Xtreme575

It's around the same size as what I have. There are posts in the Cage room with recommendations on size etc. Are you near a city large enough to have a specialized Exotic Bird store? I went to one in Vancouver, Canada when I was in their shoes and they really helped me out. In all honesty, I do wish I had gotten a cage that was a bit bigger now, but I was told that greys like to feel a bit more "secure", and that you don't need the huge cage. This may be true, but still, I'd like a bit bigger. Another concern is the "coat" on the cages. You don't want a coating that the bird will be able to beak away at to exposed metal. I know nothing about this sort of thing, so again, I trusted the store and went with their suggestion... I can't help but wonder now if they saw sucker printed on me! LOL! The only thing I saw that I wasn't crazy about on this cage was the 4 food dishes. I don't know if you are going to like that. My Grey gets veggies and a cooked bean/rice mash for breakfast in one dish, water in another, then just before I go to work, I add the 3rd dish with pellets. If I had to wait for him to finish his breakfast, I'd be late every day! I don't even know when he switches over to his pellets, but the 3rd secure door inside is nice. You could add another after market bowl, but I'm the only one "allowed" to reach into his cage. So that'd be a problem if someone else needed to care for him for me. Choose wisely, it's a long term investment, and your babies home! Big decision!

Wow! What a gorgeous bird. I can't offer you any information other than there are lots of posts on molting within the forum. I have a baby, so we haven't really gone through a molt yet.

Spock, even though you're not feeling well, you still look good! Maybe when you get well and let those feathers of your come back in you will send a mind meld to Paco to get him to leave his alone too! Hoping the nasty pokes do what they are supposed to do buddy!

Can you capture the noise and post it on YouTube or something? The description is a bit vague. I wouldn't take a chance though, I'd get to an avian vet. He isn't doing this when he's playing is he? They make some wild noises when they get excited...

I agree that the gurus will be able to offer you more, experienced advice, but after now sharing a home with him for the past few months, and with him just being under 8 months old, I can tell you the talking just exploded for us. I noticed a few weeks back that the noises he was mimicing was amazing, and then a few days later he shocked me by saying, "Hello, Pretty Bird, Good Morning, Paco, Good Bird" all at once! "Hello" is his preffered word at the moment, but he still runs through all the noises that he has made. Others have talked about "Parrot Time" and how the bird will do what it wants, or needs to do on its own time. I'm impatient, so it is hard for me to accept this, but I was concerned that all he ever seemed to want to do was cuddle and whistle "whit woo", now he is playing, vocalizing, verbalizing, it's like a whole new bird, but he also is now more independent and I'm missing our long cuddle times. As far as grabbing the parrot when he doesn't step-up, I worry that this is negative reinforcement. I would either choose one of two options, either have a treat to offer beyond your hand that will entice him to move forward to your hand when you need him to step up, and/or respect his independence and try again after a minute or two. Depending on my situation, I use both (offer treats when I'm in a rush). I try to make sure that I do not treat him like anything else but an equal, I suspect he is smarter than I am... As far as talking goes, I've been told that living alone is beneficial. I don't know why that would be, but I don't think you need to worry. I live alone, and am actually quite quiet, needing to remind myself talk to Paco in order to interest him, rather than just relying on our body language... Just relax and enjoy your baby, he will grow up soon enough. But continue to ask questions, I'm learning lots from you, and the responses that you are getting!!

From someone who currently has a clipped parrot, I would suggest you made the right choice! I wish everyday that my parrot could fly. He just seems to yearn for it so much. I see him lowering his wings, leaning forward, wanting to push off and go for a flight. Instead he lands on my coffee table before he slides across it and bounces to the floor. It's so sad. As soon as he molts, I will let him regain the freedom that was stolen from him without my consent. My vet now lectures me on him being overweight, I don't know how else I can exercise him. He has a hanging gym that he loves and climbs all over, what else could I do without flight for exercise??? I also use the Aviator Harness, I saw with my own eyes, a slight breeze and even a clipped bird can't help it, they are off to the wind! The harness has saved us a few times. Also, the harness comes with a "training" DVD on how to get your parrot used to it. It also has and extendor that you can purchase if you want to allow him "more" flight than the standard leash length that comes with the harness. Enjoy the flights, and remember, there are some of us waiting to see our babies join the mile high club!

