Elvenking

This is hands down, Issac's favorite toy...and a picture of him enjoying it. I took it out of the bag and he got so excited and has been playing with it since. I am going to order more of these milk caps and make these for him. I highly recommend it, though it may vary from bird to bird.

WHoa whoa whoa....a poop licking dog. I have seen it all now. Psst...is he for hire.

This is good to know. I leave it on the auto setting when I am gone. When Issac is free to fly...I will turn it up to 3 or 4. Thanks for the tip.

How will this help me?

Ohh trust me, he feels free to poop everywhere when ever. Sometimes 3 times within 10 minutes...other times spaced out very well. I am good at getting the big bombs. He doesn't seem to want to poop in his cage very much...but it varies greatly. There is no pattern of any sort to Issacs pooping. I just need a holster for my paper towels and bottle of Pet Resolve.

I laughed out loud. That was funny!

LOL....that one really gets visitors going.

A parrot in flight is something magical, at least to me. I love it when people come over and see it happen. They are a little fearful when they hear wings flapping at first. Then they see me just carrying on like nothing is happening and are a bit amazed at the whole thing. I love the way they curl their bodies forward and tuck their tail downwards when coming down to land. I really love everything about it. I wish I could fly.

To clean cages...most of the time all you need to do is let water soak into whatever is on the bars...and scrub it about 5 minutes later with a bristle brush. Repeat until all is removed. I have soaked grates covered with numerous poops and it works quite well. So no need to launch a full cleaner assault. After that...you can use a pet safe cleaner to disinfect.

Yeah....I anticipated that it might cost a little bit to get it going. My biggest concern is making it so it is not an eye sore for the neighbors and management. Thanks for the vinigar treatment tip.

That is good instant protection, but it looks as if he could get through that. I am more thinking of a wire mesh solution so he can actually sit out on the patio for extended periods of time. So it's gonna have to be strong enough to prevent his escape.

Yep, he hooks on that molding with a single talon then looks off like in that photo. And yes, the material will have to be can-opener proof. I would just love for him to be able to be outside on the patio with me and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.

So on Labor day, I had my first family gathering at my new place. Total of 5 people all together, the biggest crowd Issac has been around. At first, I started out with him in the cage, it was just too much for me to imagine him and every one else getting used to. I was fine while everyone was walking around, but his little cheeps requesting to be out of his cage were too much while we were all huddled around a table eating. So I set a little place for him to eat with us and gave him some of a corn cob to nibble on. He pecked at it for a little while, then just sat on my shoulder for the rest of the time, looking around at everyone in wonder...it was super cute. I had no problems keeping him out and around while everyone was there for the rest of the time. He would just perch on things and watch us all. Mostly from my shoulder. So a time that I had anticipated would be difficult, was remarkably easy. I am so glad that Issac is well-behaved around all my family members. My general rule is to tell people not to approach him if they are fearful and to always let them know that there are no guarantees when it comes to getting nipped. He steps up to those who are brave enough without issue. But it does take a little time for him to be comfortable with new people. He always comes around though. He is finding new perching locations. For some reason he like to fly to the moulding around the front door and cling there like...well...spider-bird. It is the funniest thing. It looks like this: There is also a ceiling fan (which remains off perminently so don't worry) he likes to fly onto. When he lands, it creates a little momentum and he rides it around for about a half a revolution. It's cute. Toys....he loves ripping apart birdie bagels. You know the rings that look like empty tape rolls. I love this because they are cheap! I am going to buy dozens of them the next time I go to the bird store. After a little over a week, he can now find me pretty much anywhere in the house and zero in on my shoulder. I love seeing him fly by a doorway as he zips down the hallway. It's a nice straight way where he can get a little speed, I think he likes it. One other thing about my balcony at my new place, I noticed that it would lend itself well to bird proofing. I am thinking about getting some sort of caging or wire mesh of some sort, and enclosing the patio so that he could come out there. (And to prevent escapes from that route as well.) It would be a great way for him to be outside and see things from the balcony. I have to go to home depot to look around for the right stuff to use. If anyone knows of a material that is not a big eye sore, let me know. Thanks.

