katana600

While it is a little disappointing to get everything ready and not take care of Jake, it does help sort things out for what you want. I don't think the multiple bird syndrome wears off, at least in my case it continues to get stronger and louder. LOL.

The little bit of a quiver we had has shaken things up a bit for Gilbert. He startled off his cage and hid for a while under Java's cage. It seems like he said "hmm, what's this" and got into some mischief the rest of the day. He was feeling his oats, climbing around, shredding things. He has had a coco fiber ball all this time and it seems he suddenly "found" it a couple of days ago and now it is completely destroyed. Later in the evening Java was getting even with Gilbert for hanging out too close to her cage, so she landed on his and heckled him. He didn't come out after her this time, I watched closely from a position where I could intervene in case of bloodshed, but it all worked out. As she went from place to place on his cage top, he hung upside down from his ceiling and postured and swung his head wildly and carried on like I haven't seen from him. Today while I went to the grocery store, he has turned into a regular little grey boy. He shredded the bark on his playstand and from his droppings, he was all over the living room floor. It was boy's day in, David enjoyed his antics. While I was cleaning up a three quart bucket full of wood bark, Gilbert was high above demanding to know what I was doing. He just got it the way he likes it. I have to say, even while on my hands and knees for twenty minutes cleaning up his mess, I was smiling because he is doing exactly what he should be doing.

When Emmy is digging on the blankets she reminds me of what I have seen about the parrots excavating a tree trunk to make a nest. With her love calls and with the love, attention, safety and bounty she has found in her new home, it would not surprise me a bit if she were to lay some eggs. I really don't know anything about this, I am just guessing and wondering out loud. As far as moving Emmy, I wonder if you found sort of a flat basket with a handle, you could line it with fleece and offer it to her with some name or label that lets her know she is "going" somewhere and give her a lift that way. Since Dutch flies and goes pretty much where he wants, and because they are so new to you and uncertain, I wonder if it will work well for him to ask him to go inside his cage and to give him a treat every time. That is what we did with Gilbert and he gets really excited now when we say night night, or if I say I have to "go" somewhere. As soon as he hears those cues, he is scuttling inside making happy sounds because he will get an almond in the shell and it is a favorite treat... bribe or whatever. Having read and heard how difficult it is to get a pair of greys to choose to "partner", it would be quite a story if Dutch and Emmy are love interests after living so long together in the same home but not being housed as a set of breeders. I would hesitate to encourage that because they both could distance themselves from humans if they get together as a mating couple. I wouldn't know how to discourage such a thing though other than keeping them somewhat separate. That would be quite an issue. We read often where people want their greys to bond and mate and they don't have a connection. Quite the opposite if that is what Dutch and Emmy are doing. They are both doing so well in your care, I think you can handle anything that comes.

We felt a little earthquake here in Georgia. We are about 30 miles north east of midtown Atlanta. We felt some rumbling, shaking and swaying, just gently this early afternoon. David thought it came from the washing machine being off balance, that is how mild it was. I went to check and the machine was off and my computer stand was still swaying. Gilbert was with me in New York state last year when we were in a much harder quake and he was really upset by it. I just read confirmation that a 4.3 earthquake had an epicenter in Kentucky and that is what we were feeling. Gilbert hunkered down in his cage but he wasn't distressed like last time. He knew it was coming three minutes before I noticed it the last time. This time, I thought it passed without him noticing. Then he scurried off the cage to the lowest point and dropped to the floor where he would usually go down the rope. He went across the hallway to get under Java's cage and stayed there for about a half hour. I was keeping an eye on him to see what it was going to do. He found a couple of dropped foot toys and played with them a while, then he came out very slowly and went to his travel cage on the floor and up, up, up to his playtop once again. Sweet. It is the first time I have seen him use the cage extension and rope to climb back up. He usually comes running to find me and asks for a step up off the floor. Love seeing him be independent and figuring things out. I think when he realizes how easy it is to get up and down, he might start exploring and engaging with us in the living room on his own terms.

