katana600

The relationship you have with him is obviously close and built on trust and respect. I didn't know he was so comfortable with him touching you. That is so funny. He just needs to reach the point where he understands your touches and scratches are a good thing and there will be no holding him back then. I love that he is so gentle about telling you where he draws the line on touching. You are so tuned in to your flock and an inspiration to me as I learn the parrot boundaries with Gilbert.

Congratulations, you are off to a great start. I love the name you chose for your little one and it speaks so highly of you to get her to the vet right away and establish a good relationship with her health care provider. Your posts during this joyful time are so uplifting and positive. Way to go.

Oh my how things change in just a couple of hours. My husband is traveling and I have a lull in my schedule and just was watching quilt shows on my computer while lolling about on the sofa. What do you know, but Gilbert just came off the top of his cage to come join us on the sofa. He didn't quite make it across the room in flight, but managed a graceful descent across about fifteen feet and then came strolling over to have a lift topside. Both dogs were keeping warm under the cover and were not even curious enough to poke out a nose to investigate our little visitor. Gilbert perched on my hand while I stayed in a reclined position. He was intent on looking in my face and although his chest was quaking, he was quiet and calm, so I talked to him and sang him a song and he watched my face. He is still a little unpredictable and considering how testy he has been for a couple of days, I was a little more curious than wary so I let him lead the way. This is absolutely bizarre, but he came closer and closer with his beak to my face and I just talked to him quietly and gently. He got off my hand to stand directly on my chest and he wanted to look in my mouth! I let him see the wires on my teeth, he scared me just a little as he was sooooo close, but he just looked politely and then put his foot up again to step up and gladly went back to his cage when I offered. I am not going to push my luck with him, I think he was just exploring and wondering what is the business with the change in my speaking. After shunning my advances, he came to me on his own time and he looked in there and said "Whoo". Whoo indeed. Here I was wondering over and again what I could do to jolly him up and just by giving him the space to figure things out, he came to me. My heart is still pounding that he had his sharp beak so close to my mouth and he was soooo quiet that I couldn't read his mood, but I decided to trust him and he amazed me once again.

Uh oh, we are having a step back this week. Due to some jaw issues, I am getting braces. I was planning this to be the serious beginning of my second childhood. Well, one thing I hadn't counted on when they put on the wires Wednesday, then extracted two teeth Friday, I lost my whistle! It was quite a surprise when I tried to contact call back to Gilbert and I can almost get a whistle out, but nothing that he will accept. Gilbert has pulled back and I am giving him space and lots of treats but he has decided not to trust this voice change and whistle-less person. He is happy enough, he is beak grinding happily as he is settling in for his morning nap. Java has seemed not to even have a blip on her radar at the changes. I know our greys are more sensitive and he will take an almond from me and is fine when I change his food and water but he has been steadfastly avoiding any contact. I know he will come back around once he realizes it is all okay so I am not pushing him. Of course he is getting a lot more offers to have a spoonful of oatmeal, sweet potatoes and other tasty treats and he is just fine with taking them, just keeping a wary distance. I knew the dance of acceptance with a rehomed fellow would have these steps back and am not taking it personally, I just love this little guy and will figure out a way to understand what to do to ease his discomforts.

Oh, I can only dream of such willing cooperation! He is just as sweet and precious as anything I have ever seen. He may not be "hands on" with you but you certainly have touched him in all the ways that count. He is wonderful. I think the day will come when he just sidles up to you and bows his head for a scratch and it will surprise you both and be the addition of a charming interaction to his obvious closeness and love for you. That video just made my day. Thanks.

So glad to see you joining us while you are in the decision making process. We have a rehomed Timneh and there isn't a day that passes that he doesn't make me laugh and count my blessings for having him in my life. There are definitely two sides as there are to everything in life. It is definitely not something to enter into lightly. I am so sorry you lost Jasper, but also glad you are thinking of getting back into the parrot world and considering a grey. There is so much to read in this forum, I have learned everything I know about greys from the good people here who have encouraged and shared my journey for the past two years. Welcome and chime right in, everyone here is very helpful to newcomers and it is a good place to learn.

Welcome to you, Rico and the rest of your family. Glad you could join us. It is always nice to hear what kind of impact others have had with their greys. Rico sounds like a jokester. We are going to love hearing about him in your life. The little Skypemeister. Ha ha. A friend just asked me today why I keep muting my computer and missing instant messages and it is because if I mute, I can finish what I am doing in the kitchen because I know it is the bird and not my husband getting in touch while he travels. LOL. My favorite ruse though is the smoke detector. Just once, five years ago our first parrot heard it. Now every time I bake, as the oven warms up, both parrots give me the smoke detector in stereo. LOL. I love it.

In post #2, look at how far her neck will stretch, she has a little "Go-Go-Gadget" thing going on there. She is just the cutest little thing. You are in for the journey of a lifetime with your new baby. Congratulations.

Some breeders recommend feeding your new young bird soft warm mushy food from a spoon. It seems to be comforting to them and even though they are weaned it makes them feel close to you. Gilbert is somewhere around ten, but he loves having a spoonful of warm oatmeal, mashed potatoes and things like that. There is something about sending them to bed with a warm snack that just seems right. Jayd made a mash from sweet potato, peanut butter and banana that his birds loved.

Precious video. I do have to keep my friends away from it though. They always say if there is justice in the world, they will be reincarnated as a little grey dog to come live at our house. Now, wouldn't everybody just want to be a little grey bird at your house? What a loving home you have for Isaac and I just can't tell which of you is more blessed. LOL. You both are. Thanks for sharing your joy with all of us.

I am so sorry to hear you have had such a shock and have to make such dramatic changes in your life. Best of luck to you while you are sorting things out. I hope you find a loving home for Roy as well as stablizing your own home for you and your son.

