katana600

Great photos of a lovely day with your grey. My favorite is seven from the top, or one up from the bottom. His tail is so bright red! When I stopped to take a second look at all of the, the way he is on the cage upside down, it looks like you have him chained by both legs. LOL. I know better, but I love to give Dayo new ideas and reasons to pinch your neck.

If you had asked a thousand questions about Louie, there is no telling if you would have gotten answers with insight. You may have been told anything just to keep you from asking more questions or potentially walking away. Louie is beautiful and he does want to be with you. Wouldn't it be great if you could have a Hindu speaker on hand to let Louie tell you all his stories? He will eventually tell you in his own way. Have you ever tried to put him on the floor to see if he would step up from there?

Thanks for that link where I could see all your pets, they are all beautiful. If Phenix is acclimated to this cage and he seems to be comfortable, I think it is plenty big for him, especially since he climbs around on the outside as well. The cage size comparison to Kura's is hard to visualize, but in Phenix's case, bigger may not be better in his view. If it is a matter of being easier for you to clean or a better fit for your room etc., you could give it a try to see if he would accept it. Is it an option to put them side-by-side and connect them with a ladder and move some of his toys gradually over to the new cage just to see if he would get on it on his own? I love that you wonder how to make his life better all the time. You know him best. Maybe he has gotten to have enough security and trust that an attempt to move him to a new cage may not be met with as much trepidation and anxiety as the other times. He is just as cute as can be.

Thanks for looking around to learn all you can before bringing home your precious little companion. We are always learning from each other and love to share our lives with other people with an interest in their parrots. It is an amazing journey. Hopefully your breeder will also be involved with the transition of your baby to your home. Welcome to the forum. Do you have a name picked out for your little one?

I've had six months with my rag-tag little TAG Gilbert. He has his issues and baggage, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. There is just nothing like a hard earned snuggle or the show of trust from a wary little character with a very sharp beak and quick reaction time. I don't know if he was wishing from me to come into his life, but I know I needed him in mine.

We had another wild week of travel. When we went back to NY for the memorial service, my brother-in-law was life flighted to Rochester NY for complications with his cancer and mother-in-law moved into assisted living so we will have to go back again soon. We left our daughter to care for the pets this time. It is so stressful for Gilbert to travel in the car, he just holds on for dear life, so we decided for a short turn around trip, it was best for him to be in his own big cage. He was GREAT! I came in the door last night, went right in to greet him and he wanted his head scratched. He was luring me in for a bite, but he also let me scratch his head right away after his initial grumpiness. He has been jumping off the door of his cage and following me out of the room while I was trying to get unpacked. He has been talking and putting together new words. He must have been practicing while I was gone. "Come on Mick, wanna go outside?" Actually he has quite a southern drawl and it sounds like "Ka mown" He is so darn cute. He has a new silly way of saying "Hell---ooooooooH" and he calls the dogs with whistles and then asks if they want a treat. Today to my delight I heard him doing his little piggy's "wee wee wee" allll the way home. I really wanted to be solid and steady for his first year in our home to get him to a place of trust, but he just seems to be rolling with the changes and is the love of my life.

This is a favorite for our parrots. I make a half bag at a time. It does have to soak overnight, then I rinse it, simmer for a few hours, drain and rinse it again and put it back in the pan. While it is still warm I stir in a tablespoon or so of the red palm oil. I use the snack size zip lock bags to separate it into about a third cup each for our daily use. I put a week's worth in a zip lock freezer bag and freeze it all. Every day I have one in the refrigerator to microwave for about 15 seconds to warm it and feed my two in the evening so they go to bed warmed and full. At the same time, I take another pouch out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator to thaw for the next night. I love the happy gulping sounds that Gilbert makes when he gobbles his warm beans.

It has been five years since I tried clipping nails after one slip and push of a foot that caused bleeding. It is the scariest thing. It must have been really bad for you and Timmy and I am so grateful your scare had a positive outcome and you are right about the vet being a huge blessing.

Wouldn't you know it, just after telling tales of our unpredictable little sir chomps a lot, I had him on my hand and was going to spread a fleece blanket on my bed to give him time to stroll about while I was reading and just to have some close time. My husband was in the bathroom off our master bedroom sorting some laundry or something, so I took Gilbert in there first to show him where David was so as not to startle him and give me a bite when he came through the bedroom. Well, Gilbert jumped right off my hand and glided to the floor. We are getting closer and closer to flight becoming a reality, I think! David got really brave and leaned in to Gilbert on the floor and offered him a step up. Gilbert stepped right up for him and allowed him to stand holding him and talking. I stayed very still and quiet and it only took a minute for Gilbert to be be looking over his shoulder to find me, but it was a magical moment for us. Then today he gave me quite a laugh. He has been doing what I can only believe is the pterodactyl scream I have read about on the forum. Today, I sneezed and he did the scream and it was only then I realized he was mocking my sneeze! Hahahaha. I hate to think my sneeze sounds like a prehistoric scream, but apparently the consensus with Gilbert, my husband and daugthers is that is the case. Hmmmph.

