katana600

Thanks Ray, this week has been a really good one for Gilbert. I was apprehensive about putting him in the car again, but my concerns were for naught. He just seems to gain more trust with his worldly experiences. I was just thinking on our way home he has been through a quarter of the states in this country. My daughter saw him again when she joined us and said how much she misses our rag tag little buddy. I keep thinking it will be time for a molt and he will regrow beautiful feathers as we complete the circle of changes in his life. I treasure this opportunity to have a second chance with him. We needed each other. Also, I weighed him tonight and at 335 grams, he is a petite little fellow. He really has turned a corner. Where he would usually duck into his cage when anyone approached, it is the opposite now. As soon as anyone comes into the room, or gets up from a chair where he can see us, he comes out to the door and makes his little cluck, or says "hey" and tucks his head for a scratch. For a few weeks now he has only permitted us to touch his head if he were safely behind the bars. Slowly, we add one more little step in the bridge that brings him out of his cage and into our arms. He even stepped off the cage door for my husband where before he would only go to him if Gilbert was startled and jumped down to the floor. One thing is for certain, we all appreciate the improvements that have been hard won. We see a lot less trembling and panic moments lately. We measure our progress in grey time and his relaxed posture is better than winning the lottery.

I definitely think speaking up on behalf of the bird is the right thing to do. If nothing else, she may just start reading the forum to see what you might be saying and she may learn something more while she is here. And in response to her saying they don't sell potato chips for dogs, well there is such a thing as junk food for dogs. We used to feed our dog chicken jerky thinking it was a healthy snack. Then our vet told us it was the equivalent of feeding a four year old a full size snicker bar every time we gave her a strip. No wonder she was always begging for them! We learned something and we stopped giving it to her as a daily treat. I can't imagine grabbing a ten pound bag and giving it to her instead of her proper dog food. My guess is she already realizes she is in over her head with this bird or she wouldn't have reacted so strongly. Whether your suggestions took hold or made an immediate impact, I believe you have planted a seed. Others in your circle of mutual colleagues and friends are apt to notice a difference in AnnaBella's health and welfare and may gently encourage her to consider a better course of treatment or finding a new home when she is ready to admit it would be better for the parrot.

Those stockings are just too cute. When I read the thread title, my thoughts were far from Christmas and I was curious to how we would dress a bird in stockings, LOL. It must be bed time.

I know, he did seem tiny to me at first after having a CAG, but since I have Java to compare, I now think of him as my big boy. It is all a matter of reference. I will tell you his beak is more powerful and swift than my bigger boys ever were, they were still babies and hadn't developed the "hair trigger" that Gilbert has. I just melt when I hear that little "hey" he does when he is asking for an affectionate moment. The best thing of all is that just over a month ago, it would take him hours to calm down after one of those "jumps" and adrenaline rushes when he panicked. In the second video he was vocalizing his discontent but then came right back to try again. Every day just gets better and better. I am glad you like him!

It takes a village, that is for sure. The entire forum is a wonderful cooperation of people seeking information and understanding. This is a safe place to show our soft side to others who have been there and understand and to learn more that will help us get a little jump on the learning curve for the sake of our troubled little charges as they make the transformation into confident, happy companions in a new environment.

Our bonding sessions last less than five minutes. Gilbert really has been showing signs of wanting more interaction and he loves to have his head and neck scratched. He has been asking everyone for a scratch every time we walk past his cage today. It amazes me that he allows my husband and daughter to get in on the action. Just after I captured our first moments, he rested a bit, then walked close to me to ask for more. This is typical of the struggle to enjoy a quiet moment. We took a breather, he had another sweet scratch and went to bed on a positive note. Just watching the video I am in awe of what a special boy he is and I just love his little face.

We have had Gilbert nine months now. We just traveled two thousand miles in a car and he is doing better than ever. We have had ups and downs but after getting online and reading that we have a new room, I went to do our night time routine. With David sitting on the sofa, Gilbert showed he was willing to come sit with us. I was able to capture my first videos! If you asked me about ten days ago, I would not have been able to tell you we reached this new milestone of Gilbert requesting scratches and attention. The first video is here I can't believe he looked right into the iPhone and said "hey". This is how he asks for attention. Then, you can hear him do his little chicken cluck that is a kind of begging for more.

