katana600

I have been unfaithful and I am proud of it. Hahahaha. Today I went to replenish my bird food and supplies. I held a little Timneh and I liked it. It was a ten month old and it just jumped into my arms and was playful and gentle and solicited attention with those silver grey eyes. There was also a baby Goffin and it was just as cuddly and loving as its baby reputation. Yes. And I am not finished yet. There was also a baby zon and I held it too. As long as I am admitting my failings, I have another not-so-guilty little pleasure. At night. When Miss Gilbert is ready for bed. When I turn down the lights. Her pupils become big and black and I pretend she is a sweet little baby who would never ever bite someone or be grumpy. Its all true. Then I took a deep breath, shook off my cloak of wanton unabashed parrot loving and I know in my heart Miss Gilbert needs more time and she will someday be exactly what she is meant to be in my life. No replacements, no regrets, but oh what a glorious moment of baby lovin' in three dimensions... or species?

The wary glances of Cocoa and Bacon are familiar, they have been trained well by the beaked overlords. LOL. Corky is a clever and determined to come out with papa. It was nice to have coffee this morning with your whole indoor crew Ray. Damage on your furniture you say? Pish posh, that is antique patina that tells a story of where it has been. LOL. Miss Gilbert is going to teach us well how to tell a good story at our house.

Dan, we can always count on you to bring us a smile. Imagine if there was a mirror nearby for that squirrel to get a look at himself, he would probably have the same expression as his mask.

That is a great idea to have a neutral zone where all the parrots can watch the interaction with you and others and join in without the territorial issues. Your idea may be just the thing I need right when I needed it as Miss Gilbert is just now beginning to look outside her cage for interesting things in the greater world around her. She and our smaller parrot have not been friends, but maybe if they have a spot far from either cage it may be just the opening we were looking for to get them both to have a little more activity in their day. Thanks for the idea.

Since early days, I knew she was an advanced evolution way above my level. I was hoping to find a way to ingratiate myself to her but it is evident she is preparing herself for the final takeover. All I can hope for now is appealing to her empathetic side for mercy. LOL. She may have been denied flight ability, but she is soaring in her heart as she triumphs over her limitations and teaches me to do her bidding and fetch the things that take too long for her to acquire and carry back to her den. She has me on a mission this morning to go to the bird fair and acquire the necessary components to build her empire. With all kidding aside, she is making great strides in her newfound confidence. At night I split a half slice of cheese between the two dogs and now she gets a tiny tidbit after her evening almond offering. She sits quietly and allows me to scratch her head for a few minutes as she winds down and gets ready to go to sleep. It never fails to make me laugh when she says "hey" every time I turn off her light. Sometimes she knows it is coming as I start to withdraw my fingers from her cage as I am scratching her head or massaging the back of her neck. As soon as she senses I am starting to pull away she spins quickly and bites the air where my fingers were a scant second before. I usually softly say "ooh, you almost got me" or "ooh, you scared me". Now for ten minutes after the house is dark and quiet, as I am about to fall asleep I hear her out there exclaiming "ooh" followed by a chuckle. There is no end to the amusement value I give her with my never ending quest to find a way into her heart. I can imagine her turning the gears in her mind that she has me just exactly where she wants me.

I was glued to the screen watching Sully. He is adorable. He was so relaxed there on his custom heated perch. I love how he has one foot drawn up and he is just chillin' and jabbering. After you told him he is a good boy, it sounded to me that he said it back. Also, your avatar is wonderful.

Murfchck, you have an eye for detail, I didn't even notice the grey forums on the computer. I didn't see anything past Cricket. Good set up there Ray. It was nice to go back and get a second look at Cricket's precious little face.

