Bikermol

Hi guys. This is Charlies 4th day here. Im still trawling the site for insights!! ha ha, on posible troubles that may arise introducing a new grey & 8 yrs old, at that. A lot of threads speak of loads of time needed for the new bird to settle, & your "old" bird to get aquainted. Well, so far, everything is great. At this very moment they are together on "Charlies" playstand eating grass and assorted flowers from the garden ( Cultivated just for them!). There has been no arguments, Charlie is a bit to foward for Harry, wanting skitches from him, which he doesnt do until properly introduced, but accepting when he dosnt. Harry is trying to teach Charlie to fly, launching from the same perch, circling the room landing beside Charlie, doing it again. Charlie managed to fly from the conservatory to the kitchen this morning. As for the humans, there is no animosity, some crossed signals, and mis-understandings, but we are teaching each other. That even after I plucked feathers from his chest yesterday for the DNA test. I am posting this because I think it is because both parrots are socialised. Charlie & Harry wear harnesses and regularly go out and meet people. Maybe we do not have to worry when they go from us, Harry will outlive me, that it need be so traumatic if they are well used to other people and places.

Well it was pandamonium here 5 minutes ago. Cocckateis flying, Harry flying, and giving his war whoop. It must have been too much for Charlie. He flew across the room. It was obvious hes not a good flier. But he CAN I am very relieved that nothing physical is wrong. Pandamonium is quite normal here, so Charlie should fly more.

Hi Baxters mum, You decribe perfectly what Charlie appears to be doing. I shut him in his cage a couple of hours ago, and he started climbing to the top, across the roof down a bit and then did it again over and over. It looks as if hes been cage bound at some time.

I meant to thank Luvparrots for the karma. But at 8 I dont think Charlie is OLD, please take it back!

Harry is a Timgo. When I took Charlie out from his carrier, he looked around uncertainly, didnt want to step on the playstand. Harry flew on my shoulder and looked at Charlie. Charlie started climbing up to my shoulder. Harry met him half way and they slapped besks! I thought Harry would be too nervous to come so close so soon, (10 minuets). Later this afternoon, Charlie was flapping maddly, and Harry flew over twice, wanting Charlie to chase. When he didnt Harry went into a huff and has ignored charlie since then. The birds are all in bed now, cant wait to see how it goes tommorrow. Charlie is calling for his "Mum".so sad, but also eating preening, wagging his tail. I think he likes what he's seen so far. Possible cause for not flying. Clipped before 12 weeks, kept clipped for several years, never learned how its done. I've noticed his flight feathers arnt "stuck" to each other, and sometimes stick out from the wing.

The owner,seller, said she has had the bird 7 years, and he has never flown. However, she also advertised him as a TAG, and he is a small Congo. I have great difficulty uploading pics on your site. Would LOVE to show you pics of Harry on our travels. On one occation he had his harness on three times! He loves the pond section in garden centers. One had an aviary, loads of cockatiels, and 4 Indian ringnecks. Puffed up his feathers at ths cockatiels, but backed away form the ringnecks. Just had a thought If, Oh his name is Charlie, Can't fly, he wont need a harness!!

Hi I have picked up an 8yr old grey. The seller said he can't fly, but I thought he would in a strange place. However, he realy can't! He climbs up high, and then flaps like mad, but nothing happens. My other grey was flying around the conservatory and he seemed desperate to join him, but still wouldn't let go. And no he does have all his wing feathers. what can I do. By the way, probably because he cant fly he is MEGA friedly, and not afraid of my place, dogs, husband(the real test).

Hi, I have 2 cockatiels with Harry. All of them are out of the cage all day with the "run" of most of the house.At first I thought Harry didnt like them, and was being mildly aggressive,flying after them and somtimes screaming. But we've all been away in the campervan twice, and, in the confined space, there was no mad flying about. On one occation Harry and Pod were eating from the same dish, and regularly shared the same stand!On coming home, I have given them all a bedroom I can black out, the days are so long now. The cockatiels like it upstairs, and seemimgly only come down to invite Harry for a mad flight! swooping close to him until he flies after them! I caught Harry upstairs the other day, and they were all in the same cage, Harry was desperatly trying to siddle up to them and make friends, but for them thats going too far. So I've decided to get another grey, who at least will be the same size, and talk the same talk. He came from a multi-parrot hosehold, was sharing a cage with a cocatoo, and a green thing, so I think he needs more than just me.