That is so interesting, we had a bird fair in Atlanta last weekend too. They come about four times a year. I missed a couple in a row so this time I got new bulbs for my Avian Sun lamp, some more red palm oil and my favorite dried bean mix. We still have so many toys in the closet that Gilbert hasn't touched, that we can supply him at this rate for at least five years. I do have to admit I looked at the baby Blue and Gold Macaws, a green wing, and some other baby parrots. There were some miniature schnauzer puppies that made me want to have puppy fever and parrot fever all at the same time. I took a deep breath and remembered how much time and energy Gilbert will always need and decided he is enough for me, but I can still look at all the babies. They do have fair prices (haha, no pun intended) and a great selection so it makes for a fun morning to look at all the "stuff".

We just don't know where our rehomed guys have been before. I have a feeling Gilbert was so well loved in a couple of his homes because he says very sweet things. ("Good morning sweet bird" and "night night, sweet dreams") He also will bite me if my husband speaks to us from another room while I am holding him. He postures and "stalks" my husband, but I never saw anything like the way he disliked my friend from New York. She came to visit us and it was the first time Gilbert bit me with malice, several times like cobra strikes. Then, I took him to New York state with me and he would take snacks from anyone but her and he would bite the wires of his cage and attempt to unlock his cage with a vengeance if she was in the same room with him. He snatched out several feathers when she had been at the apartment for a couple of hours. There is just no way of knowing the workings of their mind when they choose an adversary. I am so happy that Roscoe has relaxed to allow scritches and that he is responding to your consistency with the beginnings of trust for you. There is just no more wonder and awe in the world than when you see a scared and suspicious parrot start to drop a little baggage and relax with you. Gilbert and I are retired too, I think that is what he and Roscoe need is to have someone to count on and show them our home is a safe and lovely place.

She still has that lovely dark-eyed baby look about her. She does look like she is smiling for her photos. This is the first time I noticed her little dark patch that looks like she is wearing and ear muff. She is a charming little girl.

While I was enjoying all of Dorian's sound effects, Gilbert was intently watching me watching the video. I love the non stop chatter and antics. Dorian is such a lovely companion.

I think your decision to whistle or not to whistle should depend on whether you find joy in hearing the whistle returned. I have a bird that whistles and talks. I can't speak for all parrots, I have heard that theme of not whistling so they will speak but it has not been the case with three greys I have had in my home. However I just particularly like to hear whistling or any other form of communication, so I wouldn't care so much. There are people who just hate to hear whistling, but they wouldn't be likely to teach it anyway. I'm not sure how a whistle is different than a microwave beep or other sound effects. It would be interesting to hear from others on this topic based on experience with their own greys. Great thread, thanks.

I can't get enough of these new baby pictures. Even Elegua's sweet pictures help soften my heart when my older rehome is being a teenager. Gilbert sends his appreciation as well.

I am kind of excited to see what you do next with Elegua. Congrats on her accepting your toys and on your preparation for loving your little grey bundle of joy.

It seems Roscoe and Gilbert have been planning strategies. I am so happy for you having the courage to continue to approach him even with all the lures and bites. We have had Gilbert just over six months. I can't say he bites me less often, but sometimes I think his bites are less painful so we are always pleased with whatever progress he allows. Once the trust begins to blossom, I do believe we get more opportunities and each seems to last a little longer than previously. I think my favorite is when Gilbert has not only permitted the scratch but he started to lean as you described and then he tucked his legs behind him and relaxed to lay flat out with his neck stretched trying to get closer to the finger scratching his warm little head. I don't believe this is a one time opportunity, I think you have become a trusted scratcher!

Somewhere on the forum I have seen Isaac's video of spinning and gyrating like Gilbert has started doing. It just seems to be an expression of joy. I do so love the little birdie games too. Every change he makes toward being more relaxed and joyful, I can see his free spirited grey little self emerging. I just adore this little guy.

When I was small, I had lots of dreams of flying. Now, I have dreams that Gilbert is flying. LOL. I am giving him scritches and will mention Aristotle. Maybe that will give me luck. I put a fleece blanket on my bed and Gilbert curled up next to me and let me scratch his head for an hour and a half. It was awesome. I could smell that fresh linen scent and could feel his breath against me. It seems like time stands still when he has that surrender and trust. And then.... he nails me! LOL There is never a dull moment. He is such a Jeckyll/Hyde little character! Always. I am almost never without a fresh wound. He will be all sweet and you can see that he is wanting closeness, but he is always on edge and a the slightest noise in the house, a shadow or an unexpected (from his point of view) person walks in the front door, two rooms away and he strikes the nearest object and woe be if that is me. LOL. I seem not to have a good memory, because I go back ten minutes later and reach for him as if nothing has happened and there is my sweet boy all over again. I imagine if he does fly, I will forget to dodge or weave and I may even get the neck pinch that Dayo perfected.

