katana600

Hahahaha, in my scrolling to the first post, Janet's bare and Dave's bells on clothing had me conjuring advice in a nudist colony. So where would they attach the bells to attract those grizzlies? Chances are with no pocket for the pepper spray the fresh "sign" would tell a different story. Beware being bare among the bear.

After the recent storm of silence, Miss Gilbert is coming out! I mean literally. Yesterday was the first real nice dinner I was preparing in weeks due to lots of things. But, I was surprising my hubby with his birthday favorite of shrimp etoufee even though it is not near his birthday. I made the brown rice. I was cutting up the good veggies and Gilbert was hooting, singing, whistling and I was laughing and talking to her. She can see me in the kitchen from her cage but it never fails when I am out there she gets vocal and happy. Then, I noticed the silence. I turned to go to her and see what she was getting into on top of her cage and to my surprise she was already on the floor just around the corner from the kitchen island. She had gotten down her ladder and came to me! She happily allowed me to lift her to the counter and was content to stand very very quietly watching me work a few feet away on the island. In a short time, she was asking to go back. I stopped and let her look at all the array of chopped goods and she was not interested. As luck would have it, hubby was delayed at work until about nine. We fixed our plates, Java on my shoulder and Gil on her cage. I stopped and offered her some plain brown rice that was set aside just for her. Much to my surprise she cheerfully ran right out to the edge of the door, swaying and begging for a bite. She wasn't impressed with the plain rice but it was endearing to watch her gulp a couple of beakfuls. After I sat at a tray to eat a bite, Java suddenly ran down my arm, quick as a wink, she pinched a whole shrimp from my bowl. I didn't use a lot of seasoning and the shrimp was steamed and still on top of the sauce so I let her have it. I use that term lightly, I don't think I could have retrieved it if I thought of it. I did take her back to her cage and as I passed Gil, she leaned out as far as she could trying to get a bite for herself. She is our Cajun pearl, after all. I rinsed a piece of shrimp and offered it to her and she ate like a castaway on a deserted island. My heaven's I have never seen such a thing. This morning, I was a little slow coming out thinking they two of them might have turned pink like flamingoes on a shrimp diet. Something has definitely clicked with Miss G-girl and she is open to more involvement. She was a wildchild yesterday with the paper tape. I have taken a couple photos, will try to get them from the phone to the forum. I feel like the sun is shining and this little girl is opening her petals and unfurling her personality for her moment of grace. (And please Dear Lord let it be grace and not the unleashing of a Tasmanian devil all at once). This has been a day of dreams coming to fruition. I do take the occasional unladylike outbursts in stride. She has one pretty bad go-to word and has been also calling out "idiot" a few times lately. The other sweet and wonderful things she will say far outnumber her "Turrette's-like" indescretions. Oh how I love these upturns Miss Gilbert's progress.

There must be a turn in the weather that even though I am in the south, I am so enjoying a day of sunshine and a better outlook for getting the chill out of my home. The thoughts of you having a quiet respite to catch up with Cricket, Corky and all of your forum friends just warms my heart as well.

So sorry for the conditions and limited choices you find yourself in with Zoey. Your love and inner strength will help you through the worst of times to be her rock and comfort. You have good instincts and will know what to do as the circumstances change. I am hoping and praying for a miracle for Zoey and for the best possible outcome for you as well.

Hello Fahad, welcome to our forum. We lived in Dubai for three years. It has been ten years since we returned to the US and like you, I was dismayed and appalled at the conditions and treatment toward living creatures in some of the souks. One of the things to consider in your search for a grey companion is the requirements of relocating to your home country to be sure you will be able to take your grey through the customs, quarantines and rules of both locations. When we were considering it, we discovered from seeking out information that we would not have been permitted to bring a grey back had we adopted one there at the time. Some countries require a long and expensive quarantine and some outright deny access to wild caught or grey without proper papers and proof of its origin. As much as your heart is leading you to bring a grey into your life, it would be devastating to leave behind a family member if you were caught unaware. My best of luck to you as you find your path to the grey companion you will have one day. I appreciate so much that you are joining us and doing some research to make the most of the opportunity you find.

