katana600

Well, I thought last winter was cold and harsh after getting reacquainted with lake effect snows in northwestern Pennsylvania from Georgia last year. It was about minus twelve when I drove in under white out conditions in early January. The saving grace was the wonderful wood stove heat. Once I got past the shock of having to adjust to winter driving after twenty years in warmer climates, it made me yearn for white Christmases and challenging weather, family, friends, and "home".

Interestingly enough many of our grey families on the forum will also have an amazon and I have been giving it quite the consideration myself. We have lived with a 7-12 year old multi-rehomed Timneh for about two and a half years. He is not noisy nor has he been hormonal to my knowledge. I have often heard that terminology in our vet's office, at the bird fair and through our breeder in discussing amazons as they reach maturity. It seems to be a passing "thing" and I haven't heard a lot from our members as to that being the general case. Its a real tough call because while some species have common traits, each parrot is an individual affected by his past baggage and subject to change in the future. Our little guy was a traumatized, withdrawn, fearful little shaking bundle of plucked little self but he is becoming a treasured part of our family as he comes out of his shell and he makes us laugh every day with his cleverness. It is one of those things that when you make the decision, you will learn to make it work with whichever one is meant to be with you. Kudos to you for thinking of rescue. Its not just a companion, its a calling.

That is a good video, thanks for finding it for us. It sounds like Wilbur is building some trust with you and is learning he doesn't need to bite you to get his point across. I love what you did with the perch to "bridge" between the biting transition to eventually when he will step up onto your hand. This approach has not worked with Gilbert, but he stepped up to me from the beginning and abruptly stopped when I had braces installed on my teeth. Since he still will step up to others, and sometimes to me, I just don't force the issue and he comes to me in other ways on his terms. Your description of relaxing with your back to him and getting a surprise will keep you on your toes, no doubt. As far at the flying wildly and breaking things, if you had one room where you could take out any excess obstacles, maybe being away from the cage area would be calming to Wilbur. When we had a different parrot who was flighted, I had a pool table in our basement and put foam mattresses on it so we had a spot to go and help him learn to land. They are quick studies, so when the time is right he will learn.

You have done really well with her. This is one of those things that would have stirred me up had I not read all of the posts Dave has made in the past. I still would have concern if we found an egg, but just staying calm and acting normal with her has been what she needed. One thing is for certain, our parrots are complicated and very interesting. Never a dull moment in your house is there?

If Gilbert's DNA says he is a she, it probably wouldn't change much for a while as I get over the shock. I was never told he had DNA testing, just that his name is Gilbert and he says it a lot. He also met a friend of ours named Walter once, two years ago plus and says his name a lot too. He also calls out for Jim, whom I am told was his beloved first companion human. But, he doesn't use Jim or Walter, or LuLu in a way that he does when he talks about himself. It is uncanny that he started saying "Gilbert okay" when he most definitely isn't okay, in a shaky voice and sounding so much like he is trying to convince himself. Or when he says "time to go night night Gilbert". Gabriella does sound like a wonderful name, I would love to get a baby and name her that. LOL. As for our little rag TAG fellow, it would be a little tougher to convince ourselves to change anything except vet records, but who knows how his life would evolve with that kind of revelation. We have already had some happy surprises with Gilbert, who knows what is in store? All I know is better to have a piece of paper to disabuse me of my acceptance that he is a boy rather than an egg with no warning, or worse if "he" were to become egg bound.

There is just nothing better than those first days home after waiting for the baby to wean and come home. It was a scary first few days and then it is magical. You and Petri are having a great start. Thanks for joining us.

I just had to go look on a map to see where to find Gilbert WV. Beckley is my half-way marker when driving from Georgia to family in Pennsylvania. My husband's grandparents were from Fairmont. It is just beautiful where you live, I would be a hillbilly any day. Thirty years ago I went to meet family and was taken back a little when someone at church came up to Aunt Midge and asked how she was feeling. From the sweetest proper looking little lady came out "Well, I've been better, I was drunker than a billy goat last night." In church. Have mercy. I hadn't been raised in church but thought they certainly aren't stuffy now are they? LOL. Turns out she was talking about an inner ear balance issue. I learned to love all the colorful language and have delighted in visiting family in WV. Welcome to the forum, glad you could join us.

Welcome to the forum, I am glad you are persistent and not easily deterred. The fact you posted pictures on your intro is impressive since it took me a whole lot longer to figure it out. Cleo looks so much like our Java and your description of ruling the roost and coming from rotten eggs is making me smile. We have a red bellied female, Java, from the same poicephalus family. She is seven now and she is still a little spitfire. Trying to understand her was what brought me to the forum since her behavior is more like the African grey than any other information I could eke out. I look forward to hearing more about Bailey too. We have a rehomed character and not only is there no such thing as a free lunch, we paid extra for the learning experience. LOL. And now you have Zoey. She is adorable. There is a saying about having kids, you have two kinds... "one to make you happy, one to make you humble"... because thats how you learned that the one that made you happy had nothing to do with you but was their inborn nature... LOL. The same thing may apply to parrots. I look forward to learning about your journey.

