katana600

Today when my dogs were barking and I was on the phone, I was thinking of you. I would love to buy an old fashioned phone booth, sound proofed, so I could step inside and hear myself think. Well, then again, maybe not hear THAT, LOL, but at least not hear the echo of the barking in my own ear. I was thinking of a little "time out" booth, soundproofed in a closet in his office for those necessary moments when he has to think and hear his own thoughts to conduct portions of his business. In all seriousness, you sound like you are getting great ideas on your own to sort this out in a workable solution for everyone in your lovely family.

I really am the lucky one here. I had a two lifetimes of love from my little boys and now another one with the friends I made on this forum. It takes someone very special to raise up a bird in the midst of familiy, other pets, jobs and life in general. You are all just the best and I go to sleep with you on my mind and I wake up in the morning feeling blessed.

What pure beauty you have in Cody. The last photo looks like he is blushing. That is just so sweet.

If you think it is funny how Yoshi entertains herself running back and forth on a rail, I wish you could see how much she entertained me as well. First I was smiling, then I was grinning and then I was laughing right out loud. You have such a bond and connection and she is so vibrant and silly and adorable. Thanks for catching this on video, it was just what I needed today.

You already have such a great start on resolving this issue. Communication, negotiation and compassion will bring you what everybody wants. I love the idea of a door, and even making sure it is a fortified door with some soundproofing. We have a smaller parrot on the main floor and even with my daughter's door closed upstairs, she will still get distressed at certain times when she can't block out the noise. I wonder if your husband could also install a small light, kind of like the "on air" that a radio station uses. The more things you can do to give your husband the impression you love your bird, yet you consider his needs, it will help him find a way in his heart to work with you to find a workable solution where everyone wins. There will be times when he is working on something more critical where you could agree that if the light is on, someone moves the bird and "studies" or reads in an upstairs bedroom with him on a perch, or gives him a favorite toy that might keep his attention for a time. The headphones would be a great gift to dad from your little feathered friend. You will go through a lot of changes in your family and work situation and you sound like you are already on the right track to rolling with those changes. My husband was not a big animal lover, but the transformation after thirty years together has been miraculous and he has gotten to be almost as attached and interactive with our pets as I have.

Today is a good day. I look forward to reading about the antics of Harvey. He has a special place in my heart. It is so good to see your post.

If love could conquer all, your blessings have lifted me to where I needed to be when I needed to be there. I read and rejoice with every happy story and song here on the forum and I have made friends across the world. I will figure out where I fit in to the mystery of this illness and find a way to make a difference. If I can not care for a bird in my home today, I will care for the birds in all of your homes. If I can not do the research myself, I will encourage and lift up the researchers and show them the human face that puts hope in them for developing a vaccine. Last night Java was making the sounds of a grey. She was really out of sorts with me and promises to keep me busy while this is processed. The sadness will fade and the rewards will always warm my heart. You are all part of my rewards and I will stay with the forum. We just never know what tomorrow brings, I will keep an open mind and the door doesn't close, it just gives us incentive to find a different path. My path is not troubled, I just need to look around from the mountain top and blaze a new trail for whatever is in our future. I hear Marguerite singing "just breathe" and that is all I need to do for a short time and everything is going to be better than okay.

Our good news has been short lived. Kopi was dealing with a secondary infection and we were treating that and it looked like he was making progress. I can't talk about details right now, but Kopi is at peace and is with his brother Juno and my house is bereft. He also had PDD after all and he just managed to fight it off longer than his brother. They are flying free together now and will keep each other company and they will always grace my heart with their love and spirit. I know you are all going to be feeling the shock that our family is feeling right now. Just know, I have no regrets. If I had foresight I would have still chosen to bring both these little boys home and give them the love they deserved. It is really hard right now, but the joys of meeting all of you and getting to have friends in the forum has been a blessing in my life. We may not know the reasons but this is where we are meant to be right now. I will need a few days to accept the reality and final grey days in my house. This journey has been going on for me for almost a year and a half. He gave me his kisses and he stepped up sweetly to the vets and techs even when he was feeling his worst. Kopi and Juno were my very own brush with real angels. Thank you for sharing our journey and being my friend. I will be back soon.

