katana600

It is a terrible time of uncertainty and even though your vets were woefully unhelpful maybe a police report or to an animal rescue might be better received. Keep searching, keep calling for him. Is there any way to get to the roof of your building for a search there? Mostly don't let the weight on your shoulders keep you down, keep looking and something may lead to another something. Best of luck to you, I am so sorry for your distress and Alvaro. In such a time, I don't think there is anything predictable or a natural behavior other than for a frightened grey to hide and be very very quiet. Don't give up, keep up your best.

Yes, that is an encouraging article. Glad to see these animals made into a priority of law enforcement.

Just as a word of encouragement, Gilbert is not a baby, maybe ten years old and with issues. But, he goes back and forth with his loyalties. I like what Dave says about giving Ava treats without making her work for them in the moment. Another thing with Gilbert is if one of us offer a treat and he flings it in rejection, no one else goes right to him and offers to let him have it after a show of aggression. We all just give him space and cooling off time and then one of us approaches again later. Again, it is a little different with a rescue because he has had trauma. Your relationship with Ava is still really new and she will probably go back and forth with her preferences. Just stay steady and love her through it. It is really scary to face that beak in the beginning, but you will get to know her and read her body language better and find the best way to approach her at the best times.

I just want to make a point to say that Java is not an African Grey. She only weighs 136 grams and is a red bellied parrot. I only mention that because the med dosage etc that are tiny amounts of liquid for her would be different for even a TAG. None of us would be giving our flock meds without a doctor, but I just don't want to take a chance that I would unintentionally mislead someone new just reading through posts. It looks so good now, Java just takes her antibiotic without chasing or toweling her. I am still a little bewildered about what would cause such a dramatic drop and the behavior she had late Thursday night. I keep going over it with my daughter who was there and she is sure Gilbert didn't have a chance to bite her head and she is sure Java flew to her and vomited first before swinging back to Gilbert's cage when I was trying to catch her to see why she was vomiting. I am ever so relieved she reacted so well to the antibiotic and she is back to normal. She is not nearly as brazen and naughty as usual and she makes a wide berth around Gilbert's cage. Perhaps she just associates it with when she first got sick and it is a coincidence, but if it promotes peace and distance between the two of them, I am happy about that. Thanks again for all the kindness and encouragement, that is such a comfort.

Greywings, you were posting while I was typing. I agree with the moderation. I tend to be a little more rigid and have to work to lighten up a bit sometimes. Did you ever read the book Give a Mouse a Cookie? Sometimes I get the notion that if I let the dogs have a tablescrap it will snowball and they will be begging and cajoling at our dinner time and soon be too fat to waddle. LOL. I learn from everyone here and I like the idea of moderation and occasional surprises for the purpose of eliciting change. Isn't it an interesting study in our personalities and how we all learn from one another. My husband is in human relations and has advocated "bonus incentives" particularly with our kids. I was of the mind, there are things they should do just because they are members of the family and we shouldn't bribe them to do their chores. LOL. There is a happy little place somewhere in the middle, moderation, you are so right about that. Oh and another one my husband says "You never have any fun unless you write it down on a piece of paper first." LOL, I beg to differ, but I do love those lists and planning and I guarantee he would go hungry and not have any food in his backpack if I didn't make that list before we went camping. Somewhere there is a happy little place in the middle. The middle is out of my comfort zone, but if Gilbert can do it, so can I. LOL.

I think the vet recommended an occasional taste of junk food because I am a "follow the rules" kind of gal. He has known us for about three years now. So definitely it won't be a regular routine. I think his point was now that Gilbert is showing a little progress in coming off his cage, try to extend that by five minutes at a time and not to get stressed if he wants an occasional bite of something that is not in his food dish at specified times of the day. Wonder of wonders, Rachel walked up to Gilbert's cage last night and said want to step up? I was incredulous to watch him reach out a foot and come to the sofa again. While she was here with us, once again he was walking back and forth between us and enjoyed a really long visit. Afterwards, when I took him back to his cage I asked him to step up and he went into his defensive position and took a swipe at me. He has taken such a shine to Rachel that it is a big surprise to all of us. She just finished her final year of college in May. She has been coming and going from our house since Gilbert came and he will take an almond from her at bed time and accept her watching him for a weekend when I am away but this has just been a dramatic turn on his part. Once he steps up to her he is equally at ease with me or with her and will also go to my husband. She is the only one right now he will graciously step up and come to so I am going to reinforce his time off the cage with pine nuts, pistachios and maye a little taste of limeade again. I can't even describe the dramatic change in his body language in the past few days. He is incredibly smitten with Rachel but he is not doing the wing droop or gurging as a love gesture. I can hardly wait for evening to come when he is so happy to be off his cage. Odd that it came about right when Java was having vet issues and Gilbert went to the vet too. He has been saying "sorry" to her and it just seems so focused and intuitive on his part. They talk to each other occasionally, but it never seemed like they liked each other one little bit over the past year.

