Cocoascaregiver

What a super and affordable idea ! Since Cocoa is a new addition to the house I have been searching for "things" to entertain him, but it seems the stores are way to proud of a piece of wood and a little rope with knots in it for my liking. I can buy 100 foot of rope for 14 dollars and I know how to tie knots too ! I read this post last night and tonight stopped at the grocery store : 1 can unsalted almonds ON SALE - 2.99 1 package Party Cupcake wrappers- 1.99 1 SUPER HAPPY COCOA -- PRICELESS !!!!!!! I'll find some wiffle balls this weekend to make it a little more challenging, right now he's finding a couple hid in his cage. Thanks Lee<br><br>Post edited by: Cocoascaregiver, at: 2009/08/27 03:21

Are you Chicken ? Are you chicken ? no, Cocoa not chicken ! That's what Cocoa said to me this morning while I was making my lunch for work ! Is that too funy or what ! y'all are gonna have to bear with me as Cocoa has come out with something else from his vast vocabulary on an almost daily basis. We were told he says over 100 things, and something tells me it might be more than that. I think I'll try to keep a list going of what he says . Does anyone else have a list going to keep track of their Feathered friend's vocabulary ? Lee <br><br>Post edited by: Cocoascaregiver, at: 2009/08/27 02:08

Well Cocoa is a construction worker's bird so we're up before the sun . I get up @ 4:30 am and I uncover Cocoa about 4:45 am. He responds by barking at me ( Yes, he's a "bird dog" which is pretty funny). I make my coffee, get the paper and talk to him while I make my lunch. Once that's made I pet him , then I'm outta here. He gets covered when I go to bed @ 9:00 pm.

Very cool, you can tell it was awesome by the reaction it got, what a treat for those people !

Shout with glee like a little kid with birthday presents ?????? Did you ?? I was making a photo to post on "Grey Owner, What do you look like ?" , when my newly adopted CAG Cocoa decided it was time to kick our friendship up a notch ! He let me hold him on my hand !!!!!!, I kept telling him he was a pretty bird and praising him as he "tasted" my fingers and pulled on my ring and then he got very excited.... Not sure what emotion he was conveying yet, but I do believe he was trying to share some of his previously eaten food with me. He was also making very wierd noises ....... He kept rubbing his neck on my finger to get me to scratch his neck and top of head also. This is Awesome ! I'm super excited too, Cocoa ROCKS ! He sure has made a fast transition, We've only had him since the 11th of August !

OK ! But remember you asked for it ! Lee and Cocoa. about one minute after this was taken, I held him for the very first time !!!!!!!!! <br><br>Post edited by: Cocoascaregiver, at: 2009/08/23 23:28

Thanks for the welcome ! As you can see from my avatar photo, Cocoa made his Apopka out of the cage debut a little while ago ! While he enjoyed the birds eye view of his new home from atop his cage, he chose to not get on my hand. He did however "hold hands" with me for almost a minute which was pretty cool. Today was also Cocoa's first picture day here at my house so I don't have much to offer yet. As we get to know each other and build the trust I expect to have with him, I am sure photo opportunities will present themselves frequently. I am not expecting a bite so much as to be telegraphing any fear to Cocoa, but am aware it's possible during our getting to know each other process. I would be oh so happy to skip that part of our relationship so we'll see what happens.

My name is Lee and I live in Central Florida. I call my home a zoo as We have 3 inside only cats, Tigger, Gizmo and Straycat , my little buddy Silverbelle a Mini Lop rabbit who lays next to me on the floor every night watching TV and licks my face when I doze off, a cockatiel named Jimmy Buffet and a Ring Necked Dove I rescued from my jobsite 17 years ago aptly named "Lucky" ! I just became caretaker of Cocoa, a 12 year old hand raised Congo African Grey. Cocoa's previous owner had to be placed in an assisted living home and I am custodion which may or may not be permanent. Depends on how much Man's son misses Cocoa. Cocoa has a vocabulary of close to 100 words, an assortment of whistles and sound effects like only other African Grey parrot owners could even imagine, whistles the song "Don't worry , be happy " and no telling what else as he has said new things every day so far. His wings are clipped so he can not fly, but cannot crash and hurt himself either, but "glide" to a landing according to owners son, who raised and bred African Greys as a Hobby for years. Cocoa's being raised by a man and being his daily full time companion, has given me a head start getting to know him and him to know me too as Cocoa has really taken to me. We ( Wife and I ) got him August 11th 2009 and he was letting me pet him through the cage the very next day. He has shown me that he wants my attention and follows my every movement through the house. I have been sitting next to his cage , which is in the living room, and talking to him and petting him every day before I leave for work and in the evenings when I get home. When I ask him to "come here" he comes to the side of the cage and presents himself for some soothing neck rubbing. Today, in just a couple of hours, Cocoa will probably bite me for the first time as I am going to let him come out of the cage and hang out on top . I'll see what happens from that point as to how much he wants to interact with me, but I have a strong feeling he'll want to hang out close to me. I am here to absorb as much of your knowledge and experiences as I can to be able to keep Cocoa whistling and smiling in Central Florida.