katana600

Thanks Chelsea, that peeling back the layers is a good analogy with our complex issues of dealing with a rehomed bird with issues unpacking his baggage. It is a little like peeling back an onion, at times it can make us cry. Yesterday he took another leap off the cage door to the floor. As always, I come sit and let him walk over to me for a step up to give him a lift back to his cage when he is ready. Like usual, he leans over to make a kiss sound and then nudges his head toward me for a kiss on the head or upper beak. This time he was doing the same thing and decided instead to pinch my lip hard enough to make it bleed. He has moments like this, but the other ninety percent of the time he is chatty and sweet. All the evidence I have is that he was in caring, loving homes and I know of no abuse. His issues seem to stem from breaking the trust bond and losing the predictability of being with the person he bonded with. He turns that destruction on himself when his frustration reaches the point beyond which he can maintain his sanity. I have the deepest graditude that he has not plucked any flight feathers since he has been here. I do feel sad that he still has missing wing feathers and may never fly. Then, in the middle of all this tightly wound apprehension and fear comes the opening of a little flower of hope for him to interact with his little world and play and find interesting things to do with his time. For all the rescuers or potential rescuers, this is a long slow process but I am seeing the fruits of our labor. I see him tentatively, slowly sneaking up on a toy that has been on his cage top for a year. Then every day he goes back to touch it, and a week later he is flapping and shaking it, not as an enemy but in expending playful energy. Following that little breakthrough, it has been something new and exciting every day. I have read the experiences of many others who say that once the dam breaks, he will amaze us with new things and we will begin to see his true nature. I am thinking the lip bite was a mistake, not his true nature. LOL.... perhaps though it would be worth thinking (?)... maybe that was a reflection of my true nature. LOL hahahahaa Seriously, I couldn't love this little guy more and I am elated to see him begin to open up and enjoy his life.

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?194332-Question-for-Katana&highlight=quilt Also you can email me at dconfer@bellsouth.net for more quilting discussions.

Yes, I do sometimes use 505 adhesive spray, I think 3M is the manufacturer. My quilt studio is in the basement and has a door between the main floor where the birds are kept. I also have learned the hard way to turn off the AC or heat fan so it doesn't bring fumes through the cold air return ducts... or in my case paint spray, up to the other floors. Nothing terrible, I just had to repaint a couple of bedrooms after the overspray, thankfully I noticed right away and I didn't have parrots at the time. I also have an attic fan so I can open the door to the screen porch on the main floor and run cross ventilation. I would not use the adhesive spray near the birds. I have worked with the spray on a sheet covering the driveway for a spot to lay out the quilt on the ground. Only when the spray comes out of the can are there fumes to worry about. After the preparation, there is no more odor and it washes right out after you finish sewing the quilt sandwich.

Yesterday I heard serious flapping so I came back into the room to look for Gilbert on the floor. In recent days he has taken to exploring a little and is walking about with a lot more confidence and an adventurous spirit. I couldn't find him right away and sat waiting for him to come out from under the ottoman when I heard him laughing. Instead of coming down, he went up for the first time! His play stand has a tall "loop" for hanging toys. Just in the past week he has been playing with the leather toy hanging there, but he had somehow propelled himself up to perch on top of the metal pole. He was so proud of himself. Later in the evening, I heard him say something in an entirely new voice. He said "What are you doing Lou?" It sounds like a ladies voice without the lovely southern accent. I have never heard him say Lou before, but he repeated it over and over again. He also has suddenly taken a liking to pine nuts. I have offered them to him before and he would take it and sometimes eat it but never seemed too interested. This week when I offered them, he gobbled them up, took them gently from my fingers and when I get the bag down he runs and gets really excited. This is such a breakthrough for him.

Kudos to you for the success at posting pictures of Festus. Great job learning something new. He is a handsome fellow and looks relaxed for his introduction. I look forward to learning more about him. Thanks for sharing with us.

I missed the thread the first time. It was a lot easier to read when I knew ahead of time it has a happy ending. I love the bit about GC saying he was only crying 'cause Oboe came back. Great cover up. LOL.

