Nikki

Yeah, going to have myself muscle tested with Nikki in 3 weeks, we already tried this at home & I flunked. Will keep track as you said. Going out in the rain this morning so I should be fine till I get home ...lol Nikki is enjoying scrambled eggs & leftovers from my meal at a restaurant last night. She's got it good!

PS Nobody's getting Nikki!!!!!!!!

Well I'm very happy to read this last post, and I'm very happy for you Janfromboone that things are working out. Today I left my house at 2 & after being gone for 1/2 an hour noticed that I was breathing better. It continued to improve all the time I was gone, I just got in & it's 9PM & I'm not hoarse. I'm going to keep taking notice of when I feel the worst & when I feel better. I have a hepa filter vacuum, I could probably get an air purifier. I bath her about 3 times a week, I guess I can do that more. Do you think she used to be such a baby that the dander didn't bother me but now that she's getting older I'm noticing it more? I know hubby was never allergic to kittens but he is to grown cats. My son was ok with puppies but not dogs. Maybe it's the same thing.

It's impossible to limit my exposure to Nikki because she is with me all day long & she loves to be on my shoulder! She's very sweet & wants my attention. Maybe if this is what the problem is I can find some way to deal with it. I'm very surprised this is happening because I've never experienced any type of allergic reaction before. I've attended bird shows regularly for the past 2 years & never noticed a thing. I guess living day to day with bird dander could be to much. Korkie my green cheek doesn't have dander, she has her oil gland she preens with. DARN DARN DARN!!!!!!!!!! Love my baby!!!!!!!

Please tell me if any of you have experienced allergies as a result of owning greys. I have never been one to have allergies to anything that I'm aware of, however I have noticed for some time now that I'm a bit hoarse. I noticed Sunday when I came home from my bird club meeting where I had petted a moluccan cockatoo & been around many greys & cockatoos that I was especially hoarse. It was better after I'd been home for awhile but it's never totally gone. I feel fine, but wonder why this is happening.

I'm actually fine with sharing my meal with my birds, it's my hubby who is looking on who thinks things are getting out of hand. Last night we had a soup which had black eyed peas in it. I cannot believe how many she ate! I had fed her earlier & she still found room for more. I think it is the 2 birds together that make it feel to much. One would probably be much easier. I like your idea tho. That might work for lunch or breakfast. I'm thinking cage time may be the only way to go for dinner.

Reminds me of this: How To Stuff Your Parrot For The Holidays Ingredients: • One turkey • Corn pudding • Green beans • Stuffing • Sweet potatoes • Mashed potatoes with gravy • Cranberry sauce • Hot rolls • Relish tray • Pumpkin pie • Whipped cream • Hot coffee Get up early in the morning & have a cup of coffee. It's going to be a long day, so place your Parrot on a perch nearby to keep you company while you prepare the meal. Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. Prepare stuffing, and remove Parrot from edge of stuffing bowl and return him to perch. Stuff turkey & place it in the roasting pan, and remove Parrot from edge of pan and return him to perch. Have another cup of coffee to steady your nerves. Remove Parrot's head from turkey cavity, return him to perch, and restuff the turkey. Prepare relish tray, and remember to make twice as much so that you'll have a regular size serving after the Parrot has eaten his fill. Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. Prepare cranberry sauce, discard berries accidentally flung to the floor by Parrot. Peel potatoes, remove Parrot from edge of potato bowl and return him to perch. Arrange sweet potatoes in a pan & cover with brown sugar & mini-marshmallows. Remove Parrot from edge of pan and return him to perch. Replace missing marshmallows. Brew another pot of coffee. While it is brewing, clean up the torn filter. Pry coffee bean from Parrot's beak. Have another cup of coffee, remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. When time to serve the meal: - - Place roasted turkey on a large platter, and cover beak     marks with strategically placed sprigs of parsley. - - Put mashed potatoes into serving bowl, rewhip at last minute     to conceal beak marks and claw prints. - - Place pan of sweet potatoes on sideboard, forget your     presentation as there's no way to hide the areas of missing     marshmallows. - - Put rolls in decorative basket, remove Parrot from side of     basket and return him to perch. - - Remove beaked rolls & serve what's left. - - Set a stick of butter out on the counter to soften; think     better and return it to the refrigerator. - - Wipe down counter to remove mashed potato claw tracks.     Remove Parrot from kitchen counter and return him to perch. - - Cut the pie into serving slices. Wipe whipped cream off     Parrot's beak and place large dollops of remaining whipped     cream on pie slices. - - Whole slices are then served to guests, beaked-out portions     should be reserved for host & hostess. Place Parrot inside     cage & lock the door. Sit down to a nice relaxing dinner with your family, accompanied by plaintive cries of "WANT DINNER!" from the other room.

Glad to hear you are enjoying your new baby. We got our TAG in October & she is now almost 7 months. She has also been a delight & sweet to everyone. She will step up for others but then looks at me as if to say please get me down! She has made no attempt to bite & so far has been just as you say yours is. I'm very curious if she will stay this way, she gets plenty of attention. I have only heard her say one word, "hello" & that does not happen often. She has learned the crow;s call outside & "clucks" for our attention. She also coos when happy.

lol Judy thats funny (but true) I guess having a smaller young timneh I allow things that could not take place if I had a large grey. The image of that really makes me laugh & I can see how ridiculous it could be! I'm going have to be a tougher bird mom. We're going to have to eat in peace or my hubby will not be happy about this at all. He's already upset about the poop rag in the kitchen sink....

