katana600

I absolutely adhere to the appreciation of those lovely moments and to not take it personally when she has her grumpy times. One thing that finally came to my mind was that I was taking advantage of her hanging out on her door to ask her for a step up. She will oblige four or five times over a period of a week. I hold her for two minutes max, talk nice and praise her and give her a treat when I return her to her cage. David has never had her step up from her cage. She is eager to run to the side of her play top to watch him regardless of what room he is in. But, I think it's too much for her to trust me when I ask her to go out of her comfort zone. She will hear me coming and make a beeline to get inside her cage. In a week or so, I have figured it out (maybe) and she is playing outside her cage again. Her cage is only closed when we sleep or leave the house. She certainly does act at extremes. Love it or hate it. Active or withdrawn. Surly or sweet. I genuinely love her and will do anything it takes to level off the ornery parts and have more sweet, funny, poignant special moments.

When I was trying to get information about the band numbers or code, I found that in the US they are not registered or generally traceable unless its a certain breeder who know his own "system". My personal thought is the closed band is simply an indication the parrot was bred in captivity so the band was slipped on while his talon was still small and pliable. This as opposed to an open band being crimped over the adult parrot's leg. Unless a parrot is microchipped or his numbers are recorded through vet records it pretty tough to authenticate his age. I could be wrong, I just have never been able to get information on ours through the band information, only through vague word-of-mouth.

That's his version of a "pastie" for his nekkid dance. LOL. In all seriousness though, It is sure a hopeful sign, and a reason to celebrate. .

I will change things up a bit to see how she responds. It's strange she would say sorry. The only time I have heard that was after a particularly nasty bite quite some time ago. When I will be leaving the house, I tell her it's time to go inside and she willingly goes in on her own for an almond treat. Usually when David leaves, her vantage point outside our bedroom door allows her to see him pack and carry his bag past her chair. The interesting thing with her surly attitude and withdrawal is twice this week he flew out and back in the same day and she stayed inside the cage when he traveled and came out all day while he was away from the house but working in town. She has to be figuring it out from my behavior. He gets home late when he travels and I don't spend so much time in the kitchen to make dinner. She has been downright foul tempered for a couple of weeks. Yesterday when she got in a snit, she was forcefully throwing food and water and upsetting her dishes with a clang. I suspected she may be interested in a bath so I filled up a macaw sized 16 oz bowl and installed it in her cage. In seconds she got that stainless steel bowl out of the ring and flung water down the wall and across the room. Have mercy she can be a challenge. I am hoping its a hormonal thing and that taking her out in the sun a bit every day might have a positive impact.

Here is a new twist. David travels, a lot. I just figured out those sullen days of her sitting silently on her perch all day coincides with his travel. What's up with that? When he works in town, he is still gone fourteen hours a day. I thought maybe since I don't have to cook dinner when he is out of town, maybe I spend more time in the basement sewing. I planned instead for a day upstairs cleaning. She still refused to come out of her cage. Yesterday, he is in ten, she is out and about. Today, I scrubbed the floor so I left her cage closed until the floor dries to out her papers down. I heard a little tentative voice saying "Sorry" "I'm sorry" "Gilbert's sorry". Bless her little heart. When the door is open all the time, she only comes out as she pleases, but with the door closed she sounded like she was being punished. I've not locked her up so I am trying to figure out what is up with her.

It took me a day to work up the inner reserve to open this thread. I was thinking Bubba had his belongings in a hobo sack and was making his way to the border. I'm so glad that Cotay has been treated and released. I love that she is daddy's girl and he is devoted too. I'm seeing that change in our home and don't mind doing the care and him being the "good time Charlie" as long as we see a happy parrot at the end of the day.

Well Hello you handsome boy Isaac. He looks dapper and dashing. It's incredible how much progress and growth that has evolved. He is the most interesting guy. He could do the Dos Equis commercials. Soon this will be a dim memory. The photo of him peering down from the counter is my favorite. He is patient with your photos. Miss Gilbert must be in the witness protection program, she flies at me in a flurry if she sees a lens pointed at her. Isaac is a natural born entertainer. Thanks for the updates, you fellows are favored treats for us.

I loved the part about why pirates wear an eye patch. That was funny. This afternoon, I held a very sweet, full size young Amazon. I could not believe it was so much bigger and heavier than Miss Gilbert. And boy did it have a tight grip. I can't even bring myself to think of that beautiful beak sinking in to a finger. Now that Gil has trained me, she hasn't needed to give me any reminder bites. Not even a nip or a swipe in a long while.

Maybe you could send an email to this place: http://theparrotuniversity.com/about-us Steve Hartman designed and sell the aviator harness many of our forum members use. He may have feathers in his aviary, or he may be able to direct you to other resources.

She was really working those paper towels. That gives me an idea to try something with Gilbert. She is afraid of most things but will chew up adding machine paper tape. I have tried toilet paper or paper towels and she wouldn't go near them. Seeing Talon happily tearing up the paper towel makes me want to try again. I will take a partially used roll of paper towels and cut it with an electric knife to see if that is more manageable. Talon looks fearless and doesn't seem at all bothered by the espresso machine or grinder noise. I loved that!

