Jayd

Hi! When you get a chance, stop by the Welcome Room and tell us all about yourself and your fids (Feathered Kids)...There's smashes, there's mashes, there's glops, and layers..LOL...we call our mash a smash.Here is a forum post with our menu items and others. It is an older post so it is good for all ages of birds. We still feed ours the same recipes...Thanks, Jayd and Spock http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?190462-We-Feed-Our-Fid-s!!!-Update

Ditto to Dan, What you did is the healthiest for Gracies mental well being. LOL Love from afar...Thanks

The info given to you here is correct. Metacam is a pain killer [nsaid] mainly for dogs.....

Hi, I Just double left click in the middle of the photo, If a pop-up comes up, click "View" not "Save". I tried it in Explorer and Firefox. Thanks Jayd

Dan, A hearty thank you...

3 NOW, WOW, Missed-ya Jayd and Spock

This is Joe with Salsa and Tango making noise in the background. Click to watch..... Still trying for a better one.

Jill,[Greywings] Fantastic......

Dan is one of the most knowledgeable people I know who understands how and why our Grey's think as they do. Talon and Judy have insights into the every day lives of these great creatures, Lest we don't forget Ray P and Katana600 who bring forth real life experiences. And our members who bring all this knowledge together. Each of us contribute something to the whole of this forum, Since I have a lot of free time you see my name a lot,and Spock when she can. Every time I read a post I learn something new or reaffirm something I may have forgot. Welcome

The reply's from Janet and Dave come not only from experience but from love and devotion....

If I may, get yourself some Chamomile tea,[pure,nothing else] Brew normal, add about1/2 cup to 1 cup of plain water, put in a separate water bowl. Try spoon serving him some when it's warm. [-105 degrees], you drink the rest....

Come on all, there are some really good questions here that need more than one answer!!!! Get typing, give opinions, examples, and pro and cons...Jayd

I hope this might help....Don't give up, Joe is just one of our many rescues.... Rescue #1 JOEY Joey: Congo African Grey Parrot Present Age: Four years old Abuse Type: Mental and Severe Psychological (No visible sign of Physical abuse) Background: We know the pet store that Joey had originally been purchased from. He had been weaned and clipped, never allowed to fly. For the next two years we had no record and we have not been able to speak to the previous owners. After purchasing Joey and with some help also with help from Joey himself, we have been able piece together some of his past history and his previous owners. His previous owners were a well-established young couple. The female was never fond of any types of pets, did not fit her lifestyle. Joey had favored the male and there had been a bonding but it wasn’t a healthy bonding. Shortly after getting Joey, which brought problems to the marriage, the male was more interested in maintaining harmony than integrating Joey. This brought about bickering over Joey between the two owners with the female getting more and more agitated, putting him in a small room by himself, being ignored by both of them except for cage cleaning, food and water. There was a lot of arguments that took place within earshot of Joey, possible marital abuse, yelling at Joey by both of them, cage being tapped, arguments about whether to keep Joey or get rid of him. At this point, the owners decided, (not mutually) to get rid of Joey. So, at this point, Joey and his cage was taken to a pet store where the owner agreed to hold him for awhile and let Joeys owners visit him for a while (which was wrong). They only visited him three times over the next six months, arguing in his presence each time. At this point in time, we took Joey into our hearts and home. The Homecoming: We didn’t know this young Grey’s name, so we called him Jim (Kirk) to go along with Spock. At this time, we had enough birds for everyone in the city. He was a quiet bird and would sit in his cage in the back and be soundless. He would let you change his water and food (he had been on seeds only diet). He would also shake if you came near the cage and would constantly head-search while chewing his toe-nails. He was extremely neurotic…he was a small bird and looked like he might have been stunted from lack of a proper diet. We introduced him to everyone and we did not attempt to hold him. We talked to him and talked to our other fids in front of him. If we saw that he was being extremely nervous, we would go out of our way to stop and talk to him with a “Hi Jim” etc, and we were slowly discovering the depth of his psychological and mental abuse. We left the cage door open whenever we were home and awake which at this stage was 24/7. One day, Jay left the room and in the most concerned voice, Joey called out “Hello! Are you okay?” When Jay came back, Joey was standing at the open door looking down the hallway, looking for Jay to come back. He would also say “Hello”, “How are you?” at this time. He also started talking to himself…bringing up his past two years. While shaking badly, he would say things like “Are you going to feed me?” “Get a lawyer”, “You can run but you can’t hide!” “LIAR!” He would make crying sounds…he would do this while we were not in the room (plus other things too sad to say). During this period, we were introducing him to all sorts of fresh veggies and fruits. (It has taken over a year to get him to eat veggies and fruits) Besides his ruminations, he also started talking, calling to the other fids, calling us by name, singing but always reverting to his old self and chewing his nails and shaking. Out of nowhere, as Jay and I were walking by his cage, he looked Jay straight in the eye and said, “I’m Joey, NOT Jim”. He told us this twice (imagine us with our jaws on the ground) and we had to start changing his name on our threads. Now and into the Future: Joey lets us hold him and play with him more each day. He is coming out of the closet so to speak…he is an ideal parrot in a number of ways but it is all from his abuse years. He has built his life on his own routines. He eats at the same time each day, he talks at the same time each day, he preens himself at the same time each day…he definitely has obsessive-compulsive tendencies. For the last two months we have not heard him say anything from his abusive past. He has a growing vocabulary and strong cognitive abilities which we believe has roots in his abusive years. He lets us hold him when he wants to. At times, he is very cage-territorial and he stays on his cage. He will perch and let you take him from his cage for a few moments only. We have a perch on the outside of his cage and he likes to spend most of his time looking out the window. He is extremely vocal and interacts with Spock and Salsa and lets both of them eat and drink from his bowls and he plays tail-chase with both of them on his cage. He is very insecure anywhere away from his cage. It is an ongoing process to try to get him comfortable enough to stay away from his cage. He has attempted to fly on four-five occasions to fly and they have been disastrous. This is definitely due to the fact that he was constantly clipped. (We have set out pillows on his common landing areas that is more often missed than hit.) At times, he will revert to something that triggers his bad memories and will pin his eyes and draw blood out of the clear blue. Once he snaps out of it, he is very affectionate and loving. The Future continues: On-going Progress: In the last couple of weeks, Joey has made some amazing changes. To everyone’s surprise, when you open his cage in the morning, he will hang from the top of the cage, wait for you to support him with your hand and involve you in beaky play. He will hang with one foot and grab your hand with the other (Yikes!) and play roughly while talking to you. (Non-Sexual) He’s molting and he’s also found out that a human finger is excellent for rubbing the pin feathers at the bend of the leg where it touches the body. In the few moments that he lets you hold him, he has leaned against our chest (on his own) and cuddled. Now and Beyond: Daily, you can still see the pain that he has endured. When he thinks we are not observing him, he reverts to his shaking and nail chewing to a lesser extent. His most recent trait that the past is still current in is memory is when we have to leave, he will let out a couple of loud contact calls and puff up to almost twice his size and stare and you and call while you are leaving. It is so sad… They NEVER forget…any abuse is a major and daily part of their lives and they live with it….it is always there to haunt them. Jayd and Maggie Here's our latest post on Joe...http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?189638-Grey-Cognition-and-language-abilities

