Xtreme575

It took me a while to figure out how to cover my cage. It has a playstand with "arms" that are 9 feet high, but the corners of the cage have decorative "balls" on them. I have been using two black cloth shower curtains which I am able to hang from the balls on the cage. This works great, and Paco loves to sleep in as much as I do, as long as the room is dark. We always have our best days together when we have both slept late, as opposed to the "rush" days when neither of us get our 10-12 hours of sleep. On rush days, like today, I let him perch on a large ring toy that he likes which hangs from the playstand, he was up and at 'em at 5, we'll both be cranky later tonight.

Paco hates the towel, and makes a huge production out of it. So much so that the vet has offered to give me a discount if I can get him to be better towel trained. I have been working on this, but it always results in a bite, so I tend to avoid it a bit, but I try.

Hmmm, I vote for Bela or Bijou. I love Bela, but I think it would sound to feminine if Blueberry ends up being a boy. Bijou would work for both, and it sounds good too, I think Blueberry would like that name too.

I'm glad your baby is feeling better, what a scare! I hate when we have issues that cause any kind of panic like that. I've had issues with the neighbours upstairs who like to let their door slam early in the morning (6am) while Paco's cage is still covered. It scares the hell out of him and usually results in him thrashing around in the cage until I can get there to open the door, this results in him bolting out and flying right across the room. This is a feat in itself, he only has three flight feathers!

Thanks! I certainly appreciate the update!

Oh Jill, I do feel for your poor husband, it brings new meaning to St. Michael. I can only get Paco to go on his back if I'm willing to lose my arm, he hates it! I finally caught him putting his head under his wing from the back about a month ago, other than that, he naps on one foot on my chest while I nap. I have to be careful not to snore though, otherwise he marches up my chest and pinches my nose and then stares right at me, beak to nose.

Laura! Congratulations, I've been thinking about you, but I ban myself from the forums when I have papers due... I just finished. The anticipation about whether you got your baby or not has been nearly driving me wild! I'm soooooo happy for you. Don't forget to give your other birds a pat before you turn your attention back to Blueberry, I don't want to hear about sweet Noogie feeling left out and not leaving you anymore treats!

Great news! A rectangular cage with a playtop, and the playtop that I have has things that I can hang HUGE toys from, we both love that! Go as big as you can afford, but definately more width than 2 feet. As Jill says, once you add branches and toys, the cage fills up fast!

Sounds like things are off to a brilliant start, and I would suggest that the flying was as a result of being nervous. It depends on your Grey, but the first couple of days are best left to observe from inside the cage while they settle in. This is tough advice to follow though as it is soooooo tempting, especially when they are new! Ash may already be settled in and comfortable, but it took mine a good month to really settle in and start acting like I was the visitor in the house. My parrot was severely clipped by the breeder without any input from me before I got him. We've now lived together for (only) 9 months, but what I've learned in that time, I need to adapt my house for the safety of my bird, not adapt my bird... Keep up the greyt work!

Thanks Dave, they must have lightened up then, because I've been bathing as you posted a few days ago in the sink with the mister, and even then his old feathers are significantly lighter in colour.

Great to know!!! Thanks! I'm scared of dandelions for Paco because it means having to get them from areas that I don't have control on what is sprayed. I live in a condo, so I have to "borrow" things like that.

Thanks Jay, I'll do this with pride. But this article also motivated me to make a small financial donation to my local exotic bird sanctuary, Greyhaven. Here is the link if anyone is curious. They do great work, and I am looking forward to becoming more involved as soon as I am finished school and have more time. It's about an hour from where I live. http://www.greyhaven.bc.ca/ Thanks for posting this!

Jay, why not much spinach? I thought it was high in calcium and considered a leafy green? You are definately peaking my interest this morning!!! LOL!

Great idea Jay! Thanks! I can't keep Paco out of milk either, he goes made for it, but I only let him have the odd tast as well.

Thanks Jay, another interesting read for us. Reading the article with a critical eye, I am at a bit of a loss. Is the author asking the reading to "educate" others on how to treat parrots? I'm not really understanding the intention of the author. Obviously this is a great educational piece based on what appears to be sound science, but it lacks the citations to give us that assurance, and even though the author has used a couple styles of rhetoric to "persuade" the reader, and this is done effectively, I still do not know what the author is asking of me. Sorry, perhaps I'm just a little thick today from being up so late last night, but I need some help.

