Julklsy

We did discuss using a medication at his last vet visit. That was last Monday. She wanted me to try a few things such as the TLC and peace & quiet like you said. We have another vet appointment after the first of the year so I am sure it will be discussed again. She did say that if things got worse to call. I will give it til Monday and call again. And I didn't think about it until this morning, but I need to be calm myself. He can def read me in my opinion. I wish I could say I came up with his name! I am the one he was bonded with. We've lived out of the nest for 4yrs now just the two of us. So that bond deepened even more. He has just always been such a social butterfly when it comes to my family and especially the kids in the family. I agree that he may be a tad upset with me. Maybe with time and patience on both our parts we will connect back to the level we were at!<br><br>Post edited by: Julklsy, at: 2009/12/26 16:42

I never thought of that! Will def be covering 3 sides today! Thanks for the advice!

Sorry I got so upset. Ash is and will always be my bestest friend. I went from thinking he was being eaten alive, to trying to figure out how to bring his stress level down. I def am glad I am at this point and not the other. I just have been so upset for him. Perhaps I need to calm down and look at the positive....he is here next to me biting my arm. Positive for the win. Hopefuly it can calm him as well.

I had no idea I would come onto this site asking for help and leave crying. You angered me in telling me to man up for my bird. I have several times. I have just NEVER heard of showing a carcass to a bird. Maybe you just dont understand that it is really impossible to go outside TODAY. This doesnt mean I wont. Why you have to be rude is beyond me. I am confused why me questioning something I have never heard of being done is so hostle? I will just leave the forum and go to the other sites where Ash and I were welcomed and given several different things to try. Sorry my confusion lead to this.

First off do NOT assume I dont care for my bird. I LOVE MY BIRD. I ended up with 12 stitches in my hand trying to rescue my bird. I "manned" up when I jump fences and climbed trees. I "manned" up when I called WHOEVER I had to just to rescue him. I "manned" up when the Humanes Society told me they would not help, and to go home or they would call the police. I just have never heard of anything like this before. My vet never made any reference to doing such a thing. She has worked with Greys for over 30yrs before coming here. I will call and ask her on Monday about this. Secondly I live in Nebraska. There are Hawks everywhere. I see Hawks on a daily basis. But finding a carcass of such a bird would be very difficult. They are protected by law and they are one of the biggest predators here. So just finding a Hawk Carcass laying in over a foot of snow is like finding a needle in a haystack. We are in a blizzard.....BUT I will ask my vet about it.

Are you serious? If you are that would be next to impossible seeing as how we are unders 15inches of snow at the moment. Plus Hawks are protected, so if I saw a dead one I would stay away as to not be accused of anything! I did show him a picture of a Red Tailed Hawk on my computer though and he just kept kissing it.

So I am new to this site. I decided after my 4th vet visit this week to get some online help with our problem. Hope this isnt too long. I have had Ashford since he was 8months old. He is now 14yrs and has been a very happy healthy grey up until now. Never had behavioral problems, he LOVED people, taking showers, talking, and playing in the kitchen sink. 3 weeks ago this all changed. In the midst of moving back into my parents home while buying my first house he had a very traumatic event. As we were moving the couch out of my apartment Ashford managed to navigate the 5 doors and 3 stairwells out of my building and escape into the sky (He was locked up to my knowledge, I later learned he has mastered the new lock on his cage). We managed to locate him in a tree a block away, and as we went to get a ladder the unthinkable happened. A Red Tail Hawk swooped down at him. This hawk was giant. The Wild Life rescue guy who came out later that day said it was one of the biggest he had ever seen, at least a 7ft wing span. The hawk spooked Ash of course and he took off flying. Mid flight the hawk grabbed him, and flew him two blocks away to a tall pine tree. We jumped fences to get to him, but the tree they were in was a good 50ft and they were at the top. We thought at the time that the hawk was killing Ashford. It was the most heart wrenching thing I have ever endured. Somehow Ashford had escaped the Hawks grasped and was protected in a knot of branches the hawk could not get too. With so many people from local businesses gathering and family arriving the hawk flew to a nearby tree. In the end, after a day of attempted rescues, and Ash flying to 3 different trees with the hawk in pursuit, we lost track of him in the dark. Ashford spent the night in a tree somewhere. We assumed, along with his vet, that he would not survive the night. But the next morning at Sunrise we found him in the same area ALIVE. After switching trees one more time and several ladders, my brother in law climbed about 45ft to where he was and using M&M's coaxed him over (He does not eat chocolate...EVER...but he loves the wrapper sound and knows they are great since he can't have!) Ashford came away with a few superficial scratches. After a workup at the Vet and a hefty bill we went home....our new temp home. I wish we could have retured to our old apartment for some time, but it was not possible. Ashford's diet has not changed. Non-Colored Organic Pellets, fresh veggies, apples, and the occasional Skittle. He has over preened his feathers. He does not have any bald or open sore spots, but he just looks very rugged. He bites me and me only. He never wants to snuggle or talk to me. He converses with my family and never bites them. He will NOT let me pick him up, it is always a battle. He sits in his cage and makes his high pitched whistle at all hours, whether covered or not. He used to LOVE showers! Now he wants nothing to do with them. The vet gave him a clean bill of health. She said he needs more homemade chewable toys and distractions, which we have been doing. Hiding his treats in toys so he works for them and he loves it. But he still over preens. I am just so worried about him. I have never used a spray bottle for bathing because he has always been a water maniac. I keep reading about putting aloe into the water? I would like some info on this. Also any home made toys any of you put together for your grey would be great. I am very sorry this was so long, but I wanted you to know what he has been through. Any suggestions are welcome. The vet has said not to change his diet because at this point change is not welcome. She believes the over-preening is from stress. I can tell he is stressed. I just am at my wits end on how to help him. I just want my boy back.