rbpittman

Good Luck and let me know how it goes! We've been using AviTech's Feather-In on Beau during the winter months to "prevent" the dry skin issues, plus adding a humidifier to the room along with the aloe baths. Everyone gets an aloe bath, but only Beau seems determined to pluck, but he's always done that. I really think most of his is anxiety from his original illness when I got him and he only plucks when I'm gone for more than a day (like a week at Winter Camp with the Boy Scouts!). Other than that he lets them grow in and he's fully feathered again.

Shanlung has some of the most prolific and insightful postings about harness flighted greys. They are well worth the time spent reading them and the freedom's they give you and your flighted grey. I have a cockatoo that lives up to the name 'velcro' bird and he refuses to leave my side, but I wouldn't consider walking out the door with him unless he was on a harness. Never once has he tried to fly, even when encouraged, but he loves to jump around in the grass and the harness allows him to do this in full safety. Robin

That's absolutely brilliant! I never thought of doing that with the alphabet - guess I'm the slow learner!

That's amazing - I've never seen a fully feathered McCaw of that size! Great one and you definitely got us on that one! Did like the fact that you had "paper" under the little guy.

Well I've avoided this club since getting my first fid, and to this date am still not a member, however yesterday afternoon my son, LP, joined with full honors. As we all know it's that time of year when our fids decide it's time to get their groove on, and Sterling (U2) is no exception to the rule. Of course I'm his favored person, so I do my level best to not exasperate the problem by being around him. LP, doing what LP does best, was showing attention to Sterling yesterday afternoon, but being respectful of the situation. Scratching only the top of his head, talking to him calmly and quietly and boom, out of now where, Sterling bit LP. Right on his lip. Personally, I think LP hit a blood feather. Six stitches later, and one very upset Dr. (he's too cute to have a scar), the boy has a story to tell everyone at Scouts and school. He's figured it a great way to show off his manhood. His comment - "chicks dig scars." God help me. I remain unable to join this prestigious club, thankfully, but will let my stand in my stead so to speak. Maybe he'll learn, when it's that time of year, keep your head out of the birds cage!

Ok everyone stop gushing about how wonderful Yoshi is going to have it, I'm in tears reading this. I'm so excited about Yoshi coming to be with us, I've just made hotel reservations in Cocoa Beach so I can go pick her up. My husband is delighted that she will be joining us. His comments are "when you go to work full time I'll get to stay home with the fids!" Of course I won't be working away from the house so he needs to rethink that comment, I've rather enjoyed being able to go to work in my bathrobe and slippers. The commute isn't to bad either. Paul has already figured out how we are going to rearrange his chair in my office to accommodate Yoshi's cage, he's spent the last hour looking at the pics that Jess sent. He's decided to mount my tv on the wall and remove the bookshelf - that will free up a whole wall! We'll see how that goes - I'm still waiting for the tv to be mounted on the wall in my bedroom. He's got the best intentions. LP and Sarah are very excited about Yoshi coming - I was able to tell them this morning. Sarah has watched all of the video's at least three times and is just sad that we don't have a bannister for Yoshi to dance on. LP changed his shirt this morning to put on his "Yoshi" shirt. You would think that a higher being has been planning this from the beginning, why else would the boy have such a shirt? Needless to say, we've all prayed about this decision very hard and believe that we are making the right decision with welcoming Yoshi into our flock. I've already started talking to Dixie and Beau and Morgan and Blue and Bean about Yoshi, so the name will be familiar. They have a week and a half to get familiar with that and then we will introduce her to everyone. Now everyone pray that this trip and move are smooth and uneventful and thank you for having such confidence in me. Robin

Dave's right - if they do watch it they can very easily identify what is on there, I think. My dog doesn't care about what's on tv 99.999% of the time, however if there is a dog on - he's literally watching, paws on the furniture, trying to get closer, etc. I keep the bamboo shades in my office closed. I can see out somewhat, and there's some light peeking through, but I know Dixie has been scared off her swing from the movement of "something" out the window. I never thought about something on the tv frightening them. I personally don't think they watch what's on in my office - like I said earlier, it's mostly for noise. Dixie has picked up some of the stuff from Sesame Street - she does count with Count, but only to 3.

That being the case - "where would you like to go?"

Ray, I've been a "taxi" for the past 14 years - first with kids and now with fids! The conures hop on my shoulder just to take a ride, Beau is always on my shoulder (he can't fly) and Dixie uses me to get to my husband. Morgan getting in on the act is definitely a first!

Dixie has a preference for shrimp scampi and chicken bones. I have to cook shrimp just the fids when we make scampi since I don't want them getting the wine/butter sauce that accompanies the shrimp and pasta. Beau plays with the chicken bones and prefers hamburger, well done.

