rbpittman

Thanks Luv, I was worried that it was a balance problem or something like that. It scares me when she does that, especially after reading some of the other posts about them jumping off and possibly hurting themselves. I've tried to make sure there are plenty of ladders, ropes, etc. for her to get back up when she does jump off. -- Robin

Apparently Gracie flying yesterday made Dixie interested in doing so, even though she's clipped. Unfortunately, she came that way. Today, Dixie has taken to jumping off her cage porch and landing unGRACEfully on the floor. So far she's done this three times. The floor is carpeted, and she's not hurt herself. Each time, walking over to me to be picked up. I talk to her, we cuddle a little and then she leans to her window perch and off we go to that. I hate leaving her on the window perch for more than 45 minutes or so for fear she may get hungry or thirsty and neither of the two window perches can accomodate water. Well now she has decided to jump off her swing and walk over to her cage (a ladder is there for her to climb back up). Is this normal??? Is she expressing her independence??? She's only 16 months old, and I know someone in this forum has some experience with this. -- Robin

15. They will repeat everything you say, so watch your mouth! 16. All grocery shopping will have the FIDS in mind, people will eat whatever is left. -- Robin

Dixie and I truly enjoyed the vid - Dixie even talked back to Ecko - thanks for sharing! -- Robin

1 CAG (Dixie), 2 lovebirds (George and Gracie), 3 Pugs (Chow, Sushi, and Mushu)

I believe that we teach our greys to bite, or reinforce their natural defense mechanism, as Dan said above. As a new grey owner (2 months) I have only been bitten a few times, and those only resulted in minor skin breaks. I truly believe I brought all of those on myself, as I allowed the play to get to rough. Dixie likes to hang upside down and get scritches on her head and neck, sometimes, laying in my hand, but she also likes to grab my fingers with her foot and pull them to her beak. I've either hit a feather she didn't like, she was done with play, or she was as excited as I was in play. While I won't begin to say I have any expertise, I have taken the cue from many members here on stopping her biting behavior by first modifying my own, and learning to read her body language. The result has been that we still play, but we play on Dixie's schedule, not mine. When Dixie grabs my finger with her beak, if she clamps down too hard, I gently say don't bite, give her a stern "eye" look, and she either lets go, or relaxes her grip. Thanks to Dan and all others who post to this forum, first for making grey owners aware of the truths, dispelling the myths, and helping those of us who are idiots for thinking we can control nature. By the way, Dixie came to me missing a toe, so I know she understands what it's like to be bitten. -- Robin

Wow! That's beautiful and great idea to use toy parts and make your own! Especially if you love to do crafts! I'll have to make one for Dixie. Thanks for the brilliant idea and awesome pictures.

Right after I got George and Grace (lovebirds) and before Dixie or this forum, i found chet's site. Bought the clicker at the local pet store and even a book on clicker training. Well lovebirds were not tame and it was not going to work, and figured that out quickly after more research, however, i did order some food from chet's site and have never received it. Leson learned. Before getting Dixie I started more research and found this forum and read and read and read, learning much more than anything Chet could ever offer. Stay away from that idiot! ----- Robin Being loved by a grey is all there is!

I'm in Charleston, South Carolina. Been here for the last 15 years and love the two seasons we have - hot and cold - nothing in between...lol.

Wonderful idea! I'll have to go to the dollar store now! Like I needed a reason...lol.

I have Dixie my Grey, and then I have George and Gracie my lovebirds. When I purchased them I was totally ignorant about birds, but I did my research after the fact and fell even deeper in love with them and ended up with Dixie. Long story short, George and Grace were both clipped. Grace about 8 months old and George less than 6. No exact hatch dates. That was in March. I returned from a quick run to Atlanta this morning to find Grace with two new feathers - and they are beautiful - and Gracie can fly! I'm so happy. I was afraid I was going to have to keep her clipped because I didn't know if she had every been fledged, and will find out if George is flighted, but I had a prayer and dram come true today when Gracie flew!

Beautiful Alfie!

OMG! That's so funny! Hey wait - I gotta go pee now!