With a rehomed parrot, some of the things he says are combinations of what her heard before coming her and some parts of putting new things with old. My favorite has to do with him understanding just what he wanted but didn't seem to have the words. That was the morning he was trying to get me out of bed a couple of hours early. After a couple of questions "Night night?" and a couple of answers, no it isn't time for night night from me trying to sleep just to a decent hour. To him not being able to stand it any more and demanding for me to "Quit night night".

That is a nice cage and it is similar to the two we have in our living room for our birds. I don't cover our big cages because their corner is dark on its own when I turn the lamps off on that side of the room and both birds are relaxed about sleeping when we are in the room. With that said, it is just my husband and myself in the house and we are quiet and don't stay up much past ten. When we travel, I do cover the bird's travel cages with fleece blankets. I also went to the fabric store and bought several colors of fleece and cut them into squares to use as lap blankets because they are great to let the birds climb on it withoug catching toenails and it catches messes so my clothes and furniture stay clean. When Elegua comes home you will see if she settles in at night on her own or if she needs the comfort and security of a cage cover. Then, a fleece blanket would be quick and easy and you could create a custom magnetic cover later and line it with the fleece if you decide she needs it. I have read that females need a different approach and our vet even recommends twelve hours of darkness a night with the general idea being they don't think it is spring time and start laying eggs. We have a five year old female parrot and she hasn't laid any eggs, but since Elegua is coming in as a baby, conditioning her to a cover now could be something you discuss with her breeder and your vet.

I did happen in on a strange looking skillet at a discount store and it said it was ceramic but it felt really light and I wondered how it would hold the heat. I will have to be giving this a try real soon. Thanks again for the suggestions. I will definitely go to Kroger before I go out for any other shopping and will let you know how it turns out. I also am starting two kids out on their own right about now and if I get them the ceramic pots and pans for housewarming and wedding presents, my birds and I can visit without any cooking worries. They all think they dislike my stainless steel, but I would guess what they really dislike is that they are hanging out on pot racks so I am fussy about shining them and making sure when they clean them, they do a good job. LOL. Again, this ceramic thing might just be the thing to make everyone happy. Do they need special utensils or do they chip?

I have had both CAGs and my rehomed TAG. I believe there are individuals in each subspecies that are unique and really can't categorize one being better than the other. If you have a preference in the looks of one over the other, that is one thing, but I can't say either is better. My first love was a CAG and it was the baby I waited for, researched and I lost him to illness after a short time. I thought I would be partial to the CAG forever, loved the bright red tail and all. Then I got my ragtag little rehomed plucker of a TAG, Gilbert. I love him completely and am devoted to him and the distinction between TAG and CAG was gone for me. I am just so happy to have Gilbert in my life even with all the obstacles we have yet to overcome that my advice to you is to go see the breeders and choose your bird based on the start it gets in life and the preparation the breeder is willing to give you.

Gilbert continues to be brave and assertive. He climbed down the bars of his cage and jumped into the box of toys I was getting put away. He seemed so happy down there in the box that I just let him play in there for about an hour. He has been more animated, hanging from the top bars of the "ceiling" of his cage and doing some wild gyrations with his head. Then, today he got his whole body involved and was hanging by one toenail while he thrashed and flapped his wings. He seems reallly happy and full of himself. He and Java have seemed to declare a mutual period of acceptance from a distance. When he goes into his cage, she does get him worked into a lather by landing on the playtop. Even though there is a metal "drawer" where he can not see her up there, he puts all the alarms on and scrambles out. I have been daydreaming about the day when he might be able to fly and then I am guessing he will get even with her.

I applaud your effort to keep trying. Have you considered or tried to move his cage away from the window? He may have too much stimulation there and is conditioned to consider you a threat. Two months is not long in the process of taking in an older parrot. Also, I am a bit new to my rehomed parrot. I have had him for six months and there are times he does not want me near him either, so don't be too hard on yourself. You are right in realizing you went too quickly for him. Talk gently, spend time far across the room at first and move a tiny bit closer each time as you talk to him and maybe offer him food tidbits you drop in his dish and give him time to associate you with good things. What kind of food do you feed him? We lived in Dubai for a time and there were no pet shops and such but I have heard there is an avian vet there or nearby now. Maybe there you could find an ally to help you get back into a patient time of getting acquainted with Pzero. Being that he did come around and start exploring a bit, he may have gotten scared and stressed and now you could use a helping hand from someone new to come in and help you find toys that he will accept to help keep his mind busy and to entertain him. Read up in the forum about the body language of greys so you can tell if your approach to him is too much and just try to help him to understand you have learned not to invade his space too much until he is ready for you. I understand how hard it is to hold back when you are excited to have him in your life and for him to see that you want to be his friend. It will come very slowly and you may have set yourself back a little bit, but I do have hope for you because you are determined and you do have his best interests in your heart.