katana600

Wow. It may be early, but I don't doubt for a second that he is amazing you with his desire to communicate with you. I didn't think it would be a big deal to hear ours talk, but every time Gilbert says something new, I am no less astounded than the first time. Dylan is just beginning with what he is going to share with you.

Luna may have been associating going outside to her vet visit and trauma. Also, she just may have been surprised at the change from curtains to the "great outdoors" coming into her home. I would try smaller doses, like putting her on a perch in another room with a window but not getting too close to the window so you could acclimate her a little a time. Then as she is in her cage and feeling secure, talk to her and tell her what you are doing if you open the curtains a crack and see how she responds to that. Small changes and watching her reaction will give you answers to what is best for her and how to accomplish that. Gilbert had huge adverse reactions to the vacuum cleaner when he first came here. It took a lot of talking to him, telling him before I turned it on, staying far from his cage at first and gradually he has gotten used to the "big noise". Now it doesn't bother him a bit when I show him that I am going to turn it on.

This is a tough one considering in more than forty years of dedicated research, laboratories have been unable to definitively isolate the bornavirus. One of the issues is that is short lived. When Juno was sick, he had been to three vets. They had to rely on the disinfectants that Spinner (Dave) mentions and they didn't have to shutter their practice. I agree also that discarding perches and toys that Charlie had is a good idea and to consider a different source if you decide to get another parrot. I anguished over the decision of ever getting another parrot and as it turns out, I had to do my best to research and sort things out for myself over time. Bottom line is I don't regret for a second bringing Gilbert home after much deep consideration and advice from vets and our breeder. I can't imagine my home without his laughter and ours at his antics. Once Juno's diagnosis through necropsy was confirmed, while I had his brother with clinical symptoms of PDD, I would not go anywhere another parrot might be exposed and would not consider bringing a healthy parrot into my home to reduce the chance of contamination. Once everything was disinfected in my home and several months had passed, I had to think that the chance of exposure was minimized to the best of my capabilities and not dwell on the maybes, but on the risk vs benefit and both Gilbert and our family has reaped the benefits.

I just love how you tell Dayo what you are doing and then he continues the conversation, I have to see his face to know if it is him talking or if you are still in the room. The way you both love him is so evident and just brings tears of joy that you have each other. What a sweet guy Dayo is, thanks so much for sharing him with us.

Sad to say, when I was reading your account of the stuck toes and the blood, I breathed a big sigh of relief when I heard it was your blood, not his. Not that I would be less compassionate to your injury... just that it is not quite so life threatening to us for a loss of blood since we have so much more of it than our little guys. You know you are really in love with your parrot when you are not so concerned with your own puncture as you were for getting him free before he could injure himself in a panic. How quickly he forgot about his scare and went right to playing and back to his happy little self. I am glad you are able to look at it as an an unintended battle scar but I am willing to guess you would do it again to protect your little ones.

Bless you heart, you have been through so much. I am so sorry for your loss. It may have been soon for you to get Dali but your mom had the best intentions and your little one will soothe and heal your heart. Soon the day will come when your joy will become much bigger than your sorrow. We lost two babies and I thought I would never be able to bring home another grey and as time passed, we did bring home an older parrot and although the time spent grieving with an empty house seemed necessary at the time, it didn't really ease our loss and emptiness as much as laughing and sharing our life with Gilbert has helped. It took a while to stop feeling like I was being disloyal to our lost boys. Your time with Beezer will be cherished forever and it is his love that will carry you through as you love Dali too. I am so glad you have been able to open your heart to Dali and enjoy your baby too.