Your rant will not be recognized as a rant in this room! We all get your excitement and enthusiasm!!! Congratulations on finding a good breeder who you feel comfortable with, and fantastic news on being able to get a bird that is not going to be clipped. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to watch my bird everyday and wish that he was flying... I like my breeder, but she feels strongly about clipping, and we have agreed to disagree on this point... It'll be great if you can meet your chick early on, and get to know him or her before you even get it home. Some on here have done this, and I see huge benefits, don't get me wrong, I've been lucky, my parrot and I have a great relationship, but I can't help but wonder how much better it could even be if we were able to chill prior to him coming home?! Others have also said that their chicks had an opportunity to choose them, what a great experience! Good luck, and try to enjoy your anticipation! You might want to start preparing by buying some toys early on. Everything is a huge financial hit at the beginning, but then it smoothes out (yeah right, I can't stay out of the toy section)! :blink:

Wow, I'm very impressed with the care you guys are giving Spock, not that I'd doubt it for a second, but it just seems so amazingly well thought out! Again, my prayers are with you for a speedy recovery!

He must havebeen, but I have to admit, there was something going on with him... He just got so vocal with sounds I had never heard, them bam! Words just started flying out.

I'm praying for Rishi, any chance of getting the avian vet to visit you? Could you fly him to you?

Paco and I are sending our thoughts, prayers and love to all of you. I just feel devasted that Spock is struggling... Karma to Penny for rallying the troops!

I will continue to hope and pray for both Spock and Rishi to both have full recoveries... My heart aches for all of you knowing the worry you must be feeling.

I posted the other day that Paco had started saying "Hello", I was shocked yesterday when he followed it up with, "Paco", "Pretty Bird", "Good Boy", and "Good morning"! Someone said the floodgates opened, but I was amazed to hear it happen that fast!

Oh Jayd, I'm so sorry for you, Maggie and Spock. I have noticed that there have been less posts from all of you lately, but thought you might just be busy with birds you were fostering. This is heartbreaking news for Spock. Excuse my ignorance, but what is the prognosis? It sounds rather ominous from what you have described, but might there be something, anything???? I will be praying for all of you. Ryan

Jill is right, if they are the white fluffy feathers that are like "tumbleweeds", then get used to them! I'm forever watching them float past me, if your babies are anything like mine, they will start chasing the feathers around for fun soon.

I took a long time to adopt one as well. I read several books, did a tonne of internet research, and also went to an exotic bird store in my area where I spoke to the owner who has 14 greys. Another good idea, check-out YouTube, not for the cute talking Greys, but see if you can find some vids of one who is really vocalising in the morning or afternoon. Although I wouldn't describe mine as a screamer, he is certainly an enthused caller when he wants to be. Can you handle that? The biggest thing that I have missed are quick weekend trips. I won't take any without my parrot this year as I'm concerned to break/damage the bond with him this young. I've been spending so much time at home that I almost feel a bit reclusive, but I understand that his needs come before my wants! Keep this in mind, Andrew, Tui's Dad (Tui flew away) described his relationship with his Grey as being similar to an over-bearing relationship where you really need to consider plans well to fit the bird as best you can. I'm only a few months into the relationship, but now I don't know how I lived without him!!! So for me, the benefits have so far absolutely outshon any pitfalls. I am committed to keeping it that way too! Again, research, research, research! It'd be greyt if you could visist someone who already has one. Get an idea of what it is like, but being mindful that theirs is probably an adult. Babies are certainly needy... Good luck!

Are you using Photobucket? It's the only way I can post in here...

Did you find out about his diet from the breeder? What was he eating there? I went as far as finding out the exact brand of pellet and flavour in order to try to make him feel as comfortable as possible. The breeder admitted that she wasn't as happy with the brand of pellet that she uses, but she couldn't afford any of the more expensive pellets. I fed him what he was used to as he became more comfortable in the house, and then slowly switched him over to a higher quality pellet. I still can't get him to convert to Harrison's, but I think I have him on a quality pellet, and he eats it like crazy. Is there any pellet pieces on the bottom of the bowl? After Paco has finished eating pellets there is always a substantial amount of pieces of varying size (some as small as dust) in the bottom of the bowl along with the pellets that he hasn't gotten to yet. I'd still offer what he is eating, that way you know he is eating! Measure the pellets that you give him at the beginning of the day, then measure it again at the end, see what the difference is. I'm not much help, my parrot was really easy to switch over from the breeder's pellets, and has always been a voracious appetite. Perhaps some of the more experienced members will be able to assist you further.