Bless your heart and thank you for taking Kelsey into your home and for joining our forum to learn ways to get closer to him and make his life a joy. Judy said most of what I would suggest. You are doing lots of things right with allowing him to come in and out of his cage on his own, changing his diet and looking to share a good life with him. A week is a very short time. With Kelsey's history, he was probably grieving for his original owner for most of the fourteen months of confinement in the next home. Still, in one week, he is doing quite well. Some of the tougher cases are still growling and disturbed this soon after a big change. I see that as a great sign for you and for Kelsey. His screaming may be to illicit attention from you, but this early on, it's a tough call. He may just be venting frustration and doesn't know how to take it all in just yet. Where did you locate his cage? They do seem to like being in the hub of the home where they can see you. If we are out of the room, Miss Gilbert and many other African Grey's will make a lot of commotion trying to draw us back in. I think getting him into what you want for his permanent cage and allowing him to adjust a while longer after that, then working up to touching him since he has already shown distrust of your hands might be a good start. I made the mistake with Miss Gilbert to put her in a cage that is too big for her, but that's because she had other issues, so it took longer for her to feel safe and secure in the big cage. Every one of these wonderful, unique little characters is a bit different. Take heart, you are off to a really good start. I promise, it is well worth the time it takes to get him settled and give him the chance to unpack his baggage before he treats you to his real personality. You are among friends and kindred spirits. Welcome.

Cool toys. I will have to take a look too. I love the jigsaw pieces. Looks like a lot of fun at your house. Thanks for sharing.

Our Miss Gilbert is a rehomed Timneh African Grey and we believe she is somewhere around ten years old and with us for three. She has come a long way after sitting frozen like a sentinel for two years with us and reportedly similar withdrawal through 2 1/2 years with a former caregiver. In recent months she has taken a big interest in my husband and at first I thought she was going to bond with him and be his buddy. It's so hard to tell what they are thinking but lately I have more reason to believe she is engaged and energetic with him because he is taking my attention when he is home. He travels extensively for work and is usually home late at night. That is when she goes into high gear and says new things. She seems to be trying to entice him to her but then she rebuffs him if he comes close. Lately I am wondering if she is secretly looking at him as a rival for the attention that she gets from me. If the two of us go to the kitchen she can still see us but she performs and gets louder and louder. Willie may love you deeply but may be a little shy or coy your first instinct that he is looking for your attention may be on the mark. Whatever the reason, take the opportunity to offer him treats, praise, new toys and whatever attention he is able to tolerate. Gil is starting to accept toys and foods that she rejected twenty times or more so I just look at any interest as an opportunity to try again.

Another joy of a rehomed parrot is the sounds she makes and keeps me wondering what jogged her memory and where she has been. Yesterday she started whistling a tune from the old Disney Robin Hood videos. Later she was making a chirping parrot sound that I have never heard before. We fostered a cockatiel for five months almost five years ago and Java will mimic his chirps, then Miss Gilbert will return them with amplified volume. The new one was the sweetest sound, not quite the same as a cockatiel, a happy baby parrot chirrup. Its so nice to have Gil return to her happy place. She has been really mushy with us, asking for a lot of head rubs and being warm and soft again. She is on her fifth roll of paper tape in a week. Some she will unwind and decorate like lace. Others she chews through to the core more like the pressed paper birdy bagels. It makes me smile to hear her over there rustling, munching and playing in the messy little world of her own creation. I am watching closely for nesting behavior and that isn't what she is doing. My little one is just playing cheerfully. I offer her different "new" toys from the big cupboard full of my wishful thinking and she is taking more things in stride and choosing new small foot toys to add to her collection. I put my offerings down low on a footstool outside her cage and she will climb down there and take them. Its so much fun to watch and see the ones she flings to the floor in dismissal and others she becomes interested enough to carry back to the cage top with great efforts. She has come such a long way. I can take her regressions and withdrawals in stride because if we just wait it out and watch, she has a burst of new and better strategies after she rests and sorts things out for herself. My kids loved that Robin Hood video and Miss Gilbert is taking me to her happy place and its fun for me too.

