RhonnieS

Thanks Jane! Now I feel better! LOL Rhonnie N Ceasar (mommy cries alot to)

Thank you Dan.. Ceasar has put a whole new outlook to my life and we wanted to share the feeling.. Over the last 5 years I have had 13 hip replacements as my bones kept breaking. During the last year and 1/2 I've found a true and constant friend in Ceasar. I could not handle my dogs and Ceasar was there, Verbal was there. He doesn't judge me by any standard except his own and when I saw it possible, I went for the chance. and it was a thrilling feeling when we finally broke thru to each other.. Rhonnie N Ceasar (I was Mom's therapy Bird)

Jane, I feel bad now! It was not meant to make you cry I'm sorry sweetie, I was just trying to convey all the emotions that are a part of being owned by a Grey or any bird. But, Thank you so very much for caring and understanding. If you cried I know my message was read by someone who is as in love with their birds as I am.. Rhonnie N Ceasar (good morning!)

As I sit here plucking bird dander out of my coffee. I wondered, "is it worth it to go thru all we do in order to love a parrot?" YOU BETCHA! When I thought of Ceasar before, my hands were full. Could this bird learn to trust me? Could he ever love me like I loved him? Could he be a lifelong partner for me? Will he ever quit biting me? The list goes on and on. its taken a year and 1/2, oK, a year and 4 months to be totally fair, for Ceasar to "come around" but I have to tell you it was well worth the journey. Was it an easy Journey? Oh heck no! Battles and boundaries were crossed and rehashed, problematic behavior was his way of life. So, I put myself in Ceasars position. What was it he wanted from me? All the time I was busy asking things of him I Never thought of "what could he be telling me?" He told me the most basic things. I want love, i want stability, I want a schedule, I want unexpected greetings and play time,I want good food, I want you to treat me with respect for the Glorious bird that I am, I want a forever home, I want-I want- YOU to get to know ME.... now I am not a newbie to birds, but I am a newbie to African Greys. They take on a whole new dimension in your life. Here was this Bird, trying to tell me what he needed and it was up to me to listen. After all, I had taken the responsability on and it was NOT to be entered into lightly. It was MY reponsability to learn what I could from other parrot lovers (notice, not Owner but Lovers) I don't believe you can own a parrot. More like your owned by Them. If you can't handle being owned by a Bird, you really don't need one. They require US to be at their Beak and Call. And, if your a parrot Lover, you are. You have to look at the big picture and be a fortuneteller of sorts. Your going to have this bird for a Very long time hopefully lifelong,and if you can't see into the future, I don't think a Bird is for you.LOL You have to picture the rest of your life with your bird. Not just a year or so. Thats not enough time to really get to know trust and anybody is it? With the exception of your sons or daughters, grandbaies and other family newborns. Yep, I say newborns because your bird is like a newborn. Ultimately trusting only you for every part of his/her needs and wants. Even if the bird is 80 years old it would still be a member of your family as a newborn. only one you've had forever! I can see how traumatic it can be, and have seen, rehoming a bird is to them. BUT, if you find yourself in a position you can no longer take proper care of your newborn put it up for adoption to a Forever home if you can. Reason I say this is Ceasar wasn't being taken care of and HE needed more out of life than his humans could deal with. Its not fair to the bird to bail out on it unless you absolutely have to. Its like a marraige of sorts. In my case it will be til death do we part and there are no divorces in a parrots mind. I truley believe rehoming Ceasar would shatter him into a thousand little bird brain and heart pieces. But, I love him too much to consider rehoming any of my birds, but I would if the time came I could no longer care for him. I just don't see that happening tho. (see what I mean about being able to see the future?) Your bird cannot be just locked in a cage and put up like a living Keepsake or trophy. To do that, you are making a very loving creature miserable. How would you like it? I mean they did nothing wrong that could warrant a term of life sentence in jail... I think of the last year and 1/2 (Ceasar just came around 2 months ago) and I catch myself smiling. All that bull we went thru together. I really thought I'd have to love Ceasar from a distance so to speak. Just letting him out of his cage to play as he had shown me he thoroughly enjoyed, but never to snuggle him or touch him except to let him out. It was a nightmare! I thought he would never end his ceaseless screeching and biting. I thought he would never love me like I loved him. But he proved me wrong. now I can't say it was easy and I can't say it was fun, BUT I can say it was well worth the effort. I now am owned by the most careing, loving African Grey I could ever have dreamed of. I'd still love him unconditionally if he couldn't talk or can't fly because you know something? He loves Me unconditionally. I look into his lucid yellow eyes and I see what he sees. My reflection staring back at me. Only instead of the pinprick pupils, they are now big round pupils that seem to reflect everything I am in his eyes. Lord what a wonderful feeling! The more he depends on me the more he makes me want to Give. I'm finding myself up early Just to see what the day brings with him! I'm addicted to his love. Thats what it is, an addiction of the heart and soul. Sappy as that may sound. I hope there are Parrots in heaven or I don't want to go. I wish everyone the joy and blessed feeling that comes over me when Ceasar is there with me. its truly one of our greatest gifts and I know if your on this forum, you feel the same.. So as I drink my coffee anyways today and break peices of toast and eggs to put in Ceasars bowl, I wish you... All the warm wishes in the world to you and Yours.. Rhonnie N Ceasar (I hope my cousins, brothers and sisters have a wonderful life!)