Hi Everybody. Question, when,in the wild, would a grey be independant. I ask this because we know after they leave the nest the parents teach them what to eat. I am now Harry's Mum, so he wants my food. Thats OK. He must have one of the most varied diets of any parrot. Sometimes, however, he begs. This behaviour has reduced since I started spoon feeding before bed. He gets porridge, soup, baby food, soft and warm, its the warmth he likes. He loves this time. But does this mean he was not, is not fully weaned, and would all babies benefit from this way of feeding. Its never mentioned in the manual. Any of you guys noticed if your parrots have a sweet tooth, Harry has. I offer diferent things to see which he chooses. Icing was eaten before cake, sweet biscuit before Digestive, and my tea (sugar), wont drink Hubbys(no suger).

Here's an amazing storey. Last Sunday 4th Jan, it was a lovely day. I took the dogs out through the consevatory for a ball play. I had just shut the door, when BANG, Harry was lying on the floor. He knew the conservatory well, it is on his flight path. I think he was aiming for me. GREAT sadness! I took his little body outside in the sunlight, placed it beside my pond. Went to look for a spade. When I returned, there he was standing on a rock. WOW not dead! Maybe me dropping the spade scared him, but next minuit he was flying away!!! OH NOOOO!! As you may recall, I live half way up a moutain on a Scottish island. I watched him climb higher and higher and fly up the mountain. He landed maybe 1/2 mile away in a patch of bracken on the wrong side of a revine. I went up anyway. No sign, but I couldn't cross the revine. Then the Buzzards started thier "rounds". mobbing the pair of eagles, and I hoped Harry wouldn'd deside to fly again. I had to give up the search when it began to get dark, and spent a wretched night worrying. It rained and was bitterly cold. Searched again all the next day. That night was freezing. I really could not see him surviving the Buzzard and the cold. Tuesday saw me in the village shop. The shop keeper asked me if I had lost a parrot!!! The farmer had been followed home that very morning by a parrot. he had tried to catch said parrot by enticing him with a packet of Bombay Mix. No chance. He then left some of the mix by his door, when he looked again, the bird was outside the door, and came in when he opened it! It being lunchtime the farmer decided to have some soup, and was really put out when thr parrot decided it was his! Harry is now home again,seemingly none the worse,is almost back to his previous wieght. The only sign that he hit the door is maybe a sore beak. He is definatly even more cuddly than befor, and will now accept the harness,which befor caused me my only ever bleeding finger. Lessons learned. Harry will try to follow me. Cage. Harry can obviously survive adverse weather, therefor start using harness so he can come with me and the dogs, nice days, not too much time out. Do not give up! lastly as bad as this story has been. THANK GOODNESS IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIND A SPADE.

danmcq,have you Googled "soya as Parrot food". Note that Greys dont eat it naturaly. I am concerned because its in pellets, bean mix, and maybe other foods, so you can inadvertently end up feeding a lot. I was worried Harry has almost stopped eating seeds, nibbles on his pellets, but eats some of my meals. Lots of cooked veg, brown bread cereal etc. Would this be OK.

Hi Has anyone thought of Soya. I've bought Harrisons pellets for Harry. My son, a chef, made me take a Google tour on soya when he said he would NEVER use it because it is toxic! However Pellets contain it, the bean mix contains it. I dont know what they look like, but I'll find out and take them out of the mix. What do you guys think?

Harry keeps up with local events.

This is Diesel and his helpers Pod&Pea, here tiding a walnut dropped by Harry.

Another go

Hi trying to add pics

Hi I'd like to introduce Harry, a Timgo. Mummy was Timneh, Daddy a Congo. He's 5 months old & we've been together about a month now. My other pets are 3 dogs 3 cats 2 cockatiels, chickens, & a man (the least well trained, but he was a rescue!). In another life I worked dogs in obedience, & I think puppies should experience lots of new situations early. We live in Scotland & the weather here is cold & wet, I want to introduce the car & travel, but should I wait until better weather, when Harry will be about 9 months. He was hand reared and he sometimes "begs", so I started spoon feeding in the evening. He loves this, he also wants to eat my dinner, breakfast, lunch. He steals food from my partner, & is very insistant. How do I modify this behaviour & teach him manners?

Hi, I am new to parrots, but took the plunge 3 weeks ago and bought Harry, a 16 week hybrid congo/timneh.I was a dog trainer, obedience, and I know early socialisation is a must. However, dogs mature fast. How does this equate to Harry? I want to harness train him, and take him in the car. At this time of year though its cold and wet. The experiences for him will not be good. Will he still be "young" at 9 months, when the weather will be better. In the meatime, what socialising activities can I do with him.