Dixie is long clipped as well, and glides nicely, and thanks to the forum here I learned early on to make sure she has ropes and ladders to get up and down on. We have two ladders in my office where her cage and swing are, it's so funny watching her walk down one ladder (from her cage - her door stays open all day when I'm home) and then across the floor to the ladder going up to her swing. Yesterday she surprised me, she came down off her cage, and walked over to me and then "chirped" ready to step up with her little foot waiting for my hand. I don't know if she'll ever fly, since I don't know if she was allowed to fledge, but I hope so!

Dixie (age 16 months) has days when she won't eat anything but the orange and red things (sweet potatoes, carrots, red peppers) and her poo is the same color as what she takes in. When she decides to throw all the red/orange stuff out - it's normal color poo. I almost panicked as well until I realized what she ate earlier.

Congrats Pat! That's wonderful and I'm sure your heart soared!

That's wonderful! Dixie still hasn't taken to the new toy I bought her last week. It's right next to her cage, but she refuses to go near it when she's out. Maybe tomorrow.

I have started two new classes this semester and my first test is tomorrow, so with the weather outside too hot to enjoy, I've been sitting here studying and talking to Dixie. Apparently I got lost in thought and Dixie wasn't getting the attention she thought she should get, so she decided that she was going to make sure I was paying attention. First she managed to drop her treat bowl onto the floor, which promptly went under the cage. I had to get up and crawl on the floor to retrieve it. A few conversations (all one sided of course) and assured her she was a pretty girl and i love her very much, and I went back to my desk, still talking to her, but trying to study. Then got stuck in thought again. This time she decided that her water bottle, was in the wrong place - like on the side of her cage! She managed to get the top wire lose and the bottle tipped over, but I saw it and immediately put it back in place and distracted Dixie away from it - to toys and we played a little and talked a little and back to studying I did go. Less than 5 minutes later, the water bottle (which was glass) shattered on the tile floor! She definitely got my attention! I'm back at my desk, only this time, Dixie is on my shoulder, I guess we'll study together!

Dixie has the snack rack and won't touch it - even with her favorite treat inside.

I just saw the video and while Dixie doesn't run like that - she does put one foot up on my finger and pull my finger up to her head. She also pulls her wings up like that and backs up and whimpers. She's only 16 months old and I'm new to having a Grey so I thought she was scared of us. She will do it to and my husband equally.

Thanks for the reply Christina, and the experience you shared is the one I'm afraid of, and I guess why I wanted someone from outside my home to confirm for me. We have about 6 weeks before we would be able to bring this baby home, so we have plenty of time to make an "educated" decision, but at this point, I'm leaning more toward no than to yes on this adventure. In a few more months, and he's still harping, and has gotten involved more with Dixie then I might entertain the idea again.

We're not taking this decision lightly, I guess that's why I wanted "experienced" opinions. I know my son, and I know how kids are - I have three older ones who are already out of the house, so being interested in other things and them taking over is a major possibility. Then there's the aspect of once out of school, his going to college and will probably follow his dream of going into the Air Force to fly jets (God help me on that one), so the bird will eventually become mine. I've already considered the long term in getting Dixie, within a week of her coming home we added to our wills that would provide for Dixie. In 15 days I'll be another year old. What I didn't consider is that I've only had Dixie for 2 months now, and the emotional aspect of bringing another baby home, and how it might affect her. Thank you for pointing that out. I guess my thought process wasn't as complete as it should have been. Dixie has been such a joy in our lives, and I know I could provide a good home, but I don't want to do something to harm her in any way. Dixie does trust me, but she's still building that trust with my husband and son. Maybe that's why LP want's his own Grey, and maybe we should wait until there's been more time for that to happen. Thanks for the input. I would hate to make a mistake that would harm either Dixie, the baby, or my son.

