daludlum

His wings aren't clipped, he is a plucker. He has bad balance anyway and when he is scared, which is always if you are trying to anything with him, he flaps his wings non stop. I think he might want to fly away, or maybe he balances that way??? He has 6 little red spikes right now(tail feathers) if he will just leave them alone, maybe that will help his balance if they grow in. He has one playstand right next to his cage. I let him come and go all the time. I don't shut his cage door. If I am gone or at night, I shut the room door.( their cages are in the office room where I have my computer) His other playstand is in the family room, next to myah's big stand. He seems to like it out there. When I ask him If he wants to go play he lifts his foot to reach for the perch. I always do everything with Myah first and show him, so he sees she is not afraid and she thinks it's fun. That is how I got him to go on the perch at all. At first if I just showed him the perch he would throw himself on the floor. I really don't know how someone could be stupid enough to knock a bird onto the floor, but that is what the original people did to him. I don't blame him for being scared and I know why he is, I just don't know how to help him Thanks for your suggestions. I will hold him closer and see if he is ok with that or not.

No changes that I can think of. I did color my hair, but that was 2 weeks ago. He didn't even seem to notice. I have had him at the vet on Aug 1st. He had a clean bill of health then, but I will call and see what she says about the beak now. You can't see anything by looking at it, and he still eats, but you never know. I always take Myah(my green wing ) first, so he knows what I am doing and I also talk to him about it the whole way. He has been fine, that's why I don't get it. I will call the vet though and see what she says. Thanks again.

Greyson my rescued grey that I have had since July has went backwards in his adjusting to his new home. When I first got him (he was abused) he was terrified of being carried and would throw his self on the floor off the perch I use to carry him. For two months now he has been stepping up willingly and letting me carry him to his play stand and back to his cage. Last night when he stepped up, I had only gone about 2 steps, when he fell hit me in the chest and bounced onto the floor. He hit his beak and the tip was bleeding. This morning he went out to the play stand fine. When I asked him if he was ready for bed he stepped up nicely I got him two feet from his cage and he jumped off, hit the wall and fell on the floor. I walk slow, talk nicely and calmly and I don't know what else I can do. I just makes me actually "sick" when he hits the floor, I don't know how to help him.

Here is a pic of Greyson's pear tree. <br><br>Post edited by: daludlum, at: 2008/09/26 03:01

Thanks guys! I guess I knew that, it's just frustrating. I just need to be happy that he is comfortable with anyone touching him.

HI, I am new here, but the thing I did with my bird, which was abused in the past and has severe fear issues is, I chopped a branch off a pear tree and tied it the the play stand. He loves it. He plays in the branches all day and they are mixed right around the fake branches of the play stand. I tied toys in the branches too and he chews on them a bit too. When I figure out the pic thing, I will post one of him on his tree. Judy told me how to do it, but I tried and can't. I will get my son to do it when he gets home. If you do try the branch thing, of course make sure it is a bird safe branch.<br><br>Post edited by: daludlum, at: 2008/09/25 03:49

My rescued grey.. Greyson, has decided that he will allow my sister and my future daughter in law to pet his head!! That is great progress for him, because at first he would throw his self on the floor if someone tried to touch him, or if he though that they might try... My question is, why not ME??? I love him. I am nice to him. I sit by his cage and do my computer stuff by him, sing to him, carry him on his perch from his cage to his play stand. That is also a big step for him because at first, even if he got on the perch he would always "fall" off before we got to the playstand. He seems happy around me, but he won't speak, and he won't let me touch him. I did hear him talking once, when he thought I wasn't listening... he said "pretty bird, good bird" in a sad depressed voice, that sounded a bit like Eyore on winnie the pooh. That is the only time I ever heard him talk. He is starting to get a few feathers on his chest and a few beautiful red tail feathers!!! Any Ideas on why I can't touch him and how to continue to build more trust. Maybe even teach him to have fun???

I don't say anything to him about it. I do give him a spay bath with aloe water everyday. While I am doing that, I tell him that his feathers are beautiful and the water will help him feel good. He makes little chirp noises when I play with the toys, but if I offer them to him he starts biting his toenails. He likes cheerios, but not enough to come out and get them. He doesn't mind if I put my hands in the cage, to play with toys, change food, and water... just don't try to get him out.

I have been letting Greyson stay is his cage, like you guys suggested... I leave his door open. He seems really happy, but seems he doesn't have nothing else to worry about he pulled all his chest feathers out again and his one long red tail feather. The only one he had. He seems perfectly content though. Eating good, etc...Now I'm the one that's depressed.

What kind of things did you do to help him get past the "cage bound" thing?

Those are both good suggestions. I need to be able to get him out to take him to the play stand, but sure don't want to upset him, or do anything to break his little bit of trust he has.

I have only had my Grey a little over a month. He is 10 years old and has been abused. I am working with him to step up on a perch, he does good now, when he is out of his cage, like on top or on his play stand, but he freaks when I try to get him to step up from inside the cage. Any advice?

It was so nice of all of you to welcome us!!! We got Greyson a new cage and last night was his first night in it. This morning he came right over to me and stuck his head against the bars for a head scratch!!!A little more progress. Looking forward to learning about your birds! Debbie

I will try to figure out how to get the pics on. It may take me a day or two. It will be fun having people to talk to though. Morgan sounds like she/he will be tons of fun and well loved. She is so lucky. Greyson's original owner actually hit him and knocked him of his perch, screamed and threw things at him. So I have a lot to make up to him for his past. I can't for the life of me, figure out why someone would do that. He is a nice little bird. All he does is chews his branches, eats, and naps. He will try to bite, but who could blame him. He steps up on a perch for me. I have not tried it with my hand yet. He has let me scratch his head a couple times, but then he tries to bite me. Oh, well. I can be patient.

ok. Thanks for the info. I enjoyed hearing from you guys!!