ROFLMAO, That should have read "regular rehoming" :laugh: I think I live in a regular home! Rhonnie N Ceasar (Mom your silly)

Its never to late to teach a older parrot to donew tricks. If he's letting you pet him THAT in itself is a plus! I'd say listen to your heart. Keep up with the good praises and snuggles. It'll get you far. Maybe your not pressing in the right spot for him to step up. Try going under his belly where the legs meet and press up there. Its like second nature for the bird to want to step up because they don't like anything to block them from a means of escape. Best wishes and Ceasar nibbles, Rhonnie N Ceasar

How old is your grey? Ceasar came to me talking at 8 years old or 9 But all he said was cuss words. now he is a very pleseant bird! Rhonnie N Ceasar (I just hollered Hi Girl, Say hello to Ceasar)

Hi! I'm Rhonnie and my bird is Ceasar. I got Ceasar because he was unfit for a regular home due to his swearing. He said stuff like Fire Fire Flocker, and $hit all the time over and over. Uhggg it was infuriating. First off how long have you had your bird? Rhonnie N ceasar (hey mom I'm a good bird now)

ACK! if this comes thru twice its because I thought the computer ate it... Ceasar is talking up a storm now. Yesterday we had a long chat time, with him repeating about everything I said. It was sooo cool! Ceasar has always been a talker, but he never would repeat phrases "I' had said. With the exception of telling the floor guys who changed the carpet in my birdroom to lamanent, "whew, I'm so depressed!" I swear! The flooring guy come out and said "which one of you is depressed?" and he and his buddies were about to fall over laughing! So I knew Ceasar had it in him, just it never surfaced until yesterday. He called me a pretty Girl, and told me whatcha talking about and a myriad of other phrases. When I calledhim a pretty Boy he repeated it. We "chatted" for hours! Rhonnie N Ceasar (I'm no dummy. I have to keep her guessing what I'll do tommorow)

Yep, he's talking up a storm. He told me yesterday "pretty Girl" and I replied "yes, I'm a pretty girl and your a pretty boy" he replied "pretty Boy!" (talk about your ego boost LOL):blush: He also asked me " what are you talking about" and two days ago he heard Bill call out for me and I asked whatcha need? Well Ceasar pipes up and says "He'll be alright!" Now to revert back to when Ceasar had been being really gnarly right as we were remodeling, the guy who changed out the floor from carpet to lamenent comes out and asks "which one of us is depressed?" My husband says "Probably my wife,why?" He was laughing so hard when he said "Cause your grey bird just went Whew, I'm so depressed" We all rolled on that one, but it let me know Ceasar was willing to listen and pick up more things like that. Back to yesterday, Just about everything I would say, Ceasar would repeat. It was sooooo Cool! I tried VERY hard to catch it on video and I managed to catch a litle bit of him but it wasn't him talking and it came out really grainy, But guys I'm trying to catch a video of him! Anyhow I was so tickled with the "Chat" he and I had, it went on for hours. I was really amazed! Rhonnie N Ceasar (I'm no dummy, I keep her looking forward to each day we spend together)

Oh it definately is! I'm so proud of my boy! Thank you! Rhonnie N Ceasar (Mom feed me more!)