What a great introduction and what good fortune for Lola to come to you. I agree with you that the seller seems fishy at best, especially the part that he had no cage. It is wonderful that you are having her checked out for a microchip and are looking into the possibility that she was stolen. No wonder Lola steps up and trusts you already, you have a good heart. She does sound like a dream come true for you. Your beginning with her is much better than some of our rehomes. Congratulations on the perfect fit.

Ah yes, MaryAnn. Mable is Emma's new sister. Sorry about that. You sure do have your hands full, kind of like being the substitute teacher and all the kids are giving you the trial by fire. You really aren't whining though. Where better to talk about the challenges you face than with people who are already in awe at the lengths you have gone to with all these parrots. It is so thoughtful that your husband will build a second aviary so Bongo feels safe. My first thought was when you take Oliver and Bubba outside, that is a respite for Bongo to have the whole house to himself... within view of the filing cabinet playground. LOL. We have a plucking issue with Gilbert and it is disheartening when I see him have a setback. I usually can pinpoint what "upset his apple cart". The move to your home is still so new for Bubba and for him to see Oliver again and reconnect may have been happy but a stressful change nonetheless. The little downy feathers may have just dropped out because he is adapting to a change, I bet you have lost a few hairs on your pillow too. LOL. When you feel overwhelmed sometimes, and you will, talk to a friend. I think I would like to be your friend, and I know everyone here feels the same way.

Java is a tough little cookie, she has had no interest in the soft warm foods as our three greys have had. Almonds, an occasional pine nut or pistachio seem to be the only "bribes" or comfort foods she has accepted. I did get scared about giving her a syringe of liquid meds. Her first dose of antibiotic was an injection and as the vet was explaining the tiny syringe and methods I asked about making sure to feed her a certain way and he said that feeding is different from this and not to worry about aspiration because it was such a tiny amount. When faced with something I don't particularly relish, I try to think about what is the best time of day for me and for Java in this case. Then, I remove all other stressors, like putting the cat behind closed doors and just having me "centered" and calm. I visualize what I would like to see happen and try the easiest route first but have all the tools laid out for toweling, the meds measured and ready, the countertop cleared and my battleground and plan is prepared. It is a step one-two-three kind of thinking through the best possible outcome. My husband calls that "analysis paralysis", LOL. Then, when she has just let me give her the meds a little easier each day, I am just euphoric that yesterday she was so cooperative. Six years from our introduction to parrots, I am still totally in awe at their intelligence and abilities.

Gosh, you have been through a nightmare that is so scary. Hopefullly you can get to your vet today and have some sort of peace of mind. Good that the bleeding has stopped and you kept calm. It has been almost a week since we had a night time emergency and I still feel exhausted. Bless you and your family. My husband is traveling to Oregon today and I was just looking at the time difference. I'm sure you are looking at the clock and waiting for the vet's office to open. You have gotten him through the crisis, my prayers are with you to give you all the strength to carry on and see him through.

Java is definitely on the mend and back to her fiesty little ole self. When I approached to give her meds this morning I asked her if she would please just take her meds. She didn't even try to escape although she did back up as far as her perch would reach and when she tried to bite the syringe tip... voilla she had her meds so quick I couldn't do anything but cheer. She laughed at me after she shook off the approach. She is still in there telling me whoo hoo hoo. If only it were always that simple. I will take every bit of cooperation she is willing to hand out. I love that kind of surprise.

Aww, Ray, you are going to make a crusty ole curmudgeon get sentimental. Java had to be quarantined a couple of times and I have felt like it was a little unfair to bring new birds in when she was such a joy all on her own. I make a special effort but she is so good and goes to anyone and Gilbert has needed a LOT of one on one and careful trust building. That makes me wonder sometimes if I gave her the short shrift but she gets to come down to help me sew and has one on one time every day. It just isn't unfettered and all day the way we used to be. All is coming to a good balance but it makes me beam to know that our new bird room had a kernel of inspiration to you and our admin. This forum is just the one stop site for everything. It is the only place online that I go for my daily "fix". I read here more often than I check my own email. Thanks so much for all you do for us.