There are so many factors from heredity, breeder care, home care and the personality between the individual parrot and the household. Doesn't help much for trying to make the "right" choice. We have had a baby Congo (CAG), a second young Congo with trauma from surgery and illness and a rehomed ten year old Timneh (TAG). I don't have enough experience with an older grey who has been in the same home since weaning. Both the Congo and the Timneh have been fearful and somewhat withdrawn from human touch, but equally intelligent, talkative and incredible companions. As far as tolerant to noise, I would say that loud, unexpected sounds would be hard on a sensitive parrot, but again, that varies from each situation. Even when ours were so scared and easily startled, it helped not to come around the corner without a whistle or warning of who was coming along. It also helped a lot to warn before switching on the blender or vacuum cleaner. If it is possible for you to visit a breeder with both CAGs and TAGs and see the baby in its own environment you will get a beginning idea of seeing the temperment of the individual in its most comfortable setting.

There are so many factors from heredity, breeder care, home care and the personality between the individual parrot and the household. Doesn't help much for trying to make the "right" choice. We have had a baby Congo, a second young Congo with trauma from surgery and illness and a rehomed ten year old Timneh. I don't have enough experience with an older grey who has been in the same home since weaning. Both the Congo and the Timneh have been fearful and somewhat withdrawn from human touch, but equally intelligent, talkative and incredible companions. As far as tolerant to noise, I would say that loud, unexpected sounds would be hard on a sensitive parrot, but again, that varies from each situation. Even when ours were so scared and easily startled, it helped not to come around the corner without a whistle or warning of who was coming along. It also helped a lot to warn before switching on the blender or vacuum cleaner.

Hi Mrsray and thanks for the great introduction. We have Gilbert, an age 11'ish rehomed Timneh residing with us for almost two years. He isn't able to fly so his door is open any time I can be nearby. We also have two small dogs, mini dachshunds, and yes indeed he does bark at them as well as admonish them to be quiet. Ours haven't gotten to be friends except as others say... he will fling food down to them and call their name. They were very interested in him at first but now they barely look in his direction unless he calls for them and flings them a pellet or tricks them with an empty almond shell. They probably won't ever be friends but we have reached a peaceful accord. I wouldn't leave the main floor without taking the dogs with me, or closing Gilbert's cage to protect him, especially with two against one, but also because a loud noise might startle him off his cage and a dog's instinct would be to chase him if he runs. It won't be long before Wally figures things out, it sounds like a very calm and successful turnover to your home. Congratulations on being Wally's new friend, there is nothing else in the world like living with a grey. Warm welcome to you.

Quite the sense of humor on your news Dan. LOL. Funny, I was thinking that I was relaxed about the whole end of the world thing because I naturally assumed I would be headed to paradise, not the hotter direction, now I have that to worry about. LOL. P.S. Don't ask my husband or kids about that paradise thing, I am not taking them with me.

There is never a dull moment in your house. I am with you on the shock value of seeing or rather hearing a parrot tell you just what they are thinking, I am holding my breath and hoping Gilbert's one little naughty pleasure is going to be the "worst" of it but he has left me speechless at trying to figure out a better alternative. I am pretty darn sure he knows what he is doing too when he comes out with his sailor talk and turns me silent. We have had so many vet visits in the past two weeks, that I may as well ask to have my name on a parking space. Not with our parrots, thank goodness.

I can't decide which I like best: Neytiri helping herself and "sharing" or your husband's obvious delight at her enjoying a snack with him. It is such a sweet moment to have on video. I have a feeling they are going to be great buddies. You all are making such good progress and are well suited for one another. This is nice to see.

Awwww. I split the screen to make "subtitles" but I could understand Gracie plain and clear. She is doing so well with you Jeff. I loved at the end when she called you over for her kind of touch. She is just the best, no wonder you are so in love with her as she obviously is smitten with you as well. Beautiful.

Although I am so sorry for the circumstances, it is lovely that Luna has turned to you for comfort and support, I hope she heals up quickly and completely but that she still cuddles and shows you how much she appreciates your loving care.

You capture her very essence with your photos, she is an amazing little friend and companion.

Even soaking wet Nilah still looks like a beautiful reigning queen, albeit wet and a bit disheveled nothing can be as beautiful as that Zon attitude. Thanks for sharing this big smile with us today.

