katana600

Yes, it does make me appreciate the sweeter side of her vocabulary. It also puts a reference point on what I thought was totally for annoyance. She reminded me it could get worse if she has some other hidden gems to articulate at just the inappropriate moment. I just can hardly stand myself watching her as she changes and opens up to new possibilities. This morning she has been on a mission. First, she was startled and tried to fly from her cage. She took the opportunity to go from room to room and explore. I have seen her launch off her cage enough times that now I have strategically placed a box filled with shredded paper and foraging toys and treats where she will see it soon after she hits the floor. Originally I did this so if I didn't actually see her launch, I had time to get to an observation point before she had time to get to the furniture she was intent on splintering a while back. Since then, I have added some more boxes of paper in a trail that will take her around the living room and back to the ladder we just found for her to get from the floor back into her cage on her own. It such a lovely addition to our living room decor, hahahaha. Seriously though, it is a gradual coaxing to get her out and moving and her confidence is improving every day. She moves with an abundance of caution, takes one step, stretches tall and looks in every direction and then looks a little more closely at her box of treasures. If she is pulling out a little piece of paper and it makes a sound, she jumps back and waits a long time before her curiousity gets the better of her to go back to the box and try again. She has been on the move for over an hour. Its a lot of fun to watch her broaden her horizons.

About a year ago when luvparrots mentioned this company, I bought some of their products and they are fantastic. We use the dried spinach in soups and it is really good. We use the celery, carrots and other veggies in rice pilaf. We have eaten it right from the bag and haven't ordered anything we haven't liked. When we go "back home" we are in the rural space like what you describe, but even when we come back home and have five huge well stocked grocery stores within a five mile radius, I still like the convenience of having a freeze dried pantry for making soups, beans and all of those things I can share with our parrots.

Its nice to share your journey with Echo. Some rehomes take longer than others and it sounds like Echo is off to a really good start with you. I agree that there is nothing like living with a parrot. Its far different than any relationship I have ever enjoyed. Not at all like a pet, not at all like a child, it is a unique and profoundly interesting path of companionship and joy. You are just beginning. Thanks for joining us and sharing your experience. Its so much better with people who understand the amazing bond we have with our feathered flocks.

Incredible photo op. Great job. Although if my hubby were to take a picture of me on a scale and post it on the internet, I might poke his eye out. Hahahahahaha.... Perfect subject line too... clever job, well done.

I'm wondering if it might be a little less stressful to get him into the carrier at bedtime and then put it in your room or somewhere near you like a sleep or roost cage experience the night before this vet visit. That would take off some of the pressure on you and it might make him less likely to associate the carrier directly with the vet. One thing that I was told early on is to make sure you face them toward the smaller cage opening when putting them in rather than trying to put them in backward. It could be at night when you can dim the lights you might be able to put a food treat into the carrier and praise him and give him lots of treats while he is in there. Then when you get home rather than letting him right out of the cage as if it were an escape from a scary place, leave him in a while and talk to him, give him more treats and then open the door and let him come out on his own terms. Then, after the fact, work with him to get in and out of the cage on a more regular basis and use the visits to friends or just a quick ride in the car to keep it from being only unpleasantness when he goes to his travel container.

As heartwarming as it is to think of Joey coming to find you, it was a double pleasure for your husband to be right behind him taking part in his adventure and watching over Joey as he came to find you.

Well in all the wonders of her exploration and exercising her wild side, we did have a jaw dropping moment as only Gil girl could manage. We were sitting quietly in the living room late in the day. Gil climbed to the top of her playtop to the to top of the shepherd hook. She hasn't been up there in ages. When she comes down she usually spirals around looking a bit like a fireman coming down the pole in a big hurry. This time, she started her descent, hung on sideways, peered down at me with one beady little eye locked right on me and I swear on all that is important to me she said "yo bch" in the calmest voice. It is not something I have ever heard from any human we have known. It has to be another blast from her long distant past along with the "who dat dere" she started up a month or so ago. The difference is when she was startled and did the "who dat?" we were laughing and encouraging and repeating it with her. We both sat there in silence and gave her the impression we had gone deaf. We got up and went out of the room to say "did we really hear what I thought I heard?" There has been no repetition so I am hoping she reaches into her bag of tricks and pulls out another attempt with something a little less objectionable. Of course there is somewhere deep down inside that the pure shock value made it really hard to keep a poker face and not laugh. I am just shaking my head and wondering where she has been and what is just around the corner for us.