I feel the same sense of betrayal and concern when I know I have to leave Gilbert. He has had a lot of change in his young life and he does hold it against me when I leave for a day or two. Although Tui will miss you, I don't think they have the same concept of passing time so a couple of days vs seven shouldn't be "twice as bad". I think based on Gilbert's earlier plucking and anxiety issues when he first came, then with me leaving and coming back, gradually he is less distressed with my coming and going. It is a really good thing for you to have a vacation, rest and new viewpoint in your life and Tui will benefit from that when you grow with her. Even if Tui thinks you've left her, she will have the experience of knowing you will come back. If it is possible to move her downstairs a while prior to your departure, maybe she wouldn't associate that with your "disappearance" which would be a cue that "something bad is going to happen" when you leave again or when you move to a new home or other life changes that come along in the normal course of life. I would highly recommend that you talk to her about leaving when it doesn't distress you and tell her now that you are leaving for a while but you are coming back. Like, when you leave for work, tell her goodbye, I'll be back and then make a fuss to greet her when you come back. I think they are capable of understanding a lot. She may have seemed down when your ex left, but she also may have been picking up your stress at the change in your life. Seize the day, live and have fun, be considerate of her but teach her that you are coming back and don't let the guilt hold you back.

So, okay, I have come to the realization I am the crazy ole bird lady. It is official. From the moment I saw eggs in that sweet little nest, I have been guarding the garage. I think I have fussed more about protecting them from keeping the garage door tightly closed to "is that opening big enough for a cat to come in or a bigger bird to come in?" This morning when I took the dogs out, as always, I went to make sure the door was just right. My husband has been reminded and reminded, don't open the second door that is adjusted. He is not supposed to open the garage door or change anything. He had to finally mow the lawn, so, okay, I watched him get the mower out and then back again without disturbing her and made sure only the second door was used. He was flying off on another obscenely early business trip this morning and forgot and used the wrong door. My heart was in my throat but when I checked the nest, mama bird was in there. She let me watch briefly as she fed her chicks. She is calm for me to come in and take a peek, but if anyone else comes in she flies and swoops and dive bombs them. With all the extra worry this has been, I am definitely going to evict them when the chicks leave the nest and get new rubber sweeps for the bottom of the garage door to seal it up so this doesn't happen again. I know nature takes its course and as much fun as it has been to watch, I don't want to repeat it. Two birds in a house are enough. For now. LOL.

Wow. This story started me to have goosebumps, then trembling and tears for the reuniting and happiness for the news coverage that will inform so many people of the intelligence and the meaning these parrots impart to our lives.

I would like to point out that the people involved here are from other countries, expatriate, "guest workers" and not Dubai or UAE nationals or Emirati people. They come and go and sometimes are unfortunate souls with no reference point in their own countries for humane treatment to other humans, much less extending that to creatures that can not defend themselves. Talking to them, yelling at them, will do nothing. Even reporting and getting them deported will only result in bringing in a new trainee and start all over again. One thing for you though, is to avoid taking DJ in contact with potentially sick wild caught birds and to keep your heart from being heavy is what you said about staying away. You are so kind and loving you do not deserve these graphic images in your head nor the stress it puts on you. There are many things that can be made into toys for DJ from your home. It is not as easy for you in Dubai to find the kind of colorful, commercially made toys, but perhaps there might be a place in the UK to order online, or if you have a coworker who is from there they might bring back something for you on holiday.

Welcome to you and beautiful Bella. You never know how barren your life is without a parrot until you live with one. You are blessed with the gift of an interesting, unique, and exquisite companion. There are lots of lists compiled of the big scary things that could adversely impact the health of our birds. If you start reading as you find time, the health room here has cautions and suggestions from people who have had first hand knowlege of decades of personal experiences. Thanks for coming to share your own research. One question I have on the list is why onions are listed on the no no list but are included on the limited quantities list. Garlic and onions, particularly uncooked are on our radar as not to feed, if I remember right. I am of the philosophy, if it is potentially a problem, it is easier to avoid it altogether rather than wonder later if our parrot is ill, "was it something I've done?". I have personally been in the position of losing a baby and the weeks of waiting for the news from a necropsy was excruciating beyond words. It was confirmed to be a known parrot disease and was not an uninformed exposure to something lethal. I commend all of you for working so hard to provide safety and nurturing to your new companions.

