Spock

"Whatcha doing?", "What's happening", "Hello Papa!" Happy Birthday To you from Maggie, Tango, Salsa, Joe and the rest of the flock.... ( I read all these posts to Jay and it really lifted his spirits! Thanks to all...)

AMEN!!!! I know Jay wants to make a reply as soon as he is feeling better.... Maggie

Hi, they can start at any time...but it is not for mating until they are around four years old. The proper way to handle regurgitation (that is accepted by the avian community) is when you are aware that it is going to happen and body language confirms this, touch your parrot only on the beak and head. The rest of their body is an erogenous zone. When they start the head and throat movement, say "Thank you", "I love you" and walk away. Usually this will stop the moment and you can return to normal handling. This same technique is used for rescue parrots that have been allowed to regurgitate freely. This causes no mental or detrimental problems. It is one facet of bonding that is not necessary or needed to form a solid bond. Humans and parrots have no sexual relationship whatsoever. They are each their own.... Maggie

LOL...What a novel way to eat! Tango, our ten ton Cockatoo, takes anything we give her (toast, cracker, bread, veggies, chicken bone, pellets, etc,) and loves to dunk it, eats it and then drinks the water...eeewwww!!! Suggestion: Joe doesn't eat too many pellets but the few he does eat, he crunches while standing over his water bowl so he can go fishing for chunks that float...he also eats some of his veggies too. Bobbing for pellets is great...it is fun and a wonderful way for your baby to eat a few pellets. Just don't forget to change the water every once in a while (just kidding! LOL) Maggie

It sure sounds like Nilah really likes your new Cockatiel! She is definitely bonding with your new 'Tiel and claiming everything that belongs to her. The worst case scenario would be that you might have to relocate your newest baby. Something interesting that most parrot owners know....It will be over 200,000 years before our parrots become domesticated like our dogs and cats. They are truly wild and captive in the truest sense... Maggie

Helmet and shoulder pads........

I know what your saying.....Maggie

Glad your back...

Hi, Maggie here...After soaking in ACV, don't rinse. Either give it to them wet or air-dry. Parrots love the taste, besides being really good for them. It's good for any yeast problems they have through their throat and digestive tract. After washing their bowls, dishes, etc. we rinse in white or ACV. We use organic ACV for foods. You can clean their cage with them in it using white or ACV. Thanks Wingy!! http://www.avianweb.com/vinegar.html

Spock here from afar...it's only logical that you and Dave would be beamed up by Scotty's nephew at this place and time because even i, with my superior intelligence, needs explanations occasionally...especially with local slang. Dan, the lapses of time that you are experiencing is an occasional mind-meld and therefore, nothing to worry about. Dave, Dan...Live Long and Prosper....

Joey knows what "gone" means and is not afraid to take advantage of this knowledge...Yesterday, I had just given Joey, Tango and Salsa their warm breakfast and had turned away to the counter to make up veggie plates for all the birds. Joe and I had been talking back and forth and when he told me that he wanted a good nut, I told him that when his food was all gone, he could have a good nut. The next thing I know, he had pushed his plate to the floor, said "Gone, want a good nut!"...hahahahahaha...save me from an intelligent bird...

Hi, Maggie here...this post is from our very own Dave007...this stuff really works... As far as vitamin or nutrient supplements, they should never be given to your parrot (unless an avian vet who has done blood tests, etc, recommends them). A proper diet and an hour or so of outside sun or around four hours of a full-spectrum UVB light will supply everything your parrot needs. Have you taken your grey to the vet to see if there is a medical problem instead of a psychological problem with the plucking? The more information that you can give the forum, (age, sex, attitude, etc), your questions will be answered with more specifics. Thanks and welcome! Maggie Type in AVITEC.COM On the left, look for PLUCKING/SCREAMING---click on it Third picture from left ( spray and jar in picture) click on it there's 3 choices 1---premixed bottle 2--small jar, powder in it (8 oz) 3--large jar, powder in it (16 oz) ------- Get either 8 oz or 16 oz jar with powder in it. Stay away from premixed bottle 1 rounded teaspoon powder to 8 oz room temp water in a sprayer. Heavily soak your bird down once a day. If any remains in the sprayer, use it on any other birds sitting around. Discard what remains at the end of the day.