What a delight you are having with Emily and Navroh. It is just amazing how far he has come already. She really is a natural and the two of them are fast friends. Heck, I can't even get Java to come running for any kind of treat. We are going to have a lot of fun watching your videos and I am guessing Spencer is going to want to get involved too.

You have a way of making the best of an evening. I am going to have to try having a beer, that will make me more imaginative and I won't have to sit outside to hear wonderful things. LOL.

You are so right about them stealing our hearts. To think I was sitting in my car on a cold day with my arms crossed telling my husband and kids over and over "I am NOT coming into that pet store, I can NOT deal with another animal in our house." Now I look back and thank my lucky stars that I did go in and I did see her and she won my heart in a second. It all started with this one plain little grey and green parrot and I have never been so thrilled with the journey that led to all of you on this forum. The hard stuff makes us stronger, but I could use this break and get all good news from the vet for our little set back.

And one more little tidbit of happiness when I called the vet to ask if it was too late to get the DNA they told me that was already included in the lab panel they requested. Now I will be on pins and needles waiting for the call with results.

Last night just seemed like a miracle. Gilbert was incredible and we saw things that we had not even begun to hope for in our time together. Rachel sat on one end of the sofa and I was on the other. I was on the computer trying not to get too excited (or envious, maybe). Just today the vet said it would not be altogether bad to give him pine nuts or other favorites to help extend his time off the cage. He gave me a wink and said the occasional dorito would be okay too. When Gilbert went to Rachel I went to the kitchen and got a handful of the cheese nip crackers. He didn't seem to be eating them as much as crunching them up and getting them all over. I just was so caught up in the activity that I didn't even care about the mess being strewn about. He walked from her to me across the sofa, then from my legs to the ottoman and back a few times. I am guessing he was out with us for more than an hour. His previous record was less than fifteen minutes. Then this morning, he surprised me again. While I was getting all the food dishes from the cages in preparation for breakfast, he launched himself off the cage top came right up to me and asked to step up. Then he rode around on my shoulder the whole time I fixed their breakfast and stepped up on my hand to transfer to his cage top when he got all excited for his warm beans. In all our excitement lately, I realized just as I awakened this morning, I forgot to ask the vet do do a DNA check for gender while they had his blood drawn. I am going to call this morning to see if they could still do it. Otherwise I will ask them to put it in his chart so we can check it another time. Who would have thought that a day I was dreading would completely turn around and give me such a little miracle. Thanks Gilbert, I needed that.

Wow. There is nothing as harrowing as watching with horror to see your beloved out of your reach and in a danger zone. I commend you for the tireless efforts to locate Zuri and I think I would have to sleep for a week to get over my own shock. Well written. Congratulations on your reunion.

Java is improving and acting like her old self again. I know that the excruciating hours between noticing a symptom and getting into the vet's office are the worst. I swear there were no symptoms with Java just a drop right to the floor midflight. All of your prayers, all of your kind words and all the hours of reading posts from everyone and thinking "what would you do", just kept me calm and sane and doing all the things I could do until we had help. I also know that sometimes in our lives we have events that leave us just a little more fragile and during those times, it is hard to read posts that have a scary subject line. We have had a wonderful happy ending to this rough day and even got some unexpected benefits from watching Gilbert open up at his vet visit. I am ever so grateful for all of you holding my hand so I could weather this storm. I will let you know if we get any answers from the vet.

This day is just getting better. Sarasota, I have to tell you that this vet visit was hard to work myself up to considering Gilbert's history and how long it has taken to gain his trust. He had a visit early on but the vet and I agreed not to poke and prod him so he could calm down and he was in good health but this time we had to make sure because Java was sick. Gilbert was toweled and I know he must have been terrified, but it was over so quickly he didn't have time to get too upset. He was just charming. After a quiet afternoon Gilbert was soliciting to our daughter to come give him a scratch. Much to our surprise, he offered her a step up. He has been sitting on her lap on the sofa for the past half hour. He is talking softly to her and not shivering or looking one bit nervous. I usually can only get him to sit next to me on the arm of the sofa before he is asking to go back to his cage. He is having a mumbling, long running conversation with Rachel and she is beaming just as much as I am. This is unprecedented. I am as delighted with her bravery as I am by his acceptance of her all of the sudden. I think he might be telling her about his day at the vet. It reminds me of when our girls were young, if they were fighting I would give one of them a hard time and they immediately banded together and talked smack about me. LOL. I am totally in awe of the progress Gilbert made today and then to have him sitting a few feet away like he has been on her hand all his life. As I typed, he came off her hand, over her lap and ventured a trek across the sofa onto my lap. This is one of the most awesome days he has had with us. He is like a totally different boy tonight. I am going to savor some time with him.