Funny you two. LOL. The last time I tried to use my phone camera to get a video of her playing, she snatched at it through the bars of the cage and got the flexible case and ripped it right off the phone. I think she was saying she is not ready for her close up just yet. After seeing how quickly she chewed through that case, tactical gear is a good idea. It is interesting to see that she will get brave and go on explorations and come back to her cage on her own. Nothing in her exploration seems to have startled her or made her nervous, yet the following day she hunkers down and just wants to sit still. Today is a still day and she hasn't been talking nor has she come out of her cage all day. At first, I would get kind of worried and wonder if she was getting sick. Now I have come to realize she just can't take a lot of stimulation and she just withdraws and settles herself down and by tomorrow she will be out and about again. When she is quiet like this, she looks like a little angel. It makes me wonder if it was my wild imagination that she was just chasing me and trying to bite my toes.

Look at you go Ray. Just looking at the brief glimpse of your home I feel my blood pressure decreasing, my heart rate slowing down and a deep relaxation coming over me. Thanks, I needed that. I have had a rough four days with ratcheting down the wires on changes to my braces (almost done though) plus my wonderful new motorcyle has an odometer discrepancy that will prevent me from getting a clean title and the dealer has been a jerk with a capital J. Your videos of Cricket and now Bacon and Cocoa have been a balm to my soul. Bacon looks just like our little guy "Mick" and our Baxter is a brindle with the softest fur. They are brothers from the same litter. The mama was a blonde long haired mini dachshund from England and the papa was a brindle. I was never going to have a second dog when we lost or beloved Pep, but I got hooked in when I was a puppy sitter for the sister of my two little characters when she was just six weeks old. I went and brought home both of mine, and the friend who got the sister went back to get the other brother. I have not regretted for one second bringing these little brothers into my home. I think the only thing missing from replicating the menagerie at your home is to get a zon... oh yes, and the peacock? and a duck? LOL. Love your happy log cabin.

Early on when we brought home a troubled, multiple rehomed Miss Gilbert, she gave me a couple unexpected wicked hard bites. At that time I read about greys being very subtle with their cues and if we miss the subtle clues, they will use a fierce bite to get their point across. The trouble is, once they start biting, sometimes that becomes their "go to" first reflex. In our case, I learned I was doing too much too fast. While I have not been bitten in a couple of years, that is because I don't give her the opportunity. As much as I want to bury my face in her wonderful scent and hold her close, she doesn't have the trust or ability to regulate her emotions when a human gets a little too close. Of course there are wonderful times, when she will come to me. It is happening more and more where she will come to me and allow me to pick her up. It just takes time and figuring our what it is she wants and what she is capable of giving. My heart goes out to you for the bites you have endured. As Timber's mom said, it does get better. The sweet thing about Miss Gilbert is that she would strike out and bite viciously and suddenly and looked completely surprised as if she didn't do it on purpose followed by an immediate pleading "Sorry" "Sorry" "Gilbert sorry".

Val, one thing I know about you is that you will go to the end of the earth to find ways to relate to the companions in your life. I could not take the vet's advice no matter how hard I tried. Our little dog Pep was also a rescue as well as my first dog. We worked and worked with her and most of her fears subsided but never the fear of thunder. She was a border collie, spaniel mix. The prevailing thought from the SPCA and vet was that she was supposed to be a hunting dog and a familiar tactic in our neck of the woods at the time was to "break" a gun shy dog by setting off firecrackers until they quit reacting. It just sickens me to know what people will do to control animals. I don't want to think about it much. Chloe is safe now. She is going to be a wonderful friend to you. How could you ever resist that little face?

Voilla! You did it mad Steve. I loved Misty and the grumble growl. Your house must be such fun. Thanks for sticking with it to show us your video. I played it over and over and laughed right out loud. Well done you.

Don't be going mad on us Steve, you can do this. Of course, I am saying that while I watch to see how you all do it. Someday in the near future, I know Miss Gilbert is going to be ready for a real video debut and when she is, I will follow your lead and know just what to do.

Rick, I so enjoy your posts. I would love for you to keep this one going as a journal. You are a great example of the ideal home for a grey, heck, I want to come live with you too! LOL. It is inspirational to read the interactions between you and Cosmo. This is the first I have seen the "Nature's little secrets", that is just precious and so true. Thank you for joining our forum and sharing your thoughts and your life with Cosmo with us.

