katana600

Good one Ray. Although with Gilbert's new attitude, now I might have to lock my bedroom door when I go to bed tonight. When we got our five month old boy Juno, he was getting out of his upper door. I think it is made to attach a nest box. I discovered that is how he was getting out so I put a strong zip tie on it. The next day, he was out again. The zip tie was holding firm so that wasn't it. He had taken the screw out of the bottom of his big cage door and it was hanging ajar. When I put it back together, I put some glue in the hole first and he was always trying to unscrew it again.

This time when I watched I noticed toward the end he was singing a little ode to vegetables. "I like da vegetabool, vegetabool. Hoo hoo hooo." Who would have thought he would have such a love for vegetables? What a hoot.

I also thought Gilbert would have been skittish and terrified of that huge shadow and contemplated turning off the light quick when I saw it. But he surprised me. By golly, today he has found his mojo. He is strutting around on his cage top and if I walk past he runs to try to bite me. He has been on rescue remedy for the weeks before and on our trip, but I discontinued it on Monday as we returned home. I am just going to allow this to play out a while and get a handle on what is going on with him. One thing is certain, when he sees me pay attention and snuggle and kiss Java it really irritates him. Her cage has been side by side with his since his arrival. He has not been like this before. She did fly to his cage top on that day when "something happened". There is a possibility that he made contact with her so fast we couldn't see it and she flew away quickly before she dropped from the shock. With that being a slight possibility I think for the time being, I am going to move her cage to a different room where each of them can see the living room but they can not see each other. I am also going to be sensitive to his feelings and take Java to a different room so if this is a jealousy issue, it is not exacerbated nor is he further agitated. She also has a play area to come down to my sewing room to have her freedom in a safe environment and he can have evening time all by himself with me later. The interesting thing is that if I walk past his cage to let the dogs out or to change out food and water to Java he runs quickly and tries to lean way out to bite me and he did even bite my shoulder when I thought I was well out of his reach. However, if I come up to his cage with a piece of pasta, a bite of my oatmeal or a sip of watered down limeade, he is all up on that and happily takes things from my fingers all on the cage top without bars between us. After that shoulder strike that left a nasty welt, I am a little more jumpy than usual though. I think his newfound mojo and that he is outgoing right now is a good sign that he is reaching a new phase and I will find a way to make that positive for all of us. He never for a moment gives me the chance to become complacent, but always trying to figure out what is going on in his little head. Well look at you go Gilbert the fierce.

Somehow I was under the illusion for three decades, that I am the queen of the roost. Now two little dogs and two little birds are training me otherwise and the bigger they are, the harder they fall. It has been a hard landing for this ole gal. LOL.

Wow, this is a tough one, as you are well aware. You wouldn't be asking if the past three months were not putting a strain on you. There are always life changes that we could not anticipate nor change. Maybe the stress this is putting on you and what you are going through are making the transition a little harder for Jess and Jasper so you don't think they are thriving or that they are deprived from the situation as it once was. Your love for them is great and it is obvious. While I don't have any thoughts for a quick fix, I do think that our flock is resilient and they may actually be faring well with your changes. There are a lot of us with ebb and flow in the time we can devote to our companions, animals and humans alike. My daughter is going through something similar with her dog and her work schedule changing for extended travel and long hours. We brought Bella to our home for four months and Kelsey was able to move to a better location and she took her home last week. She is also concerned for the long hours and that she used to be able to come home at lunch time and now that is not possible. When things look bleak sometimes we get stuck and think that when we can't have the optimal solution that it is real bad. She asked her boss if she might be able to bring Bella to the office for the end of month marathon days and is trying out a series of adjustments that are slowly helping. You must be exhausted with all the changes you have had. If you have the energy for that one hour out of cage time to be focused solely on Jess and Jasper, they may surprise you with the investment of what precious time you have with them now and in the blink of an eye a new situation or opportunity may present itself to you for making this more bearable. Your vet knows you and your birds well, they might be a resource for suggestions too. Could there be someone to come in for a brief time in the middle of the day to give your girls a bright spot and break up the long hours? The one thing that is sure is you are looking at every angle and trying to give your best to your girls. Hang tough and know we are rooting for you from our little corner of the world. You have probably already thoughtfully considered everything you can do so while I can't offer any real advice I just want to tell you that you have our support while you think through this and come to whatever solution is best for you and your girls.

The age and stage of the parrot as well as your own motivations of having her on your shoulder will guide you in teaching Kenzie what is acceptable. She will eventually learn you are not a toy and your clothes are off limits if she wants to be on top of you. I don't know if parrots go through a "puppy-like" chewing phase but their beaks and tongues are a way of exploring and testing their world. We did have Java since she was a baby and she chewed a lot of tee shirt bibs in the beginning and now she is six and it is easy just to say no and give her a distraction and she hasn't snatched off a button or poked holes in our clothes in ages.

