rbpittman

Here's a pic of Beau and Blue, these were taken right after Blue joined the family: Blue is on Beau's back Just a little off the top please! Best buddies! Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/02/03 04:38

Tobie looks great and I love his play stand and truly seems to be enjoying it. Next will be video of him flying! Robin

I would do what Dave said to do - go back to the vet! If he's comfortable in the smaller cage and not doing this while in it or out of cage, then it may be psychological. I would also recommend you have the vet check to see if there is something imbedded into the foot - a sliver of wood or something from the toy - which would cause additional "savaging" of his foot. There has to be some type of irritant to continue to go after it, even in the smaller cage - he's nibbling, not attacking, but then again, he can't get to it as freely. Robin

Beau loves to spend time with Blue and Bean, but he's the submissive of the three. Blue and Bean are partners in crime so they are equally indignant. Dixie cares only for my hubby. I guess he's her pet...lol. That's a new one - especially since Grey's are so independent. Robin

Spock and Rishi are top priority in my prayers and thoughts. I didn't realize that Rishi was still suffering, although I knew the ailment hadn't been completely resolved. I love you and wish only the best for Spock and Rishi and their respective families as they are part of my family.

Absolutely amazing - thanks for sharing such a joyous picture with us! And I think I can see the other chick up close to Momma!

Please read the following and if it's in your power to help, please do: http://www.parrots.org/index.php/ourwork/african_grey_blog_1 Robin

Yep, and next he'll be telling you to step-up and scratches and then placing advance orders for breakfast and lunch, with preference on dinner specials; informing you it's bed time and waking you up with more than just little whistles and cheaps. Dixie's best line is "I see you" in my husband's voice and uses it frequently when someone walks in the backdoor! Congrats on the chatterbox! Robin

Hooray! Great work with Tully and love the pic. I'm so happy that he's coming along so well with the diet and new cage. of course you're in love with him, who wouldn't be? Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/02/01 16:32

I have Aviator harnesses for my grey's and u2 and while we've had no luck getting it on Dixie yet, Beau has let me put it on him several times with little to no objection. Sterling (u2) loves his harness. He is quick to sit still and let me put it on knowing we are going "bye bye" although he only flies in the house. The harness allows me to take him out to get "his boy" from school, marching practice, ballgames, etc. I had looked at several harnesses and the Aviator is very easy to put on and remove and the instructions that come with it are excellent teaching tools.

Happy Hatchday Spock, and I am praying that this ailment is something that can be cured. Dixie and Beau are also saying their prayers that you have a complete recovery. God speed Spock, we love you. Robin

Many many thoughts and prayers coming your way Maggie and Jay and Spock. I hope that this ailment will be short lived and we hear good news in the very near future. Robin

Well I won't say she "flew" but she flew! Dixie was startled tonight by a sound outside (loads of wind knocked the trash can over) and she went from her cage to Beau's cage - landing on his porch - very elegantly. She even made a turn to make the porch, otherwise she would have hit the cage itself. I say she didn't fly because I don't believe it was her intention to fly, just a reflex. I'm hoping that since she didn't fall from the jump, that she will now give flying a whirl. She has been using her wings to walk up my arm now, flapping as she scuttles up and quite content when she gets on my shoulder. Robin

I have uv lights over each of my birds cages (out of reach of course). Yes it helps them tremendously with their dietary needs. The lights are on about 4 hours a day, minimum and usually 12 hours. In the summer we sit outside in the sunshine for at least 20 minutes, usually much longer. Robin

When I got Dixie they had her on a "store mix" which looked very much like Kaytee Fiesta, but wasn't eating it very well. The store also served all the birds a mix of white rice and veggies. She picked at it better than the "store mix". On her first vet visit they recommended the Harrison's and recommended I add it to her rice and veggie mix. Low and behold she ate the pellets slowly with many ending up on the bottom of the cage, but within a month she was eating them without the added rice and veggies. Now she gets a 1/4 cup Harrison's twice a day with little to no waste, along with fresh veggies and fruit. Beau was hand-fed still when I brought him home and the only pellets available to him were Harrison's, so he didn't know any better I guess. Blue & Bean were brought up on Zupreem Natural and until recently that's all they would eat. I keep a bowl of Harrison's on Beau's playstand and they love to fly to eat - and starting eating out of his bowl. When I put a bowl of Harrison's along with a bowl of Zupreem in their cage, the Harrison's is gone (and not dunked) or on the bottom of the cage. Zupreem is usually muddying their water (3 times a day I change it). Sterling - he prefers to eat all fresh except for the purple, green and yellow Zupreem Fruit Blend. I haven't been able to convert him yet. On his fresh veggies, he only eats them if he is hand-fed, put them in a bowl you may as well throw them in the trash. Prune juice? Interesting Alfie! Robin

What a difference a couple of weeks makes on feathers! Here's the latest pictures! and Dixie didn't want to be left out - so here's a few of her!

