Xtreme575

I had the same problem a few weeks ago, I nearly passed out when I saw the blood. It was worse than seeing my own blood! I'm not attempting this ever again, and ended up making a decision I wish I had months ago! I moved his cement perch to the outside of his cage where his favourite spot to just sit and chill out is. He's continued to use it, and his nails are getting way more dull than they've been in months!

Good idea with the blanket, even if you have to throw another $20 at her. Jayd and Dave have given you excellent advice on the rehoming. I can't stress enough how right Dave's point of just leaving the bird alone is. It nearly drove me insane to just leave my parrot alone when I first brought him home, but the one time I tried to rush him resulted in him getting scared of me and causing a setback in our relationship which I had to work much harder to fix than it would have been if I just left him alone in the first place.

I hear you there Stephen... I have taken a few short trips with Paco since I got him last September, but I've been fortunate enough to take him with me. I'm currently on holidays, and for the most part have chosen to stay home, with the exception of a few day trips, day trips that I've also taken Paco on. I'm facing two trips to Mexico over the next year, trips that I can't get out of, and like you, I am faced with the same problem. I have some friends who are very interested in bird-sitting with me, we've even found a large cage that they are willing to have at their house for him to stay in, but what's concerning me the most is that Paco is throwing his clipped primaries really quickly and he will soon be fully flighted. On top of that, he is a little on the nasty side lately, especially to those who are not me! Something I'm working on, but I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say on this as well.

Wow! So this afternoon I tried to harness him, something that I've been doing fairly regularly over the past several months. Well, he'd have no part of it today! I knew I wasn't going to be successful in getting the harness on without first having my arm eating off, so I decided to give up, but getting the harness off was just as bad. I made sure we spent quite a bit of time together after, with me just talking softly. It doesn't seem to have damaged our relationship, but this "non-baby" phase (he was a year on June 10th) is tough!

Paco seems to be better when I have him out, and I'm planning on buying a parrot pack-sack tomorrow to make it even easier to take him out on short jonts. The travel cage I have is great, but it just isn't practical for trips to the park where I need to walk at all, nor is the harness always easy to get on. A few weeks ago we were out for a harnessed walk and we were approached from a couple of older ladies. Paco immediately said "Hello" to them before starting to blow kisses! Yet the minute my Mom comes near him, he bites her thumb... And he took a gash out of my Dad's finger, I felt horrible about it. Paco will NOT take food from strangers, and will only accept new foods that are cut up in his regular food that I offer, or if he sees me eating something while he is on my shoulder. Otherwise it is head down, and curved so I can't get near his beak! It's not like I've ever forced food on him. Silly bird!

Jay's compilation is excellent, I'd also suggest reading "Parrots for Dummies". It was a great starter read for me, and it addresses all types of parrots. It did stear me towards a grey for sure though.

Hey gang, I have rejoined the world of the living after a really tough final semester at school. I'm happy that it's over, and I think I need to really so some more work on sociallizing Paco... He is utterly nasty to everyone but me, in fact, so nasty that I can't handle him after someone else has even come close to him. He just lunges and bites. Any suggestions on how to start getting him more used to people??? I'll appreciate any help, again, I live alone, and I don't have many friends living in the immediate area.

My grey came to me clipped by the breeder (against my wishes). The breeder was excellent in that she has made herself available to me 24 hours a day every day by cell, but we fundamentally disagree on the clipping issue. Paco now has 3 primaries on one wing and three on the other. He is starting to make short flights and even landed on his cage from my shoulder across the room, and the landing was sooo graceful. I felt a well of emotion in being able to see this beauty after so long waiting for it. Anyway, my point being, I've quietly severed the relationship with my breeder. I'm not interested in being lectured, I purchased the bird, and as much as we like to pretend that the birds rule the roost, it is my decision to clip or not. I would not tolerate the store owner lecturing me, I'd go to another store, or shop from the internet. Perhaps you could politely suggest that she move beyond her own stereotypes and misconceptions and try to see things from the birds perspective.

What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing that with us. I look forward to hearing more about you and your parrots' experiences.

I agree Jay, you can't feel bad about not recognizing it! Look at how many people run around with diabetes themselves without recognizing it. Even with the same symptoms it may have been different in birds unless you had seen it before. You said it yourself, it took 5 different vets to see it, and they have the training!

Don't be embarrased, you just saved me from asking later on. Thanks for the answer Dave!

Smart thinking! Good for you for coming up with such a novel idea!

We are all breathing a collective sigh of relief that it seems there will be a happy ending for you and Aoodi! Good job on finding a vet and getting your baby there. We all panic with the distress posts like this, but everyone is just trying to make sure that the bird's welfare is taken care of. We just want the best for our babies! I hope Aoodi is feeling better already!

