Joolesgreyuk

It hurts to see Spock like this poor love. Are the injections over and done with yet Jay? What is the next move? If it makes you feel any better Beau only weighs 410 when fighting fit!

:laugh: Was just kidding Bernie hence the

LOL Bernie don't be such a tight arse, get that poor Ben a new cage instead of spending all your dosh on toy boats ;-)

I find myself wondering how I'm going to make my pancakes this shrove Tuesday, with no non-stick pans in the house or any suitable alternative, no yorkshire puddings, cakes, sponge cakes in our house these days but I do like my pancakes once a year lol. Recently I've found myself looking at silicone bakeware for some baking (even hatchday cakes!) but I'm not sure how safe it is or if it gives off any toxic fumes. Searched on here but found nothing, does anyone know how safe it is?

I have not nor will I ever feed my fids "suspect" food it just isn't worth the risk and as Judy pointed out there are so many alternatives why take the chance? Grape seeds? I think I read somewhere that seeded grapes are better for our fids but I've always given the seedless variety because that is what I would chose for the rest of the family. I don't buy seperate fruit for the fids, we all eat the same.

Thanks for to everyone's response. What we are actually trying to do is teach click = treat, first whilst Argyle is sat on his door (it's an open-out door you can place treats on) and continuing this in a gradual way further and further from his cage to entice him further from it. The clicker is only being used to signify a treat is coming, we are not trying to teach him anything more avanced than that. He has come out of his cage occasionally before (so I know he will if he wants to badly enough) but really isn't that bothered, hopefully he will be bothered when a treat is placed further from his cage and he realises he will have to come out further in order to get it. Teaching step-up is not an option at this stage, even using a perch to try this is no use, he will just walk up the perch and lunge at the hand holding it. Even the special perches you can buy with the perspex shield would be no use, he will just lunge towards the hand holding it underneath. What we are trying to do is get him to realise that a hand brings treats and get him used to hands that way, step-up should come later. When I type this I realise just how much work we have, Argyle sounds so wild but at times he can be tame(ish) since we've had him (6 months) he has been out of his cage on occasions, flown on to Steve or me and sat preening but when the mood takes him he will attack the face/neck/ears therefore we just cannot risk allowing him to fly onto us. I'm not expecting to acheive miracles here, I just want him to come out of his cage daily for a couple of hours and sit on the playstand or elsewhere whilst I clean his cage, perches and so on. I don't like the thought of him being cage-bound. If all else fails and as a last resort a light clip might balance the power in our favour because atm Argyle is boss! Sorry for the long-winded post lol.

Calypso is a very pretty Amazon, lovely pictures.

Well that is excellent news, seems Vree is on the mend, let's hope so. All the things you mention are good signs. I wouldn't be in a hurry to take him out of the tub, you really don't want him climbing or swinging from the bars of his cage just yet but it probably won't be that long. Is it possible for him to climb from the tub when he is fully fit? If so I would be inclined to let him climb out on his own when he is ready. Thanks for the update, I'm really hoping for a full recovery for Vree.

Thanks for the advice Dave I appreciate it. Today was the first day of training and I didn't expect much if I'm honest. Argyle doesn't need a clicker to put him off coming out of his cage, he is never that interested in coming out - far too territorial of his cage to want to leave it but I take on board your advice and if I find the clicker isn't helping I will drop it.

I don't really see what difference it makes Dave, he doesn't see it and it's just a (quiet) sound he can accociate with getting a treat.

Oh they are very nice and they should do the job. Thanks for the link.

Ramsabi, we do what we can from behind a keyboard/monitor but that doesn't include crossing borders and risking all for Rishi. I question myself "would I be prepared to do that for my baby?" I'm not sure I would. There are some very special people on this forum and you are one of them.

I think we all wish we could do something more constructive, the odd poem is next to nothing but if it makes you guys smile then it is a job well done. ;-)

Oh Jude, you are such a flatterer - if only I had an ounce of talent LOL, I call it a ditty cos that's what it is, serious poetry it aint, however I might be persuaded to write the odd piece now & then if I'm moved by something enough. You can't fail to be humbled by the likes of Spock's & Rishi's parronts, they are truly inspirational.