I tried a search to see if someone else already posted this link, so I am hoping I am not being redundant. Love to see our feathered friends getting along with other creatures, so when I saw this post about the greyhound taking in a baby owl, it was very sweet. http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/dogs-best-friend

We experienced the earthquake centered in Virginia from as far away as western NY and our grey reacted much the same way. He hung upside down for a couple of hours after the original tremor and it took several days for him to relax again. He also gets very quiet and agitated during thunderstorms so we leave a light on for him on stormy nights and usually I will sleep where he can see me if we have severe storms. He is somewhere near ten years old and I think it is natures way. One thing I noticed when we were in Tornado Alley, or when we lived in Houston and a hurricane was approaching, the eeriest thing was to have all the wild birds silent as a storm approached. They have very sensitive survival instincts. As Dan suggests, talk calmly to her and reassure her that everything is okay now. She will be back to her sweet little outgoing self in a day or so. I also agree that they can sense the tremors before and after the original quake much more acutely than we can.

You have come to the right place for support and understanding from other people who care for our greys as you do for Oliver. That has to be either the most adorable shower photo I have ever seen, or a photoshop. I wouldn't believe it without seeing it, LOL. Just kidding, I am sure it is real and is a testament to how much Oliver loves and trusts you. Very few greys will take such a calm attitude about the shower. Well done. I believe you are a loving and caring companion for Oliver and he has had a wonderful life with you, my prayers are for him to come back to you. Bless you and your family in this horrific time in your life.

Congratulations on your DNA confirmation. You have a fine group of boys there, and Peanut to keep you from totally living in boy's town.

I agree that any sunshine at all is better than being inside all the time. We do have a screen porch, it is just on the shaded side of our house, but I think in the forests, they would be getting indirect sunshine through the shade too. I have read that their eyesight is in the UV range so they probably do have a wider spectrum of visibility even in the shade. I will make a point of taking him out on a regular schedule and give him this view of his enchanted kingdom. I so enjoy the forum with many suggestions to enrich the lives of the companions who give us the grace of their attention to the details in our lives that we might otherwise not have perceived.

I enjoyed the video of Marcus just entertaining himself and sounding happy. Gilbert had mixed reactions. He flung some food and rattled his dish and made some of his "ZZ Tops" impressions. He climbed to his cage top and hung by one leg and swung around. I am not sure if he was reacting to the sounds of Marcus or rather at me for laughing at Marcus and giving the computer my full attention. I will play it again later when he can sit with me and watch along at the same time. I just loved watching and listening to your happy little guy and the flock in the background too.

Oscar certainly is making great strides in your home. You are doing a wonderful job with him and he is showing that with his acceptance. There is nothing quite as wonderful as a result after much patience and understanding of his feelings in this transition time. Good for all of you!

Your birds are beautiful. Thanks for coming in to get to know us. I think we will learn a few things from you too. My first thought when I saw these photos was to wonder if there is one person with a bird on each shoulder, but the hair wisp in Tia's photo is a give away. LOL. I am just not that brave to have my two that close together with my face in between. How do yours get along with each other?

You are well on the way to bringing home a delightful companion. You and Gracie will be a great team. Of course when you are new and getting your first grey there are times when you will wonder if you are doing the right things. That doubt and willingness to come to a forum, ask questions, get to know others with experience is what I believe is the mark of a conscientious caretaker. You are doing your homework, you are making great strides and learning so much from your breeder and from Gracie. When a stranger has to be discouraging, it is all about her, and not about you or Gracie. I would however ask the breeder to watch carefully and not permit this person to have further contact with her. It won't be long now and Gracie will be home with you and your journey will continue. Glad you are part of our forum.

This is such good news, thanks for sharing with us. I think it is fabulous progress with a rehomed bird for such a short time in your home that he is accepting your closeness and scratches. These moments are worth waiting and continue to get better and better. Congratulations to you on being accepted into his flock. Awesome progress.

Mike, I am so sorry for what you are going through right now. Don't let the scary stuff out there dash your hopes, keep going back over and over again to the last spot where you saw him. Put his cage outside where he can see it. Keep going back over and over again through your neighborhood and calling for him early in the mornings and just before dark. It is an overwhelming time for you. Courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the face of fears. Also, take heart in the many caring and encouraging people in our forum. Search high and low and keep going back over and over again while we pray for your miracle.

This has been a great thread to see how so many of us came to be so lucky as to have an African Grey in our lives.

Thanks for joining us Jillann, you have a great intro and make a powerful statement about the accumulation of life experience Molly has had and where she is today. Our Gilbert came to us from a less horrific but similar background of abandonment, neglect, a steady foster home then to our home. You are doing all the right things. For Molly to take things from your hand is a big step in her acceptance of you in her life. Every small step she takes toward you is cause for celebration. There will be times of progress, times of wary plateaus and some times of regression. You are already very observant and naturally suited to being slow and patient. I am so glad you joined us. Every situation is unique and individual so the experience you share will be as beneficial to the rest of us as we all work to understand the wonder that is an African Grey companion.

I agree Eshana, I get so much from Java that talking is the least of my concerns. She is so loving and cuddly and has many expressions. I have noticed too that she doesn't seem to have a specific chirp or vocalization pattern. We fostered a cockatiel for a few months and five years later, she still imitates him. One of my favorite things she does is to whistle. That seems to be her contact call to me when I am out of the room. It is such a fun game. She will whistle a note. If I don't repeat it back to her, she makes the sound of a buzzer. If I do repeat it, she does the same note again but adds another one. That goes on and on until I can't keep up with her pattern, then she buzzes me and laughs. She is quite the comedian that she makes me laugh a lot, then she mocks me with her version of my laugh. Jon is a great little friend and he does look so totally relaxed with you.