So. Now that Gilbert has rediscovered some salty language, he is saying it every day. I do not react, generally it will happen when I am in another room but he is very loud about it. When I have been keeping late nights and getting up in the wee hours this week to scramble for planning my daughter's May wedding, I will turn on the dining room light and hear many many forms and inflections of his naughty word. He knows exactly what he is doing. My husband has been traveling so no one else is here to encourage him. He is just having a big time with it. I can hear him thinking as he tilts his head and glares at me balefully... "there, that shut her up, didn't it?" He has really been feeling his oats too. He has been climbing, getting on the floor to explore and playing with hanging toys. He has also been making adolescent body sounds and laughing. I am not getting too riled about it, but it ain't funny right about now Gilbert. Actually, it is kind of funny in that he is telling me about a chapter in his history. It does leave me wondering what else is in there? Something tells me we are just now opening Pandora's box.

We have a red bellied parrot and she was the love of our life, although a bit ferocious too. Now that she is six, she has calmed a lot and I was really nervous about bringing home a rehomed older grey for fear of what it would do to our relationship. Java is a cuddler and wants to be held and scratched on the head and it took a long long time for her to acclimated to college aged daughters coming and going. But, when the right moment came, we brought Gilbert home. It has taken a year to be able to open both cages and not have her fly over and harrass him. He is not flighted due to damaged feathers which I am hoping will grow back some day. What I would say is that each bird has a different relationship with you. Gilbert does not want to be touched, he is our entertainer from afar. Now that Java has learned that I will get up and move her away from him, she barely pays him a second notice. They do have cages side by side and they pick up things from one another, like certain phrases, or behaviors. You are right though, we can tell you our story, but there is little prediction to whether any two birds will become tolerant. With a lot of patience and vigilance, we have had a modest measure of success, it has taken a year and we are happy with that.

Well done Ray, again. You have such good advice for us. I would like to add that when you say that it takes time, it is not just being there for the transition. It is also the holding my breath and coming back over and over again to rejections of our overtures. Just when we think we are on good terms, Gilbert will have a setback and now we are on an even keel again. It has been a year and those tender loving moments have been few and far between, but we are definitely making progress.

Congratulations on making such a thoughtful informed decision and for taking time to research and work with your breeder to be the best educated when you make this commitment. You will know the right thing for you when you have your baby grey home with you about the clipping thing. There really are pros and cons and you have to be the one to see what it means to you when you bring home the little one. Best of luck in the long long wait when you get the call and they tell you it will be about a week or so before they are weaned and then it is just awesome to bring them home and bond with them. After that, it is one delight after another, followed by moments of "what have I gotten into?" followed again by, "this is the most wonderful bird in the world".

Sorry, I have been off my rocker for a week changing the venue for a wedding reception just six weeks away. So, today, I was least expecting it when I peeked in on our little mama and her eggs have all hatched. I bet they were hatched a week ago, but I don't get close and she was sitting and didn't move when I peeked in. In the middle of the garage, where my car would usually be parked, I have a step stool and I climb up there with a little flashlight and peek in at her. I won't go out any more until she is out of her nest because I don't want to disturb them. And Ray, are you kidding me? Of course my helmet has to match my bike, and my ballistic nylon safety gear, and my gloves, and my boots. If I had an accident, I have it under good authority if I am not wearing matching colors, the paramedics won't pick me up.... and if I get to the hospital and don't have on good underwear, I have heard from someone's mother.... "always wear good underwear, what would happen if you had to go to the hospital?" So, I am assuming, they will toss you right out of the emergency room. hahahahhahahahaha

Oh my goodness, after protecting her little nest by keeping the garage off limits, I went out today and found a surprise. She was feeding her babies! I stood and stood and stood on a stool in the middle of the garage until she left for a second and quick took this picture and got out of her zone.

Judy, I am a southern transplant, most of my friends and neighbors are as well. Maybe Gilbert is saying a lot more than I can decipher. I may need someone to come stay for a week and translate for him. I am thinking of putting a jar next to his cage for us to deposit a quarter every time one of us asks "What did he say?" Sometimes it is because he is muttering and we can only get one word out of the jabbering, but sometimes it is just from awe that he repeats something we just said.