Congrats on your new companion and thanks for joining us. What's his name? I like the second cage with the play top best. For a while he may not want to get far from his cage. The play top gives him freedom with control. When he sees something that scares him he can dive into his cage to feel safe. Also his dropping, food or toy shredding messes will fall right to the grates to make cleanup easier. Also if he is skittish for a whole it's easier to clean his cage without upsetting him if you let him get on the play top, then clean up. They are prey animals and he is still checking you out to see if you plan to eat him. After a while he will start to trust you a little at a time. The next thing I like about the second cage is he bar spacing is big enough for you finger to fit through to give him a treat or a scratch without it being quite as threatening to him.

This has my spirit on pins and needles, I can only imagine that magnified by a thousand-fold for what you are feeling. I hope that it is all a great experience for all concerned. I am behind you all the way.

I have been wanting to help but unfortunately all the feathers we still have from Miss Gilbert are deformed or damaged. She has been flightless and we have gone through what you are dealing with as Timmy is dropping to the floor. We got a gel type kitchen mat to put in front of her cage which helped a lot to absorb impact. It is easy to clean and protects the floor too. Also we put a ladder from the floor to the cage so she could get back up on her own. We have been working toward flight for three years that she has been with us. I totally get what you want to do with Timmy and gave it some thought myself. What eventually came to the decision not to pursue it was she was barbering and had plucked in her past and would likely remove the new additions. You have vet support and a different individual case, I wish I could contribute.

I enjoy your posts so much. We are behind you on the flight, trust and compatible "play" but are moving in that direction. Little Miss Inara HRH is a joy to behold. It is like she was waiting for you and was kissed by fate to lead a charmed life and has embraced that by being a charming companion.

It looks like a beautiful place. The sand flea pit is temporary, I would just keep looking at the videos to remind me of that. My sister has a place in Pennsylvania, without the llamas. It's a little piece of heaven. They have the snow months they would probably trade for your brown-out.

Perfect timing for me to come to this thread. It is so beautiful and peaceful and I couldn't take my eyes off your new baby. Are they alpacas? Just watching made me relax and enjoy the beautiful spot in nature you have created for your family and critters.

There is no equal time at our house. Both cages can be open all day with neither Gilbert nor Java having any interest in coming out. Sometimes they go to the play top but basically play alone in parallel to the other with little interaction. I will go get Java and bring her to my shoulder to go sew with me or like now while I am on the computer she is on my lap getting a scratch or a kiss. Gilbert wants no part of coming to me but it makes her really mad to see Java getting that attention.

Gil girl surprises me every day. For the first time in my life, no matter how hard I try, I really can't figure out the enigma which is Miss Amelia Earhart Gilbert. (Good one Ray!). I just learn what seems to keep her calm and safe and do more of that. When she bobs, I weave. I am apparently in the doghouse for the serious infraction of taking her picture Sunday night. She has refused to come out of her cage yesterday and today. But, this is starting to be her habit when David travels. Also, like Timber, she still looks very surprised when she flies. Earlier she would get into a panic to get off the floor. Once I put the ladder where I could pick her up and then set her on the floor to learn to climb back up herself, she has gotten more interested in flight.

He is just a little feathered fluff of adorable. You are in for an amazing relationship and a new look at the world through the eyes of Stanley. Thanks for joining us.

Hi, welcome to the forum. What is your grey's name? Your dad can be a huge advocate in gaining acceptance for you and that's a good start. When our bird was treating our daughter as an intruder during college breaks we all worked together to help forge a better relationship. If you could be the one bringing treats and spending time with him when your dad isn't in the room, that might help. We would all leave Java upstairs alone as we went to the den in the basement. After a few minutes, we would send our daughter with a perch to offer to "rescue" her and bring her to the flock. We have a rehomed parrot and she liked me best in the beginning but she has been snubbing me for my husband for a while now. He will chide her and support me. Time, patience and not pushing him too hard will pay off in time.

Well how about that? Kudos to your wife for her engineering mind and to you for recognizing a good thing when she drags you to it. LOL. Great find and excellent potential.

Don't ever give up hope Karen. Miss Gilbert has gaps of missing feathers and has not flown for at least six years. Over three years it has been instinct to flap her wings after being startled off her cage top. This morning she flew from a perch inside her cage. It's very thrilling and interesting that as she learns more control, she flies closer to the floor. She has been flying steady at about six inches off the floor. Then when she has gone about twenty feet maintaining that level flight she runs and flaps to slow down. She seems to know that her energy and strength will not take her far (yet) so she makes it easier to touch down. I am so encouraged by this new skill and I believe it's going to give her confidence and courage.

What if you drive slightly larger pipe into the ground, then drill holes and insert a pin to anchor it to the ground? It looks like an interesting project.

There is no doubt in my mind that Miss Gilbert is becoming more and more smitten with David. He is my best secret weapon to overcome her steely determination to never trust another human. Last night we went to the basement to watch a movie. Not a usual occasion for us. After a while Gil was hooting, calling out to us and making some new (to us) sound effects. At one point I suggested he go up and offer her a step up to bring her down with us and get her off her cage for a change. Nothing doing. However, when we came up a half hour later, there she was sitting on the arm of a living room chair. She had to have flown, the legs are too high for her to climb up. She must have gotten a little nervous because she chewed off a quarter-sized area of her chest. But, she was in good spirits and she stepped right up for me. On the way back to her cage after a little visit, she had her wings up and when we got almost there, she flew the last two feet! These are exciting, happy times. She is making progress!

Wow! He is so energetic and agile. I have seen Amazons play with reckless abandon. Louie is quite the eye candy and charmer.