rbpittman

Thanks all - this is new to me, so of course I'm over anxious. Dave, she's doing exactly what you're saying - flapping and flapping with no uplift, but her hold on my fingers is not nearly as tight as it was last week. She sits on the edge of her porch and looks at me, as if she wants to get to me (I'm in a chair about 5 feet away) and I encourage her, but she hasn't decided to take off yet. Like Dave said, she's not got enough there yet I guess. We'll let Dixie decide when it's right for her to let go and fly, if that's what she chooses to do.

Thanks Dave, you're absolutely right about it being my issue with her flying, not hers, she has boings and ladders and ropes to get around on, so flying probably isn't a priority for her. All those were put into place because she was clipped and I didn't want her to feel trapped any one place. She has been working her wings more and more - especially when on my fingers, flapping and flapping but not letting go. She has launched off her cage once since I posted, getting about half-way across the room with a crash landing of course. No matter, flighted or not, I love her to death.

I'm taking psychology in school at the moment and having a blast posting about the research (that's what we're studying at the moment) with information about Grey's and Dr. Pepperburg's work with Alex. Even my professor didn't know about this work. Now I have this additional wealth of knowledge from the forum as well as my observations from my own two grey's to put up regarding behaviors and body language (also very useful in my intepersonal communication's class). Thank's for the laugh and the behavior - you're educating more than those of us on the forum! Robin

Beau has 3 flights coming in on his right wing. Recap of what happened, Beau suffered an injury which caused him to pluck his chest completely bare. He had also plucked most of his back feathers out and had chewed his right wing to the point of complete destruction. His vet removed 22 flights and secondary feathers from his right wing in an effort to promote new growth. This is our progress from that point in October.

Beau is doing quite well with his new feathers coming in. Have a look! <br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/01/18 20:01

Ok, so I have the dumbest question of all today. How do you teach a bird to fly or how do they re-learn to fly? Dixie was clipped when I got her and I don't know if she was ever allowed to fly. She has now gone through a major molt and has all of her flight feathers back. I thought this would take forever, but we have been lucky and it has been less than 9 months. Dixie doesn't seem to express any interest in flying, even though Blue and Bean fly throughout the room constantly. My husband will be building an outdoor flight for her and the others when the weather warms up (and when he gets back from Maine) and we want her to be able to enjoy it as much as the other three will. Thanks, Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/01/18 21:19

Glad to know I'm not the only one who's Grey loves to sit there and chatter all the time. Dixie does it non-stop (which I love). This is why we have our fids, they entertain us with so little on their part. Makes every effort you've put into Dayo's vocabulary worth it. Thanks for sharing!

Absolutely wonderful video, and Lynn wasn't too bad either. Just kidding - I wish I had such talent. Loved how Alfie couldn't just let you have your moment, but needed to be in the limelight as well. Forget kids stealing the scene, the Grey does a brilliant job without saying a word. Great video, thanks for finding it for us Dan.

Maggie, I would love to see pic's of that vacation! The idea of pitching a tent in the backyard is brilliant! Especially the idea of indoor showers. I just spent a week in the outdoors camping with the Boy Scouts and couldn't take the fids - they were at home with Daddy, but I missed them terribly. I'm sure Spoke and Joey will manage to go with the flow just like the rest - they won't be going to far though...lol. When I started reading this post I imagined 17 different bird crates, and knowing you have more than conures they have to be of decent size, not sure my suburban would have handled that lot (although we've already measured and charted incase of a hurricane and we have to bug out!) Enjoy your vacation! Robin

Debbie, I have two floor walkers. Beau (CAG) has damaged his right wing and thus it is featherless so he explores everything via the floor. His stability is improving, as he climbs up ladders and boings now, but no shoulder riding and his balance on my hand is still not good, so carrying him requires a cuddle hold. He will follow me everywhere if I don't take him while he's out of cage (so I have stands everywhere). Sterling (U2) believes the whole house is his playground and he is flighted. He prefers to wander through the house on the floor. He will climb down from his cage, playstand, whatever and wander through the house just to see what's up in the other rooms. I'm constantly looking for him when he is out of his cage. He biggest love is the oven door - he can see himself in it and prancing in front of that glass is one of his favorite things to do. Biggest thing I would be concerned about is electrical cords as these little guys can expose a wire in a heart beat. I would also suggest that you vacuum the carpet extensively for loose fibers on the new playpen. Dixie (CAG) loves to shred jute so I can imagine what she would do to carpet. Would love to see the pics of the playpen when it's finished and welcome to the forums.

Ditto!

Please, please follow Dave's advice! I have a grey who plucked and completely destroyed his right wing and with the advice I received from Dave and the vet visit, he's gone from completely bare breasted to full of fluffy down feathers and regular feathers on his front and new flights coming in on his wing. The best advice I've seen here - keep calm and don't stress, maintain as much normalcy as possible and be consistent with the bird. He will feel your stress even if you think you're covering it - you are actually transferring it. I know, I was doing the same thing. Worry about his diet later, may be adding more stress with the changes. Loads of toys to keep him from being bored, replace them when they show wear or if the bird decides he's chewed on that one enough. Keep positive thoughts. Remember one thing always - LIVE IN THE MOMENT, don't dwell on the past, you can't change that, worrying about tomorrow only interrupts today.

