rbpittman

One of the more interesting side effects of Dixie's learning to fly again, is a new closeness between us. Dixie has been my bird in name on, she prefers my husband and that's cool, but she has been coming to me more and more to practice flapping. This she won't do with my husband, she just wants to sit on him and be loved. She will leave me in a heartbeat to go to him, if he hands her off to me, she comes, but reluctantly and it's obvious. With this new event in her life, she's willingly coming to me to practice flapping. When she flew to my arm yesterday and then back to the cage I immediately went to her cage. She stepped up and flapped for a good five minutes before she was panting from all the exercise and ready to finally step down. Between her flapping exercises she was hanging upside down from my fingers, almost testing our trust, "Mom, don't let go!". I didn't. This thread is more than I had hoped it would be, it's a way to journal our experience, and a way to share my joy. Judy, there were ton's of tears, and they were great! Robin

Jay and Maggie, I understand exactly what you are saying. I worried so much about Beau chewing on his feathers when I would put him back into his cage. I would hate the point of having to leave him, I just knew I would come back and find more feathers chewed off his wing and more feathers removed from his back and chest. I was given some very good advice from a very trusted friend; and that was to "live in the moment." It wasn't easy, and I had to hide my fears, but I learned to accept what I had at that very moment, and that was my baby, unhealthy as he was, still loving me. I took that moment and held it dear to my heart, and when I put him back, I assured myself when I came back he would be the same. Eventually that is exactly what I got. We have new feathers, they aren't being chewed and a healthy baby now. Spock knows you are fearful for him, he appreciates the empathy you are feeling, but he may also feel the apprehension you have for his health. Live in the moment, don't let one slip away, hold those close to your heart and know that your family here on the forums is here for you. Let us do your crying and fretting, and you enjoy being with Spock. Robin

OMG, that sounds so much like my daughter did when she was starting to talk (about 2). Everything liquid was "ilk" and any food from the fridge was "cheese." She would go to the fridge and say "ilk and cheese." That didn't mean she wanted milk or cheese, but that's what Nicky's doing, he's identified all fruit as "apple" and that process is wonderful. Keep up the great work and thanks for the laugh. I can see you running for that apple!

My getting Beau was one of those things I guess. He was already "owned" by someone and then got sick. He hadn't left the bird store yet. The owner's didn't want a sick bird, he had plucked his chest and back and was starting on his wing. I didn't care that he wasn't "perfect" and if I had not had the experience with Dixie, I would not have had the confidence to bring Beau home. He's doing exceptionally well now, flights growing back in, chest and back now covered in feathers, and quite the snuggle bunny. I didn't know that they could snuggle to you, that wasn't part of my desire to have a grey as a companion. I preferred the "three year old mindset" since I get along great with 3 year olds...lol. It was a blessing in disguise to get Beau, because as much as Dixie has taught me in caring for him, Beau has brought me closer to Dixie in recognizing her special abilities and letting her present them! Robin

I never knew the Amazon room would be so lively! My daughter has been after me to get her a bird and she has fallen in love with a lilac crowned amazon at the bird shop. Her reason for loving this bird, she's so brilliantly colored and will go with anything Sarah determines to wear that day. Of course Sarah has a tendency to change her hair color weekly so an Amazon would probably fit her personality perfectly. It's not unlike her to wear green and red and purple all at the same time! Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/02/05 23:49

Thanks for Sharing! The information on VOC paints does change on a daily basis it seems and I'll be looking to paint my living room and hallway when it stops raining and I can open the windows for ventilation. While the birds won't be near these areas, they are still in the house. Robin

I'm so sorry, I've just read this thread, I hope that Vree is doing better today. Katheryn I admire you commitment to Vree and everything that you have done so far to help him at this time. You and Vree will be in my prayers as we traverse through the next few weeks. Please keep us posted on his progress. Robin

They are sooooooooo so little and oh so sweet! I can't wait to see more pictures as they grow, this is such a wonderful process to watch, from naked and pink to feathered and alert soon. Thanks for sharing Ramsabi! Robin

Well I finally get to say Dixie Flew! This was a purposeful flight even! Yesterday she climbed up on top of my laptop monitor and as she flapped her wings, she went further up into the air. Then she navigated out of the door and into the hallway. Unfortunately, the wall was there and she misjudged the cornering and came back down, but I believe it was intentional! Today, and I was watching, Dixie hollered "Mom" and as I turned around to say yes, she took off from her porch and landed perfectly on my arm! I was in tears and shock because it happened so fast. I think she was extremely proud of herself as she quickly gave me kisses and took off again, back to her cage. YES! DIXIE FLEW AND SHE WANTS TOO! She needs lots of practice to build up to longer flights (these all were less than 20 feet), but we spent some quality time flapping and flapping and flapping while hanging onto my fingers. To rest, she hung upside down from them...lol Robin

This was a rant? Congratulations on the upcoming baby and now consider all this time you have until his/her arrival that it's parront training time. You get to read all the info, figure out the best toys, build several playstands, bird proof the house and get any and all home improvements in place before bringing baby home. You also have the opportunity to get your baby weaned onto the solid food of your choice (after doing your research) so you don't have to change it later. You can find all the best places in town to purchase the materials you need, find the best avian vet around and learn about all of our birds here so you'll have an idea of what to expect when your baby arrives. Congrats again, I wish you all the best! Robin

