katana600

Perhaps we are not all that bad. She took a liking to my son-in-law and when they came to visit, she came right out on his hand every time he asked her. Funny when we were at their house she was on the offensive and downright obnoxious to them. They even brought their cat and she didn't have a moment of problem with any of our guests. Of course, with so many people here everyone was giving her tidbits of watermelon, baked chicken and her all time favorite nutriberries treats. She has gone from letting me scratch her head to asking everyone here for a head scratch. She is leaving behind a lot of her baggage and the best is yet to come.

Miss Gilbert claims she is in the federal witness protection program, no cameras allowed! I am beginning to suspect she is more likely a little mobster hiding out under the guise of a rescue. You have to admit, I am a little thick, it has taken me five years to have the first suspicion. Hahahaha. Seriously, one of these days I will figure out the hidden camera and have it running when she goes into one of her good times. The only problem with that is when I have to edit out my own misbehavior. All kidding aside, I am over the moon with her two months of sweetness. She is coming out of her shell a lot more and always asking for contact.

We are having company this weekend. I have been freshening the upstairs bedrooms and bathroom. Gil knows someone is coming. Yesterday she kept asking me "Who dat dere?" I didn't get it. I just thought she felt like revisiting her Cajun roots. Then she asked "Who dat dere dammit?" Hahahaha. I still didn't get it. Next she started naming everyone she has ever known. Macy, Marilyn, Walter, David, Mick, Buddy... and "Who dat dere?" Finally I got it. I told her Kelsey was coming, Ryan is coming, Rachel is coming, Andres is coming. About an hour later, she was saying "PooKano" over and over.... oh yes, Baby David is coming too. I decided to have a little fun with her. Of all the people who have ever been here, she was seriously not in love with my nephew Mark. She would not talk to him. She told everyone night night, sweet dreams, bye and see ya later, except him. He asked "don't you want me to have sweet dreams?" She said "No". So when I heard another "Who dat dere" I asked if she wants to see Mark and she said "Sh!t". So, I said, alright then, Mark is not coming. Hahahaha. I did not laugh in front of her, but that was a tough one to hold back.

Miss Gilbert's answer is an emphatic no. She has serious rules about contact and at present I am only permitted to scratch her head, neck and shoulders when she decides it is okay. Only on very limited special occasions, like when she is frightened by a thunderstorm in the middle of the night, may I ever touch her without the cage bars "protecting" her from intrusion. My little red bellied parrot Java on the other hand will do exactly what Poppy is doing. Java came to us as a baby and she has always been a cuddler. If I am on my computer she comes and sits next to the mouse and pushes my hand to get me to stop and give her snuggle time.

Our Miss Gilbert came to us as a plucker. At one point our vet suggested we try Rescue Remedy for pets. It is a homeopathic blend. I put a few drops in her water daily and with time, it did seem to help her have less anxiety. Once she broke the cycle, she still reverts to plucking when she is under duress. That can be when we travel and she adjusts to a new place, or it can be when I change my schedule from what she anticipates. I have come to terms with it. She will barber her chest and thighs and look scruffy for a while, but then she goes months without a care in the world. As far as the pooping, birds will naturally poop when they are about to take flight. What I usually do is come ask for a step up, when she reaches up her foot, I put a tissue down and say "bombs away". She will poop, then I have about a half hour before I take her back where she will automatically poop again as soon as she is on her perch. I had grand ideas of teaching her to poop on a tissue because I could choose her poop place or leave a tissue in her cage so she would always have a target. Unfortunately, with her background she is not predictable as to when she is willing to come out of her cage so we don't get consistent practice. It just helps to have her poop before I pick her up, then take her back before it is time to go again.

We just hired our vet's assistance to live-in with our dogs and parrots when we went away over the 4th of July weekend. It was perfect. She wasn't afraid of the birds, everyone was in great spirits when we returned.