Gilbert's vet called to say all of his blood screenings were normal and that his rasping was probably overexertion. He was pushing his boundaries and comfort zone to walk to the kitchen and there were scary things out there with pot racks hanging, sharp knives in view, cutting boards handy, poor guy may have thought the veggies I was chopping were for parrot stew. No wonder he tried to fly out of there in a panic. He calls hmself Gilbert and says daily what a good boy he is, it would be a challenge to change his mind on that one. He really has been making some remarkable progress. It seems for the longest time I had to wait while he was locked down with fear. Now as he has started getting his mojo we have something new every day. I was really intimidated by the prospect of a "bird with issues" but given the chance to blossom, Gilbert has been well worth the effort. Knowing how hard it has been for him to trust every tiny increment of progress was hard to achieve and worthy of a huge celebration. Last night as he closed his eyes and surrendered to the feeling of my finger on his head and neck (still through the bars) I was thinking how he would try to be relaxed before but couldn't help himself from pulling back and trying to bite out of reflex. Still, his "signs" are subtle, I have just learned to read him better and to keep him from getting distraught and fearful enough to bite.

I am so sorry you have all been under the weather. It makes it all the more difficult to weather the emotional struggle with a sick baby. Hopefully the antibiotics will help Echo and you will see some progress. Hope he is a good boy to take meds from you. My heart is with you and as the others have said, praying for improvement for Echo.

Gilly, my daughter would love that. She already calls in Gilly bear. He has really taken a turn toward confidence lately. He was a little quieter last night, but was still moving around and didn't resort to any of his anxious behaviors whatsoever, so yay on that. He did refuse to go inside his cage for bed time and that is a first. He tried to bite David and that is a first. When I came to bring him a helping of warm beans before bedtime, he came at me and tried to bite me. I love the long rectangular glass tray I found for carrying his food dishes. I can hold that above my hand, he can see me, but he knows he can't get to me and he will back off instead of trying to bite my hand. Once he got a tummy full of beans, I thought he might go to bed then, but nope. He was just being obstinate. I turned off the lights and went to bed thinking he would climb in when he felt like it. When I came back out after a half hour, he was still on his open door. Finally, I went to take an Aleve and that was the magic. When I shook out the tablet, he perked right up to the rattling sound. Maybe that sounds like his almonds or pine nuts when I shake the container. He hustled into his cage but he refused his night time almond and then right in the middle of being a little pip, he tucked his head and asked for a scratch and everything was peachy with him again. This morning all is well in his world and he is back to being wonderful again.

What a coincidence, we sent a sample today to get DNA gender results. Since he calls himself Gilbert, I hope it confirms he is male. The vet said it is worth knowing because of issues that may affect one gender differently than the other. For us, if they confirm he is male, I may be a little more likely to allow him to have cardboard boxes and chewing things without being concerned he will start nesting and laying eggs. It was funny, the vet said we have lived this long without knowing, we wouldn't "have" to do it and it isn't like I would have to "hurry home and paint his room blue or anything". LOL. It will be interesting to know.

We have the same light too. Gilbert pays no attention to it at all. As far as a normal grey, they keep redefining that for us.

Gilbert is blossoming in front of my eyes and it is so subtle that I can't really point to when things change. I keep responding to him with the same attitude and keep trying some new things that should be good for him and he will suddenly decide it is the most wonderful thing he was ever offered. He had his annual vet visit today. I could have been standing there with my jaw dropped to the floor, I really couldn't tell you. He first stepped up from his cage to go into his backpack. He chatted in the car on the way. He talked to the receptionist. He stepped up from his backpack and I put him on his table perch to be ready for his vet. He stepped right up for her and then to the tech and back. He talked and was a regular little charmer. Things went south just briefly when they had to draw some blood. One good thing was that even though he got worked up and screamed and growled and struggled.... but he never got raspy like I heard in the kitchen last week. She said his lungs sound clear and normal. We wouldn't have needed any blood work this time, but since I was concerned about what I heard, she said it would be a good idea to run a panel to make sure there wasn't a respiratory issue. We made a stop at the motorcycle shop to pick up some paperwork and Gilbert stepped up for two people there and had himself a look at the new bike he put on his Christmas list. LOL. He was such a little social butterfly today. I am bit surprised at how much he was talking and waving his foot to ask for step ups. On the way home, I absorbed what his vet said about the possibility of flight. She saw him when we got him and the feathers that he pulled. Her colleague saw him last year. She fanned his wings and pointed out the gaps that have never filled and she said it has been too long, that if they were going to regrow it would have happened by now. I want to believe he will fly, but sadly, we may have to help him find other ways to lift him up to see the world. Luckily he is getting more mobile and I would string perches up along the ceiling in every room it that gave him a better perspective. He is amazing. He is Gilbert. We should get his DNA gender results in about ten days and you'll be the first to know when they confirm its a boy. He has to be. Otherwise we have to call him Berta.