Java had a severe clip when we got her and it took a little over a year to grow out. Of course it makes a difference whether Timber had a recent molt and flight feathers molt two at a time from what I understand. It will be interesting to have a flighted Gilbert. I like the thoughts a whole lot better with his new found personality than before, though I wished it fervently hoping flight would improve his confidence and outlook. Maybe yes, maybe no. For now, we just enjoy very much what we have and not look at "time", Gilbert has been a study in ridding myself of any expectations or clocks. He is just a sweetheart lately, asking for lots of head rubs, no quivering of his chest any more when any of us approach and he has not done one of his cobra strikes out of the blue either. I don't know about him, but I am certainly less nervous about what might happen.

We have a different kind of heating system with baseboard heat but I do know there are lots of our members in the UK and if this teflon tape was giving off fumes, I think we would be hearing from more of them. It is a stretch, but I know I was going through the same thing wondering about an enamel coated wrought iron tree I bought for Juno. Even though it was proven that he passed from a known and proven disease, I still could not bear bringing that tree back in for my subsequent parrots. We do have that teflon tape on all our joints for water heaters, gas lines and pipes, but they are not in accessible places where our parrots could chew them and almost everyone I know has the same type of fittings with no issues. We drink the water that probably doesn't have any direct contact with the tape and we have friends with hot water based heating through pipes that are sealed with the same teflon tape, again, have heard of no issues with their parrots. I know my limited knowledge is a paltry offering to you in your grief, but I am thinking about you every day as you agonize while waiting for some kind of answer for your boy. I promise, it does get easier, it will still take a long time regardless of the outcome of the necropsy, you heart is still empty and searching to understand. I am so sorry for the pain you are enduring.

That photo of Salsa says "please mama dee, you KNOW you want an Amazon, what's the holdup?" They have such engaging personalities. I keep gravitating to these Amazon threads for a reason. LOL Joe and Gilbert must be doing some mind melding and boosting each other's confidence. He is learning to chase Java off his stuff and creating just a little mayhem of his own.

Welcome to the forum. Henni Penni may think she has the great fortune of such a wonderful new environment that is just right for her ticking biological clock that now she feels safe to bring babies into the world. We have a plucker that was about ten when he came, and he was presented to us with about thirty bloody feathers he ripped out in frustration at a change in his cage to a travel cage before I picked him up. He has not done that since but he does chew feathers and worry them a bit. He will go a long time without chewing his feathers but the slightest change that gets him frustrated will be followed by him chewing off all his chest feathers. What has been good news is that that period of chewing diminishes with each episode as he becomes more comfortable. Hopefully in time Henni Penni will relax in her new home too. I agree with what you say and would love Gilbert just as much plucked bald as we do now. I would love him if he didn't talk and if he didn't come to be a hands on kind of guy. There is nothing like seeing him exceed our expectations as we get close to the two year anniversary of his arrival. It will be interesting what you and Henni Penni can teach us as we go.

His video debut was adorable. I started leaving a voice activate recorder next to the cage because mine talked a lot more when I left the room. I think that is common as they are learning to speak and they practice when they think they are alone like Felix is doing. When you record him you can always go back and listen to earlier recordings because then you will recognize what he was saying when it wasn't quite clear. It will also give you an insight to how he learns and changes so quickly from being a baby to an outspoken family member.

Your pictures are lovely, Scarlet is so relaxed and looks sweet. Jax is adorable as well. It takes a little to get accustomed to the forum, but you have done well to get photos posted, great job. It seems like I lurked and read for six months before I could think of anything to post. We would love to hear more about your life with both parrots when you have time. They are a handful sometimes and it is all you can do to keep up with them. LOL. Jax looks like a baby but I know nothing about Ekkie's, how old is Scarlet and how long have you had her?

Hi Garrett, Welcome to you and Kahzi, thank you for joining our forum family. Dave has good advice for getting Kahzi acclimated. One thing I learned that took me a little time to accept is not to take his attitude personally, especially in the beginning. Kahzi's whole life is being changed and he may take his own sweet time to get comfortable. They are such individuals, that it is hard to predict. If you offer him something that he rejects outright, try again another time when he may be more receptive. Things I tried in the beginning that didn't work, were easily accepted on another day. They are such incredible and exquisite creatures it is so exciting and joyful to meet them and I had a tendency to want things faster than Gilbert could accept, but it is working out now so following his lead and learning his body language and tolerances will seem natural to you in just a short time.