I have been traveling and just home to start catching up on our forum. I have been reading Barnaby's start with you with my stomach in a twist and tears in my eyes. As Talon stated, you are his angel. He will come around with good vet support and your love. It is hard to imagine just getting him and already being able to handle him. If it is hard for us to imagine, think of what this must mean to him. I am so glad you have the attitude to take a deep breath and jump right in with him, he deserves you. Thanks for sharing your story of inspiration.

Happy Birthday Ray! You get the birthday and we get the gift of your presence! Yay for us.

Merry Christmas to the whole forum with a new "room" to share the challenges and triumphs of living with an older bird with a checkered past. LOL. Now guess whether that is me or Gilbert. Hahaha. It is nice to have a new room. I have been sticking to one really long thread rather than explaining every time that what we experience with our guy is not what someone with a baby or a steady buddy might expect. Thank you so much Penny. This is big news for all of us!

It is so helpful to have kindred spirits here with advice, encouragement and a different perspective to give the best opportunity for our best personalities to emerge, both for Gilbert and for me. I gave a great deal of thought of what to do for Christmas travel and decided Gilbert responds better by being in contact with me, so traveling by car was the better of two unpopular choices. When I put Gilbert into his travel backpack at six am a week ago, he rewarded me with a powerful chomp on my thumb. We were well into Virginia before I regained sensation. With a start like that, the rest of the trip was better every day. LOL. He was fantastic. It seems that having four adults in the car for a thousand mile journey in one day was a bonding experience. We got to know our future son-in-law better and the wedding is still on! Gilbert and Java were the hit of the hotel in our small hometown. I spoke to them at the desk and requested no housekeeping except to change towels because Gilbert is desperately afraid of the vacuum. They went one step above and beyond, sent the one housekeeper up with me to meet Gilbert and discuss our options. On the last day, I needed to get pliers from maintenance and they all wanted to come meet him as well. They said he was talking every day to our helper. He was absolutely a different bird on this trip. He snuggled my neck and asked for scratches with four people in the room. He went a step further and has asked my daughter and husband for scratches and has been charming. I think the experience of going with us, and returning again has boosted his confidence. He has continued to allow David to scratch his head several times a day. It is so cute the way he says "hey" very softly, then quickly tucks his head to let us know he would like contact. There has not been one swipe at any of us and even when he bit my thumb at the onset, he has been telling me daily that he is sorry. I love that he was talking in the car where previous trips he just hung on and looked very worried. He actually asked for food while we were in motion and was able to balance on one foot to eat. I think we are starting a new chapter with our boy. Thanks for all the suggestions. I do think that if I try something that doesn't go well, I take a ten minute breather and try something else. I take a no when he is adamant, but look constantly for a way to turn that to a yes. You know... kind of like with a husband. Hahahahahaha.

It is a very caring and thoughtful thing to think about ahead of time Brendon. You are to be commended for bringing this up and thinking about it in great detail ahead of time. It is a timely post for me. Every grey is different of course. Once you get yours your situation will change as your life changes. We have had our TAG Gilbert for nine months now. He was rehomed multiple times and has issues from the changes. With that said, we made a trip of a thousand miles (one way) by car. I went first without him for a week and returned home to get him and take him with me for an extended stay. Since then, I left him for three days with my daughter and he was fine. For Christmas with family, it was back in the car with two parrots and four adults for the round trip again. This time, he bonded in the car and allowed my daughter and husband to scratch his head and that was a first! So, going with me has been in his best interest. A very scared bird at home when any new person comes in was a very different gregarious little fellow talking to the housekeepers in our hotel room when I was out of the room! You will learn what works best and you will adapt your methods to suit your bird's temperment and tolerance. I vote for many people in his life but the constant is you. I so appreciate how you are thinking ahead.