Thanks Char, I had some of the same concerns, the biggest one being the baby bonding with me over my son. Dixie is obviously more bonded with me than any one else in the house, but she socializes with everyone. My son has also considered this as well, and his argument was to put the new baby's cage in the living room, and this may where I went wrong with his plan, then he would be the one with the baby more than me. I was concerned about leaving the baby away from interactin for the biggest part of daylight. My son's allergies are to things that are green, so the dogs and the birds have not posed a problem. My son is the type to go to bed no later than 10:00 and sleep until 1:00 the next day if he could by with it - he loves his beauty sleep...lol. The darkness for 10-12 hours would not be a problem, if the sleeping cage were in his room. I know what my son wants, and I'm afraid he's not going to get it with a Grey, even if he and the baby bonded. He wants something that is going to interact with him and cuddle and be part of. Dixie is a great talker, and does play on the floor with him - blocks and other small toys - but she doesn't step up for him or cuddle. Even with me, her cuddling is on her terms and I understand that, but I know her background, and I'm not sure that starting with a baby would be any different for very long. They do grow up and start to show their independence, just like my son does to me...lol...no more kisses in front of his friends. He takes care of the three Pug dogs we have, walking daily, cleaning up after, feeding and brushing, so even though he has a busy schedule, he knows that pets are a major responsibility, and he gives up "free" time to take care of them. Scouts is one night a week, with a once a month campout, band would be Friday nights and the occasional Saturday competition. Marching season is from September through October. Baseball - we're winding down from that and I'm not sure he will play next year - different age group and different type of league.<br><br>Post edited by: rbpittman, at: 2009/06/11 15:17

Hello all! Everyone here has such great advice and wonderful experience to draw upon, and I would like to tap this well for some before making a mistake. I have Dixie, a 16 month old Grey that is absolutely adorable and is fitting in wonderfully in our family. I also have a 12 year old son (13 in July). My husband loves to watch and be part of the interaction with Dixie as does my son. My son (LP) is now wanting his own Grey for his birthday - and luck be on us - there is a baby (10 weeks) available. Of course the baby is too young to come home yet - still on 2 hand feedings daily but would be of appropriate age right about the time for my son's birthday. Yesterday I took LP to visit the baby and he was able to hold the baby for a few minutes. If we were to decide to get the baby, daily trips to visit and bond and become involved in daily chores would be necessary and appropriate. My son and husband are up to the challenge, as am I. So here are the questions: 1. While my son is a very responsible young man, he is gifted and talented in many areas, he is also busy with outside activities. (Band, baseball, Boy Scouts). I know the majority of the care would fall on me and I'm up to the challenge. Is it good to consider a bird for my son at this age? 2. LP understands that the main area for the baby would be in my office with Dixie, where someone is there most of the time. (I'm a full time student, stay at home mom). We have a playstand set up in the living room for when we are there in the evening to watch TV. LP wants a sleeping cage in his room for his baby. Is this a reasonable set up? 3. Would a separate cage be the best plan for the new baby (Dixie's is quite large) or can you home two birds in one cage? 4. If a new cage would be the best answer (which I believe it would be), does anyone have advice on the very large dividable cages for the two birds? 5. What would be the best way to introduce the baby to Dixie and are there specific things to look out for? 6. Would a different type of bird be better? Dixie is a joy for everyone in my family. She destresses all of us for some reason, but she has made a major impact on my son. I said earlier, he is gifted and talented, 1st in his class (just promoted to 8th grade) Brass Captain at the high school marching band (not yet in high school), Junior Beta President, and plays third base for his ball team (this lasts until the end of this month). He just made Star Scout in Boy Scouts and has his sites set on making Eagle by age 15. In fact he already has his Eagle project designed, planned and approved (he will be building blue bird houses for our community). Dixie's influence on LP is that she keeps him from being hyper, he knows he cannot jump, get loud, or move around quickly when he is in my office or if Dixie is in the living room on her playstand, so "the appropriate place and time" have finally sunk in! I'm sorry this post is so long, but I welcome your input on this before we make a decision or being too in love with this new baby. -- Robin

I've actually taken to reading the posts from the forum to Dixie. She's starting to string words together, which tells me I need to make sure I listen carefully. She's gone from I love you, to "I love you pretty girl". Of course she is a very pretty girl and I do love her! She's also been whispering this afternoon, so I'm waiting anxiously for her next surprise.