I just can't stop myself. After reading this and thinking about it for a minute, I have friends who think I am too involved with my birds and since they have been sick, it could be communicable to humans etc. If one was so concerned about whether bird poop was dangerous, I might also ask them to help me research it. If, on the other hand, I thought it was a comment meant to shock me or a commentary on how I should better spend my time, I might say, "Hmm, you may have a point there, I will look into that. One thing I know for sure though is that humans have dangerous bacteria in their mouth, would you mind to bring your own mug for coffee? I wouldn't want my bird to catch anything from you." LOL. Then again, maybe I have a hair trigger after thirty year of a critical MIL. When she mentioned that my getting a bird meant she was never coming to visit again because she hates birds... I got a second one just for the extra protection. LOL

Jess, I really do feel for Mike. He had a similar relationship to Yoshi in the beginning and now she is treating him worse than an unwanted stepchild. Did some of this start as Yoshi got her flight ability, it seems close to that. She is feeling her freedom and making choices and not as easily contained. We have gone through some trials with our little bird Java. She had my daughter so unhappy she didn't want to come home from college. She was actively attacking her and pulling her hair and doing really mean things. Kelsey never had the opportunity to bond and snuggle with Java so it was a painful time with none of the happy memories to bank on to say, it is going to be okay. Java was determined to drive out this intruder from a flock she thought was just right.... before the semester breaks. We had a small compromise by having our vet dremel just a little of the sharpness off Java's beak because Kelsey was legitimately afraid. For a short break, Java could be cagebound, and for a long break we worked gradually to never accept an outright attack, I would go get her and put her in time out. It is totally different with you and Mike though. He had the love and now he is getting the brush off in a big way. The happy news here is that we compromised on some things and little by little it got better and any one of us can take care of Java and reach in her cage, but she really can't be counted on for closeness to anyone else unless it is her idea. Also, Kopi still will not accept my husband David. He acted somewhat fearful and withdrawn at first, then went to full fledged growling, then to disdain and scorn and just two weeks ago for the first time, he didn't fling David's nightly almond offering to the dogs with contempt. That is after eight months of patience and kindness on David's part. Sometimes it is helpful to plan an exit strategy, and I don't mean to rehome Yoshi, that should be a drop dead deal breaker after all else fails. It could start by saying... if Mike ignores Yoshi totally for two months and things still have not become better, re-evaluate at that time and maybe give Mike a certain time period daily, a couple of hours before bed time etc. that Yoshi has cage time while you and Mike have time together. I like the idea of making progressive concessions in each direction until it brings the two feuding sides closer together. After a couple of months of ignoring Yoshi, she might come to him on her own, or he might tune her out and not be as sensitive to her rejection and the two may naturally come to a new understanding even better than before. We have been able to keep a sense of humor about it, but we have thirty years of marriage behind us. I know it still hurts a little for David to be so willing to be Kopi's friend, to be paying really high vet bills and really caring about his health and safety. I tell David he travels so much Kopi thinks he is a gigolo who comes in on the weekends, and he considers that an unacceptable impropriety. LOL. I am going to teach him to say "What now gigolo?" LOL. In all seriousness, it doesn't have to be all or nothing with Mike and Yoshi. You could consider a plan you can both live with, set a time table for a year out before you make any drastic decisions and have smaller steps in between. On one of the steps about six months out, you might consider boarding Yoshi for a set period of time so you both can feel the void that will be in your home without her. Your sadness and loss may bring out Mike's protection of you when he realizes that you would give up someone you love so thoroughly but it is going to come at a high cost to your relationship with him if he forces it. It is all going to be okay Jess. Don't make any sudden decisions you will both regret. For now, just breathe. Then, think of a plan and talk it through and make an agreement with Mike to try. It is really hard for me to think about Yoshi not being with Jess. I wanted to jump in and take care of her when you were called to service, but our home has been touched with a deadly illness and we are still trying to quarantine and not lose any other birds from it. I think you made a really good point when you said "I think he feels he as already tried everything." For a time, it might be easier for him to agree to do nothing.