That is Fantastic news! Congrats Tyco and mom! Way to go! Rhonnie (see Ceasar thats how its done) N Ceasar (Huh What?)

Bellino sounds like Ceasar. He has figured out if he bites me he'll stay on my hand a while. Not today tho. He's only done this for about 3 or 4 days now. and trying to cover his head up really torques him. But today he went to bite and I withdrew my hand real fast. He was startled he didn't get to nail me. It threw him for a loop and later when I got him out, when I went to put him up he didn't bother me. :woohoo: Rhonnie N Ceasar (what the heck was that!)

Thanks Judy. I do appreciate all the good advice and encouragement. Between all of us here, he's coming along nicely. Jess taught me yesterday how to potty train Ceasar by getting him to poop on command. Of course we are just starting the process but he recognizes for now that when I say poop and he goes I get extra special happy with him! And he just Loves that! Rhonnie N Ceasar (I dunno what she's happy about but I'll figure it out)

Thanks for the encouragement She- He has been as you say -a perch potato for a while now. He was VERY agressive when I first got him and he's slowly, well recently quickly, coming around to see my point of view. He was a foul mouthed mean rescue, but now he's becoming a great bird....Thanks again.. Rhonnie N Ceasar

I would try taking her out of the cage regardless. A bored parrot is a demanding one. I thought Ceasar would never calm down but I think he was really stressed and bored. I hope I'm giving you good advice... Its what I did with Ceasar and its made him a great bird now. But I had to have the time to spend with him. Best wishes, Rhonnie n Ceasar (yup mom created a schedule she keeps most the time by getting up a hour earlier)

Well be prayin for her to come along fantastic! I'm sure she will. I think it would be good to see Ceasar fly and I'm going to get him to excercise a little more. Well come to think of it he is excercising everyday now. LOL Rhonnie N Ceasar (one two three four- doing head bobs)

Thats a distince possibility jillybeans. He and I both have added weight since we've known each other! LOL Mine is from two replaced hips. Which I can't get around like I used to so I have plenty of time to spoil him even more. He's a chunky bird LOL Rhonnie N Ceasar (hold up there! I don't need to diet!)

I don't know anything about the terrible two's but I do know about hard to handle birds like Ceasar. It sounds like your life is hectic right now and your bird could be stressing out cuz you are. My advice would be to hang onto your baby til the move and afterwards try and get her settled in to the new spot. Or if you have a calm bedroom you can put her in and be able to let her have free time. I would say I would take her and fly her in but my hands are full with Ceasar right now. All Our Best to you sweetie. Your bird will hopefully help get you thru all the stress.... Rhonnie N Ceasar (Lord knows I've helped my Mommy)

Thank you She! I'm so tickled he's coming along so well. Every day is a new adventure now.. :laugh: Rhonnie N Ceasar

Thank you! I appreciate this list and love posting to it pictures and such. Whatta great bunch you are! Rhonnie N Ceasar (Yep and I like posing!)

HOO Me? Not know how to fly? Ceasar

Well you ARE lucky aren'tcha! My hands wish they could be like yours! Ceasar nailed me the other day on a vien Blood all over the place from my finger! Wowzer!! Rhonnie N Ceasar (I told you I was sorry!)

I have a beautiful picture around here somewhere of Verbal flying but I think best I'm gonna get out of Ceasar is the fake fly. Think that the real problem is us? Maybe we have taken too much of the wildness out of handfeds? Those things that make you go Hmmmmmmmm! Rhonnie N Ceasar (hey Josey, we got it made don't we?)

Thanks Dan. He really is coming along so fast inthe last two months its almost embarrassing I didn't figure him out sooner. He would eat peaches before but he never, and I mean NEVER took anything from my hand before and ate it. Usually it was bouncing off the walls. LOL Glad you liked the picture..He's hamming it up for photos last two days as well instead of "Knocking at the camera" Rhonnie and Ceasar (I'm a handsome fella aren't I?)