Gilbert has taught me the meaning of grey time but I am seeing such remarkable results and changes that I don't mind a bit. He talks in bits and spurts and I am hearing a lot of garbled mumbling from him that seems like he is trying new things. It pleases me to no end that I have not heard "shut up you idiot" from him in such a long time. He does occasionally cuss and I know he is doing that for my husband and daughter because he knows it amused them the first time, but he looks at me and changes it up a little because he knows I don't like it. Well... I do have to admit, that I do have a latent tendency to be amused by his potty mouth, I just don't want him encouraged any further with it because some day I might have grandchildren and I don't want that to be what he teaches them. He does use it in context if the dogs make a "mistake" in the house and he knows they did it even when it is in another room and he doesn't see it. Timber will surprise you just when you are not expecting it. It is kind of the way I feel about Gilbert's flight abilities. I am pretty sure he is getting close, but don't dare to hope too much. Our life will change when he is able to get into more mischief and while I welcome some of it, there may be a learning curve on my part to keep him safe and happy when he decides to show me his new talents.

Thanks, I think I will have more withdrawals from being away from him because he has been such a joy lately. There have been changes here that I thought would upset him and he didn't have any issues, so I am going to have positive thoughts. He has kept me laughing a lot today. When I got back from the grocery store he said "whatcha doin' Lulu" and made at least five more references to call me Lulu. "Whatcha got Lulu" and "c'mon over here Lulu". He has never done that before and it was a hoot. He has called our little dog Baxter "Lou" a few times but this is a first for Lulu.

Gilbert has not played in the four years between his time with Sarah and with me. She said he was afraid of all his toys and he just was so quiet and still here, I thought it was because he didn't know what to do or that he was older and beyond that. Every day he is coming more and more out of his "hunkering down" demeanor. Today he has been playing with every toy on his cage top and stopping at one in particular to beat it up and get it swinging. He has been energetic and running around like a youngster. He will have quiet hours and then suddenly something gets into him and he goes from one thing to another either carefully examining and touching everything or to outright bell ringing let-your-hair-down kind of outrageous bursts of wild play. He has been standing his ground to send Java flying off his turf. For the longest time, if the dogs would run barking to the window if someone walks past, Gilbert would get startled and fall off his perch, or fling himself to the floor to hide under a chair. Lately, he will be just a few inches off the floor standing on the new rope perch connecting his play areas when the dogs run past him within inches and he doesn't even look up from what he is doing. He still has some wild mood swings. Last night he had a melt down at bed time and he was grumbling in the dark, then he flung pellets helter skelter and when that didn't get me out of bed to console him, he took the stainless steel dishes out of the holders and flung them to the bottom of his cage, one by one. He asks for long head rubs five or six times a day and just melts and closes his eyes now. A few times now, he has leaned closer and put his beak between the bars so I could scratch gently on his nares and rub his beak. He really has been a sweetheart for David and offers him to step up and lets him rub his head not only out of the cage, but will come sit on the sofa with him. This seems like a dream. I am getting just a little anxious because I will be going away for three days next week to drive the UHaul to move our daughter, then to fly home. Gilbert gets really upset and has plucked his chest before when I have left him overnight. It has grown back before and will grow back again and this trip is a necessity, I just hope he doesn't get too stressed now that he has been feeling so frisky lately. We have someone coming to stay and he knows her, so it is the best we can do for him.

Aw, Sophie's sweetness will help you get well soon. Gilbert has been a tough sell, but the two times he was gentle and came to me to touch me were both times when I was sick or sad. He not only says "its okay" but he says "sorry". The most poignant moment we have had was when I fell asleep on the sofa and he came and rubbed his beak all over my face like he was blind and feeling his way. Glad that Sophie is comforting you even as she mimicks your coughing and sneezing.

