crossfit

I got third pick of three but thats fine.

Well, I finally found my baby. She is just over two weeks old and here is a videocam. Hopefully when you look it will be on the three baby african greys. I will know more later. Streaming Media

OH he is so pretty. Can't wait until the new feathers come in. He is so much happier with you in just a short time.

Cowbells are often used in percussion music so you might look at drum stores. Also, I heard that the xmas jingle bells (the little round ones) are bad for parrots since the little slits are places the birds can get there beaks stuck. Is this wrong?

from the vid: "see? my parrot no longer talks. She just plays with toys" lol. Very, very, sweet. Merry Christmas

aw, I want a picture!

wow this is excellent. I knew to pay attention. But I had no idea what to look for. Thanks so much for this post. As a new Grey owner (bird hasn't even hatched - thats how new) I really appreciate knowing this is here for future reference.

These are awesome pics. The quality is great. And Cocoa looks so happy. Thanks for sharing them.

I am glad you mentioned you are in Long Beach. The weather there is mild. I was afraid you lived in the midwest and there was snow. Or even where I live where it hits below freezing at night in December. Sending prayers regularly.

Hugs. I know you must be blaming yourself. Don't. At least right now. It won't help. Since I am totally new to parrots I did a quick google search for you so you won't have to. Then you have some ideas while waiting for the most experienced members to offer help. http://birdmart.com/classifieds/lost/tips.html From that article comes this: Familiar Surroundings: Even if you cannot see your bird, he may be watching you. Your bird may be too scared to come down and see you, so entice him. Put his cage outside, full of his favorite junk-food, and leave the door open. If your bird has a feathered pal, put him outside, too (in a locked cage). Only attempt this if you are home and watching the cage(s) carefully. This may entice him to come down. If you have a dog/cat that your bird doesn't like, be sure to keep them far away from the cage. 3. Make Some Noise: If there are noises or words that your bird likes, walk the neighborhood making those sounds. Listen carefully, your bird might talk back! Good luck. read the whole link. It has more helpful things in it but I thought the cage idea and the vocalizings sounded familiar from my current glut of reading material.

Thats a great link. I had figured out many of the abbreviations already. This forum is definately helpful. Last night I spent three hours reading late into the night. Do a search, read the answers, click on an interesting thread mentioned in someone signature, etc.

Welcome. I am also the proud owner of an empty cage waiting to be filled. I can't wait for my new bird. Welcome to the forum. I have learned so much just scanning through the various topics and reading what people have to say. My guess is that you aren't going to want to let your parrot have access without supervision. It is difficult to create a safe place for them that way and still have it be liveable for us. It is very similar to having a toddler around. In fact, it is almost the same as the child proofing I have been doing for when my granddaughter comes over. Big no no right away - teflon pans. You can read more elsewhere but I just gave all mine to my daughter. Its a nice excuse to treat yourself to some good stainless steel cookware.

ah feathered kid. Latin obviously! lol

I see reference all over to calling the birds "fids". Now, I think it is a short version of the latin or something for parrot but when I checked the latin for African Grey it was Psittacus erithacus so I can't figure out where "fid" comes from. Help enlighten me?

Its a fruit. From Wikipedia: Commercially, there are generally two types of persimmon fruit: astringent and non-astringent. The heart-shaped Hachiya is the most common variety of astringent persimmon. Astringent persimmons contain very high levels of soluble tannins and are unpalatable if eaten before softening. The astringency of tannins is removed through ripening by exposure to light over several days, wrapping the fruit in paper (probably because this increases the ethylene concentration of the surrounding air), and/or artificially with chemicals such as alcohol and carbon dioxide which change tannin into the insoluble form. This bletting process is sometimes jumpstarted by exposing the fruit to cold or frost which hastens cellular wall breakdown. These astringent persimmons can also be prepared for commercial purposes by drying. The non-astringent persimmon is squat like a tomato and is most commonly sold as fuyu. Non-astringent persimmons are not actually free of tannins as the term suggests, but rather are far less astringent before ripening, and lose more of their tannic quality sooner. Non-astringent persimmons may be consumed when still very firm to very very soft.

Those of you who have had a lot of experience, do you find that Greys have a difference in personality that is gender specific? I asked at the end of another thread I wrote but wanted to make sure it isn't missed. I know there are very few differences physically and mostly only breeders can tell without a dna test. But I am more interested in knowing if there tends to be difference in behavour.

Oh you guys are so helpful. It is true - I have learned so much (glances at pile of parrot books sitting next to my computer area). I am starting to feel better. One thing that helps is that Ipo was so clearly wanting to go with Racheal yesterday when Racheal came to pick her up. So I know that Ipo and I will be good friends and also that Ipo is happier. So, I am going to take a few more months to research babies and rescue places. I am going on the trip of a lifetime in February (an ecotour of the Brazilian Amazon) and would prefer to wait to have my new parrot move in until afterwards. With Ipo, she could have easily visited Racheal during that time but with a new parrot I don't want to have a 10 day break with no one who she/he is bonded to around. One question - is there any real behaviour difference between male and female greys? I would think not since it is not mentioned in any of the resources I have and in all the dog and cat resources there is usually a subchapter on the differences. Thanks again to you all. It is amazing how a community, even one that I am new too, can help to heal small wounds.