My best luck at getting my little wildcat into her cage early on was only to let her out after dark so I could turn the lights off in all the rooms except the one we were in. Then, every night at the same time we let her out and got into a routine of putting her back in the same predictable time period, with an almond for her night time snack. Soon, if we just asked if she wanted an almond, she would go get right into her cage. It is a predictable routine and for her to know what to expect that I think helped us the most.

If only we could fit our greys with a "cat bell" so they couldn't pull a Houdini on us. It must have been such a relief to find her.

Our cage came with a playtop with the stainless steel cups in rings as well as inside, but we could choose not to use them. Dave007 had an ingenious help for discouraging them to pull the cup out and toss it. I read it a while back, couldn't find it on the search, but it involved bending the stainless cup. Our new cups came with a bump on it that makes it less likely to be pulled out and dumped. I think I used a nail set to do the little dent that Dave suggested. Once I made it harder to get out for the bird, I could still get it out and within a short time, Java stopped trying to pull the cup out.

You will never bore us with the love you have for your birds. This is the best place in the world to share your love of all things grey, and your other feathered friends too. I love Neo's setup. His swing is terrific and he looks so adventurous hanging down from it. The last picture with him sitting on the cup of his portable stand is just adorable. You are off to such a great start. Before I brought home a grey, I read what kind of bird my red bellied parrot (poicephalus) would most likely adapt to, and it was suggested that birds from the same continent will have the best chance of living together. There are so many variables though. With a lot of time and care, and an ever watchful eye, I think it depends on the personalities of each individual bird and family. We have a peaceful coexistence going on here with each of them staying out of the others' space and each have separate time to interact with the family out of the cage, and cage time when the other is out. No matter how many pictures I see of greys they all seem new and special. Each one has a sparkle that makes them unique and beautiful.

Pah, that is what I call patina, it is what lets objects tell their story. I think that rooster did it, not sweet Babalu. I am glad that your husband wasn't mad.

To know kindness, hear a soft voice, gentle touch and have a soft place to land, this little Angel was in the best possible care while he let go and went to peace. My heart is with you, Angel's love and presence leaves a void in your life. As a little time passes and your raw grief is able to settle you will find a meaningful way to remember and pay tribute to your special little friend.

Tonight when I was getting his evening routine prepared, I heard a couple of whistles and couldn't tell for sure which bird was doing it, then I heard a real grey whoop and all doubt was removed. Kopi was calling out to me and it was such a joy. He is playing with toys, climbing and hanging upside down and generally just acting like he feels better. We still have a long way to go, more tests coming up on Wednesday. I can't rely on my memory, so I am writing everything down and will take a print out of his chart. He really has been sweet to take his meds. I can't blame his protests, but when it comes right down to it he does make it easy for me. Thanks for all of your kind words. This is our village that it takes to raise up a baby grey, and the grown up ones too. Without all of you sharing your experiences, your love of your birds, where you have gone and what you have done gives me strength, courage and hope. I really could not have dealt with all this calmly without all of your care and support.

We are doing the Kopidee two step at our house. He makes a move, I follow but like a treacherous cunning woman, I plot and plan so he makes his next step where I want it to be. LOL. He strongly discourages the antibiotic. Thankfully it is only once a day. I changed from putting it on a paper towel while I get him into position, to putting it on a paper plate, to hiding it under his fleece, to putting something he wants between me and his escape hatch so he must cross my path to give me the opportunity to quick like a bunny pounce, squirt and sigh. So far we haven't missed any dose, or spilled any or spit it out. For all the new people out there, please don't worry about your babies. We knew coming into this Kopi had surgeries and other indications that he is kind of a special needs case. Our encouraging signs are his feather condition is good again, his eyes are bright, he is climbing and hanging upside down again, this morning I heard a whoop when I was making his breakfast. He does have a subltle downward trend on his weight, but it could be a side effect of his meds. He is eating everything again and we are happy one day at a time.

