edillon5063

Wasnt sure where to post this.... I just added a canine member to my flock, and I'm very nervous on how this will affect my birds, especially my African Grey, indy, who is used to being out a lot. The dog I adopted is a very small mixed breed (18 pounds) and though very curious, she is extremely docile, as she is 9 years old. She was about to be euthanized at a high kill shelter in my area, and I couldn't leave her. My question is, those of you who have both birds and dogs, how do you make it work? My husband doesn't want to let the birds out without a door between them and the new dog,, but I'm trying to find a way to make it fair ( and safe!) for all parties involved. Thanks so much!!!

This happened with Indy about 9 months ago...one day he was fine, the next, a totally different bird for no apparant reason. It took about 3 months for him to come to an understanding with us. He still won't step up out of the cage, only comes out on his own. Other thsn that he's back to his sweet self. Just takes patience, some reassuring and trust building, and a little bribery. (He loves strawberries and lima beans) Good luck! I know how frusterating and heartbreaking this is

I came home from the store this morning to an open cage door, an african gey on the loose and 4 terrified cats. I grabbed Indy and couldn't believe I had been so careless to not latch his cage, though I remembered double checking before I left...not an hour later from upstairs I heard a snap and a flap of wings...Indy was on the move again! So its clear he has somehow figured out how to lift the metal piece over his latch and use his beak to press the button to release. Indy and I are getting ready to get in the car and figure out a solution to this, clearly I can not leave him here alone. Jeez!

Some of you may know I've been having trouble with Indy lately. Phobic, anxious behavior, won't come out of the cage or let me touch him. It's really sad, and progress has been slow. A few days ago I had a really, really bad day at work. I was on the phone for awhile in the couch next to indy's cage, visibly very upset. When I got off the phone I sat there for a few seconds, Indy came down from his top perch and said in a very concerned voice "Are you ok, Indy?" It was the cutest thing! I'm sure we've been saying that to him a ton lately, and he connected that that's what you say when someone is upset. Love him! Tonight was a big night for us. My fiancee was going to the kitchen to get ice cream, and something freaked Indy out so I went to go talk to him. He bent his head down to be scratched (which is huge!), then held my finger in his foot! I decided to try to reach for him, he stepped up and came out no problem!!! This is the first time he has come out of his cage in over a month without drama, him screaming and growling and biting! He was just normal Indy! The vet said to keep play sessions short and positive, so we did. I hope this means he is on the upswing!!!

will definately try the tofu...he seems a little better today, still not friendly, but no longer at his wits end like he was. and he's eating. He does have a few feathers coming in so that could be bothering him- as for anything changing in his environment- th only thing that changed was that I was home on vacation- which is when everything started. Maybe he had enough of me? Either way, for now, we're giving him space, and seeing where it goes. I just don't want him to grow up to be an "unhandle-able" grey...

Indy didn't eat yesterday or today, so we took him to the vet today...the vet found absolutely nothing wrong with him, said he was simply going through a phobic phase, and we should take a step back and try not to stress him out. Basically he told us "Kiss his butt and like it!":P Took him home, put him back in his cage,he ate dinner and played with his toys like nothing was wrong. He's still lost confidence in me, I'm just going to take it slow with him, see where it goes. We may look at behavioral training classes with my vet. Thanks for all the advice!!!

ok, he's gotten worse...now he lunges at me through the cage, and refuses to come out. I honestly don't know what to do, it's like, overnight, he has become a completely different bird! I odn;t know what to do, nothing I'm doing (letting him come out on his own, treats, talking to him quietly) seems to be working. He also has a shrill "call" he used to do if I left the room- now he does it constantly as if to tryt to get me to go away! someone please help!!!

It's been a LONG time since I've been on...sorry... I have a problem, Indy my normally good natured, loving, one year old CAG is refusing to come out of his cage. A couple of weeks ago, he was out, and refused to step up or go back in. I got a little frusterated with him, I didn't yell at him, or do anyting I thought would hurt or upset him, and eventually was able to get him back in. I must have upset him though, because since then, he refuses to come out, and growls at me if I put my hand in the cage. He will let me pet him, rub his beak, snuggle, through the cage, but he does not want to come out or step up! If I leave the cage door open and talk to him, he's come out a couple of times, but goes to the top of his cage, refuses to step up or come down, and screeches loudly intermittenly. I don't know what to do, feel like I'm losing my best friend...

Great news- I just got a fantastic job offer- the bad news, I have to relocate, next week. I rent so I have to give notice to my apartment place, so my fiance (who I already live with) is going to stay here with the animals for 6 weeks or so while I live in corporate housing and look for a place to live. I can't take Indy (my CAG) with me (until we move into permenent housing) because this job requires a little bit of travel (especially in the beginning) and I have no one to watch him. My question is- Indy is a one woman bird even though he's young, he's decided I'm his one true love and he wants nothing to do with anyone else especially my fiance. With me gone, is it more likely that he'll be forced to be a little more accepting of my fiance so he can get attention and interaction, or will he resort to other bad alternatives (such as plucking) What can I do to help him through this?!?! My fiance is great with animals, and has really been working with him....

Just wanted to update...Indy is making a speedy recovery and taking his meds like a champ. I went to our local bird store today to get leather ties and they said this issue was common with both greys and macaws. They thought leather was a good idea or tightening all the hooks with pliers. I would rather not use the hooks now though so hopefully the leather will be ok!

This is a picture of the hook/link like the one Indy got his beak stuck on. I think I'm going to tie his toys up with leather from the make your own bird toy kits. Any other suggestions?

So I was at work today and I get a call from my fiance- who was freaking out but telling me to stay calm- Indy had unscrewed the toy hook (the part that closes the hook that hooks the toy onto the cage) and had gotten the hook stuck through the bottom of the tender skin below his beak. I rushed home, and by the time I had gotten home Chris was able to remove the hook with small bolt cutters. Indy was bleeding and swelling and very stressed, we rushed him to the vet. The vet said Chris pretty much saved his life, had he wiggled the hook out instead of cutting it out- Indy would've needed surgery and might not have even made it through. So we left with antibiotics and ointment. We did however have to remove all of Indy's toys that were secured with the same type of hooks, which since that's the standard, were almost all of them, until we find a better solution. When I put Indy in his cage, he looked around then looked at me as if to say "We've been robbed!" I gave him some shredables and am trying to figure a safe way to hang his toys tonight or tomorrow before I go to work. So we're lucky!

thank you so much for the suggestions!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make a dome top more "playable"? We recently upgraded Indy to a new cage and I think he really misses the play top....

I'm a little alarmed- if you look at this picture of Indy's back, it now looks like he's chewing on a couple of his feathers! Normal during first molt or not? I took a picture of his front too, it's a little blurry, but he doesn't have any bald spots anywhere. I tried to mist him again and he growled and carried on as if I were hurting him.