I was away and missed the posts earlier, but you definitely are a quick study. Gracie will teach you things you would not have dreamed nor planned. It does my heart so much good that you would adjust your methods and meet Gracie more than half way. Sometimes I forget to explain things and sometimes I get a bite on my thumb to remind me to do better the next time. LOL. It is astute on your part to think of how Gracie is receiving many changes at one time and to give her the grace to come to you on her terms when it is possible. I really appreciate your sharing this. No matter how much time I spend with my parrots, I still have to learn to slow down and meet them where they are at any given time.

Just when I think I understand the tiniest insight of life with Gilbert, he proves me wrong again. As it approached bed time last night, David was "in my spot" on the sofa. I went to visit with Gilbert and offered him a step up and he girded himself for battle. He wanted no part of leaving his zone and went into the cage to fling food for emphasis. I did ask David to leave, LOL, but somehow he still thinks this is his house too. So, as usual, when Gilbert doesn't give me a resounding yes to a suggestion, I give him space. As I turned off the lights to prepare to go to bed later, Gilbert hurried out to the door perch, tucked his head and when I went to scratch his head, he lifted his foot to step up instead. I was astonished. I put him on the back of the sofa, he trembled a little at the presence of David, but he wanted that scratch and cuddle time, or to avoid bed time, more than he was afraid. In moments, he was laying his head and chest out with closed eyes and I swear I heard a little sigh of relief. Maybe that was David. If Gilbert can get me to stay up an hour later after a long day, he is a miracle maker. After his cuddle, of course, then Java had to have a turn. I give a lot of credit to my husband for his participation in the lives of both parrots. He keeps offering his hand no matter how many rejections it takes. I loved that someone else got to see Gilbert in a vulnerable quiet moment instead of his usual guarded battle position.

I am also sorry for your loss. Our little companions deserve the best we have to give them. Isis will be dearly missed and remembered fondly once the grief has passed. It is heartwarming that you and your husband shared a love for this little gekko. I may not understand reptiles, but I understand caring and the investment of emotion that you have given her. Bless you and your husband in your time of loss.

You are so right about keeping the close moments to a minimum and leave it to Gilbert to come back to me asking for more as he can tolerate it. He is hypervigilant, always right on the edge, I have only seen a few moments of relaxing to let down his guard in our months together. The two nights we had were treasured indeed, it is a step in the right direction and I just wanted sleep sitting up on the sofa because I didn't want to break the magic spell he was under. I do know though, that it is best to stop at a positive moment and leave us both wanting more. My husband returned from a week away on business. Gilbert would have no part of coming out of his cage. It made me realize the progress we made in the last week was due to him having total predictability. Both daughters moved out in the past couple of months. They each had a cat and one had a dog as well. Even though the girls are quiet adults and seldom home with full time jobs and working on education at the same time, it was unpredictable to Gilbert who would be home when. Gilbert has gotten much more tolerant of David and allows him to scratch his head occasionally. But having any small change is rough for this little guy so my nights of enchantment will wait until a better time once more. We are going to travel over the holidays. Gilbert has been to NY and PA before and he did really well. I do expect it to set us back a little, but he may just surprise me. I have never had a playful healthy grey, only have seen photos and videos of them. You bet I will marvel over the day when Gilbert comes out of his cage, explores the house, plays on his orbit or just relaxes for more than a half minute, it will be the highlight of my life. When he comes to sit on a perch in the kitchen for ten minutes without trembling and asking plaintively "wanna go back", I feel like I have won the lottery. Slow steady steps, our dance is ancient and poignant yet lovely and encouraging.

Forgive me but when I read the previous post that was on top of my screen all I saw was "my parrots are windy when they fly". Perhaps it was from just reading the "news" article about Whoppi passing gas on national television but my immediate thought was "I didn't know parrots did that!" And man was that a big one if it blows a newspaper away. Your pictures are inspiring. We have orbits and boings and Gil is still too hypervigilant and tense to enjoy them. Louie looks like he is the band director up there on top shouting out his commands to his troop. Your house is a fun and happening place.

No wonder I like greys so much, as I read the list, I was thinking to myself, perfectly natural. Then I read Ray's comment and realized he sounds just like my husband. The audacity that he would think anything belongs to him. Well except for the lawn mower, he can have that and paint his name on it if he wants. LOL.

