Gryphon

Those poor people. You feel a little like you're taking their child away, even if it is for the best. The love is there, they just don't know what they're getting into. I still send Gryph's person emails and photos too, if only to put her mind at rest that she found a good home for him. It makes me feel better as well.

Dave007, thanks for saying that. I've never seen someone so upset as the woman who had to give up Gryphon. It was actually painful to watch her leave him at our house, she loved him so much. Her reasons were the kind I would have been critical of in the abstract, but once you see a real person behind it, that is something else entirely.

It got a great review in the New York Times today. I'm really happy to see her work taken seriously at last. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/books/25kaku.html?ref=books

Hmm. Water doesn't do that on my bird's poop. Unless it is still a little wet to begin with. Maybe he makes special poop! He's a special guy.

Ditto. I was up half the night with an image from that film preview burned in my brain. I support what they do and think people should be informed, but it kills me to see and hear it. And I see injured and poisoned birds at the sanctuary so I think of myself as a little bit tough, in order to get by emotionally. Can't imagine what Gryphon would think!

Argh. Microwave popcorn too? I guess the best way to look at this is if it will kill them it is bad for us. Better to know than not. But still. I love my couch. And my couch loves me. It's a good relationship. I also love poop-off and it is an unrivaled (except by couch) passionate kind of love that may be hard for you poop-off haters to understand. I leave it for 10 minutes and wipe the bomb away. Sometimes, I treat myself to the poop-off wipes, but only when I've been very very good. B)

I have a newer microfiber couch too. We bought it in July. How serious do you think that is? Does anyone know someone or a vet who has seen this happen? Gryphon doesn't chew the couch but he does climb it all the time. Wondering if I should add "couch" to my list of personal anxieties. It is a very long list but furniture hasn't made it yet! :unsure:

Gryphon does it when he wants something I have. I try to discourage it, but I read since that they are frequent ground feeders, so maybe it is instinctive. There are much better experts than I'll ever be on this board, but I can say you are not alone!

I use a radiant heat panel similar to the ones at my vet's office. They put out soft, even heat, use low wattage, and keep him snuggly. I bought the small and hung it behind his sleep perch. I'll try to post a pic later. I bought mine at Parrot Island. Here's a link. You might have to copy and paste it: http://parrotisland.mainsecureserver.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=29&products_id=170

I think it's a matter of temporary vs. long term housing. Pet stores are generally short term arrangements for the birds. It also depends on room size and ventilation. I have a friend with both. Her bird room is very large and she has a HEPA air filter.

Aw. What a face! You made my day.

I use poop off and oxyclean and run everything I can through the dishwasher. Love the microfiber cloths idea! I also have a very nice hand broom and dust pan that I use 4 million times daily. Gryphon just watches and tells me I'm doing it wrong.

Let's see. More nets...bigger house...PARTY! Have to get back to you on the date, I like to give the husband a day or two between drilling holes in the ceiling. Slow and steady wins the nets!

Hurray! :woohoo: Gryph says come on over! Newspaper and treats are provided!

View from the couch

Gryphon loves his bird room net so much we decided he needs one for the living room as well. Now I can place his cage between the two rooms and he has access to both! He spent yesterday climbing back and forth between the two. He seems pretty happy about it. Unfortunately our house is starting to look a little crazy! :lol:

I've wondered this too. Gryphon weighs 250 grams. Thanks for the link!

Wow that is amazing! What a lucky bird!

Wait...there are "normal" people? How was the casserole?

Wow Charlie is a good boy! Maybe we'll get there someday. I think it is also a matter of finding an appropriate treat (not a dorito) that he just can't resist. He likes grapes, and sometimes they work, but his enthusiasm isn't really sufficient for bedtime bribery. Gryphon doesn't recognize pine nuts as food. Or almonds, peanuts, nutriberries, cheerios, and so on.

Gryphon had a similar fall and was very quiet for hours after. I too was worried and checked in here at the forum. As others have said, he was fine by the next morning. Hope your baby is too!

That's great news! :woohoo: I know it makes you feel better, too.

Thanks Dan! He's been a pretty "easy" bird so far. The giving of treat AFTER he's settled in the cage is something I was totally missing. I gave him the treat for stepping up. I think that tip will be extremely useful!!! Jane, your male sounds just like Gryphon. He's very much into bargaining like a small child. :lol:

Reading other threads, I too am curious about how others handle step-up. Gryphon has not given me major problems, but when it comes to putting him back in his cage (especially at bedtime) he will stall and want scritchies or just turn his back on me. I used treats originally, but now he knows what a grape means. :laugh: I usually give him 10-15 minutes before I need him in the cage of try/pause/try again. I feel like he needs some control over how and when, unless we are talking emergency. Of course, I would love to be able to offer my hand, have him hop on, and put him right in the cage. What a luxury! Or even to say "goodnight" and have him put himself to bed. :lol: Joking aside, what are your philosophies on giving greys a little extra leeway or illusion (ha) of control? Good? Bad? Asking for trouble? They seem very different from other parrots like 'toos who seem to need more rigid training or all you-know-what breaks loose.

Talon, that's a good point about the youtube vision of parrot ownership. I love those videos, but if I didn't work with birds, I'd definitely have a skewed perspective on life with a parrot. We should start a youtube revolution and take videos of morning poop and food stuck to walls and floors and phobias ("no NO not THAT toy!") and cage rage. :laugh: What else? Oh yeah, my monthly bank statement and largely absent social life. And how much extra cooking I do. I wouldn't trade a second, but it is hard to explain in words just how much goes into really caring for these guys.