Summerc25

My grey did choose me. His previous owner based her decision on who she sold him to on his reaction with them. He bit one lady, growled at another, and said hello to me and stepped right up. He let me feed him baby food because she fed him baby food. Before I left from the second visit, she said don't worry he chose you. I had been worried that she would not pick me to take him (Because I was already in love with him) and I guess she could sense that. She felt so happy knowing that he was comfortable with who he was going to live with. She made it clear to me from the beginning that money was not important to her, that she just wanted him to have a good home that she felt he chose. So I went to his house, about an hour away, for three weekends in a row so I could spend a little time with him. When he came to live with me, she brought him to my house so he would feel like it was ok and not like he was being "taken" from his family. He was talking with in an hour of being left with me and stepping up to me and we have been living happily ever since. I am very happy that I chose to get an older bird that needed a new home. If I ever get another grey I will do it the same way. I don't know if I could handle two but maybe one day lol He requires my attention 24/7 when I am at home but I love it that way.<br><br>Post edited by: Summerc25, at: 2010/02/25 23:39

Thank you so much for the recipe We will be trying it asap!

Thanks guys I would love the recipe too! I took him to the vet for peace of mind. His good bacteria is still low so the vet gave me something called Sunshine Factor, it is basically organic red palm oil. He also told me to mix some organic apple cider vinegar with distilled water to give him to drink. He told me not to worry about the fruits and veggies so much ( Since he is on a pellet diet) until we get the good bacteria up so that he can digest food better. The vet did not see any kind of parasite or bacteria but he is going to send the poop off to a lab to make sure there is not anything he missed. I feel much better knowing that he is not sick but he is going to have to eat this stuff so he can get the good bacteria up whether he wants to or not...lol Oh and I am supposed to get some more Benebac but they are out so he told me to check the petstores so about to go do that. Thanks for the support Only you guys can understand the freak out when you think your bird is sick...lol<br><br>Post edited by: Summerc25, at: 2010/02/24 00:31

Thanks for the reply Jilly For the most part anything green I offer him, which I do often, gets thrown at me or the floor lol I just keep trying. I chopped broccoli up really tiny and mixed it in cream of wheat over the weekend to try and trick him and he ate a few bites from the baby spoon then he attacked the baby spoon when I tried to scoop it in his food dish or feed him more. I think he realized the broccoli was there lol. I just keep trying though. This morning he bites me every time I try to touch him but he is being more vocal. I don't have a scale, I need to get one. I have taken him to the vet and asked him to weigh him. He weighed 440 before. I think I will call the vet today and ask him if I can bring him by and get him to check him and weight him just to make me feel better and be sure nothing is wrong.

I do this often, I freak out and want to take my bird to the vet just to make me feel better if anything seems off. I noticed the last few nights that shaka zulu is not as talkitive as usual. He also seems to not be eating as much. Tonight his feathers seemed a little fluffed but he also seems to be losing some, like molting maybe. I went in his bedroom to check on him after night night time and he pooped while I was in there. I noticed it was very liquid so now I am freaking out. I have to go to work tomorrow but I am wondering if I can wait until after work or if I should take him in the morning. I may be truly just making into more than it is but I love that bird more than life and if something happened to him I would just die. I am in tears thinking about it. I don't know what could have made him sick but the poop was almost liquid. I got him to eat some sweet potato the other night but that should be good for him. I am worried that he is malnourished because I can barely get him to eat anything other than zupreem and corn. He did try the sweet potato but he didn;t actually eat much of it. Sorry to rattle on, I am just worried. I think I will call the vet in the morning and see what he says. A friend of mine that has a grey said this was pretty normal during molting but I just dunno if its that or not. Edited to say, I feel a little calmer now. I went back and wiped the poop up and there is definitely solid poop in it, just also a lot of liquid. Also there was no smell to it. He always seems thin to me, I can feel his keel all the time, is that normal?? He has food and fresh water 24/7. When I first got him, the vet said he was under weight and he told me to only let him have food three times a day which seemed stupid to me. I didn;t want to take his food away when I was gone all day so I didn;t do that. I continued to fill his dish every morning and at night so that he constantly has a full dish. Maybe I made a mistake not getting him on a schedule like the vet said. I have tried every other kind of parrot pellets there are and he hates everything but fruit flavored zupreem. Thats another reason the vet wanted me to only let him eat three times a day. It would force him into eating Harrison's because he would be hungry. I do not want to make him eat stuff he hates. I have been trying everything to get him to eat more fresh fruits and veggies and I think that will be just as good for him if I can get him to eat more.<br><br>Post edited by: Summerc25, at: 2010/02/23 08:04

Shaka zulu always makes this noise when I give him some fresh pellets or fresh veggies/fruits. It is kind of a coo I guess. I wish I could describe it. It's like oooooooohhhhaahhh. It's so adorable. He also sometimes says hmmmmmmm when you are talking to him and he is listening. It is so adorable. When I am talking to him he just cocks his head from side to side and listens. He always offers me kisses and rubs his beak al over my hand. Even though he has bitten my lip twice in the past when he was in a mood, I always still kiss him on the top of the beak when he offers kisses. I just can't tell him no!

Gorgeous picture of Isaac

Thank god you have your baby home Brittany!!! You were so lucky that a nice man found her and returned her. Now you will be able to have a wonderful weekend I am glad you took her to the vet and she is okay too !

I wish I could help Tracy out. Parrots bite and will always bite. Even if it is a bird who rarely bites, they still eventually bite. I know and accept that with my bird. He makes me bleed alot less ofen than he makes me smile and laugh. I am sure that you love Tracy and do not want to part with him. I re-read your previous post about when you were able to start interacting with him again. I wish that you all were able to keep the baby away from the bird until he is old enough to understand not to touch the bird. If you could get another year or two your son would be old enough to understand not to touch him. My 6 year old nephew is scared of my bird even though he has never been bitten. He loves to watch him and talk to him but he has been told not to touch or he could be bitten extremely hard. Any forum members near that could take Tracy? I really do hope he finds a forever home this time

Shaka zulu fights me at bed time and when I have to go to work. He climbs up my arm and tries to kiss me and cuddle. He just does not want to go in the cage usually. He has started getting much better about it in the mornings because,like luv said, I started telling him in the morning that I have to go to work but I love him and will be back soon and surprisingly he went right in the cage the first time I did this. He has a tv in his room also and I usually leave it on Nick, Disney, Animal Planet or something he might enjoy. He seems to love copying cartoons so he gets to watch those alot.

Oh Brittany I am so sorry I will definitely pray for you and for Pepper's safe return. I canno even imagine how this would feel and what to do. Everytime I see a post on here where a bird flew away, it scares me to death. Stay strong sweetie and keep looking!! *hugs* and prayers!!!

That is fantastic! I am lucky too because my sister can keep my sweetie when I go out of town. He likes her and knows her already too. The only bad thing is my sister and I can never take a weekend trip together lol

Praying for you guys!!

no news? Just wanted to let you know I am still praying for you to find your sweet sindbad and bring him home.

I bought this one toy, it was BUNCHES of little, brightly colored wooden stars attached with leather pieces. Shaka zulu loved it immediately, which is unusual. Typically he prefers to assess toys for a few days to make sure they won't be attacking or killing him...lol This one, he immediately started playing with. It was close to $20.00 but it was well worth it. If I can find the toy again, I will buy more. He demolished it in a few days time hehe You're welcome I never knew a bird could be so loveable until I started researching and ended up with this guy. Now he is like my child and I would have to go to jail probably if anyone ever messed with him