I have a cat litter box (small one) with a PVC stand I set inside. This is our portable "toilet" When we sit on the couch or in bed I will put my TAG on it every 20 mins or so & say "go potty" she'll go if she has to. It's not always perfect but for 6 months of age I think she is doing well.

Please tell me how you people handle dinner with birds. It was not bad with one little green cheek, as my conure was happy with a treat or two on her rolling stand. However now that we have 2 birds & they are in the kitchen area, mealtime has become a problem. Even if I feed my timneh first she wants to come to the table. She clucks & sometimes flys off her the island countertop where I have her. If I give her her own dish she still wants me to feed her by hand or she wants to check out my plate. I really don't want to start bad habits here & meals are getting messy. Her big cage is nearby but neither one of them is happy to be caged while we are eating & I hate to hear the protests. I keep reading about eating meals with the flock & I know thats what they want to do...HELP!!!!

Believe it or not Korkie does this because Nikki my grey BEGS for attention, she will not take no for an answer!

How does this look?

I'll have to work on that. I took some pictures of them the other day, one I posted on my site. I have not uploaded any videos yet. I'd need hubby to capture that as my hands are full!

Was wondering what is happening here... My timneh, now 6 months old is really enjoying the pruning she gets from my green cheek conure, Korkie. I hold them both together on my lap & supervise this very carefully. It was a way for me to enjoy them both at the same time without the other getting jealous. However I'm noticing that Nikki my grey is not allowing me to scratch her head as often & is always begging to be pruned instead. She is still very sweet to me & wants my attention, wants to be held & loves to sit on my shoulder. We are together most of the day in the same rooms unless I go out so she gets plenty of my attention which she loves. I don't allow the 2 birds to be together unless I am holding them both. Also my little conure (2 yrs old) will not allow herself to be groomed by the grey, it is strictly a one way deal. I guess it's a dominance thing. Korkie allows only lovin' from me or my husband. I am happy that the 2 birds like each other enough to have this relationship so I'd hate to end it. Any thoughts?

Very true, thank you for your reply.

That's wonderful! My bird is just 6 month's & I've heard hello on a rare occasion but that's about it. She did however look out the bathroom window on 2 mornings & make a perfect crow imitation .....just what I need, a crow in my bathroom! This was VERY LOUD!

Have another question. I recently found out that a local bird/fish store will keep birds in the back room if you need a bird sitter. I'm not crazy about someone coming in the house so if I wanted to leave them behind for a few days this could be an option. We usually take them but I know sooner or later we'll need a sitter. The vets charge $20+ a day & no one takes them out of the cage. This shop charges $6 & will sometimes play with your bird if they are friendly. It's just a back room with maybe 20 cages, no window, you can bring in your own cage if you'd like. I am wondering if this is safe or to risky. Have any of you used a vet or shop before?

I didn't know about it till I read the book Alex & Me: How a Scientist and a Parrot Uncovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence by Irene M. Pepperberg. It was enjoyable to read but made me feel like I am owning a little Einstein! A bit intimidating what these birds are capable of.

I've just learned about blushing in grey's. I've been tryng to find out more on this topic but don't seem to see much info on it. I have actually notice this in my timneh from time to time but didn't understand what I was seeing. I'd just think oh... I never noticed she had so many pink tinged feathers around her eyes...& then I'd forget about it. When I read about blushing I realized what was going on. I think that is so adorable!

Re to Tycos_mom: I am so sorry to hear about your cockatiel, I hope she will be alright. Things do seem to happen at the worst time. I guess I am going to have to never allow them near each other. They seemed to be getting along well but truly you cannot trust a green cheek! I'll have to have a new attitude from now on, perhaps I can prevent a disaster.

Yes can see that happening. Nikki was more afraid of Korkie but she will try to retaliate if she has to. I wish they could get along better but I may have to assume that will not be the case.

<br><br>Post edited by: Nikki, at: 2008/12/30 14:27

He's really cute. My little green cheek talks a lot too. She says "where's Daddy" "Mommy" "What are you doin'?" "I love you" "Yum! Yum! Yum!" "Want some!" "Wanna go upstairs" "How are you?" "Good Morning" "Pretty bird" & a lot more. She is really funny! How is he around your grey?

Having a bit of a problem with my little green cheek attacking Nikki my grey. Green cheeks are nippy birds to begin with & very bold. Korkie is a sweetheart when she wants to be & has spent many evenings pruning my grey (if I am holding them both) Nikki will beg to be pruned & really seems to want to be friends, she is so loving. Recently however, my green cheek has managed to get to close when I have turned my back & she begins biting the bigger bird. She is bound to get hurt if she keeps this up. Right now Nikki appears scared more than anything but naturally she will begin to defend herself. Today Korkie bit her toe. I try my best to keep them in their own space. Many times they seem to get along just fine & I allow them be near one another. We have had very few squabbles in the last few months but I'm concerned. We just returned from Florida, an 8 hour car trip with both birds. They were wonderful for the most part.