I really cannot say when your bird will get flight feathers back. Too many factors....could be a few months to over a year. Molting is typically seasonal...but other factors of living in captivity can affect molting times. I would just plan on the long haul. But it will happen.

I loved it. Okay....I also cried. Okay...okay...ALRIGHT....maybe it gouged my heart out and held it before me beating. I wish more people knew that this is really the way it is.

Most importantly...try to pretend nothing has happened. Now I know that you are limited in the contact you can have with yer Grey...but you have to not draw attention to the issue as much as possible. Since there is no way for you to track what happened, you have to minimize the magnification of what ever it was, by going back to normalcy and creating that original happy environment...just with caution. Talk like normal...be good to the birdie. It'll get better. Try to get as close to the original environment as possible....something big indeed happened...and there is no way to tell on this end. But normalcy is the key. If this bird has been with you for a year or however how long..they just don't forget that. So keep the environment normal. The thing I am trying to avoid by saying this is the 'issue complex'. You know...you come to work after breaking an arm and what do you get. One hundredd people asking you what happened and drawing attention to the whole thing all over again. And you end up having to repeat the same story...reliving it all over and over. So...best thing to do is to snap back and only deal with the mitigation of a broken arm. That is what has to happen here. He'll still be a little spooked from what ever..but everything else should remain as it was.

Just talk gently to him and reassure. Don't move to fast with the closeness. Offer treats and food. And don't focus on how bad it is, try to just go about your ways and give him some space. He wil come around. Don't force anything.

Uhhhg...my heart dropped when you said the vet trimmed and clipped your grey. So what ever was freaking him out before, was then compunded by a traumatic wing clipping. Well, the only thing I can suggest is to back off and approach your Grey like its all a new situation. Something shook his trust or spooked him and now he has to get passed that. Be gentle and caring and respect the body language. As to what triggerd this, it is hard to say, but something new was introduced...and it can be a trick to figure out what that was. To you it may have been as simple as putting something somewhere and it would be hard to remember something so insignificant to you, but so very significant to the bird. I can't really speculate much more than that.

Something about running water makes them want to pipe up and make some noise. I love it.

Issac sits on the shower curtain rod everyday. He doesn't get wet though....not on his own anyway. He does the same thing...very vocal and appears to choose this time to make attempts at speech as well. I look forward to it all the time.

I know this feeling very well. Congratulations on your reunion!

Okay, I can usually manage to get Issac to a good pooping spot for the big bombs. But man...does he ever keep me busy with the random poop on the floor, on appliances, on.....well....everything!! If there is one thing that would make life easier, it would be that he pooped somewhere consistant. Is there no way to teach him this. I have rewarded him for going in the right places. I have pretty much resigned myself to understanding that I will be a crap cleaner for the rest of my days, as I have no idea how I can make it any other way. But it is exhausting. I would like to hear how others have managed this. It is more of a problem with flighted birds. I understand that if a bird is clipped, they would tend to poop where they can get too. Since Issac flys, he is flying poop machine that never quits. My love for him makes it all worth it...but I would love to hear approaches to making it any easier.

It moves me that my story is referenced...thank you guys. Super touching. it makes me cry when I read that thread. Because everything I am is there at those moments...I hope it can help find someone elses baby.

The new place is bigger...so more fly room for Issac. He seems to be happy flying around and checking things out. I was indeed able to use the travel cage and he was okay with it. I think he like being out so I will have to try it again as a recreational activity. I am torn up and tired from so much moving. But Issac is quite fine and you'd never know any difference in his dimeanor. All is well. Love the new place because it has an 2nd bedroom for my daughter now and she can spend the night. My new RabbitAir air purifier seems to be working well too. Overall...happy.

Well...all the worry was for naught. Issac is plenty happy in our new place. Preening away right now. Just trying to map out all his landing points. He still has his old favorites. We're doing good. Seems as long as I am there...he is happy.