I like to call her Miss Gilbert too. This has been such a great day. She tried to fly off her cage and spent the better part of two hours exploring and she came to the kitchen with me. She has stepped up for me three more times from her cage too. She sat on my shoulder in the kitchen while I moved very slowly and explained things to her. She tried to fly off my shoulder a couple of times but then walked back to me to get a step up. While she is in such a mood for adventure, I see a window of opportunity to try new things. I gave her some fresh cut veggies today and she ate a few things in the kitchen. There is good stuff out there with LuLu. It has been a day of good surprises.

I think the video is finally rightside up and the link should work so you can see this girl playing with reckless abandon. It is such a wonderful thing to watch her open up and just play happily. Even better that I could get up and move around the room and finally get her on video.

Finally today while Gil was out playing on her "perch porch" I was able to slowly come around the corner with a camera phone. Twice she saw me coming, stopped in her tracks and refused to allow any photos or video. I am beginning to think maybe she is in a witness protection program or something the way she is so camera shy. But, at last I got one photo and one short video of her joyful antics. I am going to have to keep working on the video to get it posted, but at last I have a photo that shows she does get out of her cage and play a little.

What a great story, thanks for starting this thread. I have a not-so-secret Amazon admiration. I have to get my fix vicariously through our forum friends. There is no doubt a fierce and loyal love when they take over your life. Gil's not going to make room for a pal any time soon though. Can you imagine all these wild-caught, elderly, wrinkled Amazon's in our midst and the stories they have to tell?

You have such a great attitude Jeff. It could be that your place in Lucy's life is to give her a loving place to rest or it could be a lifelong friendship between you and she may be the newest flock member in a forever home. You are level-headed and conscientious and Lucy is gaining tremendously from your compassion and generosity. I have known a few Jack Russell terriers and they are among the most intelligent creatures next to our greys, of course. Lucy will learn the ground rules and Gracie will tell her how good you are so soon it will seem as if you have been together all of your lives. Congratulations on your new addition.

My favorite of new things in Gil's repertoire is the way she goes into her cage, grabs the door decisively and empatically pulls it closed with a loud clang. It is every bit the shout of the emancipated teen (or two year old) having the last word. Her 911 siren calls are only brought out in times of turmoil and she has a long list to choose from. I'm glad you mentioned that because it reminded me of her former distress at storms. She has lived though several hurricanes on the gulf coast from her years in Biloxi Mississippi. Sarah had mentioned how storms would get Gil stirred up and upset for days. It just crossed my mind that last night we had the worst thunderstorms with high winds, heavy rain, tornado warning sirens and Gil never skipped a beat. It is a reminder of just how much work she has done to overcome the fears that had her shut down and panick stricken most of the time. We are having second thoughts on changing her name and pretty much just stopped calling her by any name directly. She is happy at night to say "time to go night night Gil girl" but one of her joyful songs is to call out "Gilbert's a good BOY!" drawing out the last part and saying it over and over again when she is cheerful. From the first time last August when we talked to her and started calling her a girl, she has started to sing out, then stops and checks herself. Then she starts and stops and just looks confused. Since we were at my sister's everyone there stuck with what they new and called her Gilbert and I didn't correct any pronouns, just watching and wondering if it makes any difference. It does seem to make a difference to the way she knows herself. So, I am kind of in limbo. So many things are going so well, that I am just tiptoeing around this one and letting her find her own way to think of herself. And besides, the little pip still calls me LuLu. hahahaha

Happy homecoming anniversary to Bongo and his extended flock. It was a good day that he found his way into your home and heart. He sure looks happy and royally spoiled there with his treat. We are working towards our third anniversary of bringing Gil home and it is wonderful to think of how far we have come together. Bongo probably can tell you exactly how long he has been the light of your life.