Aww, just look at that. Giovanna is definitely a bird person! You have a great set up there with Poppy. It really does get better and better as you learn from her and teach her wonderful things about life in your family. Before I had Gil, I had no idea just how much these creatures wrap themselves around your heart. Now I realize just how much they have you printed on their hearts as well. They really are not a pet, they are a family member. I do have an empty nest and love having Miss Gilbert here to keep life interesting. I look forward to watching Poppy grow up with your kids.

That is so very funny Jeff. I know you love that Gracie is content to visit your parents, but it still stings a little when you come home and get the cold shoulder while she teases you with her new man. I have to admit, when my husband travels, I buy something new and when he comes home, I tell him my boyfriend got it for me because he knew I was lonesome while he was gone. He said, how come your boyfriend uses my checkbook, he owes me a lot of money. My answer "Consider that consulting fees, seems you are a slow learner." Hahaha, that's a game I like to call "You can't win".

Gil girl has been a treat for two months now. She never gets enough of the head and neck rubs. Now she doesn't even care when I reach inside her cage, as long as she gets a little head rub. We both work pretty hard to be nice, sometimes we slip up but its good for a laugh. From the time I read that poem about growing old, wearing purple and spitting on the sidewalk, purple has been my favorite color. I imagine my grandchildren in the future getting on a forum somewhere to learn how to best condition me to live in polite society. Hahahaha.

There is something magical about these tiny little powerhouse creatures. The word is out that this is a good place for them. They are coming in groups of six or more now. I put out four new feeders and they are using all of them. While I am on the deck they will come land right on the stainless steel wires of the deck rails just a foot or so from me. I have always loved them and this is the first time they have come to the feeders consistently. I got all the work done outside and have kept the door closed so I haven't had any more inside. I love watching them. It is amazing how tiny their nest is. I would love to see a nest some day.

It is very rewarding to watch someone with a new baby grey putting so much time and effort into reading, researching, asking questions and just plain learning to read her baby. Considering you got her from so far away, it is almost like an arranged marriage where you both just happen to have fallen in love at first sight. As for personality and shaping, I think there is a balance of nature and nurture. When you keep that balance all is well. When you fight to turn a Tigger into a Pooh, that is when you have disappointment. Just as Miss Gilbert is shaped by where she has been, she also is shaped by learning to trust. Many people will come and go from Poppy's domain and she will learn from each person and learn that you are mom, you are always with her and her heart will be part of your heart.

Oh, and funny you should mention pearls. I was just lying in bed thinking how long it has been since I put on a linen dress and pearls. Hubby travels extensively and when he gets home for a weekend, I would rather build a fire outside and have a night in. But on those occasions when I do make that special effort.... it might be just as likely that I will delicately finger my pearls in my lovely floral linen and say some of the same words that Gilbert says if the shock value is worth it to me. Bwahahaha.

Thanks for your kind words. When I suffered such a loss as two baby greys in less than a year, I thought my dream was ended. My house had the specter of disease and there is so little known about PDD even after more than forty years, I couldn't bear think we could be harboring it and accidentally infect a healthy parrot. Then along came Miss Gilbert. Her circumstances were unique, she has been around the block a time or two and the risk/benefit balanced out. We were meant for each other. Each broken in our own kind of way. But maybe that understanding has been just what we needed to grow together. In just a few weeks she has really started to blossom. She wants me to rub her head every time she sees me and she even will call to me to come to her. That is amazing to me. But, we have our kids coming home for Labor Day, and I have been a working fool making ready for outdoor activities. Gil has been a little miffed with me. When I come in exhausted and sit at the table where she can't see me from her perch, she whistles to me to come. I answer and tell her "just a minute" and she cusses. When she can't see me, I have to admit, I smile to myself. I don't reply to her or say a word, I just stay real quiet and when she says something nice, I get up and go to her. Her favorites lately to show her displeasure at my change in routine is sh!t. If that doesn't light a fire under me, she says wh0r@#! sometimes fifty times in a row. I am deaf, I hear nothing. But it does tell me that I need to get up bright and early and spend a couple of hours with her before I start my other work. For all her salty side, and all we have worked to attain with her, the sweetest moment is when she asks me "gotta treat?" and when I bring her a grape or something, she wants me to rub her head rather than for her to go right to her snack. Now that is progress!!!