Welcome to the forum. Great job getting beautiful photos of Rohan. He is just precious. I liked the first one where his eyes are closed as he is preening. He looks so satisfied and healthy.

Happy happy joy joy! In the past year or so, both of my daughters moved to Texas and are starting careers far far away from us. I have not gotten the hang of face time, but you make me want to try it again. It makes me smile from ear to ear to think of Nilah playing their special game over the phone. Also for her brothers to get involved and stay close to their sister. I am in awe of how all of you use the facetime. It has to be wonderful for you and your family. And to KimKim, thanks for sharing. My thoughts are with you as well as your share a little piece of home with your husband. What an amazing way to keep you all together in your hearts.

I join you in your celebration Jeff. What a wonderful process that is evolving out of your recent stress. Gracie is such an important part of your life and I rejoice as your "story" together is taking such a delightful turn.

Nancy, I am so sorry you are going through this with Zoey. You have put her in good hands and I hope they can give her comfort. Please don't let yourself go down the path of blaming yourself for not knowing sooner. I have personally been going down this path since December with my own health and the medical studies have to go through a long process of ruling out everything else. You are a good mom and you have cared for her with all your heart and soul. I am hoping you get a little good news soon from her vet.

There are many joys of having an older rehomed parrot. Progress is measured in grey time and small miracles evolve all the time. She opens up and tells me the story of her past with phrases and announcements and then... she tells stories back to me of who we are as well. LOL. In recent weeks when she has been ornery and withdrawn, I went back to the beginning and thought of things that we had tried and were worth another attempt. One favorite is for her to share my morning oatmeal. She is a particular little pearl of her origins. She has taught me that it has to be just right. LOL. Maybe her name should be Goldilocks. We have it so "right" now that she is making great strides forward again. Her oatmeal has to be the right kind, the right consistency and the right temperature. The presentation has to be just the way she likes it to draw her out to the top of her door. It has to be stirred and a fresh spoonful every time. I am not permitted to speak. LOL. I love watching her tilt her head to use her lower mandible to scoop out a bite like a steamshovel clearing a landscape. She makes a particular breathy "haa" sound and the sound of her gulping and grinding with her tongue on the roof of her beak is satisfying. Her eyes pin like I have never seen them. In the morning she starts making the beep of the microwave as her way of getting excited about the sharing to come. She has a three beep signal of approval. Although I wouldn't risk transferring germs to her, I have pretended I was going to have a bite with her as a sharing gesture and she wants no part of that. LOL. What a complex study she has become. Once she finishes and walks away, I get to finish the rest of the bowl. In all the time we have enjoyed her company, this little morning ritual we share has helped me to see her making strides and showing great pleasure in the process. Glad she finally has taught me how to "do it right". While I am in the kitchen preparing it, taking the temperature to get it to 120-125 she is in the background encouraging me along... "hey Lulu" mixed in with a couple "Maaaa" calls to hurry me along and not to forget it while it cools. That breathy little "haaa" sound is almost like an "ahh" but I can feel her breath across the spoon. At first I started this because I have read of others giving comfort to an adult parrot that beckons sweet memories of their infancy and the trust in the "mother" feeding them. But lately I have been perceiving this is more for me to look at her for just a few moments as an adorable little chick she started out being with such potential and eagerness for her humans. Whatever is the glimmer of truth between us, she is responding in other ways throughout the day, so this has been a particular good strategy that she refused earlier in our relationship that now she is ready to move forward just a smidgen.

First, thank you Jeff for your juror service. There are so many people who do every possible thing to get excused and I know that is the first thing we think of when we know what we could be facing. It is so important to our justice system but few people really understand the impact on the additional twelve innocent "collateral damage" humans tainted by the sights and descriptions to which they are subjected. Add to that the media coverage and second guessing by all the people who didn't sit in those twelve chairs. I do hope the affirmations from family of the victims helps to balance the stress you felt in the process. Also, it is no small thing that you were a voice that those young people were denied in the crime. I do believe our greys have empathy and are I believe Gracie was your lifeline and comfort. Gilbert has been with me on a hospice team twice. She was a comfort and funny distraction for all of us. When I came home the first time, I was awake late at night, exhausted and bereft. She is very much a hands off parrot and moreso at that time. But, she climbed to the arm of the sofa, walked across the back to where I had my head back and my eyes closed when I felt her touch my face. I was really scared because the only touch she had given me to that date was to bite. She felt my entire face like a blind person "reading" me. That was a profoundly moving experience and marked a beginning for her to let go of her own baggage and start living with me instead of just tolerating us.

