Jayd

These replies as you already know are perfect....I hope you all don't mind but I would like to add a side-note. If any bag of food that contains un-shelled peanuts has any black powdery looking substance on the shells or dusting on anything else in the bag, please return it and do not feed it to your babies. This is mold. Last year at this time, at a couple of stores, we went through the bags with peanuts in them and with the store's help, came across three pallets with mold in the bags. No recall was done but they removed the bags from the shelves. Thanks. Jayd

Here's a Joe update... http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?195450-Here-s-Joe-video..

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

Yes, Control is for Wasp also...http://www.naturechest.com/control.html Control Aviary Bug Spray EPA approved, Control Aviary Bug Srpay is for use in homes pet stores, aviaries, and veterinarian offices. Contains Pyrethrum in a water based spray. Pyrethrum compounds are the safer choice of insect control in aviaries or households with birds. Helps control ants, fleas, spiders, crickets, roaches, wasps, silverfish, gnats, small flying moths, lice, grain mites, house flies and more. Also EPA approved to control mosquitos, including the species that may carry the West Nile virus. IMPORTANT INFO: If you are using Control to spray into the air, it is recommended you remove all birds from the room first, and be sure there is no airborne residue present when you return birds to the room. Thanks Jay

LOL..Mango, papayas, and kiwi's are good for our Greys, but just a little fruit daily, watch for soft stools. Amazons can have more fruit then Greys....Thanks Jay

Hi, if I may, this is what we have used for many years, it's also used in bird stores and aviaries in this area. Thanks Jay http://www.naturechest.com/control.html

This will be my last reply on the subject. Research Doug, not the label. 2nd, research something about what parrots eat that can possibly convert to to much sugar. If you wish to continue to support things that might[?] cause harm to our parrots, please do so, I'll no longer try to offer my help. There are so many more important things that needs to be discussed on the forum then who can I discredit today..... I'm going to do 1 or 2 more posts, 1 about Red Palm Oil, then I'll limit my posts to posting a photo or something that will not offend anyone. Sincerely Jay

Once again your partly right, Balsamic vinegar isn't vinegar, nor is it apple cider vinegar, the subject was sugar conversion..A couple of members have said, what's a little going to hurt? Enough to cause problem or death in the future is all. Example, you Doug know that peanuts in the shell can cause possible illness or death, the simple solution, stop feeding it if for no other reason then peace of mind.....

Doug, and all interested members, Jay has been tired today. I have had him rest as much as he could. He says he has everything and he just has to put it all together for you tomorrow. To add intrigue...we don't use red palm oil...we'll explain why but please, who do use it, please don't stop. It is greyt for our parrots. Have a greyt night....Maggie

Thanks, your baby will eat only want, some days she'll eat say only the beans, other days only the rice...lol Thanks Jay

Spock would sit by the window and coo with the wild doves, Greywings called it "Zen Coo". Our birds are wild, When Spock flew, he circled once and never looked back. Your fear is one we've adapted...Jay and Maggie

I get a lot of members/people asking me " If its bad for our birds, why do pet food makers put it in there products?" Money, their selling a product nothing more, all company aren't this way,just some, and in "Kaytee's" case, one we trusted for a long time. Sometime read the ingredents in a product and see the dangerous ingredients, one such product I'm aware of contains "Grit". Most Pet foods contains "Fillers" some contain over 50 %....In some cases it's the bottom line is the dollar... Peanuts are cheap, they add weight and bulk= Dollars, last year we test 20 bags of food from a store, 18 bags had mold on the peanut shells, no recall was made. That's why I'm so strong on peanuts, salt ,sugar, etc. I've seen the effects of all these, I've lived with it.. Thank you. Jay.

When "Kaytee" sold out and went to the dark side, we lost 8 baby "Tiels" we switched to ZuPreem formula, that was around 2009. Never used "Kaytee" since......Jay

Welcome and our heart felt thanks for having a re-home/rescue... Jay and Maggie.....

Big Smile, now if you feed brown or wild rice with this, you'll have a complete protein for your baby...Jay

Note: Do not buy Red palm oil from Asia, Malaysia, Florida. This is not of the same quality as that from Africa due to cross-breeding at the palm farms, this is also true at plantation in Africa, there are many variety of palm oil plantations there.Thanks Jay

Just woke up, looked this one up from Spock"s tests, ionized calcium is calcium that is freely flowing in your blood and not attached to proteins. It is also called free calcium.All cells need calcium in order to work. Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth. It is important for heart function, and helps with muscle contraction, nerve signaling, and blood clotting.[Human] lower-than-normal levels may be due to: Hypoparathyroidism Kidney failure Liver disease (decreased albumin production) Low serum magnesium Malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract) Osteomalacia Pancreatitis Rickets and vitamin D deficiency I would guess that Harrison's were stating that their food raises this value. Wish you would have quoted a little more info. Thanks Jayd

Members, please take note: She asked nothing for herself....Bless you....

I know words can't help, but were sorry.....Jay and Maggie

The best is "TOP's" treat, you'd be surprised how many people buy it for them selves. TOP is the best pellet/seed there is on the market...Jay

Good post and question. Why don't you give 3-4 a call, we have no avian vets with in a 100 miles. Thanks Jay

http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-nutrition/good-table-bird-food.aspx This is a fairly good info, I'm having troublr searching the forum, I'll find you some good bean post by tomarrow....Thanks Jay

Please don't use bleach, you've been givin so many safer means of cleaning....I't caustic, it's vapor can burn a parrots air sacks, if accidentally it comes in contact with detergents it's vapor can kill humans as well as birds.... Does any one have any new suggestion for cage cleaning? Thanks Jay

Your doing good, don't worry about it, almonds are better. Yes their tastes change, sometimes it takes years....Thank Jay

This really tastes good, I'm sorry but to be healthy for our parrots we need to make a couple of changes. The easiest would be to just not serve them the Balsamic vinaigrette dressing and replace the White rice with brown or wild rice. Balsamic vinegar isn't a vinegar, it's not fermented and is made from grape skin, this along with the added brown sugar, rice,pasta etc, before and after the digestive process raises the sugar level extremely high. A added danger is the salt. Some ingredients such as salt accumulates in the parrots system, a parrot has no way to remove, in time, salt, sugar can cause a mulatude of health related problems such as heart problems and possibly death. Sometime add up just how much salt and sugar we feed our parrot, this includes Carb's that converts to sugar. Remember, a slice of most breads equal 2 tsp of sugar! We all cheat and give no-no's to our parrots, but in the case of wingys wonderful recipe, we can slightly alter it for our fids...Thanks Jay