Azzie

So what I'm doing with her, that's the right way to go about it?

Another old fashioned Dutch "cure" for a stuffed nose is to tuck a peeled onion under your armpit, and carry it there. Apparently the fumes will unblock the nose. I'm not sure I could stand the actual smell of an onion under my pit lol.

I've been busy trying to get Cleo to do her business on command. For the last week each time I've seen her start to do the bottom wiggle and tail shaking, I've been calling out "Cleo poop!" over and over, and praising her lots when she did (which of course she was going to do anyway!). Twice now yesterday she pooped on command, but I had my doubts about whether it was coincidence or the real deal. Just this evening however, when I took her out of the cage, I told her to go poop, and within seconds she started the wiggling and shaking, and produced the tiniest amount of urine. From the way it went, I'd say she didn't really need to go, but went anyway because she was told. Of course I performed a huge song and dance with praise. I shall keep testing my theory about whether she is toilet trained!

http://www.squawkandhowl.com/info.html

Haha well I'm quite happy to let nature take its course here with those two! A friend who owns lorikeets did say that sometimes they take on opposite gender traits, where a female might try and mount a female. I don't know about that though, Kip's bottom rubbing and Sam's constantly making a nest seems gender appropriate. On top of that, Sam has become very protective of Kip and the cage, and is now a really cranky bird. I put that down to hormones. And yep I will keep you all posted. Most likely if anything does happen it will be a "help!!" type post.

There's always these.... http://www.birddiaper.com/ I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The idea is great, but I think personally I'd rather put up with poop than dress Cleo like Superman.

Some components in flooring material give off formaldehyde, especially anything containing particle board or MDF. Glues used to put flooring in place can also give off nasty fumes. These can be fatal to birds within minutes of exposure.

Kip is about 3, and Sam recently turned 2, so as far as I know they're both sexually mature. I don't know the gender of either bird as I've not had them DNA tested, as I had no plans to purposely breed. However, if they DO produce babies, I guess the only thing I can do is buy an even bigger cage for the whole family :woohoo: I really don't mind if they do reproduce, it's just that it was not the intention.

My fiance was cooking dinner last night, and suddenly piped up, "Hey that's weird, Kip is standing on top of Sam!". (Kip and Sam are my 2 lorikeets). I had to stifle a little chuckle as I full well knew what those two were up to, but my partner obviously didn't. I told him that Kip was trying to get a better view by standing on top of Sam. My partner didn't believe me, and said Kip was nibbling Sam's neck and wiggling his bottom. I explained they were trying to make baby birds. That got him worried, as 3 birds and a dog is really my limit. I have no experience at all in birds that want to breed. I know Sam has been scratching around the bottom of the cage making a nest with newspaper, which she shreds. She also hides bits of fruit and veg in the nest. Sam has also become very territorial and bites when I try to touch Kip. Now, does mating guarantee an egg? I do know not all eggs laid are fertile. How long after mating can one expect an egg to be laid? I hope someone can answer these questions for me as I am fretting already over the tiny chance there might be baby 'keets!

Wow he's gorgeous! In comparison Cleo is rather ratty and scruffy looking, with some barbered feathers. I think it might have been her baby brothers and sisters that did the barbering,as I've not seen her do it since I've had her.

Wow he's gorgeous! In comparison Cleo is rather ratty and scruffy looking, with some barbered feathers. I think it might have been her baby brothers and sisters that did the barbering,as I've not seen her do it since I've had her.

Wow those look awesome! New Zealand is so isolated and backwards that stuff like that just isn't for sale here. One local pet store recently started importing higher quality toys for bigger parrots, as opposed to trying to palm off a budgie mirror with a bell as a parrot toy. Like red palm oil, no one here knows what it is or what it's for. Sorry....griping lol.

I agree. I get much more enjoyment from spending time with my birds (and dog)than with friends. It's not that my pets are easier or less demanding than my friends, far from it (as all you grey owners will know!). Although demanding in time and effort, and not the easiest birds to look after, there's a certain simplistic innocence about animals that people don't tend to have.

I'm sorry....what's a U2 when it comes to birds?

I actually almost cried when I saw what she had done. I knew what it meant, and as gross as it is, I was very touched that she holds me in such high esteem. In fact I'm still buzzing about it today. God..I love that bird so much! It just sort of happened slowly over the last few weeks. I love the way she wants to interact with me, or just sit there and chill. Or when she practices her whistles and speech and fills the house with so much life. I'm so glad she's going to be with me for such a long time!

After a rough play session and a cuddle, Cleo decided to regurgitate! As pleased as I am that she feels that way about me, it was rather disgusting lol.

Thank you for that. That's a great idea, and I will start training with it straight away!

Ask your doc for a mild sedative, like some Valium or something, just to take the edge off. As for the flu, drink whiskey, apparently it cures everything. Not that I would know 'coz I don't drink. Hope you get well soon!

If you don't want to put stickers on a car's paint work, why not tape the sticker to the inside of the rear windscreen of the car? Have the text facing outwards (obviously lol) and just tape it in place.

I can't wait to see your Whisper perform!

Cleo loves her time out of the cage, like any AG. In the past she has always let me know she wasn't happy by going back in by clucking at me. Now she's taken it to a new level and is actually trying to foil my attempts to put her back in. She's been great at stepping up and down, but now when I put my arm in the cage and tell her to step down, she will throw herself forward and end up hanging upside down from my sleeve, making it impossible for me to put her safely back inside. It didn't take her long at all to figure out that if she's upside down, I have to take her back out and reposition her on my arm or hand and try again. She's such a bugger, hanging there upside down, refusing to budge. It's very hard for me not to laugh at her when she performs like this, and I try my best to remain serious and "in control". Deep down I know it's her that calls the shots though, but I like to pretend...

I know exactly what you mean! This imitating is the stuff greys were made for lol. I can't wait for Cleo to add more sounds to her repertoire. She doesn't do a lot just yet, but I am sure it will come. She imitates the lorikeets chirps and whistles, and has perfected the wolf whistle in the last day or so. She makes sounds like a budgie does (about the only thing I can compare it to), and I think it's her speech practice, just prattling away. I admit I have messed around with the phone, in the hope Cleo will copy the sound, and also played with the microwave for the beeps. She likes to watch Cops on tv, and although I've been advised against it, due to mimicking of sirens, I still let her lol. I am well used to the lorikeets loud and ear piercing shrieks, but find it doesn't bother me. I rather enjoy listening to the sounds of life in my house :lol:

So I spend lots of money on colourful and awesome looking toys for Cleo. I forage around the house for bits and pieces she might like to play with. I spend time fashioning toys for her (no mean feat as I have 2 left hands). I proudly present the new toys and my creations to madame... and she decides she prefers to try and pick the buttons off the tv remote, or chew on my camera....

Cleo tolerates my fiance, as long as he doesn't try to touch her. She will sit on him if he has food and will try to steal it. When new people come over, she clucks at them, and it is pretty clear she is anxious, so I tell people not to stand near the cage but observe from a distance.

Hahaha bloody birds! Since reading these posts I've really started to mind my p's and q's. I used to let the occasional expletive rip, but now that I've learnt greys love drama and are quick to pick up on it, I'm trying to be more careful. I do recall a program on tv a few years back about parrots. There was a couple who were very noisy in their love making, but thought nothing of it. Until one day they hosted a dinner party, and the parrot let loose... "ooh yeah...oooh baby" and some more content really only mentionable in the heat of the moment. I think that was the moment I wanted a parrot...