Way to go Ray, I think Cricket has a beautiful face, she could rule my world all right. I love her red eyes. Our little poicephalus red-bellied parrot Java has red eyes too. I say to newcomers to watch her eyes, if they are flashing a lot of red, that means danger stay back. Cricket shows you so much love and I appreciate your work in posting pics and videos on photobucket for us. In no time at all you are going to be the go to guru for posting our own pics. Thanks! Dee

Miss Gilbert says to tell you she will go batscat insane if that woman starts hiding her food dishes. Hahaha. You have some great ideas and I believe we are going to get there soon. I do have some foraging toys in her cage and she has started within the last six months allowing herself to expand her horizons. We have a tall clear plastic cylinder that has little blue divider sticks that she can push and pull to make pine nuts drop down and that was her first "work" tool to find food. We also have the clear acrylic four box "merry go round". The lid of each box opens a different way and she can see the treat inside and has to learn to open each door. It is in the corner of her cage and she uses the bars to propel herself in circles. On top of her cage, we have an orange rubber "football" which I stuff with shredded paper and hide an almond or pistachio to pique her interest. My newest favorite since she has started to explore on the floor is to hide a quarter inch square of cheese in the folds of the dreaded fleece blanket to get her to overcome her reluctance to broaden her horizons.

Happy anniversary dear Janet! One of the most wonderful gifts I gave myself four years ago was to get Juno and I thank him for bringing me to this forum. It is because of all the people who have guided your way, and you for joining them to guide me in my own grey journey. Of course the members who have stuck with us all through the ensuing years and have shared their lives and our greatest joys and deepest sorrows. I celebrate your anniversary and thank you for being a steadfast contributing member. You are going to talk me right into MBS when I get Miss Gilbert settled and the right little Zon comes along.

Thank you for joining us and welcome to our forum Carrie. I also am sorry for the loss of your grandmother and applaud your willingness to integrate Baby into your life. This thread really warms my heart and tells what kind of people are in the grey forum family. I don't have a lot of advice for you that isn't already covered by the great responses already given except perhaps to take photographs of Baby's original cage and at first try to replicate the setup in her new cage if you can. It might give him a sense of familiarity. If that isn't possible, for the beginning, put a perch up midway and hang toys that will be below his head so they won't be intimidating as he gets used to his new home with you. You are so thoughtful in your preparations to take on this labor of love and you will be rewarded with a fascinating companion in Baby.

Your description and willingness to keep a journal is wonderful for me. I would love at some point when you have time if you would post something in our rescue room because I want others to see both sides of rehoming and to celebrate your success with Inara. What a testament to your experience and preparation prior to locating your wonderful new companion. Thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your story. My name is Dee, my husband gives me a wink and a warning when I get too 'involved with TMI' and he just says OCD and I always respond "I know, right, Oh see Dee go". He is going to love your husband's quip.

Penny, I am so sorry you are going through this frustration. If only we all could win the lottery and stay home all the time with our feathered companions. Because of Miss Gilbert's flightless condition and seeing Java come to us with a brutal cut, I am generally against all clipping. But, with that said, Java went through a short period of intense dislike of my daughter when she came home from college on spring break. She picked right up where she left off the following summer. When it was time for the holiday breaks, Kelsey was afraid to come home and although we kept Java caged as much as possible, she would get out and come straight into an attack on the "intruder" in our home. It was intense and sustained and we tried for almost a year to come to some agreement. Finally with heavy heart I took her to the vet and talked about clipping. She is not a grey, but has the same body proportions. The vet barely clipped the first three feathers and said lets try the least amount of change and bring her back if it doesn't help. She could still fly anywhere in the house, just not as quickly and not as agile as before. With that one time clip we have never done it again, but it did help. We also worked every day to give Kelsey a chance to use a stick perch and come upstairs to "rescue" Java and bring her to the basement were we all gathered to watch movies and play video games. She was the one to give Java her daily treats and we finally got the two of them to be friends. This too shall pass with Nilah. She knows she has your heartstrings and she is a clever clever little girl.