Congratulations on your baby news and for reading and doing your prep work. You are in for the time of your life sharing your days with such a delightful, magical soul.

Steven, You and Isaac always make me laugh. You say "what's up with that" and Isaac says "why make a mess in my house when he is so willing to clean up behind me in his house". LOL. I have seen pictures of a tiny just-hatched naked hummingbird propelling itself with its beak to poop outside the nest. It might have something to do with predators and not drawing them in to the safe haven. Or... maybe Isaac so enjoys seeing you with your paper towels running around cleaning up after him. In all seriousness, some people make "poop stations" with a heavy lined basket where the bird can fly, hold the handle and be trained to poop in one spot outside the cage. I planned ahead, got a crock that is made for kitchen utensils, have one on every floor of the house and one to put in the cage once Kopi learned to "hit the spot". For my dogs, I hung a cow bell on the door handle and rang the bell every time we went outside. From there, if we travel, no matter where we go, they will find the bell and let me know they want out.

His weight is holding steady, he is eating on his own, and this morning he is into his bucket of toys and playing. When I wake up to this, it is going to be a good day. He is much more active today, just moving back and forth across his rope perch in the convalescent cage, not doing backflips or Cirque de Soleil moves just yet, but he promised to make it up to me when he is feeling better. I may try to move him back to a bigger cage today and see how he does with that. His favorite place is on the cage top and it might make him feel more like "home".

One other thing, his grip is getting much stronger. When the vet took him gently in a towel to give him his shots, Dr. said "I have him, you can let go now" and he started to walk away. He was on one side of the table and I was across. Before I could say anything he started walking away and felt the resistance, assumed I was reluctant to let go and said again. "Let go, I've got him" I said, no, he's got me. Kopi had a death grip on my hand and he had to be pried off. My first thought was happiness that he had such a fierce grip. I did get a call that his white blood count is not where they would expect it to be, so we are keeping him on the antibiotic and returning to the vet again Wednesday. He is having a consult with the other "retired" avian certified vet in the practice. I couldn't ask for anything more from this vet practice, they have a lot of years of experience between them and work well together. Kopi is continuing to eat well and his weight is holding steady. Last night he didn't settle down when I covered his cage at bedtime. He came back out and had a long cuddle under a blanket and that is another magical moment for us. Thanks so much to all of you for keeping us in your heart.

Little things like a stronger grip, better balance, a better appetite and playfulness are really happy indicators at my house. Thank you all for caring.

We had a good visit at the vet. Kopi is holding his weight, his red blood count is into the normal range, not quite as high as we would like but showing improvement. He had another iron injection, another vitamin injection and we will wait for the white blood count to decide how much longer to keep him on the antibiotic. His doctor is all smiles and says to keep doing everything exactly the way we have been. It is too soon to check his liver, but he said his poops look really good, well formed and we are heading in a positive trend. Kopi was so cooperative and sweet, but has a little more energy. As the tech put him back on the exam table after taking blood, he started to make a run toward me, then turned back and asked her for a step up, leaned in against her then pushed away and skittered back to me. He never made a peep or a fuss for his shots after we waited for labs to come back. Dr. Jason said, don't look backward, don't look forward, just keep doing exactly what we are doing and that is good enough for me. Life is good and we are happy. Thank you for all your support, it means more than you can possibly know.

Dearest Mother, Thank you for explaining your side of the story, but how many times have I had to tell you how much work it takes me to put ALL those toys in precisely the proper arrangement. When the light of day uncovers your treachery of destroying my hard work, I must tell you once more to let me out of this confounded contraption. It is going to take the entire day of work for me to put them back. Unfortunately that means you must hurry to set me free so I can get started at my earliest convenience. They told me that humans are very bright and eager to be trained, but it seems I may have to call in reinforcements for my efforts. Love, Sully LOL. I couldn't help myself. Soon we will change the clocks and perhaps that will help. Your letter made me laugh today.