Woohoo! I'm so excited! Last week when the forum was down I began to notice that Paco was really starting to make noises that I hadn't heard before. I was keeping it to myself, because I was thinking it might be a false start, we've had a few, where he has said words, but it was almost an accident, and then I got nothing further. However, all week I've been noticing an increase in his vocalizations, both in volume, and variety of what he has been saying. He also started to make a "Haallo" noise, but it sounded more like a wimpering puppy than anything else. However, yesterday I decided to sleep in a bit, at around 8 I was awakened by a clear, "Hello, hello, hellow, Paco, Paco, Paco". Again, worried that it might be a false start, I've kept mum on this. I've been home all day, and he has been saying "Hello" clear as I say it all day! I'm so excited!!! I am still a little stunned by the plethora of other noises that he started doing as well. I can't help but wonder if learning to mimic also opens up another area of noises that they hadn't yet discovered??? I'm trying to just enjoy this new ability he has found, but my God!!! The volume with all his other noises is not to be believed! I'm trying to ignore it, but it's as though a knife is going through my head!!!

Interesting topic, and one that I find interesting. I'm admittedly very new to sharing my life with a Grey, but even in the short amount of time that I have now been involved in this, one thing I have really noticed is that there is not a one size fits all for our birds. It has become obvious to me that each bird is as individual as each of us. I have also observed the different circles of aviculturists who keep parrots and noticed that it is fractioned in several areas. Feed, flight, and training are just examples of what I have observed to be very different, some seem to be very modern, hip, and up-to-date with their views on parrot keeping, while others seem to be a bit more traditional, and are not aware of many of the new studies that have been done on parrots, and specifically African Greys. I choose to be on this forum as I have found that the members here are exactly what I am looking for, hip, up-to-date and proactive to learn more about how to keep their parrots in the best possible way to experience the best, and longest relationship possible. As far as the use of Palm Nuts, Aloe Vera, and the use of this behavioural specialist, again, this is all advice, try it, don't try it, but recognize that we all (no matter how much we love our babies) own an exotic bird that is only one or two (if we are lucky) generations out of the jungle. As such, the research, whatever is out there, is new, and may or may not be tested as well as we would like. Personally, I would love to be able to try a palm product on my parrot, however, palm anything is not allowed in Canada, too bad, I suspect that these birds need some oil to help their skin as well as other organs. I also use Aloe Vera juice, but have not yet made up my mind. If anything, it just seems to make his outter feathers look a little clumpy, so I may toss that out at some point.... I guess my point is, I feel a bit of a divide here that I don't think was intended at all. Let's reunite here, I think some "new" advice was offered, it may be right, it may be wrong. The behavioural specialist might create great results for one bird, might not for another. It is us up us, our bird's keepers to find out what is "right" for our little friends.

Well, that's great news! It is also very informative, but I think I would still take my bird into the vet, even knowing this from your experiences, so no need to feel silly. We are kept by our birds, but certainly not avian vets! An air-sac is serious business, so you did the right thing! How did Francis get along with the vet? Did it stress him out, and have you noticed any plucking? I'm hoping you don't!!!

Haha! Dayo sure seems like a character! No wonder your laughing so hard, I would be too!

Thanks for sharing Dan, I loved it! Karma!

I wouldn't worry to much about the feathers right now. Paco chews a bit when he gets bored or stressed, and I drag the poor bird in on a regular basis, so much so that the vet said, "See you in October!" last time I was in... I know how frustrating the plucking can be, and know that it is your secondary concern, maybe you will be surprised and it will be Francis' highlight of the day!!! Francis' health is most important, get that checked and let us know what is going on. I think we are all in agony waiting for a diagnosis, or explanation. From there, you can concentrate on thos darn feathers again! Who knows, Paco seems to enjoy going tithe vet, except for the crop check! Good luck tomorrow!!!

This is a great post, and by my reading it, I'm sure you can all imagine what is on my mind... I finish university in July (thank God! It's been a looooooong haul) and then will be back to just working full-time. Besides the prospective "getting along" that we now know is next to impossible to foresee, are there birds that should not be kept with a grey for physical reasons? I.E. The dander from the grey is unhealthy??? Or any other physical concern. After checking out The Amazon room, I think my mind might be made up. The only other thing that I want to consider, what about diets? I don't want to end up a short order birdie cook. I wouldn't mind breed specific pellets, but would they eat the same salads as a Grey? Finally, the last hold out I'd have, Paco goes everywhere (within reason) with me, I guess a 2nd bird will take away from that. I wouldn't shove the two into one travel carrier, nor would I be able to carry two at once.... Hmm, lots to think about, pros and cons! I'm glad you started the post Jayd!