Parrotdise

Dee you are doing an amazing job with Gil,and it's so obvious that he loves you. You've done great things with him in just over a month that I wasn't able to do in 2 years. I'm so happy that Gilbert went to your house. There was no better place for him to go

I keep coming to stalk Dee's posts. It was one of the hardest decisions to let Gil go,I really worried about how he would adjust to a new home and new routine. I now know how wrong I was. He obviously is very happy with Dee and her family and I am so so glad that she opened her life to him

Life has changed in a huge way,and we are unable to keep Gilbert the TAG and Phoenix the U2. Both will go to a new home with their cages(if within driving distance)all the toys I have,any food and sprout mix. Phoenix has a huge temp/travel cage and Gil has a travel cage as well About Them Gilbert is a 7 year old TAG,he is a stress plucker,but doesn't pluck most times. He can be cage territorial,but enjoys scritches and treats. Away from his cage he is better and allows scritches and is happy just to sit with you. He is very leary of new toys,and they must NEVER be placed in a location where they interfer with him getting to his food or water. We have been working on his diet,but it's been slow going. He loves warm or room temp baby food veggies from a spoon,pasta,rice and cooked beans. He likes most fruits and really loves grapes. He does talk a little and mimics our smoke alarms,microwave,anything that beeps Phoenix is an 8 year old U2,she is an absolute snuggle bug. Holding her against your chest she just melts into you. She has NEVER EVER bitten anyone and can be handled by our 8&10 year old children. Phoenix is a big player and goes through a lot of toys because of that. She loves soft woods she can easily destroy,but also plays with acrylic and powercoated metal toys. Phoenix is not a plucker,but she does tend to overpreen. She will bathe herself,but does not like to be sprayed,mostly I use a warm wet washcloth to wipe her down. For a large 'too she is not overly loud,but does contact call at dusk and dawn. She is a good eater and likes diced veggies,some fruits,sprouts,pasta and beans. She also eats zupreem fruit Both of these fids were brought into our family as private rescues,so I will be picky about where they go,to ensure they have the best lives possible. There will be a small rehoming fee of $300 for each of them,which includes all the cages,toys and food We are located in Biloxi MS

It's been just over 2 months since Gilbert(whom we now call Gil)came to live with us. So so much has changed Gil doesn't pluck anymore,and he's getting in lots of new beautiful feathers. He isn't threatening to bite my hubby anymore He steps up out of his cage for me He's still a little nervous about new toys,but that is getting better everyday And finally He's no longer a seed junkie. He's not eating most fresh veggies yet,but he loves warm tender veggies,beans,rice. He likes eggs,and tortilla. And adores fruits. We now have a nice little routine where he comes and eats breakfast and lunch wtih me at the table. It's not safe for him or the kids(because he still does not like the children)for him to eat dinner with us. He's talking and picking up new words,and letting us hear new phrases all the time. The one I love the most is him telling us"Good bye,see ya later"when he notices someone getting on their shoes. It's so so cute Other then that we're still plugging away and every single day is getting better and better

What a great thread to start!!! We share our home with 3 rehomed parrots. SweetPea the teil came to us with no baggage,his first family realized they weren't cut out to be parrot guardians and decided to place him in a home better prepared to give him everything he needed. Phoenix our Umbrella came with some serious baggage,her life alternated between abuse and neglect. She has blossomed into one of the most wonderful cockatoos anyone could imagine. She's kind,loving and patient. Gil also had a somewhat rocky past. In the short time he has lived with us he has come 180 degrees,from a hissing,growling feather plucker. To an absolute attention hog. Demanding "tickles"as long as someone is in the house(and probably while we're away too). We love all of the birds. Seeing the two with "baggage"come around,reminds me of buying seedlings. The promise was there,and all they needed was the nurturing to reach their full potential and blossom into beautiful spirits.<br><br>Post edited by: Parrotdise, at: 2009/05/03 18:35

sorry double post<br><br>Post edited by: Parrotdise, at: 2009/04/26 02:37

and what kind of food did she pick out while she was there?:laugh: I used to take my little p'let to Home Depot all the time in her flight suit,and I think he enjoyed it

We don't routinely feed any pellets(but that is a whole different thread). If I did I would feed TOPS or Foundation Formula. They are both organic,without synthetic vitamins,and both are soy FREE. I've done a ton of research on soy and I'm uncomfortable feeding anyone(skin,furred or feathered)soy on a regular basis

I'm so sorry to read this. You were a great parront to her and did everything you could. She is looking down at you and loving you,because of how much you loved her

I'm so sorry to read this. You were a great parront to her and did everything you could. She is looking down at you and loving you,because of how much you loved her

