Journeyman

Let's share our experiences on how our Grey friends live and grow with us.

I thank God Cosmo (my male CAG) has never bitten me, (he's my baby) however my Conure (Astro), bit the hell out of my hand the other day. He's a yellow-sided conure and crazy! Small, yet powerfull! Ouch!!!

Hi jessdecutie18, Whistle all you want, Cosmo (my male CAG) whistled before he spoke. Your's will speak in time. Just try to spend as much quality time with your CAG, and he/she will start yakking it up. But be careful what you wish for. Cosmo imitates everything I say, sometimes he won't shut up. He won't let me watch T.V. most of the time!

Thanks for the info. So, there's nothing to be concerned about?

Hi all, Long time no post. Cosmo(my CAG)is doing fine, however, I have a question about my Yellow-sided Conure. Around his head and on the back of his head, he's grown some short spikey "bone" like protrutions through his feathers. They look kind of wierd, so I was wondering if anyone out there might know if this is normal, or should I be concerned.

Well, it seems that Cosmo and I decided on the food he likes, "ecotrition", by United Pet Group. I still feed him his broccoli, carrots, and the like... he now likes even more fresh fruits, pears to be exact. I think we're "getting it down."

I've had Cosmo, my 3 year old male CAG for over 2 years now. I have a question, I'd like your experienced opinion,...what is the best way to safely bathe a Grey? I've read up on the subject, even on this site. Misting, "over the counter" spray baths, I've even looked for an in-cage bird bath big enough for him (can't find one) He doesn't like the shower, no matter what I do. Any suggestions?

Dave007, This is what I imagined it to be because he does it so rarely, and there's no sign of illness.

Hi again, It's Journeyman, long time no talk, I've been busy. Here's an interesting question... every once in a while Cosmo, my CAG, will sit on the bottom of his cage and eat his poop! :sick: I feed him well and his cage is cleaned regularly. It doesn't seem to effect him and he doesn't do this often, is this an instinctual thing?

I've been trying to find a good balanced diet for Cosmo. He definitley will not eat pellet food. I don't really care much for the seed, nut, whatever parrot foods that are out there. He seems to like nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and the like. He's kind of funny, though... He'll only eat nuts that are de-shelled. He likes fresh broccoli, peas and uncooked corn. The only fruit he'll eat are (sometimes) apples and he likes bananna chips. He won't eat any "citrisy" fruit at all. I sent away for Dr. Harvey's perfect parrot food and I'll try that to see if he'll eat at least most of it. When Cosmo dosen't like something, it always ends up on the floor. Like with, for example, Katee's Fiesta, half of what's in it gets thrown out the side of his cage, claw full by claw full:pinch:

Cosmo is my sweet heart. He's tried to bite me on a few occations, but I knew what he was about to do and why. It's mostly birds that I don't know, and they don't know me. I guess I'm lucky. I picked him because when I asked to hold him, after a couple of greys, he bowed his head and lowered his wings, then played with some stuff that was near by my hand. I asked the breader how he was weaned (which is very important) he told me, and I bought him. His name is Cosmo because the travel carton he was put in said "the cosmic pet traveler".

Cosmo is always hanging upside down by one talon or the other. He likes to get onto his toys and slam them around while doing a split, then spins around upside down-ways... He's crazy! :side:

Welcome, and taking a grey that's unwanted, well, is heart-felt. Love him because he deserves it, and he'll know that you do. Get him some good parrot food.

Thank God Cosmo never got a hold on me! He can decimate a wooded block in a couple of days. CAGs have one nasty bite. He only tries to bite me if I go to give him a neck scratch or to handle him just before I leave the apartment. If he had his way (and mine) we'd be together all day. He's my buddy!

When I was in "bird jungle", a bird shop here in NJ that has all kinds of parrots flying free, I came upon a Severed Macaw. The sign said, "take me home and I'll love you forever." Well, not being shy myself with birds, I offered my finger in good faith. The parrot bit the hell out of it! :evil: Having been biten before (but not so hard), I calmly said, "nice bird, ahhhh..." luckily I only suffered a monior injury. The girl on duty came up to me while my finger was in it's beak and said "Yeah, he's not our most friendly bird." :dry: I guess that's why the sign outside the door says "Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult." That's when I found Astro, a Sordid Conure (also known as a Yellow- sided Conure). When I got home and told this story to Cosmo, he laughed.

Hi Shaun, I'm Rick, welcome. Cosmo bit a little when he was 18 weeks old. Give it a little time. He could be a little angry over the food change, and also you and your wife are new to him (and him to you). Don't pull away or show frustration, just put Alfie back in his cage and walk away. Eventually he'll learn that everytime he bites, he loses the attention, and they love attention, so he'll put two and two together and stop. They use thier beaks to feel, so there's always some proding with it, but it should be gentile. Never try to be the dominant one, you'll never win. :silly:

Ashley, It's probably both. Judy,

Well, I did get him to say "Hello Rick" when I enter the room or when I come home.

Yeah, Cosmo too. I'd like it better if he brought my slippers.

Cosmo's my baby!

By the way, Echo is a great name. Cosmo "echo's" everything I say and do. He even imitates my gargling in the morning.

Is that the whole thing? I know about the regurgitation thing, however, Cosmo does the whole panting "song and dance" too. I thought he was annoyed at me! :laugh:

I have a question, I meant to ask this of danmcq, however... Why does Cosmo drop his wings every once in a while, especially while he's on my finger? <br><br>Post edited by: Journeyman, at: 2009/01/05 22:47

Thank you for your help. I've read Daves' post. Good stuff!

Thank you and MazyAK for this post!