Oh Jan! That is so wonderful. As you know I'm going through the same thing with Beau, and while he insists on jumping from my hand (he's forbidden on his cage when out) he has the same problems with his right wing. He has new feathers growing in, and for the most part has not chewed them, but you have given me new hope that one day Beau will have a good wing, whether he ever flys or not is up to him. I'm so excited for him and you and know you couldn't be happier. Robin

Counting my blessings - using both hands and both feet - all the fingers and toes! Dixie, Beau and now Blue and Bean are all eating Harrison's coarse with no problems and very little waste. Sterling - well he eats the purple, green and yellow from his Zupreem. Four out of five ain't bad. Way to go Alfie!

Well here's my list for 2 Grey's per month: Harrison's - $32.00 Fresh Fruit - $15.00 (5 birds weekly) Fresh Vegetables - $15.00 (5 birds weekly) Specialty Seed Mix - $15.00 Dried Fruit & Veg Mix - $20.00 Nuts (Almonds & Pine Nuts) - $12.00 Aloe Juice - $10.00 Per month (5 birds) Red Palm Oil - $9.99 (about 6 weeks - all 5 birds) Annual Vet - $100-$500 (or more) per bird Toys - $50.00 And they still eat off my plate! No matter what we eat, they want some of it. Dixie is especially fond of stealing shrimp off of my husband's plate. Add 2 sun conures & 1 umbrella cockatoo: Zupreeme Pellets - $30.00 Aviay Cakes - $35.00 (Sterling loves them) Additional Nuts - $15.00 (Walnuts, pecans & brazil nuts) Toys - Sterling $50.00; Blue & Bean $25.00 Working on changing the conures to Harrison's - almost there. I've tried the frozen veggies and have had better luck with mine eating it if it's fresh. I didn't include the costs of treats as mine don't get "treats" so to speak, I use their pellets and dried fruits and veggies to put in their foraging toys along with the nuts. Dixie and Beau are both suckers for Cheeto's so I give them one about once every other week.<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/01/29 22:56

My babies get Nick or the Cartoon channel when I'm gone to class with a timer so they have quiet time as well. Dixie hasn't picked anything up from the tv and Beau is the only one who can actually see it, but he pays it no mind. It makes me feel better if there is some noise on in the house for the all of my babies - birds and dogs.

Please warn before posting such things - almost spewed soda through my nose on the laugh from that one..forget about peeing my pants. Poor Chimay - I can only guess at the dollars that will be spent in analysis and getting him back to being an African Grey!

She wants to be with you and if you give in to the calls and pick her up every time then the calls will continue. Beau calls for me, and my vet advised against having him on me constantly for this very reason. When he calls for me, even if I'm right next to him, I attend to him in some way - sometimes picking him up and letting him sit on me, majority of the time though it's by giving him a scratch or a treat, redirecting his attention to a new toy and talking to him for a few minutes. Then I go about my business. Beau would have been very happy to have sat on my shoulder all day had I let him. He is now almost 7 months old and is doing very well, feathers growing back in and playing with toys on his own. Yoshi is very young and she needs to learn to entertain herself. You need to be untrained on responding with a pick-up every time she calls. Robin

When you call your husband at work (in Maine at the moment) and tell him the latest thing Dixie or Beau has done (Dixie was saying "kiss momma" - I had to call him). BTW - I own a VW Beetle - now I know what that thing is - a built in bird perch.

I'm right there with you - Dixie has lost all of her clipped flights and the new one's are in - she's just got to want to fly now! Congrats!

Lyn, Dixie will be two next month and she has not enjoyed a proper bath except in her water bowl - and only the water bowl (no other bowl will do!). I take her in the shower with me regularly though to add the humidity and she has been getting better at letting me get her wet - though not soaked. Beau get's a proper shower three times a week and a misting the other four days - Dr.'s orders. Today, after his bath I took him back to his stand to dry off and preen and low and behold, there was Dixie trying to get in her water bowl. I asked her if she wanted a bath and then carried her off to the shower - little thing sat there on my fingers, and actually got soaked! Will she repeat this again? Probably not, but I feel so proud of finally getting her properly bathed, it only took 8 months! Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/01/24 22:22