How funny, I enjoyed your vision of our girl. I do think Cajun is a fusion of French as well as other cultural influences. That's our girl. There is no doubt she knows her special no no word is an attention getter. The first time we heard it, my husband and daughter were not as well versed in the grey persuasion and unfortunately let her in on the shock element. Since then, there is no doubt in my mind that she can read body language and has telepathy to "know" that even though they leave the room before they grin at her cheeky and cunning placement of that one word. Since then I have advised them that in time, we will have grandchildren and they will never be able to chastise those grandbabies when they learn from the parrot because they are part of the reinforcement and I have a long memory. LOL. Since that first moment of saying David's name, she has said it over and over again and it is used with the same emphasis and inflection that I am convinced she believes it is a new naughty word. Hahahaha. She was silent all day yesterday but when he came in about nine, he was talking with me in the kitchen and she shouted his name five or six times. We did celebrate wildly, she said it, I said it and she said it more. He came right in and gave her pine nuts and little by little they are becoming more smitten.

With all the extra help and love going into that cake, it had to be the best one ever. What a happy little helper. Good for you being such a good sport. Who knew baking a cake with Brutus would be such fun? I sure enjoyed it.

Biscotti's sense of humor and comments are incredible. I loved that he still kept talking as he was making his way back across the top of his cage "made a big noise". Nothing makes me laugh like Biscotti. Hearing your sense of humor and comments from across the rooms its easy to know where Biscotti found his sense of joy and spirit in life. Thanks!

When it's meant to be, it is the best of all worlds. I am so happy for Smokey to have met you and taken time to get to know you. If I was looking for a home for my grey, I would choose the right bond over the top dollar any day. Smokey's family is at ease knowing you and your family is loving him through his loss of his first companion. Your story is one of those things that makes me happy that good people are doing good things and life brought that full circle to our forum. Thank you for joining us and telling us the story of your beginning with Smokey. I am looking forward to every chapter.

Oh yes, it would change Dorian's and Gilbert's lives and level of confidence if they were to learn to fly. Quoting Dr. Seuss "Oh the places you'll go". There is nothing expresses that quite like the perverse "enjoyment" in seeing bird poop on my dining room floor because it means Gil has been brave enough to seek out new territory. Of course, I am on my feet watching from a distance, giving her the freedom to find new things to get into and the supervision to make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble. What a great find on the box of paper tape! Gilbert is now chewing one like a birdie bagel. Maybe she is getting creative with her art installation. LOL. I know it really upsets her apple cart if I pick up the paper "mess". I have reached a compromise, any on the floor or bottom of her cage are mine. The ones on the cage top are hers. Anything that draws her out of her shell and brings her closer to having confidence is a bonus. We had a happy first this morning, it is the first time Gilbert said my husband's name, David. We were talking and she was jabbering louder and louder when she shouted his name. She blew it a little with me by using her favorite cuss word, but we know she at least can say his name and will celebrate wildly when she says it without prefacing it with an expletive.

You have probably read the situation right. Jake was already looking for a battle after his bath and held his ground moreso than he would normally with you. You have good instincts. Its a great idea to create a play area for Jake so he has a positive place to expend his energy and curiousity. In TX we had parent taught driver ed and there was an online course to learn some pointers. There was one insight that has helped me in many ways. If you see an impending collision etc. if you tell the student for instance "don't hit that post", it has the opposite effect. It will first distress the driver and second it will focus them on exactly what not to do. Instead, it suggested for instance to say calmly, "steer left", "put on your brake", etc. to guide toward your goal instead. I really liked that and it has come in handy. Your idea of a playstand is that kind of positive thinking. Moving Jake to the place where you want him to be tearing apart his own things might help keep your things intact.

