Elvenking

I use these small little plastic balls made for cockatiels. They usually come in a string of 4 for about $1.60. He can destroy one in about 20 mins. He gets all out of hand if I start playing with them with him. Gotta watch my hands with these.

Ohh...one other event I forgot to mention. This morning, my conure, Pedro, was startled by something, flew....and landed no where other than Issacs cage. Now I have told you all about how when Issac lands on Pedro's cage...Pedro is not welcoming at all. Well, this morning, Issac thought he would reciprocate that sentiment. Issac flew from my shoulder to the area of his cage where Pedro was perched. Issac beared down on Pedro looking down on him and fluffing himself up huge!! My conure looked quite tiny and intimidated at this time and was not his nippy little self. So I had to go over and pick one of them up but they both got on me and were giving each other the evil eye...doing little lunges at each other. Thankfully I got them separated before it got ugly. Not sure what they would do if left alone..but I didn't want to find out! Just a small addendum.

Ohh my...I had a similar experience this weekend. I went to a place called Bird Haven close to where I live. And in one area, they had three baby greys at about 7 weeks old. Ohhh myyy gaahhhhhhd they are so cute. The way they just bearly hold their cute little heads up to look around in such innocent curiosity is just too much to bear. I wanted to pick em up and cuddle them so much. It makes you want to take em all home. They were at that age where their heads are still a bit round and big for their body size.....and the little short red tails....ohhh gaaawwwwd. they are the cutest bird babies for sure.

Yep, Issac does the same thing. Issac is going into his 22nd week. When he is in a chatty mood, I just make sure to talk to him with simple phrases like, "Hello" and "I love you". And I will always put things into context when I can. As someone has mentioned, their mimicry comes from an evolutionary defense mechanism. In the jungle, they would naturally pretend to sound like other animals to ward of predators. In homes however, the surrounding noises are much different

The day they release micro technology that is in the form of some device easily fitted to a bird....I am all over that. But the tech is not there yet.

LOL....I don't know if it happens. Issac has become like a friend to me and I really look forward to coming home to him all the time. It's like I forget enough about him while I am away to make coming home a wonderful treat. It is a constant discovery for you, finding out just what an amazing little pet you have.

Okay, so since Issac has sort of flattened out on doing new things, I will go ahead and explain a typical day in my life with Issac. At about 7:30 - 8:00AM, I wake up and peek into a corner of Issacs cage behind his cage cover. Then I always say, "Good Morning, boy!" a few times before letting him out. Issac is always out when I am around. I love for him to have his free time around the house. I then ask him 'Wanna eat?' where he promptly begins to make microwave sounds. Then we proceed to go through our eating ritual where he flies around like a banshee from my shoulder to the microwave, to his atom, to the fridge top, beeping like crazy. Once fed, we go hang out on the couch for a half an hour till I have to shower for work. We play with some foot toys and I talk to him. Then we go to the shower where Issac sits on the curtain rod making every sound he can think of while the water is running. I say common phrases to him in hopes of something close back. Sometimes I hear whistles or whoops that sound like the inflexion of a 'Hello'. Then I get out a groom, and Issac wants to be a part of this process badly. He goes for my brush as I am brushing. And I have to do everything I can to keep him away while I floss and brush...but he just thinks it's one of the most exciting things of the day. Honking and going after my hands while I do these things. Okay, time for work, chop up a bowl of veggies and replace the other dishes, and Issac bids me a sad request not to leave by clawing at the bottom corner of his cage with a couple of coos, and I am off. I leave some music or kid shows going for him as well. Return home about 4PM and free my baby again, feeding time again with a similar ritual as morning. Issac seems a bit more vocal lately than typical, I love to hear him make noise because they sounds are pretty pleasent. While I clean dishes or vacuum, Issac likes to ride my shoulder and be in on all the action. He certainly is an inquisitive lil guy, I honestly cannot do a thing without him...but this doesn't bother me at all. Still trying to get a handle on the pooping locations. Until that happens, I have resigned myself to spot cleaning my carpet 10-15 times a day. Anyway, sometimes I stay home with him after i get off work, and other times I ahve to leave for an hour or two. Always leaving him fresh veggies. His favorite little snack is pasta and red palm oil, he seems to love it more and more all the time. As the vening winds down, Issac will either perch on my shoulder or knee and preen for a good 30-45 mins...showering me in tiny downy feathers. I have to remember to exhale when he flutters a big group off, or I will be snorting them. When he is not preening, I am baiting him with foot toys, and he can sometimes get into it to the point where my hand better not be on a toy or in the way...he will rush them and attack them with vigor...sometimes flinging them away. It's usually only foot toys that get him going like this. What up with that? LOL. He has been much better about allowing me to get him into his cage, he still doesn't like me leaving, but he has stopped the chases for now. He does now have some places, that he knows I do not want him going, but he still goes there. Tries to eat my plants and take the grill off the center channel speaker of my stereo system. Little rascal gets a kick out of making me move. Other things of note, those eyes are getting lighter all the time. I ordered some Queen plam nuts in hope of giving Issac the pleasure of knowing what Palm Nuts are. I also ordered the Training DVD from goodbirdinc.com and hope to learn some helpful things there. Have to try to see if I can get the aviator on my baby again someday too. This is a tough one. I suppose the next big purchase I make will be a travel cage. That is all for now. Still being a sweet bird and evolving in his personality. Thanks for following the story of my Issac. More new pics from today below.