Getting pushed a little out of her comfort zone has been a good thing with the Divine Miss G. Last night she wanted to stay up late with me and when I finally asked her to go to bed, she didn't want to go inside. I asked her for a step up and behold, she put her foot right out and let me pick her up. I quickly got a treat for her and helped her into her cage. This morning, I have asked for a step up twice and she has obliged. She looks wild eyed and panting and scared to death when she steps up, but she is at least willing to try. Slowly slowly she is peeling off all those layers and nudging her hidden personality into the light. She has been playing more boisterously too. She was hanging upside down from a "porch" shelf on the outside of her cage last night and banging one wooden toy against the wall, then placing her beak on the wall and "tracing" the arc of the stick she had just whacked up there. While she was at it, she hung upside down and with a great effort and long reach, she grabbed a cotton string toy and shook it like a puppy playing with a rope toy. I guess she is showing Java just what she is going to do if she comes hopping into her cage again.

Hi David, welcome to the forum. It is a great idea to look into the posts to learn what life is like when you live with a grey. It takes a great commitment but we all have found it to be worth it. I saw a note on your other post this morning asking about a scale. We just got ours from WalMart, a digital scale that can used in grams or ounces. Our vet usually weighs in grams. Our scale is wide enough to put a small wooden perch on it and then set it to zero so when the bird steps onto the perch it gets an accuate weight. We usually weigh our healthy greys weekly to watch for signs of illness because they are very good at hiding it until it gets serious. Also, the signature is in your profile, it is where you can put a quote or pictures of your parrot etc., like at the bottom of mine where I put a banner.

I'm with Talon, that tops out the cuteness scale for me too. Sully is not going to ask for ski equipment any time soon.

Deary me, I don't know what to think. Either Val (Birdhouse) is a wise sage bird whisperer or Java is receiving telepathy from me when reading that last post. Last night she flew to Gil's cage top. Gil moved faster than the roadrunner on the Wile E. Coyote cartoons to come across her floor stand, up the side of her cage to fling herself at the offensive little intruder. Java held her ground and Gil put it in high gear and attempted flight to escape. My husband and I decided to sit quietly and allow it to play out naturally and come to some kind of order or agreement in the house. Gil retreated and looked for assistance. She walked to his chair making many siren, whistles and alarms sounds and requested a step up. She stayed on his arm for a half hour while Java played the part of a plundering pirate. She went into Gil's cage, sampled all her food and toys and Gil watched from afar. After watching a few minutes, I did get up and chase Java out of Gil's cage and then Gil was leaning and wanting to go back. As soon as David placed her on her door, she quickly ducked inside and then reached out and slammed her door behind her. I have to say, that is the most exercise Gil has had in a day since we left for the holidays. Java 1 Gil 0 The gumball rally has officially begun. Gil has reached a place where she is no longer fearful and withdrawn and I think this interaction needs to be carefully supervised, but I also think it is prodding Gil in the right direction being that she emphatically defended her territory at first. As I watched her attempt to take flight with fear as the wind beneath her wings, she went a lot further than she has before. While I wouldn't want her to be terrorized, a little incentive to move was not necessarily a bad thing for her last night. There was no panting or raspy breathing this time and I can't help but wonder if her flapping and climbing and increased activity level lately has given her more strength. Of course that gives me just another little ray of hope.... someday maybe she will regain flight. It would completely change her life for the better.

Wouldn't you know, all this time Gil-girl has been slowly getting acclimated to toys, playing and getting brave she has been watching Java. One of Java's favorite is to punch holes and unravel a roll of adding machine paper tape. We always joke that she is an accountant reading her financials. She rips and tears and grumbles and sometimes we know it must be end of month... or year end, when she grumbles up a storm. After more than a month of sitting next to Java, Gil has taken a new approach and she now has two rolls of paper in her cage. It was good to have them sitting inches apart for a while. I'm watching them carefully but they are both able to be free all day now that they are home again. They are making up for lost time and seem none the worse for their temporary confinement. Interestingly enough there have been no squabbles. I think that is mainly because they have such different communication styles. Gil loves chatting, making jokes and entertaining from arm's length. Java is a cuddle bug and likes nothing more than to sit on the mouse pad while I am at the computer so she can hold the mouse still and get scratches and snuggles. I feel like the lucky one to have the best of both worlds with these two faithful friends.

They have the ability to have complex thinking, its hard to keep up. As Gracie is becoming more mature it will be interesting to see this as a passing phase as she becomes more aware that when someone is not next to her, they are still there. Slowly and surely, you will help Gracie make the transition from her life in your home to your visits with your parents. She has such a great relationship with you that she will help you figure out what she is trying to tell you with the behavior change she is experiencing at your parents. All of us with kids have definitely seen the same things when our kids are out of their familiar place. There is so much to be gained by the interaction with extended family that a little adjustment is worth it.