It must be getting real close to time for a visit with Precious, September? It has to be bittersweet to have her where you know she is happy and thriving but missing her so much for how she came into your life with your husband. Who knew how these grey parrots would work their way into our hearts and into our very souls. We are going on a visit next week to see our girls in their new lives in Texas. I keep thinking I want to cancel my ticket and drive so Gilbert can go with me. I am spending days in my sewing area in the basement and coming back up to check on him and he is fine all day. I suspect he will be ornery after a vet visit at the end of the week. He knows my friend and will be fine and perhaps even the time away will allow him to miss me just a bit. Yesterday was a lot of fun, I had a new quilter over learning a few things and Gilbert was eliciting our attention and regaling us with many questions "Whatter YOU doing?" It was really cute. He comes out with new sounds from his former life because we don't have any star wars sound effects or the like that he suddenly started practicing yesterday. He is still loving the "Maaaaaa" "Hey Maaaaa". I can't stay annoyed with him but he sure knows how to take me to the last thread of a nerve with that one. Then when he laughs, I can't stop myself from laughing too. I know it will only encourage him but he is so darn cute about it. His cage and the floor around him is messier than I have ever seen it. I love it so much. He is really getting to be a normal parrot.

Welcome to our forum, you definitely have a heart for wanting to do right by Wilbur and came to a good place for people to give you some insight based on what has worked for our African Greys. Way cool you are from Gilbert WV since our little guy is named Gilbert. Once thing I have learned is the concept of grey time. This is different than any other creature you have encountered on earth and some things will make your world seem upside down. Like you say, the more he likes you the less he talks when you come into the room. It could be that having you out of sight he feels necessary to make contact calls which is something they do in the wild. When you leave the room and he makes a whistle if you make it back to him, it will be reassuring to him. We have some of the same behavior you describe, we used to refer to Gilbert as Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. You just never know what you are going to get. With Gilbert it was definitely fear driven. Slowly, with consistency, over more than a couple of years, we are still making progress. As you already have surmised, there really is no way to "punish" a parrot or give them aversion therapy, they are so clever that they don't react like a cat might to a squirt of water. He knows darn well where it came from and will wait many weeks or months to let you know that. The only way I can think of it is... you can push a wet string to make it go where you want, but it is going to take a long time, be unpredictable and messy. Instead you must lead by example and patience and show Wilbur that you have wonderful things in store for him when he decides to trust you. Believe me, when the day comes that he responds to you with affection and trust, it is better than winning the lottery. You have the heart for figuring him out and appealing to his nature, you are in for a challenge but I think you can do it.

Poor Jake, you must be heartbroken when you see him shaking and frightened. We have gone through this with Gilbert and we are gearing up for his annual vet visit Friday so it will take a little while for him to come back to peaceful days too. Will keep my fingers crossed that your numbers don't change much and this is just his "normal". I wonder if some warm oatmeal or mashed potatoes on a spoon would be soothing to him? That seems to be magical for Gilbert during stressful times.

His pacing and high anxiety is as the others expressed, as natural reaction to his separation from the ones Luigi knew and loved. For now, just getting his food and water changed and clean will be your challenge. We have had our rescue grey for more than two years and he is still a little reactive to anyone touching his cage. He was older than Luigi and had been rehomed several times so, as stated, individual parrots will process this change at his own pace. Its natural for you to want to "do" something to alleviate his anxiety but conversely, the more we do for them and around them, the more agitated they sometimes become. Letting him see that you are no threat and that you bring good things to him is the first line of acceptance. He's desperate to reunite with his familiar surroundings. As for cage cleaning, does the tray pull out for you to line it with paper etc. It may be a long haul so you will want to have a way to clean his cage. Avoid direct eye contact with him, gradually as you talk to him you might approach his cage, stopping when he growls and wait for him to get calm then slowly approach when you are feeding him etc. I found it helpful at first to use a piece of newspaper above my hand so I could quickly reach in and change dishes without him getting a bite in on me. I also have food and water doors on both sides of the cage, so if he would go to one side, I put the food or water on the opposite side until he could tolerate my hand near him. Believe me, it will get better, but it will take him some time to understand that you are good for him.