One of the most important things in a parrots diet is fresh veggies. Your fid needs much more then just the mash and bread, use the bread as a treat, a small amount a couple of times a week, a small piece of fruit is all you need. Check out the forum for mash recipes, make your own and feed daily......

Right on, something happened to cause her to be that way, lets take time to see what it might be, sit back and relax, try what I said for a while, It's going to be hard for you.......I don't believe she has any fear of you.

Thank you so much Janet, I'll take your advice.....That what friends are for..I'll personally never spoil another post again.

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words. After seeing the video, I have a better sense of whats happening, she's not being stubborn but looks more fearful. You still need to challenge her but not in this area. She doesn't seem cage territorial, but has fear of your arm, she doesn't seem to be upset that your in her cage. She attempts to step up, like she want's to but at the last moment changes her mind. Pose you arm, finger extended with out moving, you can do this at the cage door. Let her come to you, she might not like the sweater on your arm, no sudden movement, do this for short periods of time through out the day. I didn't get the impression she was uncomfortable, I felt she was indecisive.

A couple of things I noticed was, when she put her foot on you she squeezes her toe's but doesn't grip, has she ever fallen when perched on a arm. She doesn't want to step up in her cage, I would only try to get her to step up out of the cage, she senses she is being chased around the cage and is trying to get away from you. It would be better if you sat at the front of the cage with your arm extended out, motionless, and let her come to you. I prefer to use a finger or to, they have more to grab on to as some Greys are unsure of a arm...Good job. I would suggest talking in the normal voice, Greys copy their parront, she will sound like you, talk to her as you would any other person, for that's what they feel they are and that's how their brain thinks.

Fine looking TAG.... Thank you.....

Glove's, bells, red balls, listed in the archives are many threads of Greys to unnatural attention to objects, in most cases, removal of said object helps......

Hi, it sounds like your doing a wonderful job, So little time has passed in the time you've had this Grey, she's a mature Grey, so it will take longer then for a younger bird to fully adapt to her new home, be patient. If she wishes to talk, it we'll happen at her choosing, wonderful job.....

Please, all members, never stop asking, there is no stupid questions. Post, ask, research, and decide what you feel is right. From the unusual we learn...Always feel free to stand by what you believe in.....Thanks every one.

We of the Grey Forum care, that's how we learn, that's how we find new insight into these wonderful creatures.

Please never give your parrot a supplement unless ordered by a avian vet. Eliminate the fruit except for a small piece each day, there is no nutrient value, and it flushes their system, they'll eat fruit instead of whats good for them. Red palm oil would help a lot. He really needs more Dark green leafy veggies, less fruit, no supplements. A vet check might be in order.....Thanks

A Grey doesn't comprehend the word "no", always display you unhappiness saying,"I don't like that" etc. A Grey responds by reaction, have you ever noticed that when you talk to your Grey they look at you for a second or two [as if their listening lol] be for acting? their thinking about what your saying or doing before responding. Has something changed? A Grey see's in the near ultraviolet, not as we do in shades of gray and the visible color spectrum.. Did you change soap? body lotion? routine? Be patienit, see what happens over the next few days.