Well just thought I'd keep everyone up-to-date with the training (or lack of it lol) which has been delayed due to a few reasons. I wanted to get it right in my head before starting, Greg suggested Steve begin the training as he is the favoured one and tbh Steve isn't that bothered as the parrots are mine and my responsibility. Also I wanted to start with the right method and the right treats to get it right. We tried this morning, I really needed to get Argyle out of his cage in order to give it a good wash & scrub-out, well my feeling is that Argyle is territorial and really has never been that bothered about coming out. Steve tried to entice him out with tiny pieces of the bread he loves and a clicker, he wasn't having any of it but took one piece placed near him on the door, unfortunately he wasn't about to come out any further not for love nor money (nor bread lol) and was really quite vicious when Steve tried to get near him with more bread, even attacking the small plate in Steve's hand. We are going to persevere, training daily (whenever possible depending on Steve's shift) and get him used to the clicker, also I'm going to get some different treats, maybe some pringles - I know, I don't normally offer junk food to my fids but I think Argyle was fed these in his old house and if it works it will be worth it. Anyway, I think I will give regular updates on his training if there is progress, if there is none I won't bother LOL

Since penning an ode to our friend Spock it occured to me I'd left someone out, another poor grey who's been in the wars we haven't forgotton no doubt, who's parronts would go to the ends of the earth to get him the treatment he needs, they cannot, will not rest until he is fed special medicines and seeds. They risk their all in their quest to find an avian vet, it's been a while since we last heard of border crossings and yet... It seems another adventure is due once again could it be on the cards another trip by plane or train or automobile or maybe even a barge? So Rishie wishing you the very best from us your extended family on here, whatever it takes, your parrants will make a journey for health to adhere. This ode to you and Ramsabi and wife the very least you deserve, to wish you all strength and love but mostly just keep your nerve! Wishing Rishi & family all the luck in the world! XXX

I think I've had this poem sent to me by email before although I could be wrong but it is a good one and rings very true. It is true that much of our lives are dictated by Brussels but it is OUR goverment who signed papers allowing them to do so in fact the latest papers were signed by none other than Gordan Brown, who sneaked off and signed them on the quiet, the vast majority of British people knew nothing of it until they'd been signed. This year there will be a general election, it is up to us to let him know if we are gonna put up with his sh** any longer! Sorry to get all political but it makes me so...{Emotions-00020077}

Well if this little ditty made Jay & Maggie laugh & smile it was well worth it. Live long & prosper Spock!

It's so good to see Rishi playing despite his illness, encouraging signs. Love the atom it does looks huge.

I love seeing pics of Emma, you always seem to have a real bond and Emma sure likes posing for you.

Emma is just great isn't she? She always looks such a happy girl. I don't think I've ever seen Beau on his back!

{Feel-good-0002006E} Oh my, sorry for laughing but you saying "that is not acceptable" just cracked me up, anyway you couldn't be angry with such a pretty girl could you

Spock is a dude, he’s one of a kind, far more than just a grey, since finding the forum some months ago I find myself looking each day for the latest adventure of him and his flock, oh my what fun to observe how he runs rings around his Maggie & Jay, I’m not sure what they did to deserve this lovable vulcan in their lives who mind-melts to get his own way. You cannot help but love the lil guy Who has become part of our day. Now maggie & Jay are so very sad because Spock has been less than well but we share in their pain because we love him too and we pray and try not to dwell. Now Spock would be in the best of health If wishes could make him mend so Maggie & Jay and Spock & co. to you our love we send and this here ditty is written with love it goes out to you little Spock Praying for you to God up above Because well basically you rock!

Cocoa is a great flyer and seems to love her little jaunts, bless her.

ramsabi, you are amazing. I hope Rishi gets the help he so badly needs. Wishing you all the luck in the world.