When you see a hollow shaft on a feather it generally means it was ready to fall out to be replaced. Our Gilbert has been a stress plucker. The day he was being moved from his previous home he plucked fifteen to twenty flight feathers and they had tissue in the end of the shaft. You are in the right time frame for a molt and that might also be a time for a little irritability or "off" behavior, so keep that in mind as well. The flight feathers may come out at times other than a molt. Our long term grey owners have pointed out that the flight feathers will usually come out symmetrically, one on each side, so a couple at the same time. I think this has something to do with balance in flight. Tilly is just growing up. We love pictures if you get the chance to introduce your little bundle of joy.

Congratulations on your new addition. It sounds like you are doing remarkably well with introductions. I love that Alexis has the unique coloring in one eye, soon Nikko will notice if you pick her up to check for that clue, I can imagine her learning to close her eye so you can't be sure. LOL. We have two parrots who have learned to tolerate one another and they talk to each other, but they don't want to be within arms length. I followed Talon's advice to always let my number one retain her status and it has helped to keep the peace for the most part. I really look forward to following your two, my memory is spotty, but I can't recall anyone else with two tags. I am sure they will have unique interactions and an interesting "course of study" for all of us to learn more.

Gilbert was in rare form this morning for photo opportunities. When I went back to the kitchen, he climbed down to follow me. As usual when he decides to have an adventure, no sooner than he gets down, he seeks out his favorite "roost". It is a portable folding tray table. Even though he is only two inches off the floor, that is where he will go and wait for me to notice the silence that indicates he has gotten the nerve to come down from his cage door to the floor. When I come back into the room to fetch him he quietly says "hey" very nonchalantly. It is endearing. If I am going to be more than a room away where I can't see him, I will close the cage door since he is becoming more adventurous. Every day I think it could be the day when he decides to take flight.

Gilbert offered a step up in the morning and I couldn't resist. He came to the kitchen and watched me prepare his warm breakfast, then he obliged to ride very slowly and carefully on my shoulder back to his cage. His balance is precarious but he is calm and willing. I love that he bowed for a scratch request in a different room, he usually is on edge away from his safety zone. The photos on my shoulder are in the bathroom, I was still in my pjs... glad I didn't get in the shot, I noticed afterward that my buttons were one off, LOL. Typical morning.

Your description of your accidental shot and your path to discovery with Louie brings tears to my eyes. That is pretty big for a crusty ole goat like me, LOL. I know I have the gene for Multiple Bird Syndrome, but I am currently enrolled in a self help program and Gilbert is the director and taskmaster. LOL. The Amazon room is my place to live vicariously through others. The photo of Louie may not have been staged, but it is a perfect example of being in the right place at the right time. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Gwen, this is a great idea to start a new room, or possibly redefine a couple we have already. You have something here. I would be willing to move Gilbert's thread in a heartbeat. You all have some great ideas to include any feathered species because many rehomed greys once were housed with other birds and picked up behaviors from them. I also feel Jay's presence and hear his words when I am dealing with a bird with "issues". Rehome, rehab, fresh starts, foster care, rescue, sanctuary, adoption. All of these things and more describe the journey of a lifetime in the grey world and the greater parrot experience. It would be tough to consider Gilbert a rescue because it wasn't like he was hanging onto a cliff by a thread, LOL. There are so many life changes that can't be avoided where the result is something like this gift I found in bringing home a little guy and starting a new chapter in our lives. I am reminded of a show called "Storage Wars" or something like that. Under all the baggage and abandonment, there is a story. There is also a diamond in the rough, a treasure and I see our role to make the match work, to give our little rag tag and sometimes tattered little friends a place to shine.

Big smiles to welcome you and your entire extended flock. You are very intuitive to bring all your critters into the act of welcoming Marco home. I have not had the grand pleasure of personal company of a Great Dane, but wiping moisture from the ceiling gets my attention, LOL. What a wonderful introduction for your monkey bird. I love how everyone is taking his presence in stride and how he is eager for new experiences. On the forum we seem to run the gamut of experiences with all creatures feathered and furry. You have a village all under one roof, can't wait to read more from you. Welcome home Marco.