katana600

Thanks for the kind words and support from everyone. When the vet said he needed an antibiotic I was really scared about giving it to Juno because he really hasn't built a trust with me. I have it down to a routine now and we both are relaxed about it. I get everything ready on the kitchen island and after I put him on the counter, I gently gather him in folded fleece squares leaving his head free and just use the fleece to gather him to my body while I put the syringe in his mouth. Of course his tasty food is right in front of him waiting. Tonight, I am so excited. After giving him his medicine, he let me rub his head for the very first time! He closed his eyes and looked like he enjoyed it. I could just cry he was sooooo sweet. I didn't press my luck and gave him his bowl of fresh veggies and put him back in the cage to eat. It amazes me how he will start chirping and chortling when he sees me fixing his food. I just love this little guy.

All I can say is WOW. That photo is impressive. Emma's red tail is stunning. Isn't she elegant? I can't begin to think of pictures when Juno flies, I am still trying to get ahead of him to be his moving perch.

This thread was a great idea. Lily, Sully and Ana Grey look like a house full of energy and fun. Bernie, you have surrounded yourself with beauty and grace with the fish outside and in. Tiggs looks a little disdainful at the room full of dog pillows... or maybe that was at you with the camera. LOL. Tevish is adorable and Ben is the best!

Be still my heart, now I know why I jumped at the chance to be one of Bernie's babes. Thanks for the laugh of the day!

Now Jill, Harvey is wise enough to know these things don't come naturally in a coconut, so he is making sure you aren't trying to poison him or something. What makes him suspicious of you? You wouldn't trick him or anything would you? LOL. I agree with the others that he is just not going to let on to you that he is superior or advanced so it comes as a big surprise when he plans and strategizes just the right moment.

All is well. Juno suddenly started vocalizing yesterday with all sorts of chortles, zings, whoops, and sounds like a little robot or alien of some sort. His flying is improving, he can hover and turn, but he can't stay in the air for long. He doesn't always land gracefully, but he is making great progress. Last night he flew toward the door and got lower and lower as he was getting winded. He dropped the last three feet to the floor and was ever so happy to be escorted back to his cage. He finds security there and seems to want to go back after short play periods out. He slept in his big boy cage two nights in a row. He loves the little tent his mama Ann made for him and looks really cute hiding in there and just peeking around to keep track of everyone in the room.

Congrats on your flock and the addition of Mandy. You have a great intro. My grey has only been with us two weeks, he is six months old and although he is happy to step up, he does not let me touch him to rub his head. For all the changes Mandy has had, letting you hold her this soon is a good sign. We do love pictures and will enjoy getting to know you through the forum. Thanks for coming.

Will comment later, I found my nothing box!

Just look at that picture of Tango and Fred checking one another out. I'm sure Fred told him all sorts of new things about you and welcomed him home.

Watching them grow and play was sweet and rewarding. Funny, I liked the same spot on the video as Jill where they were lined up facing the wall, like they were having a time out. Those little baby faces and expressions were adorable as they grew into beautiful regal looking big birds. Thanks for sharing with us.

You are right Jill, if we are going to speak up when things don't go well, it is only fair to give admiration for a job well done. I am really glad you had a good experience and that they came through for you.

Oh gosh Judy, that is a great idea. I bought Juno a pomegranate and was hoping for a sunny day to take his cage outside so he could make a big mess. It would go a long way to helping him like the shower time if I can give him one to fling about without ruining the house. I will try that tomorrow morning and let you know how it works out. Emma sure is enjoying hers!

This morning when I got Juno up, I made a tasty warm dish of food, set it out of his reach, then weighed him and got everything ready. I got out the fleece squares and talked to him gently and told him that if he was a good boy and took meds, he could have his warm food. He hopped onto the food dish, and it took several times to get him to stop pushing away the syringe, but he did take his meds because he was so eager to eat. No towels, no more bites and we were both happy. Only eighteen more times, we are both evolving, my dedication techiques and his avoidance moves. He doesn't act sick, climbs all over his tree and plays and is being a good boy. Will try to get some pictures if we have a bright sunny day tomorrow for the photos work out.

That new view on the webcam is awesome. Thanks Dave for all you do to keep us watching your babies. They are almost as big as Juno the first time I saw him. It has been a blessing to watch from hatching to becoming playful and independent.