Congratulations Janet, I know you are over the top with a new baby on the way. Now for the time to fly for your little girl to get there. Now the fun begins, picking her name!

Sherrie, I'm in Charleston, well actually Summerville right outside of Charleston.

Dixie says "NO" rather adamantly, Beau growls as does Morgan. The conures - SCREECH.

I"m not an expert on this subject and to be honest never gave it any thought. I have 32" lcd in my office where most of my fids live and I turn it on to ETV in the mornings while they eat breakfast and I'm getting ready for my day. When I'm in my office it's usually on something, although it's not necessarily something I'm watching, it makes noise just like they do...lol. Dixie has picked up quite a few "noises" from the noise box, but I don't think they watch it. Robin

Tweety is a beautiful little guy! I have two sun conures and we have a blast watching them play, fly and tag along with us through the house. Congrats on the new addition to your home!

My babies enjoy cooked beans mixed with long grain wild rice and fresh chopped in season veggies. Dixie does have a preference in her beans, she doesn't care for lima beans, but loves pinto. Beau eats all of equally. I buy the 7 bean mix and cook them in the crock pot once a week. My family loves beans of all types so we have a meal of "beans, cornbread and greens" and the birds get the leftovers (so to speak). Robin

This little clown who now occupies what was Morgan's cage is hysterical. He spent most of yesterday teasing me with the thought of flying over to me! Morgan would stand on his grapevine perch (on the top of his cage) and lean forward and slightly open his wings and appear ready to take off, only to move to another position, do the same thing and ... repeat! After about 5 minutes of this I "stepped up" and offered a hand. It was hysterical, so we played a little together and then it was the same thing, from my hand/arm/desk and again I offered a hand and we would move somewhere else in the room. What has gotten into this guy? Now he wants me to move him around and he's fully flighted! I LOVE IT!

Welcome Sherry and fellow South Carolinian! What a wonderful story - I understand completely how "life" has gotten in your way and you've been able to overcome the hurdles it has thrown at you, bully for you! I've always been told what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and it appears you have one hell of a spirit! My condolences on the loss of Robyn, but so glad to hear that you have opened your heart to let in another, Greyson. Look forward to some pictures of both your precious birds, sharing Robyn's life with us and the new life of Greyson! Robin

I don't know what corner we came to with Morgan, but since I posted this last update I have ton's more to add - just wish I would have known the corner was going to be so impressive! Last night was spaghetti night and as usuall all of the fids get their share of pasta (angel hair no less - minus the sauce!). As usual, Beau has to get into my plate with both feet - something I don't encourage, he has his own bowl; Dixie prefers to throw her bowl to the bottom of the cage, then climb out and sit on my husbands shoulder and eat from his plate. Of course before too long she's sitting in the bottom of her cage eating her own pasta, but only after having slurpped up enough sauce to decorate hubby's shirt. I've given Morgan his own bowl of pasta every time, but he's refused to eat it. Last night however he chose to drag pieces of pasta all over the porch of his cage (where we sit his bowl) and ate a good bit of it. I was so happy, didn't even mind cleaning up the pieces that made it to the floor. This morning Morgan was watching Dixie in her aerial routine and decided to join the fun. At first he only flew from his cage to Beau's, then he flew to the rope door; Dixie moving to Beau's cage. Then he flew to his cage; Dixie to the rope door. Then he flew to me! I never expected that one! Yes I had been calling him the whole time, but I still didn't expect it! This was promptly rewarded with not one but two sunflower kernels! I had to put everyone back into their cages to run some errands and when I got home and opened up their cages (as usual) I expected more of the same aloofness from Morgan - not coming out until I had sat down, ignoring everyone else, you know the routine. Beau clings to the front of his cage until I lower the door and he's "instantly" out. This afternoon Morgan did the same thing Beau did - ta da - he was instantly out and he gave me a kiss! Not sure what happened to the bird we had here last week, but this new one is definitely a keeper! Robin

This is one of Dixie's favorite past times. When she first strted doing this I was confused, but I've found that she just loves to scratch. We've tried to enhance her scratching by putting a low sided box on the floor with shredded newspaper in it and then "hide" some of her favorite treats, like whole almonds, small wooden foot toys, a ball, etc. In it. Dixie loves it and will gladly play in the box. I've also added a piece of fine grade sand paper to the bottom of the box, this helps keep her nails trimmed. Works better for us than the perches, especially since she won't sit on the type designed for nail health. A disclaimer here....the paper (both newspaper & sand paper) must be renewed each time we bring out the box! P.s. This box only has a one-to-two inch side wall.