Thanks Jay, that was an interesting article to read. Since we are not really able to trace back the original area that our bird's ancestors are from, and being one and sometimes two generations out of the jungle, I guess we could end up with any colouring. I'm just surprised that Paco's original feathers were so light and silver and now the new ones are so dark! I'm happy with it, I love the dark greys!

Luckily I have hardwood, so I drizzle it in with the steamed chopped veggies and let the fun begin.

Thanks all! I really appreciate hearing your advice on this. Yes, we will be having separate jars, I love the high sugar, high sodium heavily refined kind that doesn't taste a THING like a peanut! Now if I could just get him over his fear of toast!

Hi there, Jay and Judy have offered you great advice, and I cannot offer you more, but I can assure you that I was in your same situation a few months ago, except my parrot (I've been told) did fledge, and most importantly learned to land well before being clipped. However, he was given a very severe clip, and has taken some pretty good falls as a result of it. I too worried about the keel bone, and have put air mattresses with towels over the areas around his cage to allow him a bit of a bounce rather than a bump or an injury. Paco is nearly a year old now, and has three molted flight feathers. We are both very proud of these, and looking forward to the others being replaced so he can fly again, I can't wait. I think that flying gives them a better sense of confidence, and just requires that we owners take a little more responsibility, I'm more than willing to do this! I also use the harness when we go out, even though there isn't a whole lot of fear that Paco will get far, as I said, he is severely clipped. I use the harness now because I want him used to it for when we really need it. It's an adventure in partience and determination to get it on and off, but so worth it when we go outside! I wish new members would know the right questions to ask before buying their babies. Mine was ok, but I wish she was a little more modern in her thinking and realize that that some of her practices from a long time ago have been proven wrong... Also, she admitted that she wasn't able to afford some of the higher quality pellets on the market, so she used one that I wasn't willing to use, that was a bit of a transition, but one that we are happy with now, I'm still working on trying to get to Harrison's, but I think this is a dream that I won't see fulfilled. In any event, immerse yourself in the readings that this forum has. The information on this site is amazing, current, and observations are made by those who are involved with their birds. As everyone lots of questions and you will have a well adjusted, happy African Grey in no time at all!

Being a worrier, I have taken my parrot to the vet three different times over the past 8 months, and on the last visit was finally able to get all of the blood work and other tests that I wanted, a full work-up. Luckily, my avian vet sent me away so that Paco wouldn't associate me with the visit, and in fact, look like the hero coming to save him from their evil ways! He was quiet and a little less trusting for three weeks after we got home. The best make-up for us was for me to have him step-up (after the owwies from the needles go away) on my hand and let him perch there while I offered him small foot toys to play with. I spoke in a very quiet, yet reassuring voice (make sure you have a towel on your lap so you don't even have to worry about poops) while he played with the toys. After doing this everyday for a couple of weeks, he has come back to his usual cheery, chipper self, making all sorts of noises and running across his playtop to visit me when I walk up to him. Good luck.

That's sweet! Paco prefers the older rock from the early '80's, especially Bonnie Tyler and other raspy voiced singers.

Paco is currently looking like a spotted Grey. He is going through his first molt, and I'm amazed at how much darker grey the new feathers are. Paco was a June hatchling who wasn't exposed to a whole lot of UVB prior to this spring and our outings, so for my parrot at least, it looks as though we are going darker. I've been meaning to post about this, so I'm glad you did. I'd love to hear from some more experienced members to hear their input. Ryan

Paul, that is funny, I love the way he's looking out behind the plant. I'm glad he wasn't hurt on this crash landing.

I can only sell Thai Curried Chicken to Paco, even then, he prefers the veggies in it over the chicken meat.

Wow! It's amazing that my culture is based on British culture, yet I'm certainly getting an education on topics I've never heard about. Can't I just have a plate with meat and veggies, perhaps with a side of bread, no straw though please. I prefer my hay or straw to be from wheat that has been to the mill already. You two crack me up!