Hmmmm....let me see. Nope, can't think of a thing that I've worried about my son catching from our birds and he has serious allergies and asthma. In fact, he's the owner of 2 of the 5 birds in our home, one of which is an Umbrella Cockatoo. Of course my son is only allergic to everything green or yellow, and dust. God forbid he be on the marching field without his rescue inhaler and a nebulizer at the ready. Birds, well they shower every day, usually with one of us, so dander is not a problem. If the baby has exhibited respiratory problems, then I might have a little concern, but carpet can create as many problems for little ones as bird dander does. I wash my hands before handling the birds to prevent them from getting something from me and then wash them again before doing anything else (like cooking). Inform your son-in-law that unless he plans on placing his child in a bubble for their entire life they will get sick from something or another. Once upon a time they used to literally have "chicken-pox" parties to get the virus done and over with! How has he reacted to H1N1 and is he running around with a mask on his face? Sorry, couldn't resist.<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2010/01/05 19:54

So glad to hear you can't see an affected area on Rikki's foot! That means the scald isn't as severe as it could be. Our AV vet also recommended Neosporin creme as well for Beau's chest where he scratched. I know most of the ointment would come off when she perches, but the few moments it is on will offer relief that penetrates her skin. Of course the aloe is what we use on burns in my house, just clip off a piece of the plant and rub it on the burn. Will continue to pray for you and Rikki, I know you've been through a lot in the past few days and your nerves are probably completely raw. Take a deep breath and remember those around you who love you and Rikki and have you in our thoughts and prayers.

Harvey is just like any other kid - they learn to sleep in late and party all night and then don't understand when convention tells them it's time to get up and go to school/work! Party on Harvey!

Penny, thank you so much for sharing and for having the courage to do so. My husband didn't understand why I was always so upset when he would cook with Dixie on his shoulder - she loves him so much and he loves having her near. After reading your post, he admitted he thought I was over reacting to the possibilities and now understands how quickly things can turn for the worst. We're praying that Rikki's foot will be fine and thank you for sharing this with us, even if one grey owner makes a change, it is worth your efforts and determination to prevent other's from making the same mistakes. You've already helped my family and flock.

Dan, the information is especially helpful for those of us who keep their homes cooler in the winter months in an effort to conserve energy. I was concerned for my greys that 68 was too cool for them, but see it is normal for their native region. Living in Charleston, SC humidity is not a problem - and with Beau's plucking issues, we've gone to daily showers for all of the fids. Your information reinforces the actions we all take in caring for our greys. Thanks for the info.

Brilliant idea - although why I didn't read this yesterday I don't know! Dixie has started to accept the shower as long as I let the water run before I take her in there and get the shower all steamy. I'll find some "running water" sound and start it in the office where her cage is before I get her and see if that helps with the showers she's still only taking under protest!

Beau had to be knocked out for x-rays and scoped in his crop, no tapping - just the gentle use of a towel. Hope all goes well, let us know what the vet in the UK says.

Do they understand - if you were to ask my husband he would tell you they do in more ways than one, but he never expected Dixie to understand the football game we were watching today. Ole Miss scored after a wonderful 86 yard run by McCluster and Dixie launched into a rousing rendition of Dixie at the top of her lungs. I thought my husband was going to cry - he's been teaching her to whistle that for months and she did it today at the perfect time! BTW - Ole Miss won the Cotton Bowl!

Blue and Bean are free to fly all over the house - that's about as much free flying as I'm interested in. Dixie has been launching herself and traveling about half the length of the room, she's still getting new flights in so she'll figure it out, but the flying will be restricted to indoors. I couldn't bear the thought of her being gone if she didn't return upon call. Blue does come when called, Bean - he's all over the place but he's only been here about a week and a half now.

Time out of cage - as much as possible with supervision. All of my fids enjoy as much out of cage time as possible every day, but I also let them enjoy time in their cage which I call "nap" time. It's usually in the afternoon when my time gets busy and I can't supervise them properly. It's been the routine and they seem to enjoy it, knowing that "nap" time ends just before dinner and they get to come out and play and cuddle before bedtime. Routine is the most important part of this.

Thanks, Bean is 3 months old and we don't know if he is a he or a she yet - will be seeing the vet the first week of the new year for complete check-up and blood test for sex. Had not planned on getting another bird - can say MBS has reached it's limit - but sometimes you just can't say no - will do so from now on. Bean has been with us since Monday. First introductions went very well - Bean on one shoulder, Blue on the other - the middle of my back was very interesting to both. Bean was submissive to Blue and they have gotten along well with limited interaction. I've kept them in separate cages - side by side - until today. While cleaning Bean's cage he decided that it was ok to venture out and Blue was on the playstand. I set Bean on the playstand and the fun commenced. Blue flew to me, then Bean flew to me. Blue back to the playstand, then Bean back to the playstand. Then Bean to me and Blue right behind him. All afternoon has been a circus of Bean and Blue flying, playing chase, taking turns on who is in the lead. Landings and takeoff's from extravagant places (my face for one!). The top of both cages open up and have been all day - however, Blue's seems to be the place they both want to be. The cage is very large compared to Beans so they both have loads of room. I'm wondering if I should let them share a cage? They are playing in and out of it so beautifully.

Blue my sun conure loves to be around us and is such a sweetie, but I'm concerned about his love of preening everyone. It doesn't bother me, but when he's with Beau (CAG) or Bean (sun) he wants to preen around their eyes. Is this normal?

When you are sitting there, barefoot, and Beau wanders over. That little beak rubbing on my foot, and then those little feet climbing up as he grabs the fold of blue jeans to try to climb up my leg. Of course I helped, and he is now happily sitting on my shoulder after a ton of kisses and nuzzles.