Buffy

I live alone too. Echo was 14 months old before she said her first word. Now there are times where I wish she would stop talking for just 5 minutes. Even though I talk directly to her all the time, most of her words are comments I say to other animal members of the household. She has taught me that I talk to my dogs much more than I realized! You just never know how good of a talker a bird will be no matter what the species. I had many birds in my youth and none of them has talked nearly as well as a male cockatiel that I received as a rescue bird.

Both of mine LOVE foot toys and their favorite foot toy is whichever one the other one is playing with!

Thank you so much everyone. Jayd, I read every word of the links you provided. Thanks so much for posting them for me.

Echo's trimmed flight feathers have officially grown out and she is fully flighted! (well, mostly, we're still waiting on one more feather on each wing). This is a decision I have agonized over for a year. I've researched the pros and cons to death, and simply can't bring myself to trim her wings. However, it seems like everywhere I turn, I'm hearing about some bird getting lost. Everything I pick up to read, websites, even a friend sent me a picture message asking for help for a parrot they found on the ground at work. (The frantic owner posted fliers everywhere, and the bird was returned within hours) Needless to say, all of this is stressing me out. I couldn't bare to lose either of my birds. Echo's also due for her yearly check up at the end of October, and I dread having to battle this issue with the vet. So, I need words of encouragement that I'm doing the right thing! Also, it would be great to get some helpful hints on keeping my fully flighted bird safe in the house. So far, all ceiling fans have been made inoperable, and when the birds are out, there are two secure doors between them and the outside. Anything else I should be doing?

I'll never forget watching Alan Alda interview Irene Pepperberg and Alex on PBS as a child. However, my research on Greys taught me that this was not the bird for me. I guess I was born obsessed with all birds and had many birds over the years, but never a grey. Finally, after two years of talking myself into a grey and then back out of a grey, I gave up and brought Echo into my life. She quickly taught me that I was right and that my lifestyle was more suited to something like an Amazon or a conure, so I changed my lifestyle! She is the smartest and most amazing girl, and she has changed my life, so much so that I brought Thumper into my life in August. I've lived with 2 greys for two months now. It is an experience like none other. I never imagined how challenging and hilarious it would be. I am often teamed up upon and outsmarted by my two! Just as I get so frustrated with them, I'm about to scream, Echo will yell 'stop it' and start laughing. Its impossible to stay angry no matter how bad those two get![ATTACH=CONFIG]19457[/ATTACH]

This is Thumper! I am so hoping to bring him home on Saturday, but if he needs a few more weeks, I'll survive

I did it! Kind of! This is Echo

Thank you so much everyone! I'm counting down the days. The breeder thinks he may be ready by next week. We will see! As far as pictures, maybe you can give me some advice as well. I've spent hours upon hours trying to upload photos here with no luck. The first time I tried months ago, someone recommended photo bucket because my pictures were too large. I did that with little success. got the right size pictures but can't seem to get them on here. I did finally, get a picture of Echo up when I go to my profile, but it doesn't come up when I post comments. I have felt like a complete idiot trying to do this! I don't know what I'm doing wrong! So with all that said, you may get to see pictures of my two one of these days!

Hi everyone! Haven't posted on here much, but the information I've read on here has been extremely helpful! We are expecting a new Grey in our household. I bought my current Grey, Echo, last year. I decided she just had to have a brother. We are currently waiting on Thumper to wean. He is down to one hand feeding a day, so it shouldn't be long. I have been visiting weekly since Thumper was three weeks old. It has been a great experience! Echo was already four months old by the time I found the right breeder, so I didn't get to go through this experience with her. She has gone with me the last two weeks to visit Thumper. She seems very excited. I've been reading everything I can find on bringing a second bird into the home, but I'd love any helpful hints any of you may have!

Her name is Echo. Unfortunately I'm pretty computer illiterate. I've learned how to download pictures from my camera to my computer, which is a great feat for me. LOL! But I haven't learned how to make them small enough to post on the forum. It keeps telling me my picture is too big! Any suggestions? I'd love to post her pictures.

Hi everyone! I am the proud mother of an 8 month old female CAG. I've had previous bird experience with cockatiels, parakeets, and conures. I really had great confidence in my knowledge of birds. Boy, was I suprised that all that bird experience helped me little with my grey. They are truly a different but amazing parrot! I am learning so much and already having a nightmare when it comes to baths! We're working on it though and the information on this forum is INCREDIBLE! This is the third forum I have tried and by far the best! I feel like I might have a chance to raise a happy grey with this forum!