And for my last two cents worth on this subject: Buffy - one of the reasons many of us seem to jump quickly on the inexperienced, inquisitive, and somewhat youthful key87 is that we have seen many come to this forum as impostors who wish to glean information for the purpose of selling it/posting it as an authority on the subject and thus creating a completely different set of problems other than an over eager newbie who wishes to accomplish in a few months what takes years to actually achieve. If we weren't so compelled to look out for the benefit of the parrots we are owned by and those others out in the world we wouldn't be so quick to judge. It is a passion and compassion that we all have and a commitment that none of us have taken lightly. Would you be willing to get a new grey from a breeder who didn't have a clue? Dave - thanks for your wonderful insights. You are the MASTER! We should have taken your comments as all that needed to be said and all of us kept our two cents worth out of the question. Ray - I'm joining the ranks of the old, and I still don't know much about being young, so this old stuff is gonna be h*ll! Dan - always the one who keeps us asking questions - thanks for your brilliant guidance. Robin

Well it's been almost four months since Morgan joined us and he's finally decided today that he would eat something other than his pellets! Morgan was a very stubborn little guy in the eating department, but I think that had more to do with the abrupt move from his old home to his new home with us. He stayed on formula for well over 6 weeks after he joined us, and made the switch to Harrison's pellets like a champ. Of course I think I've perfected the switch to Harrison's - a little white grape juice that's diluted and they will eat it every time. Today when I put his veggies and fruit into his cage for breakfast he shunned the pellets to eat the strawberries and papaya. I'm so proud of him. Lunch proved that the pellets are still his preference - he ate them all and ignored his rice/corn/beans mix. Dinner didn't improve the fresh food lookout but he still ate his pellets like he's supposed to. He does like shredding the leaves of collards/cabbage/kale that I hang in his cage for him, but I haven't seen him actually ingest them but he loves to shred them. Gaining his trust has been another long hurdle to over come. While he was hand feeding, Morgan would step up from inside his cage, but now that he's "self-sufficient" he's chosen to be a little more aloof. While Morgan will eventually step up for me, the rest of the family can't manage that task. We've been working on it with my giving him one unsalted, sunflower kernel every time he steps up from outside his cage. This is usually done when I have to move him from his favorite perch on top of his cage to go back inside or move him back to his cage. Mind you this doesn't happen more than twice a day (the treat that is) but he's learning. I think he's also figured out that he can fly and it's more fun for me to beg him than him just comply. The little sh*t. I will say today has brought most of the progress. I've let Morgan advance his trust in me as he sees fit, never forcing him to be with me, but more like my being near him. My "study" chair is next to his cage. Today instead of Beau (who's been more independent lately) being on my shoulder constantly, he was playing on the swing. Morgan decided he would come over to see me. I was at my desk (opposite side of the room from Morgan's cage) and he flew from his cage to Beau's and then "leaned" toward me. I took advantage of the opportunity to see if Morgan would step up and spend some time with me. Morgan did step up reluctantly, but spent a good 5 minutes sitting on my arm while we just watched tv/Beau/Blue/Bean/Dixie. I guess 5 minutes was enough because he then flew off my arm to the rope door to play for a bit. It's been a very slow progression of trust and learning with Morgan, very different than the Greys and Conures. I'm not sure if that's the difference in the species or just the luck of the other birds. Dixie was quick to come to me but had been hand reared from a very early age and was just a darling to be around and wanted to be handled. Today she'll lay on her back on top of LP's head of all things. Beau was and still is as needy as a brand new baby. The conures just want to use us as taxi's from one part of the room to another and then they fly back and forth in their games of flight. Morgan on the other hand isn't like any of them. He's talkative, self-sufficient, entertaining, and he does love me, but it's a very different experience. I will say Morgan does look for me as much as Beau does - whenever he hears me in the kitchen, fixing breakfast or if I walk out of the room he screams "MOM" at the top of his lungs. None of the others do that! Robin

Thanks for the beautiful post.

Sounds like Dayo was on a mission and yours and Kim's intervention was not welcomed! He is extremely intelligent in he knew he could do further damage by removing the key from the laptop! WTG Dayo, Keep Dan & Kim in their rightful place. It was awfully nice of him to just "pinch" you to let you know of his displeasure! Ahhh, the joys of a flighted bird! Thanks for the story Dan, hope there weren't any black & blue marks to go with those pinches.

I have found that using the plastic chain links that open (found in the baby department of a store) work well and are much less expensive than the oval links. You may have to redo the chain to accommodate the plastic oval links some, i've used heavy tie wraps then cut off the excess. I've also used carbines with the screw on lock at times, but finding those has not always been easy.