We had a couple of interesting new behaviors from Gilbert last night. There are three lights near his cage, one bulb blew so it made a different shadow pattern. Gilbert got up on his playtop toy hook last night and right in front of him was a huge shadow of himself. I was watching to see how he would react and thought it might scare him but he had an unexpected response. He lifted one wing and the shadow responded. He stretched and tried to touch it. Then he talked to it and postured and was really interested. He was mumbling and it seemed as if he knew it was his own shadow. It was three times as big as he is and David commented that Gilbert thought what a big guy he has grown into. Java was out on my shoulder and I walk past Gilbert's cage to hers a few feet away. He acted as if she was going to touch his shadow and become vibrantly active. He actually was sprinting and hopping across his cage trying to chase us away... or perhaps trying to get close enough to give us a bite. I am vigilant and aware that he will hurt her if he can and she can fly so I had a towel to put between them if she were inclined to actually fly to him for a battle. If I walked to one side of his cage, he would run over there and when we walked the other way he seemed almost gleeful to chase us. He was laughing and really enjoying the game. Now, I need to think through this to find a way to encourage him to be a little more active while still protecting Java. Also, I am more aware of his return to the big cage after a "vacation" and perhaps he is more protective and possessive of his turf. I don't want to encourage him to become cage aggressive, but at the same time to see him with a dose of courage is a new and exciting positive trend. It also tells me that since Rachel can ask him to step up from his cage and he is willing every time, I am taking advantage of that before her impending move to get Gilbert away from his cage and to an unfamiliar room where he is more willing to step from her hand to mine and to be out for a long time without being afraid or longing, leaning and asking to go back. It was the most endearing thing the way he was interacting with his shadow and overcoming his fears.

I have to admit, I know that feeling of dread and fear and also the surprise of a gentle touch from that wicked sharp and pointed weapon that is Gilbert's beak. Since the time he asked for kiss and grabbed my lip, faces are off limit here too. He pinched it hard enough to make me bleed, he held on for what seemed like minutes and he let me know what he could have done and I am grateful he didn't. But still there was something different the day he felt my face while I was asleep. I think that wonderous moment was hope and faith felt in my heart instead of my brain saying to run far, run fast, danger danger danger. One tiny little step at a time and I believe Gilbert will find me acceptable at some point.

Ray, I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Parrots of course. Hahahahaha. Every person has a unique set of life experience, a unique parrot experience and much to offer all of us. One of these days I fear you are going to coax me over to the Amazon side. Gilbert already has a stink eye going for me for a few months, he would not tolerate such a betrayal. Still, I look and look and live vicariously through your postings and love of Cricket as well as every other honored parrot on our site.

Not only am I educating every friend, neighbor, relative and acquaintance on interacting with my parrots and endearing Gilbert and Java to those people, I have an underylying agenda to find the perfect person in the event of my passing before he does. My plan is to wait patiently for grandchildren and to be sure one of them falls madly in love with Gilbert and has my "parrot lovin' genes". For months Rachel was deathly afraid of him and she was about to marry a man who is against pets of any kind. That was the one glimmer of opportunity I saw coming from the cancelation of the wedding just one week before the happy day. I promise, I did nothing to precipitate that. However, with her coming back home and now she and Gilbert are best friends so I am hoping for about ten years down the road that she will have a child who will be Gilbert's next home. When I told Rachel she said she would take him. I told her she may only outlive me by thirty years and by my calculations Gilbert may outlive her too. I do believe that was the first time she thought of her own mortality considering the shocked look she gave me. LOL. This RSBT is something that can be taught. Once a person tries this and has a parrot respond and bond, the rest is history.

This is just a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. You don't know how many times I have looked at it from your former posts and now. I keep measuring my space and wondering how it would work and how many miles it is to Kingsport from my house (about 260miles) and how I would get it loaded and unloaded, and will it fit through my doors. If you do find a home for it at a sanctuary and need help to move it, I have a ten foot open trailer and would be willing to help you get it to some place between us. Otherwise, please don't destroy it before sending me a PM and I will see if I can convince someone to come help me move it to my basement and continue to help you find a proper home and keep it in good use. I can see it was made with love and care and there has to be someone with the perfect spot and a bird in need.

Gilbert adores my daughter and she brought him to me to watch Biscotti again last night. He was saying "hooo" like Biscotti and then laughing when Biscotti laughed. We played it over and over and just laughed with him. It was such a nice exchange. Now when I play it from across the room, Gilbert gets excited and bobs his head and hoots. He has enjoyed other videos but I think this one makes us laugh so much that Gilbert just wants to join in. Biscotti is just a free spirit and a happy little pip. As much as we enjoy him, I know you must just be head over heels in love when he is with you always.