Our TAG came to us as a rehome and we were told he is a stress plucker. On the day I met him he had gotten so upset about being moved to a travel cage that he had totally ripped out more than 20 flight feathers. He has slowly over two years gotten better able to express his anxiety without chewing or barbering his chest feathers. A big stress in his life like when I spent a few days away from him to accompany family to the hospital, resulted in him chewing all the little feathers off his chest until it was almost bald. He hasn't plucked again, thankfully. It does take some time, especially after being rehomed. Our vet did a panel of blood tests and he didn't find any blatant medical cause and believes it is anxiety based. We did try Rescue Remedy drops for pets from the Bach Flower remedies at the suggestion of our vet and it seemed to help him some. The best thing by far though has been consistency, time and trust. Gilbert has not been flighted for at least five years and I do believe that has had an impact on his anxiety issues.

That is a story waiting to be told. Our greys are the greatest actors and acrobats of all time. Great picture, thanks.

That is so powerful and appropriate. As I was getting ready for sleep last night, I was thinking about Gilbert and how I resisted thinking about him in the beginning. I knew he had issues, I knew his caretaker was on the fence to keep trying or to give him up and I just hoped she would keep him. I thought long and hard trying to convince myself that it was too much to take on. We had already lost two greys to illness and wondered if we were up to facing an unknown older bird already burdened with so many problems of his own. In a conversation with his caretaker when I learned it wasn't a matter of wanting to keep him and keep trying, it was a catastrophic health issue that was preventing her from keeping him. Yes, he has been a challenge. Yes he has issues. I soon discovered, so do I, LOL. In the long run, in grey time, I learned that anything worth doing is worth a total effort. Knowing where he has been, the many times he has had to change households through no fault of his own, it is a celebration when he chooses to trust and try again. Yes, it takes time. I think to myself, that time would have passed with much less laughter and pure magic of Gilbert making great strides to become just a normal grey.

Oh Ray, he didn't have to read my mind, David was all to happy to tell him all about mama using the bad word she tells him not to say. He did a right funny comedy routine over it. I came in soaked to the tips of my boots and David was too but he was in a big hurry to tell Gilbert his tales. Why, I thought David was reading my mind. Turns out the intercom is voice activated. LOL. Gilbert has an annual vet visit on Friday and a bit after that we should get confirmation of his gender. They don't do a blood panel every year on a healthy parrot, but he needs one this time and it will help us be sure the wheezing raspy sound isn't something besides sudden exertion. While I eagerly await them seeing Gilbert's improvements since last year, I am thinking he is not going to be too jolly and entertaining for them. That little fellow is full of surprises, so I would be better off not guessing how he will respond to any situation.

Gracie is adorable. I loved her rendition, great job Gracie. When she was saying I love you, it melted my heart. You two have a great relationship.

There is an option for two positions on my seat, I am reading the manual to see if it is on the lowest position. Second, there is a place to make custom seats to give me a shorter span. My theory is to not stop on a slope again... LOL... or... if I lose 30 pounds, will that make my legs longer? Hahahaha. And my dear Gilbert. He is ever changing. He has been such an affectionate fellow lately. He wants long head scratches at least twice a day. He has never stopped asking to go to bed about 8:30 every night. "Time to go night?" If I say, yes its time to go night, then he says "Want a treat?" in the sweetest little voice ever. If I say yes he can have a treat (and I always do) he will scamper across his floor stand, up the side of the cage, down the front and he swings in from the top of the door frame to grab the vertical bars and slide down like a little fireman on his way out of the station house. When his feet hit the favored night time treat and head scratch location he does this little gymnast landing with pizazz and he leans out to get his almond from my fingers. We have graduated to having this exchange with no bars between us and 99 times out of 100 he takes his treat like a gentleman. My favorite part that happens every single night is when I scratch his head, say our goodnights, sweet dreams and all that, I move away and he watches me go. Then, I turn off the light and in the pitch black, he always says a surprised little "hey", like he wasn't expecting that. I always laugh and turn on the light and he laughs, moves over to this sleep perch and then I turn off the light again and he is silent. Sometimes he waits until I am in bed and calls out "hey", wishful thinking, but I don't come out again. In the morning, he moves to the favored scratching and treat perch position and waits while I feed the dogs and bring food to him and to Java. He stands quietly watching me, lets me fill his dishes now without a challenge, then he says "hey" and tucks his head for his morning head scratch. I can smell the earthiness of his warm beans mixed with red palm oil and I can stand so close I can smell the fresh linen scent of his feathers and feel his body heat because he will stand for a long session before breakfast. I just can't get enough of him either. He is my last smile at night and first smile in the morning and we always wake up ten minutes before the alarm to greet the new day together. When David comes home from work, the dogs greet him at the door, he heads straight for Java and Gilbert for their greeting and I wait my turn. Its magic to see a happy home.

Even when I do not understand his words, the body language and happiness come through. He is beautiful and joyful.