You did the right thing insisting he move from destroying your home. In a perfect world we can ask and be granted cooperation. There are times when Gilbert has refused to go into her cage at bedtime lately. This has just started and she has been with us three years. Our routine has always been to start turning off the living room lights one lamp at a time. When the next to last light is shut off, I ask her to get ready to go night night. Gil is an older rescue and we have not gotten to the place where she will step up willingly. Usually she will go inside when I tell her its time to go night night and I give her an almond in the shell for a reward and bedtime snack. When I am going to leave the house, I will ask her to go inside and she will usually oblige with that as well. Lately, like Jake, she is pushing her boundaries. I have some small squares of fleece Gil hates as much as a towel. All I have to do is to say "you can go in the easy way or the hard way, but you have to go in". Then I lay the fleece about six feet away on the back of a chair. I leave the room and give her the grace to go inside, thank her and put away the fleece. I am wondering if there is something similar that might help with Jake. My method is first to ask for cooperation, then to require it more firmly, offer a reward, use the gentlest and minimal effective response to insist and we have only once actually needed to use a towel when it was time for a vet appointment and she was determined not to cooperate. From then on, the suggestion of a towel, or light fleece being put in her range of vision is enough. I'm not sure you took two steps back, Jake is evaluating the process to see where he went wrong in that transaction. I am wondering if you have something he doesn't like that will prevent him from flying down the hallway if that is where he likes to go to pick at your carpet. Some people use a stuffed animal, plastic owl or other dreaded object to discourage certain places where they will set up a battle. You will find Jake's soft spot as well as his best and favorite rewards when he does cooperate.

Hi Steve, I do not have an outdoor aviary, but several of our other members do. I found a site this morning that may interest you: http://www.naturalbird.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=63#afterweld This may be a good starting point to have discussions with like minded people. Another source of information I would seek out is Parrot University in Ohio. They have huge outdoor aviaries and a vested interest in the health and well being of companion parrots and may be able to give you suppliers and information. I'm not affiliated with either of these links, it just looked like where I would go if I was asking questions. One of our members has a memorable thread on building an outdoor aviary http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?195570-New-Aviary!/page4 Now all y'all are getting me interested.

One thing I know for sure is your devotion to your flock and your willingness to bring in another parrot and give freely of your time and resources. You have the best attitude for being able to condense any situation down to the base and evaluate if you are at the right time and place to consider each new opportunity. When the right fit comes along, you will be the first to know it. And we will be second and I will be cheering you on.

Little Miss Gilbert has been on the move again. She has been launching herself off her cage and onto the stairs or toward the dining room. She hasn't been startled, it appears to be deliberate and preplanned. She walks around a little while and with the dining room, she will chase me if I come to observe and protect my furniture. When I call her bluff, she will sweetly step up and allow me to carry her to a spot to sit and visit a little. I think our oatmeal sharing ritual every morning is encouraging her to give me a little latitude. She also has been a busy little character both with playing with toys inside her cage and on the playtop above. I bought a case of adding machine paper tape nearly three years ago. One lone little spool on an acrylic holder inside her cage was no temptation all this time. I put a loose roll on top of her cage and she has had a couple of sessions of playing with it. I had to give her another roll and she has gone through three now in the past week. She unwinds it and shreds it and flings pieces off onto the floor. She has adorned her cage so it looks like Spanish moss hanging between the bars on her "roof" and she has wound it in and out of the vertical bars on the side of her cage. At bed time she has been resolutely refusing to be bribed down from her play area. I tried shuffling her "spanish moss" and she seemed to want to play a little. I ripped off a piece about a foot long, folded it to help stabilize it to reach a piece out to her. She was playing tug of war and ripping pieces off and I thought what great fun she was having. Actually, she was luring me in, ripping a piece and bringing her closer and closer to my hand. She is so clever and cunning. She held herself back and lulled me into a sense of complacency and when she saw her chance she lunged so fast and unexpectedly she nearly tumbled right off the edge of her cage. I told her "poor form" and she laughed. Then she went right inside and asked for a cracker. LOL. Even when she shows a contrary side, I just find her so fascinating and loveable.