I went looking for pictures of Jardine's, they are beautiful. I think the POIs have great big personalities. I have had Java for seven years, she speaks very little but communicates in many different ways. Would you believe that once I posted her new photos and talked about her, this morning she started talking and went on for twenty minutes saying the sweetest things. I couldn't move because it was so magical and I didn't want it to end. I am glad you have the videos of Raven. It may still be hard to watch but someday the pain will ebb away and you will watch and feel only the joy you had in your heart for this delightful little soul.

We have had kind of the opposite response taking Gil to see family. She loves the travel, the new home, the new people and even though she is confined to a smaller cage and less freedom than she would have at home, she is happier and more engaged. One thing I have noticed is that I am getting the cold shoulder from her while we are in a new environment and she postures and asks other family members to "rescue" her from me. I think she gets kind of put out by the hours I keep. Both sides of our extended family live in the same area, we are the ones to have moved from the homestead. So, we are busy visiting and coming and going. Earlier trips, we had Gil more secluded and kept in my room for her safety and so she could have more freedom out of her cage etc. This recent trip, she did so much better to be in the middle of things but kept in her cage the whole time. It makes me wonder of with Gracie, like Gil, she is more quiet and reserved and its a little like kids on a sugar high when they get overstimulated. Maybe try a short weekend with your family and keep Gracie confined except for a visit with you behind closed doors at bed time and see if that gives her a little security as well as a little social contact. Maybe backing down the contact and confrontations trying to get her back in her cage while visiting "grandma" just for a few visits could change the dynamics. I really can't blame her for getting a little edgy when she has to share you with everyone else.... I find myself getting irritable when I have to share my hubby while getting pulled in ten directions at once after being just the two of us at home for months in between. Just kidding, I share nice... but sometimes do feel like giving someone a quick chomp just to keep them on their toes.

Thanks Jeff. Java is a fearless adventurer from her first day with us she has never backed down to any creature, ever. She was my first love and introduced me to what a parrot means to our lives. When she first came to us, I could swear she looked in the mirror and saw a silverback gorilla in her mind. She once picked up a small glass, flew and bombed me on the head with it. I am sure she just dropped it because it got too heavy... but coincidentally it landed right on my head. She is just as loving as she is fearless. She will go to anyone, but not just anyone has permissions to rub her head. She isn't a bully... well, she could be, but we have trained everyone to hold their ground and once her bluff is over, she accepts newcomers. She will lie on her back in my hand, tip her head back to have scratches in the little hollow spot under her lower beak. She is the reason I was drawn to this forum to read about greys because I couldn't find much information about the red bellied parrot but her behavior is very similar to a grey other than the verbalizations. She is funny, mischievious, brave and adventurous, sometimes sweet, always headstrong and she made me want to know more about parrots in order to meet the challenges she brought to my quiet house right when our kids were leaving for college.

Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the warm introduction to your family and life with Jake. I am especially delighted at how well he has accepted all of you in such a short time and that his history seems to have been loving and kind to him for him to be trusting and interacting positively in a short time with you. It really will get better all the time and I am glad to be along with your for the journey with Jake in your home.

As I read your last sentence, I smiled. You are right that you need to diminish that behavior but it is the humans that will be trained, as Dan said, to read Luna's body language and prevent the bites before they start. You will still need to let Luna know it is unacceptable, but the main advice given to us from the beginning of our relationship with Gil has been the best way to prevent bites is to learn the body language of our grey and not to push them. One thing that stuck with me is the explanation that a grey is very subtle. If their subtle communication (eye pinnning, moving away, trembling chest, puffed up feathers, or other posture) doesn't yield the result they want they will resort to a bite. Then, if a bite is effective, that will become the "goto" communication device. He may have chosen you as being the most easily trained and you are more tuned in to his subtle clues. Watch and keep track of the situations that lead to a nip and figure out if he is overstimulated by too many people in the room or if he is giving clues that are not being noticed by other family members. Our situation is opposite, "my" little Timneh is more likely to let others give her a scratch and she has decided I am generally not to be trusted with such closeness.