I have a miter saw and extra baseboards to fix anything Miss Gilbert decides to redecorate. All I have to do is move her basement apartment and she can still have lots of room out of her cage to play without getting down and destructive. Of course, I find it so endearing to see her climb over to slide down the bars like a little fireman on his way to the fire, then do a little hop at the end to get to the floor. I sit in my chair and watch as she goes from one safe little corner to the next, ducking and hunkering down to explore the great unknown. Last night I had a couple of lady friends over. We were on the screened back porch when I decided to open the doors, turn on the attic fan and air the house out with cool fresh air. When I turned the fan on, my friend closed the door and it created a huge gust of air when she reopened it. The airflow caused a small toilet tissue roll on the bottom shelf of Miss G's play area to flutter and it scared her real bad. She has been cautious since I put it there, but now the thing really did try to attack the poor girl. She fell right off the top row of branches on her floor stand. Although she caught herself on the way down, she was panting and frantic. I offered her my hand and she stepped up willingly. She climbed up on my shoulder and I walked slowly to the screen porch. She sat on my shoulder and she got down and walked around on the back of the wicker sofa. My friends were amazed. They have been here many times and she has never interacted with us like that. She is so unsteady on my shoulder, her balance isn't good and she slips around and falls even when I am sitting still. I offer her a steady hand and she permits me to steady her. That is major progress. After our successful encounter she returned to her cage when she asked to go back. Then she was singing and whistling and it was just joyful. The one thing I can never get enough of is when she is on my shoulder leaning against my ear, I feel the warmth of her body and I smell her sweet fresh linen scent. I want to bury my face in her back and just inhale her. It smells like sheets fresh off the line. After that... whats a few splinters on a ole china cabinet? Antique is another name for old. LOL.

Welcome to Chloe! I think she is just precious. I don't know anything about her breed or the issues she is facing but I know you have the patience and the caring attitude to get her through anything. I may have an extra thundershirt around here, I will look in my cupboard of animal stuff. It has about eight shelves of parrot toys and accessories, and one little corner for the dogs. We got it for our mini dachshund when he was barking at every little thing. It wasn't a lot of help in that instance, maturity and some training helped him though. I have to say I am a fan of the rescue remedy drops. It was a consistent schedule of giving them to Miss Gilbert every day that marked a change in our relationship. As for the storm issues, Miss G came in with those too. At first I left the light on and slept on the sofa where she could see me and gradually over time, she has gotten calm through the storms. I do leave a light on for her when it is storming now. That helps cut back on the bright flashes of lightning. I was wondering for Chloe if you could get a recording of a thunderstorm and once you have gotten her acclimated to her new home, play it on a very low setting often until it is background noise, then gradually turn it up and maybe that would help sort of immunize her to it. We had a dog once that was terribly fearful of storms and the vet told us we were reacting and reinforcing it when we cuddled her and soothed her when a storm came. It is a tough call, some dogs just are not going to "get over it". With time though, Chloe will settle down and know she hit the jackpots finding you for her mama.

Thanks! We may get to that point some time but for now, she gets wigged out over the camera or phone if I try to video. Actually, she is just getting brave enough to move about with me close to her. As soon as I can, I will get her on video and post it for all of you. She is looking lovely these days. Her feathers have regrown on her chest and she looks much more sleek and elegant now that I know she's a girl. LOL. It is still a two steps forward, one step back process but the two steps forward are more emphatic and the one step backward is showing signs of becoming a half-step in the dance that is Miss Gilbert coming to terms with her awakening.

This has been a banner day for Miss Gilbert. She is still on the floor. She will return to her comfort zone, regroup and come back out to play once again. She is overcoming her blanket/towel aversion because her curiousity and desire are getting greater than her fear. She really wants to chew on the wooden trunk and is tugging and pulling on the corner of the fleece blanket to uncover her treasure chest. LOL. Even though I don't want her to destroy my home, I want much more for her to be curious and brave, so I am rewarding her for her effort by hiding happy little surprises in the folds of the blanket now. I can move furniture to one room and seal it off if I want it to be unscathed by parrot beaks. We only live once, I want her to grab life by the little red tailfeathers and find her way in the great big world she is immersing herself into with such fanfare.