So happy that your flock is integrating Paloma and giving her a nice welcome. The more I see the happy homes with more birds, the more I am sure I am picking up the MBS and here I was so sure I would be immune. Gilbert still needs a lot of TLC and doesn't take well to changes, but I hear the call of the many more parrots out there looking for a spot in my heart. So happy for you that you have a new addition, you are surely blessed. (For the uninitiated, MBS is multiple bird syndrome... be aware, be very aware, it sneaks up on you. Stay out of the Amazon room, I swear those Amazons are looking right at me and saying "what are you waiting for?")

It takes some ingenuity to keep fresh water in a cage when we have a parrot who wants to play in it. When I saw the link from GT_Jacket and went to look at the water accessories, I thought you meant that you put plumbing into the bird cage, LOL. I was really impressed, but then actually saw they have water bottles. Our parrots are dunkers, so I keep one water bowl on each side of the cage, one to drink that stays clean and one to mess up and that gets changed more often. One of ours actually just wants to play in the water, I saw where Dave mentioned he would use a tool to make a "bump" from the inside of the stainless steel dish so it fits more snugly in the metal ring. When we fixed the ring so the dish couldn't be pulled out, Kopi would use a small stainless steel condiment cup to dip water and fling it out the bars. It was great fun for him.

Welcome to our forum family. We also started with a smaller parrot and then brought home an older TAG. I had to go back and reread your post to understand you have had him only three days. You are well ahead of the curve for a rehome if he is sharing food and sitting on your chair so quickly. We haven't been quite so blessed as Gilbert has been traumatized by more than one rehome adjustment before he came to us. He doesn't often let me scratch his head and even then is conflicted with allowing close contact. I really have to be alert because like your quaker our little Java the red-bellied parrot is very cuddly and likes kisses on top of her head. I am afraid I will forget myself and try to kiss Gilbert on the head and lose a lip in the process. It is early to tell, but I am guessing Skippy will let you scratch his head and be close to you the way he is settling in. He will let you know when he wants a little of the closeness he sees you giving Willy.

You are all so funny on this thread. When I saw the toast cut up, like you would be eating it with a knife and fork, I was wondering about you Penny. Nilah is extra special to be sharing her plate with you. All of your birds are so polite to let you share "their" plates. Ray, I am impressed with your restraint, I might tell them "well I not as concerned about them 'dropping' on the table as I am about you not realizing that you shouldn't eat the gift they left you". Hahahaha. Gilbert isn't brave enough to get that far from his cage to come eat at the table yet, but I still have hope for him. I do bring food to them when I am eating so we can share. Murfchick, I saw the way you put the table perch on a tray, great idea, I wouldn't have thought of that.

When I posted before about Gilbert speaking clearly and appropriately for comic relief, yesterday was another example of that. One daughter had a bridal shower this weekend. The other traveled from afar and brought her dog Bella. Bella had been with me most of her eight years before the two moved out on their own last September. It was surprising how our two little dogs who were Bella's understudies changed the dynamics this weekend. There was a lot of posturing and although they were loving to one another, I was keeping Gilbert's cage door closed out of an abundance of caution. In front of his cage are a soft mat in case he jumps off the door. I also put a puppy pad on the hardwood under his door to catch his droppings. Last night one of our little dogs walked right over in front of us and piddled on the pad. This little guy never goes inside, his brother doesn't care where he does it, but Mick is steadfast in holding it until he goes outside. Needless to say, we were shocked and my husband said "Mick! What are you doing?" He hurried and got him outside, cleaned up and then Gilbert leaned over, looked down and said very clearly in his southern accent and a man's voice "Shee-iiiitt" I could not control my husband and daughter to go laugh in another room. I am just grateful he didn't use my voice and terse syllable from when he bit me that one time and broke my resolve to keep him a southern gentleman.

If only our human companions would listen so intently and then thoughtfully speak. LOL. Isaac is watching you and learning all the time. When he is ready to start teaching you, it is going to be hard to keep up with that concentration and intensity, get your rest Steven.

I am so relieved DJ is eating for you. After what you have been through, it is natural to be a little extra vigilant looking for signs. I was kind of holding my breath for you too. He just had a big transition from what was familiar to him and probably is just looking around in awe at the great fortune he has found bestowed upon him with the love and attention of your family and is still pinching himself to make sure it is not a dream. This is such great news that he is eating and whistling.