Fantastic video! I was admiring how spotlessly clean Joey's cage was when Maggie changed the paper!!! It looked like everyone was having a great time, that was nice to see, and now I know more of the words to the "Hokey Pokey" too! Joey's dance was a riot, and Spock, sick or not, he always has a glimmer if devilishness in his eye! LOL!

Thanks for the update! That is interesting for sure. Keep us posted, especially one you have the diet totally stabalized.

Hey Spencer, welcome back! I agree with Jay, I love the amazons, and if I got another bird, it would definately be an amazon. The Too's are gorgeous, but a handful and a half. The other question that I'd want to look at before I did anything, would be dietary issues. I don't know about you, but I don't have the time to make different bird meals. I could handle some slight variations, but I'd prefer birds who were somewheat similar for time and expense issues. Good luck, let us know how things go. You might be the one to push me into the amazon if you find this to be a real success.

Jill, I love all of it! Harvey hanging around, and of course, you know I LOVE that you have had to make modifciations to your life for Harvey, especially those that involve your home! LOL! The pillow made my day, thanks!

I didn't read it as that, plus your Greys are still quite young aren't they Lambert58? I say this as I thought my little grey ball of feathers would only continue beaking me gently when he wanted more scratches while we were cuddling. Now, I come here, hat in hand, humbly requesting admittance. I took a nasty bite last night. My cell phone started to ring in the next room while Paco and I were cuddling on the couch just before bedtime. The lights were out, and he knows that that is our time, but curiousity got the better of me, so I got up and went to the other room with Paco on my shoulder (I moved fairly quickly to beat the voicemail). When I got to the phone I was excited to see that it was a good friend who I had not heard from in some time. As soon as I got the phone up to my ear, Paco bit my finger, then when I moved my hand and phone away, he bit me on my ear. Saying this, I'll be watching him closely, anymore of those bites, and I won't be trusting him on my shoulder, but I accept responsibility in that he knows that is our time, and I moved to quickly for his comfort. Next time, I'll put him down before rushing to get the phone. By the way, once I hung up and we settled back in, he was totally loving again.

Hahahahahahha! That is all fantastic! Paco likes his pellets wet as well, which results in stinky water that grosses me out too. If I don't change it fast enough, he purposefully (I swear) stands above it and looks right at me while taking a dump in it. I think he caught on that this is the worst thing he can do and gets the desired reaction everytime, so I keep two water bowls for him.

Paco will be celebrating his first hatch-day on Thursday. What a year! In any event, I have to admit, I have failed him in socialization skills. He is definately a one person bird, but I don't get enough company, nor do I know my neighbours (Hence my need for a parrot over a nasty little dog that would need to be walked! LOL). So, poor Paco is the one to suffer for it. This past weekend my parents were here for a visit, and I thought that it would be a good opportunity for Paco to spend a bit of quality time with someone other than me. He was willing to step-up for them both, but quickly nipped my mom's hand which scared her enough to pass him back to me. Poor Dad nearly lost his finger he got bit so hard. Pacs left him with a V shaped blood blister right above his first knuckle. I too get to join the "Bite Me Club" as I have been taking on more bites lately as well. Normal behaviours that we used to enjoy together are no longer tolerable, and I can see he is actually considering whether he wants to be with me, or left to his own devices. I try to respect that, and God help my poor hands if I get it wrong!!! I hope this is just a nasty little phase that we are going through.

Paco is scared to death of branches. How can a bird be scared of branches? Good God! He's fine with his perches, which are all quite "branch" like, and he has a large manzanita birch the length of his cage, but if I try to introduce him to any other natural branches, he loses his mind and then cowers in the corner vibrating like a little mouse!

Great visuals! Haha! Poor Jay, the landings on his head nearly made me spit out my coffee!

Leaving the cage door open when she is alone could actually intensify the problem. Cages for parrots should be thought of as their refuge or bedroom even. I can't help but wonder if Abby isn't feeling vulnerable with the cage door open while she is alone, causing her to react the way she does when you come home. I tried a test run of leaving the cage door open myself, it didn't work out and I ended up finding my bird cowering on a rug in my kitchen, vibrating in fear. Last time he was ever left to his own devices, it was to scary for him. Cage closed, I come home to a confident, happy bird. Give it a try to see what happens.

I did two trips to the vet before I found an avian vet. It meant a 3 hour drive for us, but the difference in how wee were dealt with was well worth the extra effort. If you can find one, I'm sure you will be happy with the results.

I agree, ideally, get right to an avian vet, if you don't have one in your area, then a vet at the very least. This sounds really concerning!