production. :laugh: I'm not making fun of you for trying to use it, by the way. It actually sounds like a good experiment.

Ah, I feel very welcomed. Haha, thanks guys, I'll definately set up an appointment.

Looks like I'll have to pull out my savings for this. Thanks. Oh, and by the way, thanks and gave you karma. ^^

I've had him for around 2 years now. I've taken him to the vet and have always been under the impression that that vet knew what he was talking about when I spoke to him. I'm in Queens, New York. I get the idea of what I have to do. How much would that be?