:oHi, as Jay would say,"better safe then sorry". Fruit isn't good for greys, it has no food value and it goes right through them (besides the washing effect of washing everything they do eat). One grape a day, one raspberry or one small piece of apple, etc. is all a grey needs. My friend, this is a scientific avian fact...a grey's nutrition, food and diet needs are not the same as a human's, a dog, and a cat. Remember the word accumulate? How much coloring does a grey have to accumulate before it begins to cause problems? (As in fruit pellets) There are so many more choices of foods that are more beneficial and we like ZuPreem. However, each species of parrots have their own dietary needs. Thanks Twix, Maggie

Hi Kim, yes, right out of the box..lol Our Joe [and Spock] calls them "Good Nuts"......Ha Ha...It's cute to see them standing on 1 leg looking around crunching on them...lol All our fid's except the 'Tiels eat them....Thanks Maggie

Hi Kim and thanks, you can feed the pasta raw, it won't hurt them, most markets sell "Gnocchi" the sell it in the pasta section. There good with spaghetti sauce for us humans. Pasta is a food high in carbs, and helps reduce runny poop, it's not a cure all, but a possible aid. Try spaghetti etc, any pasta raw your baby might like... Maggie

Hi, Natural is Greyt, not so Fruit-blend lest you forget greys need very little fruit, plus the colored pellets are a unknown factor..Thanks Maggie

Two of the most grey informed members on this forum have given you Gryet advice...Thanks Judy and Janet.

:)Hi Kim, you know you have to limit the fruit. It's sugar and goes straight through your baby doing no good, they end up eating fruit instead of solid food. Fruit creates a runny poop and that's the last thing you need. Fix your baby some pasta, we give cooked "Orzo" and raw "Whacky Mack" it's Rotini, that's made with beats[red] spinach[green] regular[tan] orange[tomato]. You can also give "Gnocchi" which is potato base[yum good]. Kim, the water isn't making his poop liquid, it's the fruit...... Luv-ya Maggie:D Dave recommended "Gnocchi" when Spock was sick....

Hi, Maggie here, As Jay says "Rome wasn't built in a day". From the 2 sounds shes learned she will develop her vocabulary. She will use your tones, inflections and even the sound of your voice to develop her future vocabulary. Keep a watch and you'll see your baby on a perch or in the cage mumbling and making sounds that doesn't make any sense to you. This is her practicing her speech because when they do speak, they want to do so properly. A grey doesn't use "Alpha dog" psychology, there is no lead or master parrot. When you see a flock of birds in a "V" the lead bird is only that. A lead bird will change position many times as the sojourn continues. To be higher than your grey is a myth. The reason a grey or a parrot seeks a high loft is for the overall view, nothing more. In the wild, greys sleep in the upper canopy as this is usually shaded. You will notice a parrot will seek out the highest perch to sleep,for example: place a perch high in the cage, and cover the top of the cage only to the top of the perch and this is where your bird will sleep...Thank you so much...Maggie Always remember: A grey is your equal, not your prize and glory....

Hi, Maggie here, please believe as Janet and others have said, you can have as many greys or assorted parrots as you choose. The majority will coexist and its more likely a amazon to get jealous of a grey than a grey of a grey. They live together in groups of thousands in the wild, they live their own lives and they won't forget you if you travel, their far more sentient then that. Your sharing their home, it's not the other way around, their capable of multiple love and sharing, and loving in many different ways...Thanks Maggie

Hi, this isn't a training method it was brought about by circumstances. This isn't criticism or even our opinion, it's just how it was...lol The main reason to teach "Step-Up" to a parrot is in case of emergency's, there's no time for treats etc, it's a must do or else. [As soon as possible, once they learn, you need to stop all treats and rewards for stepping up...] So, with all the birds we had in our home at any given time, our teaching [lol] amounted to sticking your finger in front of them and saying "step-up" if they bit, we did it again saying "I don't like that, I love you", if they bit the 3rd time we walked away, went to a sound proof room and screamed while wiping off the blood...In all honestly the would step-up in a short amount of time. [most of them.] A parrot, especially a Grey, Zon and some Macaws don't need enticement to step-up, a cockatiel is one of the easiest...

They're "Welcoming the Moon" and saying "Goodnight to the Sun", so be it.....

Hi, this is normal for most Zon's, like others have said, more so when they trust you. Salsa does this even laying on the couch......Maggie

Hi, try this one, I'll get more this afternoon for you.... .....http://www.greyforums.net/forums/sho...light=plucking

Hi, Maggie, I guess I had a senior moment, we give our fid's "chicken drum sticks" 2-3 times a week...... Boil the drumstick till done, pull the meat, leave a small amount on it, coll and give to your parrot. If they don't like the meat, clean it off, let it dry a little and try till they eat it, they also eat the marrow out of it.......Maggie