Our vet also charges about three hundred dollars for a full panel on the bloodwork and fecal testing. They do one blood draw for all the tests. Once our little poicephalus red-bellied parrot had consistent lab work a couple of years in a row, now he only recommends blood draw every three years unless we have a specific concern. Gilbert is still relatively new, only two vet visits, I didn't ask if he will get bloodwork annually, but I still take them once a year just to keep them current. It is a wonderful thing when we go and don't have any tests but still keeps me in good standing with our vet. I alternate every six months with one parrot at a time so it doesn't take one big chunk out of the checkbook at the same time.

Love, love, love your videos. It is hard to tell what Emmy was doing with touching your hand (I had the hardest time recognizing what she had... LOL. finally realized you had your fingers tucked, good thinking). She may be trying to coax your fingers out for a scratch on her head. I did see her doing just a little swaying and subtle head pumps that could be the beginning of her mating dance. Time will tell. Can you believe that Dutch? He really does want to join you for a little of what Emmy is enjoying. You are one lucky rehome for both your sake and for theirs, they are doing beautifully with you. I was also trying to get a look to see if you were using a quilt for padding their little feet on the table. That would please me to no end since I am a quilter. I couldn't get enough of how Emmy can balance herself without toes and how she has just enough nubs on her left foot to manipulate small objects. I don't know anything about hair ties, but I may have to tell my daughter to look that up because her cat will do anything to get one. I don't think I want to know. LOL. I was wondering about a ring from a gallon of milk, it is about the same size as a hair tie. If I wasn't there to watch her with it, I would give her one that I cut through so she couldn't get it over her head and feel trapped and scared. I am in awe of how beautifully they are both settling in with you.

I think Gracie is pretty darn cute too. She is beautiful and growing up to be a charmer.

You have made great progress in a short time. I would have thought Emmy was just a baby, she is so friendly and coming out for you and all. I am amazed that she is ten and has never been handled. She is amazing me right along with you. Glad Dutch was okay, he was teaching you just how clever he can be to open his cage. He may be behind Emmy in the affection department so far, but I am guessing he was looking for you... or the almonds, and you. LOL. The lock on his cage will help keep him safe when you can't be there to keep him from his own mischief. Six months from now you will be wondering how you lived your life before these two came in to turn it upside down. Great job, thanks for the updates.

I know what you mean about the delighted welcome when you come home. I am on the other end of that one recently. I am home most of the time and if I go out and come back, no one seems to take notice, but boy howdy when daddy comes home the place is in an uproar. The dogs get excited, the parrots get excited and he gets a heroes welcome, LOL. Gilbert may stay in his cage all day but when David comes in the door, he comes out and talks and flaps his wings and shows a genuine enthusiasm. It does change over time, but for the most part he is really interested in getting closer to David. It is really sweet and endearing. I tell him it is because I am teaching them to make a fuss over him coming home, when we hear the garage door opening, I am the first one there wagging my tail, LOL. It does go through phases and Freya will grow to find special ways to share time with each of you. I really love your avatar, my two have never gotten that close for such a sweet photo.

Hi Kristal, welcome to the forum. What a great introduction to you and Freya and your extended family. I saw your post on another thread about getting Freya to like Ramsey a little more and you are making a good start. When we had our first baby bird experience, she was lovely with all of us at first, grew to recognize I was the one home all the time doing the feeding and care and we naturally got to know each other better and she started biting everyone else and being a bit of a toot. What we did was to work one at a time with our other family members giving her treats, opening her cage to let her out and things that made her happy. There was one holdout with a college aged daughter that Java was on an all out seek and destroy mission. That one took a little longer. When she would come home from school, we would leave the room and have Kelsey be the one to go back with a step up perch at first to "rescue" her and bring her to join the flock. It took a long long time but now any of us can handle her. She tolerates the rest of the family, she adores me, so one of the things I do is to be sure not to lavish attention on someone else where Java can see me. If my husband sits next to me on the sofa, Java has been known to pierce his nostril. We are conscious of her limitations and don't provoke her and she rewards us by being sweet to all, but again, it took a long time. Our rehomed grey is going back and forth between being my buddy, to being my daughter's love, to being my husband's buddy. He seems to only want to be special with one person at a time but that changes with our life flow. He does tolerate the rest of the family when he is doting on his one special person but it is with disdain and an occasional bite. it hurts a little to be the rejected one, be compassionate because a few months from now that could be you. Another thing that seemed to help when Java in particular was nasty to Kelsey, we all chastised her and she had to go back in her cage for a two minute time out and we all left the room to emphasize that the flock sticks together. It did not last long, but it had an impression over a few repetitions.