It is a toss up between you and GracieMae for entertainment purposes. When I see a new post on YouTube, I can't wait to go watch to get my smile on. The Sterling ranch is a party every day.

Poppy is just adorable. Due to our circumstances, it has taken five years for Miss Gilbert to allow me to rub her head through the bars of her cage and just on special occasions she is starting to ask for a head scratch when she is away from the cage. Your little girl is just the sweetest baby with those beautiful dark eyes. Enjoy every minute with her. She really came around quickly to feel right at home with you. If you haven't already thought of it, this is a good time for harness training while she is so cuddly and close. That could allow her to be outside with you under close supervision. It is one of those things you have to commit to practicing frequently and make it rewarding to her. Some people have found that even going through the winter not using it will cause their older parrots to refuse to wear it later.

Great thread Ray! When I read the subject line I thought it was about my nightly dreams. Miss Gilbert spends her time haranguing me the most. My lovely daughter taught her to yell "Ma, Ma, Maaaaa!" from a scene with Will Ferrell in the Wedding Crashers "Ma the meatloaf!". Gil will drive me crazy with that then mock my frustrated response with "What, What WHAT?" then mock my laugh. When we had Kopi, I gave him stainless steel condiment cups to play. Our two dachshunds were just babies. He would coax them to his cage with sweet words, toss them a few scraps of food, then suddenly scoop up water in the cup, fling the whole thing clanging and scary to the floor and they would run to hide under my bed. Then so sweetly he would say "Come here puppy, come on, come on." Followed by the most sympathetic sounding "It's okay". As the dogs have grown, they are never going near the parrots, they give them a wide berth.

He just wants to make sure the dog knows its place. Parrots come first, humans next and dogs are at the bottom of the pecking order. No pun intended. I'm glad he is settling down. Miss Gilbert has a penchant for cussing and we have been working on downplaying that but she knows just how to get the most impact. She does say nice things too, but that doesn't make her laugh. I'm really glad Cookie is settling down. He just didn't like the unexpected startle most likely.

It sounds like this was just a startle response and Cookie is mad at the dog for making him "lose his cool". I'm guessing it will all blow over. Your dog is lucky he is just getting growled at... Miss Gilbert has a salty vocabulary and she calls me a lady of the night in her own coarse, sarcastic way if I startle or displease her. I've had a week of it since I have been outside working for two weeks and she suspects I am seeing other birds. Hahahaha.

I had another thought. Is Cookie flighted? The reason I ask is that Miss Gilbert has never been trimmed with us, but she is incapable of flight due to wing damage. If Cookie can not fly, he is more insecure and aware that his main escape plan is unavailable to him and that might make him a little more apprehensive. I'm sure that has added to Miss Gilbert's tension.

They don't like surprises because they are prey animals. Cookie is intelligent enough to know that the dog is a predator and to be out of the routine, in his mind a surprise like that could be his last. We also have a parrot who likes her cage the best. She isn't at all afraid of our dogs, but they are little dachshunds and were around the parrots since they were tiny. Plus, they are so close to the floor, and the cage is a stacked one, so Miss Gilbert is eight to ten "dog heights" from the little critters. She also gets freaked out with loud noises but is doing a lot better when I tell her "loud noise" then I turn on the vacuum and turn it off. I tell her she is okay, then I can vacuum to my heart's content and she doesn't seemed bothered. Probably the best thing you can do for Cookie is to put a gate across the stairs so the dog can't get there before you are there, if that is an option. Miss Gilbert still needs me to announce that I am coming out of my bedroom because her cage is just outside the door. If I come around the corner when she isn't expecting it she will fall right off her perch and flap around from being startled. I think it really was Cookie getting caught off guard. I think of Miss Gilbert as similar to a person with PTSD, it doesn't take much of a trigger to make her remember when her life wasn't so routine and ordinary. We have lived with her for five years and she was somewhere between five and seven, had been in at least four, maybe five homes before she came to us.