I love that you found a way of satisfying Gizmo and went through so much time and effort to figure out what he needed. You should be very pleased with the results, good for you.

I especially like the little high five the grey makes after sinking a basket.

That is so funny, his breeder asked the same thing, if I could get someone else to towel him while I give him the medicine and let them put him back in his cage. LOL. I made a plan, got all the things in order to take him to a countertop, corral him and get the meds down his throat. Meanwhile I had his night time meal ready in his cage and when I took him back all the goodies made him forget to be mad at me. Fifteen minutes later he was lifting up his foot to show me he wanted out. He gave me all his sweet little sounds and happily played a few minutes and went right back to his cage afterward. When I found out he was just getting sick, my first thought was phew! I was afraid that gagging and clutching of his throat was his theatrics at dissing my cooking. Since he has a sore throat, I'll just pretend that is what it was all about. We're still good. LOL

Thank goodness they didn't get any closer. Now we are back to a strict quarantine after a second run of cultures revealed some nasty stuff for Juno. We are going to keep them in separate rooms and keep the hand washing to an extreme before interacting with either of them. Since Java likes my room she can hang out in here while I am on the computer and Juno can be at the other end of the house since I will have to get him out twice a day for meds. Java is whistling sweet nothings to Juno and keeping him entertained even when they can't see each other. To top it off, I drove up to the university again to get my daughter to a doctor. Either she has the worst sprain Dr. S has ever seen, or she has popped off a tendon. We are going tonight at seven for an MRI.

Thanks for that happy surprise, I really needed one today. I don't know how you do it all, my two little birds are keeping me hopping. I know your birds are happy, healthy and well tended, this couldn't have happened to a better person for you to be given this opportunity to enjoy the company of such a splendid boy. Congratulations.

I spoke too soon. The vet called the first time to say cultures looked okay, but use benebac since he was on antibiotics recently. Then he called yesterday to say bloodwork was good and all we were waiting on was DNA... or so I thought. Today a call came while I was taking my daughter to the doctor and when I called back, it seems Juno has grown some nasty stuff in his cultures. He apparently has a strain of bacteria known to cause pneumonia and also a resistant staph positive. I went back to the vet to get Baytril and started him tonight on this antibiotic. Dr. said it is very lucky we caught this and it would not have been tested in a routine well bird visit but our breeder recommended and I did insist. Juno did not like the antibiotic and I have been initiated with my first real bite. No stitches, just a laceration. Poor little guy, he tried to fly away twice and didn't bite while I was holding him for the medicine, but as a so there ha ha as he was being taken back to his cage. Only nineteen more doses to go.

Isn't good laughter the best way to start our day? Thanks to Nilah and that image, I will be laughing right along with you. How cute!

Good thinking Jill, the computer work may not go any easier but will be less painful, so this is for medicinal purposes. My daughter has a doctor appt this afternoon which will entail hours of drive time and TLC, then I have to come home and cut out fabric for a quilt workshop tomorrow that I haven't prepared my supply list yet.

Oh Jill, be careful what you ask for, you will soon be needing to get a puppy. The mini dachshunds are Mick (black and brindle) and Baxter (brindle). They are ten months old. Bella is a five year old Italian greyhound and we have joint custody, she is spending time in Texas at the university with my daughter.

I almost forgot to tell you Juno's vet called today to say all his bloodwork came back today and he is in perfect health. It will take a couple more weeks for the DNA confirmation on gender. I am still guessing he is a boy... he is in his cage making spitballs with the roll of adding machine tape. When I slipped out of the room to make my post, the floodgates have opened and he is making loud squeals for the first time. I know I will someday regret saying this, but.. I LOVE it! Java is returning the same sound to him.

Thanks for the encouragement. We got Juno's bloodwork back today and the vet says all is well, so I thought I would wait until dark, let them both out at the same time. My thinking was that if they went berserk, I could turn out the light to isolate and remove one. Java was a little red-eyed demon, no more sweet nothings. She went right after Juno on his tree and offered to bite him. He suggested he could bite her little head off and I had to pick her up in a fleece square and escort her back to her cage. Then, they make all sorts of sweet sounds to each other. It will take some time and a lot of vigilance and patience if they can ever come out of their cages at the same time.