I had a scary moment tonight,I had to break up Gil and Phoenix(U2). No one is hurt and I just calmed down. No more group out time!! Gil seemed upset so I had him come and help me finish up some knitting(and took the chance to challenge my finger keeping). It's hard to tell from the pics,but he's got a bunch of new feathers poking through For your viewing pleasure In the last pic he is resting his head on my leg while I tickle his neck

Caique babies tend to be very timid until they get to be closer to around 12 weeks. Then let the fun begin!!! Caiques are so so much fun,look at them they are even dressed like clowns

She wasn't my bird,she was a baby I helped handfeed and she bit me,and severed the tendon. I'm not afraid of being bitten,but Gil has had enough in his life go wrong I don't see what pushing a camera in his face and worrying him to the point of wanting to bite would do for either of us

Since I had a Congo rip into my wrist and caused me to have the tendon surgically reattached Dave007 wrote:

Gil comes out of his cage all the time,and for at least 6hrs a day. He really hates the camera and I really love my fingers so I did this one in the cage.

It's hard for me to get pics of Gil,because everytime he see's me he put his head down for a tickle. So I'll share a tickle pic. When he does it in his cage he puts his head down,stands on his boing and puts one foot on the front of the cage. He's stay like that all day. He's getting a lot of new feathers and so far I haven't seen him plucking any,so we're hoping that he'll keep the new feathers once they grow in

We're getting there. He's still getting the formula,but tonight he tried a couple sprouted quinoa and now he's enjoying a nutriberry. He is very interested in anything I'm eating,so I've been eating my meals next to his cage,because I'm not sure it's safe to have him at the table with 3 youngish children. I think tomorrow I'll have a field greens salad and see what he thinks. He also very much likes cheerios<br><br>Post edited by: Parrotdise, at: 2009/04/17 06:01

We're offering Gil everything that the other two get,veggies,legumes,grains,pasta,fruit,sprouts. So far he's tried one bite of pasta,and he'll eat apples,oranges,and grapes. Storm_2007 wrote:

I was giving Phoenix her nightly formula and Gil was really interested,so I offered him a bit off a spoon. At least I meant for it to just be a bite. By the time we were done he was sitting on my lap begging and flapping and had eaten more handfeeding formula then anything else I've seen him eat. I'm sure it's not hurting anything and he can use something besides the seeds that he craves so much. Maybe it'll even help our bonding process Now to convince the husband that both the big birds NEED formula nightly,he's gonna love that

I may be getting way ahead of myself,but after years of wearing contacts I'm going to have to switch to reading glasses. Gilbert has only ever seen my with contacts. What are the best ways to help him adjust to my new appearance?

Gilbert is such a great little guy He's progressing in socialization at an amazing rate. After biting my mom,they're visiting,the he allowed tickles from my mom and sister. Before this I was the only person in our house he allowed to touch him. He's accepting new toys,so he's now got 2 new toys in his cage and I've got several more sitting close enough to the cage for him to see them. I'm hoping to get them in the cage around the middle of next week He's eating a little better,apparently he loves lima beans,pasta,9 grain bread and at least a few tastes of veggies. We're still working on sprouts,but I'm sure it'll come. He's got a handful of new feathers peeking out. So far I haven't seen him bothering the feathers so hopefully he'll decide to let them stay. His PBFD bloodwork came back Okie Dokie,so I moved him into our living room where he can spend more tiem with the whole family and seeing more. I think it will help us bond more closely. I know that it's a bit early to take him out of quarantine,but we weighed the risks and benefits and felt like it would be so much better for him to be able to be even closer to the family and get even more attention All in all I'm amazed that he has come so far in such a short period of time and I now this is just the beginning

It's possible that Shady isn't seeing the food in the crocks in they are opaque ceramic. I use transparent quik crocks,next to the regular dished in cages when babies are weaning and newly weaned. Then I put food in the quik crocks and the dishes until they realized there is food in both. After that I take the quik crocks out and watch them to be sure they are eating from the ceramic dishes

You must be so thrilled. I know how much you want him. He sounds so lovely and you are going to make a wonderful guardian to him

Gilbert is of old french origin,it means Bright Promise. It's especially interesting to me,since he is a rehomed grey and came to us with the name. In the last couple of weeks he certainly has lived up to his bright promise

Sprouts are about 50% of Phoenix and Sweet Peas diet,we're still trying to convince Gil that they really are yummy sprouting can be pretty easy and definitely doesn't need special equipment. I use jelly straining bags,or hemp bags,but stainless steel tea balls work out great if you aren't going for a lot of sprouts. But a U2 eats a LOT of sprouts,so I sprout about a quarter cup of dry mix a day Among Phoenix and Sweet Pea sprouted wheat berries,barley and quinoa are favorites. We also like mung beans,and popcorn. Since I know Gil loves sunflower seeds,I'm gonna go and get some soaking now,don't ask me why I didn't think of it sooner<br><br>Post edited by: Parrotdise, at: 2009/04/03 00:35