Gilbert is 320 grams and our vet says he is on the small side, but not that he needs to gain any weight. He just mentioned that he is small. At the vet they did the funniest thing to weigh both our parrots. They had different sized clear plastic bowls with holes poked in the lids. They did the tare weight on the bowl, then set Gilbert in the wide top bowl and rested the lid. It happened so quick he didn't have a chance to protest. He was so cute peeking out of that clear plastic wondering how we got out there. LOL. Great job on going round and round with Timber until you find just the right treat to get cooperation.

I so love the pictures of all your greys at play. Darwin has the pink blush on his face, that is just darling. It is just wonderful to watch you make toys and to find ways to entertain your little ones as they entertain you in return.

Today I went back through your thread from the start and I went to see every picture and video of Jake. He is such an energetic and outgoing baby. I can't wait to see what he is going to be like in a year or two. He really plays with his toys with gusto. I loved all the sweet little baby sounds and then the sound effects in the videos you have at home. It is so exciting to watch Jake grow and thrive.

I wish you could know just how much delight Biscotti brings to our lives. I can't get enough of his antics and videos. He has the happiest spirit and just keeps us smiling. Gilbert listens to his chattering and laughing and is very interested. He may just come out of his shell to come sit by the computer with me because Biscotti intrigues him. Thanks again for his funny funny videos.

Congratulations on the planes, trains and automobiles bringing your precious Elwood home. I am not well versed in the feeding of new baby, but what you are giving him sounds good to me. You might want to call his breeder about that because she would best know her own babies and what works best to reassure them and get them on the solids after weaning. On the flying to high places, others have had great success in putting something up high to discourage perching on top of doors, chewing woodwork up there and that sort of thing. Some get a plastic owl and put it up high, some greys don't like a stuffed animal and putting that up high discourages them from being in places where they could get into trouble. Gilbert also loves to climb the toy hook at the top of his cage but if he sees someone coming with an almond or a pine nut, he will swing down like a fireman coming down the pole. Elwood is a beauty and it sounds like he was well cared for at his breeder and just perfect in your home.

I know it is hard with all the vet visits and procedures, but it is great that you can hang on to your sense of humor. I am with you on the preference to drive to the vet instead of the rubber gloves and ointment. I am thinking Bubba may as well be mad at them instead of you. I still sing the little ditties from when our kids were small, good idea to use the bird's as a cover.

In the past when I had a parrot who let me get close enough, I took several of my old tee shirts and cut them off just below the sleeve, then opened the sleeves and had a quick guard to put over my head to protect my clothes. Some people will sew velcro or a couple of quick links and then can attach a toy to keep them busy. My thought is that Kenzie has figured out this is a sure fire way to get your attention right quick. Maybe if you try wearing something like this for a while so it is not such a taboo, she will grow past this stage and not be so possessed with it.

We have a bit of a rigid, uptight fellow too and Biscotti is just as free as the wind. What a great sense of humor he has to laugh at himself and just put all of his energy into having fun. Our whole family imitates Biscotti's phrases and happy sounds. I make them all gather around to watch on my computer because I don't want to miss the expressions on their faces to see Biscotti in action. He is such an integral part of our lives. But with all that said, when I watched this one, I snorted coffee right out my nose. I swear I will never try to have my coffee with Biscotti any more. LOL. Not this Biscotti any way.

On your video, I see you made Zak a little tent. That gave me a great idea to perhaps make a small area on Gilbert's playtop where he could hide if he feels scared. I have tried the tents, but they move and he can't fly so the motion scares him. Great idea, you just never know when you share something that it could change someone else's life. Thanks.

Yes, thanks, I would like all the reading material you come across. I know Susan Friedman's work and agree with the behavior techniques. We do use a lot of positive reinforcement and redirecting. Before I brought my first baby grey home, I read "The Parrot Problem Solver" by Barbara Heidenreich and it was really helpful. I wanted to read about the problems people encounter so we could avoid inadvertently creating some of those problems with our new family member. Now we are working with Gilbert and it seems like everything we learned is still helpful, but his behaviors are fear based and it takes a lot of time just being patient to build his trust. I want his life to be just the best it could possibly be and help him to reach his potential.

Amazonia! I love it. Lola can be your band mascot.

It is always a happy occasion to return one of of our flock. Good to see you are getting life to a manageable pace Morana. Zak will be interested in that new schedule when you get it settled. I like his pictures. It is good to be the king.

What does the acronym ABA represent? The description of the assaults on Mackie are breath taking. It doesn't seem like our rehomed guy Gilbert had abuse, but he has some similar characteristics. He loved me at first and stepped up easily, but over time he has become more affectionate and accepting of others and I am the one watching for subtle warnings of when he is going to "snap". It is hopeful to know that if we just keep going and give him his space when he wants it and continue to praise and offer opportunitites for success, we will some day have the joy of an unexpected cooperation and eagerness to inititate contact.