I came in to give everyone some reassurance that Java is improving and even came out for snuggles and bed time routine we have grown to love. My heart was sick at the thought of the chance of losing this little one. She is doing so much better. She is talking, getting a little sassy and just looking good. She was very suspicious of me and has been refusing to step up or come out of her cage and I gave her the room to just relax and heal. Then, I read the posts from all of you who have grown to be so important to me and I am just humbled at your thoughts and kind gestures. Jay and Maggie have been my guiding light and I know that I have learned much from you. Every single person on this forum means the world to me, through good times and bad times. I sometimes don't get to read every post like I did for the first couple of years and sometimes I miss a few posts now. What I see when I sign in is the prayers and vigil that I know has helped Java just as much as it has lifted me to where I know we can handle everything that comes our way together. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Well after the day we have had, I am repeating your words Mark. Bless those techs and vets. Today was Gilbert's turn to make the trip to the vet. He is so much more nervous and harder to handle than Java. But, it is time for his annual and no better time to have him checked since we aren't sure about what caused Java's illness. I put a couple of almonds in my pocket, got lots of paper towels and even thought ahead to pack a couple of bandaids. Would you believe, Gilbert was a prince? He talked to everyone in the waiting room even though he was tense and nervous. He stepped up to me from his travel cage and he stepped up to the vet from me. There was no screaming, no fuss at all. He had blood drawn and came back to me to step up again and I was totally speechless. He told everyone "bye bye" as we were leaving but he didn't say "come back soon" as he usually does when someone is leaving our house. Our vet did say that he could tell by looking at him in his travel cage that he is hypervigilant and extremely nervous and high strung but he believes that a year in our home is a blink of an eye for Gilbert and he has had a history but at his age, he is still considered a juvenile and he thinks that if we keep up the way we handle him he will turn around and become less fearful and more active. He also had some suggestions to try to get him out of his shell a little at a time and to help encourage him not to become a "perch potato" or cagebound. Even though Gilbert was a really good boy, he is exhausted this afternoon, he came into his cage and put himself right to bed and has been sleeping since he got settled. I just still can not believe he was ten times more cooperative than my expectations and Java my sweet has a worst reputation with the techs now.

This beautiful aviary and the ability to bring in three hard cases just brings tears to my eyes. You really have a great outlook and lots of good ideas. I am humbled by your dedication to all three of your parrots. I seem to remember the red-headed one, was she Mable? These blue and gold boys have a history and it sounds like they are blissful to be reunited. Bless you all.

Okay, I am going to tell on myself here. I have coping techniques that even professional counselors... whom I have seen (LOL) have said they would adopt in their own advice to others. Usually, I have a bit of a hair trigger and have discovered that what really bugs me today when I am stressed, might not be an issue after a good night of sleep. So, first I sleep on it. There are times when something so egregious that would be due a full on battle, but I have to choose my battles carefully. You know, cause mainly, I must be a warrior on the inside because I love a good battle. LOL. So, when someone really ticks me off, I have a three week rule for emotional objectivity. I make a tick mark on my calendar and agree with myself not to address this for three weeks. On the day that I think about it again, sometimes I can just let it go but if not, I evaulate if it is worth my breath to try to change things or better for myself and everyone else to move on. My favorite was an altercation with one of my professors. I did go talk with him and it was worked out. But, I did admit to him that on day one I "cursed him with baldness and impotence". LOL. On the next test was a smiley face next to my grade and a statement about the curse being lifted. LOL. I had to put it back on his desk with a note saying if he couldn't tell he had bigger problems than my wickedness. The point is we really never know what is going on in someone else's life or heart. If we give the benefit of the doubt and consider people we care about are really looking out for the good things, the little stuff doesn't seem to be intentional aggravation.

These pictures are unbelieveable. How tiny these little hatchlings are, and how quickly they grow. What beautiful babies they are. I saw the video of the young tiels too. You get them off to a good start. Thanks for the insight into the beginning.