Cricket may not have hatched with you Ray but as they say in Texas and other places in the south... "I may not have been born here, but I got here as fast as I could". You and Cricket found each other as fast as you could and no one would believe that you haven't been together since the beginning. Happy Birthday Cricket, may you bless Ray with decades more of your birthdays.

Twenty five years ago, I was in a pet store in Tulsa when I heard a cat yowling. I was thinking that all the birds would be in danger. As I finally found that lonely little cage tucked in the back, it was my first glimpse of an African Grey. He was silent, so was the cat. When I walked away and heard the cat again, I realized it was him. I turned back and said something to him and he puffed up and hissed just like a cat. I could not get him off my mind and wished I had been able to take him home. Years later when a group of three six week old chicks were available, one jumped right out into my arms and I was hooked. It was not meant to be but the day I saw Gilbert so scared and shaken, and he was quietly watching as I prepared his cage to bring him home, I knew I was in this one for the long term. On the way home, he flipped open the door of his cage and climbed out while I was driving in the dark of night. I was so scared and didn't know what to do. I pulled over and coaxed him to run back inside his cage and when he got in there I heard the first words from him in a quavering, uncertain voice "Gilbert okaaaay" and my heart was thoroughly and freely given and it has gotten better and better every day.

Echo is a funny little sport. It is precious that he greets the kittens and knows there should be no biting from any housemates. LOL. Java hasn't talked much and I didn't think it would matter if Gilbert did because they communicate with so many other sounds. Then when either of them says something spot on to put their two cents into the conversations here or to interject their "opinion" it still amazes and fascinates me. You are having a great time getting Storm and Echo acclimated, it sounds like a fun place to live.

We put up our tree "in grey time" this year. We got a real tree while it was fresh right after Thanksgiving. After a week or so, I got the lights on it, tinsel a couple of days later. Now the box of ornaments are next to it. LOL, Gilbert and Java haven't even noticed. It smells nice though.

She is still really just getting acclimated to a big change, it is really encouraging she is letting you get close, accepting your touch and eating from your hands. Finding her "currency", cutting those grapes into smaller pieces to make more opportunities will help have lots of small investments into her "trust fund". Before long she will be the one initiating the request for a step up to get closer to you. It was so exciting for us during those first days, I wanted to show our little guy how great life was going to be together. That last week of waiting for him to come home and the first week home may have been the longest weeks in my life, but it was worth it to see him change from guarded to affectionate as soon as he felt comfortable. You are off to a great start.

So happy to hear you have gotten him to do something nice for himself. My husband has been looking and thinking for two years and I helped him make that leap to get a new used car this week too. After decades of putting family and kids first, he finally accepted his turn.

Hi Stefanie, Thanks for joining us. I would love to have you start a thread on Charlie in the rescue room once you become acquainted with the forum and wonderful members we are blessed with here at Grey Forums. Do you know how old Charlie is and if he is a Timneh or Congo grey? Our family rehomed a little Timneh African Grey (TAG) who is likely about eleven years old now. A lot of our rescues and rehomes are unsettled from changes and being in an unfamiliar place and once they feel safe, you see lots of different behaviors. When you described Charlie doing the regurgitation and noises it does sound a lot like the mating dance with droopy wings, clucking and "whining". When Gilbert first came, he went through a little of that, we just redirected him and he has become more friendly and interested without it becoming a "love" overture. It sounds like you have great instincts and are doing well to keep Charlie near you so he is in a place with activity where he can sort out what his place is his new home. Are you planning to keep him permanently or are you fostering him to find him a permanent home? I would love to know more about your life with Charlie. Thanks so much for joining us.

You may be well on your way, but just in case you get to a computer, have a wonderful holiday, a lovely visit and a renewed heart and spirit from your time together with your family. Your happy wishes to one and all brought a warm glow and happy smile to our home. Thank you.

There is so much to take in during those first few weeks together. Thanks for joining us. Once you find your way around the forum, it will feel like home. I am so happy for you having sweet Maggie in your life. Welcome.