rbpittman

Ok, I think I've figured out where the child like voice came from - Sterling - the U2, but he only says hello and a very very garbled i love you and be right back. Dixie is using this voice with all of her words now. It's really cute, I'll try to catch her on video. -- Robin

So glad you had a great time and enjoyed yourself. Thank goodness boyfriend didn't leave the mess for you. He must be a keeper if he handled fids and dogs while you were gone. -- Robin

So sorry to hear about the problems with the Adventure Pack! My local bird shop carries them in stock and I was looking to purchase one until Bob (owner) told me of the quality problems he has had with them. He recommended the Pack o Bird. He can't carry them in the shop, but would like to. I looked at them since I will need to have something to carry Dixie and Sterling in should we have to evacuate (hurricane season you know and it's been 20 years since Hugo - I'm afraid we're due). I contacted the company and got the same response you did, very fast, recommended the right size for the birds based on their weight and head to tail lengths. Specifically mentioning that the different cage requirements for the grey and the u2 would be matched to the birds. If you do have to cancel your order (and I would, if I were you) you can send another strongly worded e-mail, giving them a specific time to respond as well as the threat of the Better Business Bureau and the states Attorney General for where you live. This usually gets a quick response and both of these will act quickly on web-sites who don't deliver after accepting money and orders. -- Robin (wanna be attorney)

Dixie is very good at displaying body language without actually biting anyone. Now if my son (it was his finger) would learn what it all means! He's not been biten yet, but I image the day will come. Dixie does love him though, she's constantly calling him (LP, LP help!) and he rushes to her aid. She does play with him quite a bit, so their dynamic is truly that of a "brother-sister" relationship which is really funny to watch. She sits on his lap and lets her scratch her head, but then when she doesn't want him around, she isn't afraid to let him know! -- Robin

I was reading about other's birds playing catch with them, so I thought I would see if Dixie would. Surprise - she did! I was so happy! I have some video of her playing with her foot toys on her playstand. She was having a blast!. -- Robin

Dixie gets 1/8 cup of pellets and 1/8 cup of dried fruit mix in the morning in one cup. In her other cup she gets 1/2 banana and 4 grapes with either melba toast or half a mini bagel with red palm oil 3 times a week and the other days she gets a small handful of cheerios. She also likes kiwi, strawberries, mango, oranges and apples so I change up the fruits. Dinner dixie gets another 1/8 cup of pellets and 1/8 cup of dehyrdrated veggies in one cup and in her other cup something we've had for dinner if appropriate or a mixture of long grain brown rice and veggies with pepper flakes or the bean mixture I cook for her. I keep a cup of her pellets (Harrison's) full for her all day. Fresh water twice a day. I have been watching her today and she's a complete little pig! It's the first time I think I've ever really watched how much she eats. Then again, she is a very very busy little grey, constantly moving and climbing and tearing things up. She has not gotten into the foraging yet, although I've tried to hide her favorite things in pieces of paper. -- Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2009/08/16 23:25

I didn't know that dried beans weren't good for the birds. I have seen many of them mixed in with the store brands of mixed veggies. At first I thought they had to have been cooked and dehydrated, but they looked just like the dried beans I usually use to cook with. Very interesting. -- Robin

I usually put Bob the Builder on for Sterling in the morning and then he is entertained with whatever the family is watching the rest of the time. He keeps himself busy shredding adding machine tape and his wooden toys. Dixie enjoys news shows - but her real favorite is Golf - don't ask me why - but put on a golf match and she watches intently. I think it's the "whoosh" sound the clubs make. As far as music - they both have different styles and tastes. Sterling will gladly dance to anything by Michael Jackson and Elvis. Sterling has learned the Cupid Shuffle and as soon as I get a tripod I'll video his "dancing" with me. Dixie prefers jazz and Frank Sinatra. I like country so I lose out on this one. -- Robin

I love the pic - it's so "cool"!

Which leads to the question....do you want to? -- Robin

And tell them to stay out of your private stash! -- Robin

Thoughts and prayers for Athena's safe return and hope the memory of the shop owner will come through. I'm so sorry for the month you have endured in this, I hope it comes to an end soon. -- Robin

Just when you thought you had a diet figured out.... I've read in here from other members how their birds dunk their pellets. Dixie has never done this before, until today. We keep a large bowl of water in the bottom of her cage for her to bathe in, of course she doesn't she prefers her water bowl. Today she's taking her pellets out of her pellet bowl, throwing them into the bottom of her cage - most hitting the water bowl - full of water. Down she climbs, reaches in, grabs the pellets and then eats them. Go figure. -- Robin

Dixie is quite the card. Yes, I figured she could have reached the stand herself, she got from there to the shades. In the past I've seen her get herself into predictaments where she was hanging from her beak and those little feet reaching for something that wasn't there. She usually does this on her boing. That's why she knows "help". I always ask her if she needs help when she gets like that. -- Robin