We took in a 12 year old u2 that I was told only said hello and I love you. Sterling has been with us for 6 months now and he has increased his vocabulary to "be right back" - this is something I always say to him. He also talks in gibberish quite a bit, and I love it, he's telling me something like you wouldn't believe and I let him tell me and interject with "You don't say" and "I can't believe that" and "You've got to be kidding." The more I interject, the more he chatters away. We've noticed in the last few days he's saying more and more words clearly during his gibberish, so he's working on words, whether he knows it or now. That doesn't mean your grey will talk, but don't get discouraged, keep talking away, he may not respond in human words, but in bird words! Robin

I swear that Alfie is the sweetest little thing and just loves the camera! WTG David and Alfie! and yes Lyn, she's probably sticking her tongue out at you! Robin

You're in good company - we're all doing the same things! My office gets vacuumed more often than the living room and the trash gets emptied daily whether it needs it or not! Yes we do understand you thoroughly and are right there with you. Robin

So glad to hear he's grumbling at you, that means he still has his spunk and that's always a good sign. Keep up the great work Jay and Maggie, as always you and the entire flock are in my thoughts and prayers. Robin

Will wait for my penny - in the meantime here are my thoughts... I have two greys - one clipped by the bird shop before brining her home. She has since lost all of those flights that were clipped and the new ones are in - now we are waiting for the flight. She has managed two "controlled flights" resulting from her jumping from her cage - the first resulted in a landing on the floor, the second she flew to Beau's cage and landed on his porch. Today she did what I consider to be her first actual flight - she climbed on my laptop monitor and went up and out the door into the hallway, misjudged the corner of the wall in the hallway and semi-gracefully came down. She's determined to try and I'm determined to let her. Beau is my baby, and he has a wing that was damaged due to an illness. He's now regaining flights and secondary feathers so it will be some time before he will regain his flight. Beau is a floor walker because of this, and I worry more about him being stepped on than I do about Dixie flying. I also have 3 dogs - and they run the other direction from the birds, or look up and then lay back down. The key to a bird - flighted or not - they can get away when outside - so they must be harnessed. Dangers in the home - cooking and they land on the stove, of course if one is not flighted this makes the probability higher if they are sitting on your shoulder or a playstand nearby. Ceiling fans, windows, and open doors, exposed wires, hot water and a multitude of other things that can bring harm. It comes down to you as the human being diligent and observant and protecting your baby - flighted or not.

Pattertwig, My Dixie was a year and 2 months when I got her, and while it's taken some time to get her to allow certain things, this has been a matter of building trust with her as opposed to her having a set personality. We have been working on the harness and have met with great success on the matter - but only after having established the trust. I was fortunate in not having a predetermined mind of having a baby grey, I wanted a grey that I could connect with and that was Dixie, she choose me over 3 much younger (3 month olds) greys. Her independence and self-assuredness made me more confident as a grey owner. I do have a baby grey - he's 7 months old, and he has been through the ringer so to say - and we are very bonded, but that doesn't mean that he won't choose someone else in the house to attach to at some point in the future. Even for Dixie, she loves me to death, as long as my husband is on the road with his job, but the minute he comes home, I don't exist! Gotta love these Grey's! I wish you luck in your quest for the grey that is right for you. Robin

My apologies Khushi, you are quite the proud Papa! Great work there sir! I look forward to hearing more of the progress of these babies!

Thank you to everyone! I'll be very honest, it has taken a lot of work to get Beau to this point, but it is the members of this board who are the real champions and hero's here, not me. Without your devotion to me, Beau and Grey's in general I would not have had the patience and encouragement I needed to see Beau through to the progress he has seen. Your expertise has allowed me the confidence to make sure Beau is a happy, healthy little bird and he is that. Yes, I guess he has a pet in Blue (or is Blue's pet) and he is playing and cheaping on a regular basis. His favorite thing to do is sit on my keyboard and get scratches. The hardest part of all of this is to make sure I'm diligent in keeping him out of his cage as much as possible to prevent the behavior from returning, bathing and misting him daily (thanks Dave) and watching his diet. The easiest part is giving him love, which he soaks up by the minute.

Leigh, I sent you a private message, but Dr. Jose is the absolute best in this area as an Avian vet. Bird store retailers are far and few between other than the chain type, and they offer little in the line of quality toys and foods. I use a little store off Ladson Road called the Nest Box. Bob is excellent and will get you anything you want if he doesn't already have it. Feel free to private message me with anything else you might need from the area! Welcome to Charleston! Robin

Way to cute! I love her bubbles! Robin

Very interesting. Both of my Grey's are chipped and I have their paperwork that gives hatch date and dna testing as well. It gives the breeders name and location as well as their identification numbers. Thanks for bringing up the information.

Taz, thanks for your explanation. I didn't mean to offend, and apologize if I did. I have less than a years experience with Grey's so I tend to jump to "go to vet" faster than I should I guess.

OH, I just want to cuddle them all.......and if it was in my ability I would have all of them.....lol. The pictures are so sweet and I know you have fallen head over heels in love with your precious baby! I know how special being with your little one is at this time and how much you are loving it. Thanks for sharing the pics and making me ooohhh and ahhh!

Taz, how long have you been breeding greys? Your post says you have about 9 years experience with them, so one not eating for the first few days should not be a new thing, and you should have already known that a diet of sunflower seeds is not a good diet for a grey. I'm glad that your grey is eating now, and that's great, but was it vet checked prior to bringing him into your home? You've put him with your other birds without a proper quarantine period. No poo for several days and having to force fluids indicates an immediate visit to the vet.

Dixie will be playing with one of her toys and all is fine with the world and then all H*LL breaks loose! She will scream and attack the toy as if it's the worst thing on the earth. Just her being a grey!