This is how close I was to finishing my deck oiling project. It has rained every day since we pressure washed the deck so it seems like the job that never ends. I would have completed it last night if I hadn't had my little hummingbird adventure. If I hadn't piled all the furniture, grill and dangerous smelly oils and brushes in there, I would have just turned off the light and let him sleep out there last night. I am still beyond amazed at him and the female just sitting on me and not flying off. All I can think is they were utterly exhausted from being trapped, trying to fly out through the roof and beating their little wings against the rafters. I try to keep the screen door shut but will either hang a sheet over it so I can come and go with my hands full or put a stand there so I can set things down and close the door to keep this from happening again. I have heard that one of my neighbors works with banding and tracking the hummingbirds. I read about it and its a specialized process that you have to go to classes and be certified to participate. This has certainly piqued my interest. Until the past couple of weeks, I had barely noticed the hummingbirds. We had a feeder about six feet off the ground and they never seemed interested so I had put it away.

Last night I could barely sleep between the awe and wonder of having a hummingbird in my house and worry that it would be okay during the night. This morning, as soon as it was daylight, I peeked in and could not find him in the backpack. My heart sank, but as I carried it outside, he came to life and was buzzing and squeaking. As soon as I unzipped it he whizzed away into the treetop like a bullet. In two minutes he was back sitting on the feeder for a long time. In the meantime, to my utter disbelieve and great delight, the female came and landed less than three feet from my shoulder on one of the wires on the deck rail. I have never seen them land low like that. She sat there and I didn't want to move and jinx the moment. Finally, I turned and said "You're welcome baby" as I pretended she was thanking me for keeping her mate safe overnight. I will have to put a sign outside "Dee's Birdie Bed and Breakfast".

It wasn't me, because I don't give the look to Miss Gilbert.... she gives me the stink eye. Hahaha. You might as well go right now and buy a piece of plexiglass and glue a couple of feet onto it so you can use your computer. My keyboard finally gave up after a little birdie took the keys off and chewed up the "s". Then, when I pressed on the little rubber boot to type an s, it would shock me. Now there is a bird who knows s is for stinkeye. She didn't want me telling anyone about it. I am so glad that Poppy is getting settled in with you. Your life will never be the same and you will not be able to imagine how it was BP... before Poppy.

Another day of staining the deck and just as I was trying to finish before dark, I came inside and found another hummingbird had made his way into the screen porch. He was clinging to the screen about ten feet up and he would not let go. I went and got a ladder to help him get out because it was getting close to dark. I climbed up and reached my hand up to him. He made a loud squeak and jumped right onto my thumb. I carefully took him outside and he would not let go. Then, all the while he was sitting on my thumb, I reached inside the door in the basement where I had Gilbert's travel backpack and he hopped right in there. I put in in a dark place in the house to keep him safe until morning. I will get up at dawn and set him free at the feeder. I have never seen such a thing as them getting on my hand, much less refusing to budge to get off and fly away. He is so tiny, not much bigger than a dragonfly. I could barely feel him on my thumb.

Inara's post reminds me of something. She calls her cage "home". If you use the same words and tone, she will get accustomed to hopping right in and waiting for her reward. Some respond to food treats for rewards while others are in it for the praise and attention. Also, birds like to climb up, it is a natural instinct. If she starts up your arm toward your shoulder, lift your arm higher and generally they will climb to the high side. When I first got my smaller red bellied parrot Java, she would climb to my shoulder, across my back... anything to not go back to her cage. Sometimes you can back up to a wall and get them to come around. I started wearing really baggy tee shirts over my clothes. When Java would persist in staying with me I would pull the tee shirt right over my head and "bag" her to get her back in her cage. It only took once or twice before all I had to do is ask her to step up on my hand and if she started resisting, I would lift the hem of the tee shirt and she would be in a hurry to cooperate. Note... this was more than ten years ago, she was my first parrot experience and I had not found this forum to learn that its far better to stop her from being on my shoulder than to have to resort to tricks to get her off. You are a quick study and we know how intelligent our greys are, you will both be old pros in a short time.