Sarah says that Dixie sounds just like me, I have heard her calling and it sounds like LP and Sarah and Paul (those who live in the house), the youngest of whom is LP. This voice is totally different than anything I've ever heard before. Dixie has started using her words and phrases independently of how she learned them. LP started as "LP wake up" to now "LP" and whatever she wants to say - from help to saying "lp pretty girl". I'm sure "HE" really appreciates this very much...lol. This has been going on all day - different words in this squeaky, high pitched voice very different from anything anyone around has ever used. Very bizarre I guess. -- Robin

Last night Dixie as on her playstand, located near the bay windows which are covered in bamboo shades. I keep the shades pulled up until evening and make sure her stand is located far enough away so she can't reach them. Hubby put Dixie on her playstand and didn't pull it out enough and sure enough, Dixie found she could reach them. I was in the kitchen fixing dinner for her and Sterling and I hear - Help LP, Help - but she says this all the time. It's her new favorite phrase which she put together herself, so I blew it off. LP decided to "answer" the call and see what she was doing......well. Here was Dixie hanging upsidedown by her feet off the shades, stretching trying to reach her stand. The next thing I hear.....Mom, HELP! He didn't know how to help Dixie and I went running, scared to death. Hubby beat me there. Simple fix - move stand a little closer which she quickly grabbed hold of and back onto. It was hysterical. I'll answer call of help next time! -- Robin

Dixie uses very many different phrases and of course, uses them in the voice she has heard them in, however today I noticed that instead of saying things in the voice I'm used to hearing, she's using the phrases in a different voice. Example: I love you is usually in my voice, but this morning she said it using a very high child's voice, not one I've ever heard before. After that she's been using that voice for everything, kinda like she's determined what "her" voice should sound like and is using her words in her own voice. Very strange. Does anyone elses grey use different voices with words they know? -- Robin

Back for second half of meeting - ballgame canceled due to rain, dinner at Carraba's with hubby and kid -only one glass of Sangria with dinner, but it was a big glass. Sterling will be the next reason for having to indulge the tequila, that or one or both of the daughters next crisis. Sarah (20) went on date with new boy - he's 6'7" - and I thought my hubby was tall at 6'4"! At least I'm still taller than the 13 yr old! -- Robin

OK, It's Friday, let's get this meeting going so we can all get back to our drinks. Reasons to imbibe this week: 1. Cleaning Dixie's cage - Dixie must attack white paper towel used to wipe bottom of cage. 2. Cleaning Dixie's cage - Dixie dropping food on my head. 3. Cleaning Dixie's cage - Dixie standing on my head while I attempt to change paper. 4. Don't get in the way of Grey and Chicken Noodle Soup. 5. Got an A in both Business Law and Civil Litigation (should be 2 reasons there). 6. School starts on Tuesday here - First football game tonight. 7. Dixie deciding that she suddenly likes me like crazy - then won't come near me five minutes later. Enough reasons - fire up the blender! -- Robin

My oldest daughter, Sarah, moved out in February - she didn't like the noise that George and Gracie made (the lovebirds, now just George) but it wasn't near her room so it wasn't a big deal. Since then we have acquired Dixie (CAG) and Sterling (U2). Dixie talks up a storm, Sterling does his usual morning call of the flock and evening call of bedtime. Sarah just moved back home, mostly due to stupidity, but some because of the economy (she's 20). Sarah sits there with her fingers in her ears when Sterling calls, she complains that Dixie won't shut up (she really doesn't and I can't find the on/off switch) and George has decided to become more vocal to keep up. Our solution - learn to love the birds and their beautiful voices or find some place else to live. They make messes with their food just like she did when she was little, they make noise just like she did when she was little, they are a joy to be around just like she was when she was little. Quite your complaining so you can be a joy to be around now...lol. She's still here and learning to understand and enjoy the birds. People who don't understand have never opened themselves up to the beauty of these creatures. They don't realize the intelligence or the joy of watching our fids grow and develop. I find it their loss, and I feel sorry for them. Bird poo on a shoulder is no different than a baby's spitup, it just doesn't smell as bad. -- Robin

Dan forgot a couple: Pentium Hyperthreading Front Bus Disk CD Monitor Mouse Keyboard wireless DVI Video input output cpu gig kilobyte megabyte gigabyte terabyte printer scanner pointy thing cursor browser window mac dell gateway hp ibm and the ever popular... "throw the damn thing out the window" Sorry Dan, I couldn't resist. Half of that list I couldn't even pronouce. -- Robin<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2009/08/13 16:31

They take time to adapt to their new surroundings and gain trust before talking sometimes. My Dixie won't shut up unless someone else walks into the room, then you can't get her to speak. Give him more time and continue to talk to him, he may be getting used to the sound of your voice or the difference in your converstaion before he decides to chat more. -- Robin

I was thinking about a steamer as well, but wasn't sure it would do the job. Poo comes off easily when sprayed with my solution of water and vinegar, but the food bits are the worst. Especially the banana's...lol. -- Robin

Did the meeting start without me? Oh Darn, I'm early. Is this thread for our reasons to drink, what drove us to drink, that we should drink, or nevermind, that was enough to warrant a drink. Pass the pretzles and warm up the blender. -- Robin

Dixie is on harrisons and Sterling is on zupreem, but that's because that's what I can get them to eat. All advice would be greatly appreciated. -- Robin