Well, mostly the help I can get from the forum would be in helping me find resources for rethinking my plans and trying to decide if I want to rehome a bird or just buy a baby so this won't happen again. As for me and Ipo, I will continue to be friends with Racheal so those relationships will continue - both the human and the avian ones. And just writing has helped me to move forward too.<br><br>Post edited by: crossfit, at: 2009/12/22 04:25

That is what I am hoping Judy. If it works out, it will be best for everyone and I can be happy knowing that my two months involved with them led to them getting their lives back together. That is a major gift and I didn't even know I was giving it. And it makes the sadness much easier to bear. If it doesn't, and her illness keeps her from being able to do what she really wants to do for Ipo, as it has hindered her for the last two and a half years, then it will be very very sad, especially since I will have gotten a grey of my own and she won't have someone like me who was so willing to keep her in my life along with the bird. Send prayers or hopes for the first option. Racheal is a great lady with a tough illness and Ipo is an awesome bird. I just want what is best for them all. I know I can move on. I have a lot of emotional strength and also a lot of patience. I just need a few days to be sad or I won't let myself be sad and store up resentment instead.

Well, after two months of preparation, the women who was giving me her Grey changed her mind. Ipo lived here with me for 2 days before Racheal decided she missed Ipo too much to give her up. I am hoping that all goes well there as I don't really believe that anything has changed there and that Ipo will continue to have less time spent with her than she could use. On the other hand she will stay with the lady who she sees as her mom and has known her ten years of life. So, I guess I am in the market for an African Grey. I am unsure of trying to rehome a bird after this experience. My heart is heavy as I have grown to really love this bird and don't want to have another person do the same thing to me again. My family is upset seeing how sad I am and the amount of energy I put into this process to make Ipo comfortable and think I should get a baby so I don't have to worry about someone trying to take back an older bird. Oh well. Its hard to think clearly when your sad so I will probably not decide for a few days. I do have the cage still as well as the toys and such that I had bought for Ipo so that part of planning has been handled. In the meantime, if anyone in the San Jose or Santa Cruz area can help me learn who are good breeders and pet stores and reputable rehoming organizations, that would probably be a first step. Feel free to send that info in a private message if you wish. I am not sure of the boards position on recommending services in the regular forums.

here is her picture on facebook. I just posted. She is sitting in the new swing I set up for her and listening to my husband practice his bass. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1494141075#/photo.php?pid=30397136&id=1494141075

Well, the goodbyes were tough. But within ten minutes Ipo came out of the cage. She has since shared my vegetable soup, danced, and demanded "fritos" (that is her word for anything really yummy including almonds)

Okay. Tonight is the night. Earlier today I went and got the cage, her food, and everything but her swing. Her mom is bringing her and the swing over soon. Any minute now actually. It will be hard. Her mom really really doesn't want to do this but knows it is best for Ipo. We have a lovely contract written up that considers all our needs and allows us to all focus on Ipo's needs at the highest level. We are basically doing a six month visit here at my house. During that time, if Ipo shows serious signs of stress that we can't find a way to deal with, she will go back to her current home. We are going to have her current mom visit daily in the first week and taper off a bit in the second week and then continue visits as long as we all want them. I like her a lot and have made a new friend so I am hoping that the visits will continue even just for me. We also put a clause in the contract that if Ipo goes back there to live that I have visiting rights as well into the future. SHE IS HERE. Bye

Thanks all. An animal crate it will be then. I have a bunch sitting around from various animals I have had to transport in the past. I will clean one out to be just hers. I will check into the swings mentioned. She loves her current one already.

As I posted in the newbies forum, I will be getting my 10 year old grey on Thursday. (check there for the details if you would like). While Ipo will be coming home with a cage, I would like to get her a carrier. I was thinking of waiting to do so but realized I may need to take her to the vet even if its for a check up and would like something on hand if any emergency comes up. Besides, I would like to be able to take her to visit her first mother and family often at first. I am considering getting the Pak O Bird carrier sized for the timneh. I am suspicious that Ipo is actually a congo but she is small. Her tail and beak belie her small size in making me think she is really a congo. Anyway, I was wondering what people think about this carrier or other carriers before I invest in a large ticket item. I plan to make a lot of her things (and have been [perusing the appropriate part of the forums a lot) but also need to get her some sort of swing and if anyone has any ideas on swings and t-stands that would be helpful. Even tips on what I should look for in a good solid stand would be helpful.