LOL...I was so afraid when I first read the title. That is too funny how Harvey has taken a turn for the soft side. I so love it when Issac is in a cuddly mood. If I want to induce this behavior, I will lay next to him with my head on a pillow, and the little requests for head scratches keep coming in. I love it when he plants his head right next to my forehead. Again...amazing little characters.

I just ordered the first DVD from Good Bird Inc. Looks good. Thanks for the link.

It is never too early to start any training. In fact...the earlier the better...much like humans, greys are more maliable when young. This is a difficult and long process unless yer lucky. Just try as much as possible to recognize when Fonzie is going to go, and move him to a place where it is okay. Reward lavishly when he goes where you want...and make no such fuss when he goes somewhere you do not want him to go.

That is one I have not tried to feed Issac yet. I am going to have to get him some spinich next time I am at the grocery store. Pretty picture too.

Welcome back! Biscotti looks like a cutie.

LOL...Calibrating! I like that. Calypso is certainly a sweet grey.

This is very curious indeed. Can you possibly catch this on video. Your bird is trying to tell you something. Try to notice what happens that makes Yoshi stop. You say she stops when she is on you. What other things is she doing when she is not screaming? The loudest Issac ever gets is when he knows I am about to feed him. (You can actually see a video of this on my Issac Week 21 Thread...lol). But once he is fed, it's over. So I am okay with it, but if he ever did it full time...I know I would not like it very much. I take it that Yoshi cannot fly, otherwise she would just solve the problem herself and come to you. This is a tough one. Somehow she has to learn to entertain herself. And, you have to make sure to do nothing when she does this noise, then as soon as she does something favorable, reward it. That is all i can think of right now. And you have probably already heard this.

Thank everyone for the kind comments on the video and Issac's progress. I have to say that it is so nice having this community to share these things with. It really adds to the joy I am experiencing with my feathered friend. Thank you all for being here.

Here is a link to me feeding Issac his formula. It may not be spectacular..but it's kind of cute how he gets so excited and starts beeping constantly until his food is ready. It's about 5 minutes.

You know, it is tough enough to really wrap your head around having a bird as a pet, even if you do everything right by your bird. But believe me when I say..that if I ever see any bird not being treated correctly bad things are going to happen to that person. I am only glad that I have Issac and treat him with tons of love, and toys, and food. He's my love.

After we had an earthquake down here in So. California, I came home and Issac had a tiny little red mark above his eye from possibly flailing about the cage during the quake. The very next morning...it was gone. Resiliant little guys.

Ohhh crikey! I guess i will see what is what with them when they come.

A palm nut vendor was located Dave, but they are the Queen Palm Nuts...and I am just curious if Greys like those as well as Red Palm Nuts. Either way...for 7 bucks and shipping, I am finding out.

How do I tell if they are ripe or not? I will likely have to freeze them when I get them to keep em fresh. I hope they go over well with my baby.

Nice pictures, they are so beautiful in the sun.

Then I have a scheduled fainting coming I was the same way with my daughter, wondering if and how she would ever talk. But...one of her first words was 'Daddy'. I also refer to myself as 'Daddy' to Issac when i talk to him.

Well...hopefully the Queen Palm Nuts offer something pleasent to Issac's little palette. Crossing fingers. For 7 bucks and shipping, I will find out.

Yep...I had them ordered about 2 minutes after I saw your post! Issac says "Thank you".