Daniela, I believe you are making the right choice to back away a little and give Jellybean some space. I am not too sure about the open cage policy what I tried to do with Gilbert in the beginning was give him a little freedom at a time. In the first weeks I limited his time out of the cage just to night time and praised him greatly when he came out and again when he went back in, I gave him an almond in the shell as a bed time treat. My rationale behind that was to have a tool on my side that if he refused to go back in when I asked, I could turn off the lights for a minute and he was ready to go inside for night night. For the most part, I would let him out a couple of hours before my own bedtime. A half hour before bedtime, I would give him clues by turning off one lamp at a time kind of like getting dark in nature gradually. That gave him a routine he came to expect and when I got to only one light on, he was happy to comply when I asked him to go night night. He was not nearly as compliant as Jellybean has been right from the start. Her change in behavior may be her signal that she is getting too much too fast. I was guilty of wanting a wonderful relationship right from day one and as I learned and had setbacks, I came to understand her subtle clues. You are doing beautifully with her, trust your instincts and set up short positive interactions and build on that, you are going to have a much shorter learning curve than Gilbert and I have had.

When I first got my baby bird, I dutifully took him to the vet and he had a crop infection. He was on antibiotics and had to go back. In a few short days he died and I was so stricken with grief. When his necropsy came back, he had PDD. Even though my mind could grasp this was not associated with his vet visit, that it takes longer than a week or so to manifest, incubate and cause his death there was a dark cloud that said it was possible. It was only after I cared for his clutchmate and he passed from the same disorder that over the course of time I realized it was part of nature and had nothing to do with the vet visit. We can let fear rule our lives and create all sorts of possibilities in our minds because in reality, life is fragile, there are things "out there" and there are also things in our homes that though very small in risk, could "possibly" make us or our birds ill. We have to weigh the risk vs benefits. When I take my other parrot for well vet visits annually there is a residual fear that something might happen. I think it is kind of like watching my sister pass from breast cancer and then having great trepidation when it is time for my own mammogram. Please don't let your fear of the unknown prevent you from gaining the greater benefits of having an avian vet in your corner. I have learned so much from this forum and members with advice on African greys as well as general human advice. Our vet is our backup plan and believe me, when we had an injury and needed emergency care, I was greatly appreciative that we built a relationship and that I had supported his practice and his years of education and knowlege. On the annual bloodwork, I learn what is working well in my feeding and care. On our most recent visit he recommended a product for Gilbert that has changed our lives because it gave him something that I could not recognize that he would benefit from, nor could I recognize what was his behavior from being a rehome with issues and what was available to give him a better life. I don't like going to the vet, I don't like the long ride, I don't like to get my birds upset, but the bottom line for us is the benefits far far outweigh the risks. Good luck with making that decision for yourself. I hope you find that this clinic is your best source of information and your support and back up plan.

I was thinking it was a centipede! Glad it was not. As far as the rescue remedy, if I had tried it early, I would never have been sure if it was just normal progress where now I can see some changes that have to be attributed to the addition of these drops. In two weeks we are making a trip and he will not have me home for a few days. He will have a tried and true pet sitter, but I don't want to make changes until we get home and stay put for a while. Then I will tweak his dosage and taper off to see what a difference that makes. Sarah said he had not played with toys in two and a half years with her either so I thought he just might be one of those quiet greys that would rather not play. I am seeing such wonderful things with him that I would chant if I thought that would help him. I am amazed to watch him open up like a beautiful flower and appreciate how far he has had to come out of his shell to meet me part way.