Dusty

thanks jillybeans. I do see that its a heated debate, I dont really follow forums that well but when i came back i was like wow, okay gosh! I have noticed lots of differences though, between what informaiton there is on the web (ie from persons in the uk or usa) and the information that one receives from south african sources. Here, for example, I took Dusty in for his first check up while he was still a fluff ball, and one of the first things the vet asked is would i like the wings and nails clipped (an avian vet)..(its not actually even expensive, its a "standard procedure" probably around R20.) I responded that I would still like him to gain his balance first, he was still a baby. My thoughts were that the little guy has sharp claws for a reason, so that he can grip well while he is still learning to. So without getting his nails clipped he has in the mean time learnt to climp and grip onto everything.. and a couple of natural wood perches (with bark) actually filed them down a little. Of course when he is older and his claws are too LONG then I understand.. but just because they are sharp is a silly reason to clip them. I also wanted dusty to gain confidence with his wings, while he was still a baby. But what im trying to say is that I understand how people should not be judged for clipping wings, if it has always been the norm, and even a vet (who doesnt trust vets) suggests that you should. For me it was a completely new thing to see that people have fully flighted birds, flying around the house, that kind of thing just doenst happen here. I have a fully flighted senegal that was adopted and we just never bothered to clip her wings and I am considered to be an irresponsible owner here for not keeping up with clipping her wings. I had to order my aviater harness over the web, which converted into rands cost an insane amount of money for a little harness, and I did it gladly because I wanted dusty to be able to go outside and explore safely. If I take him out in public people are amazed that he's on a "leash". So it really is a "new thing" for some people to have a bird that "flies around" (heaven forbid) :-) But I am glad that Dusty is doing well on his harness, even if the big bad world still has airplanes that scare him. God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. ~Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien

gosh, I havent yet, Im going on what the vet said if I should choose to clip his wings. But so far he's been following everyone around the house and its just too sweet to watch. I really did strike a nerve. But i understand after seeing how free he is to move about the house, he really is an active member of the family. In the mornings now he flies from his perch to the kitchen chair (he's allowed to sit on the top of the chair while we are in there, otherwise the door is shut) and he watches us make him breakfast. Ive noticed that he is more adamant with regard to following us in the mornings.. this, I assume, might be from when his ancestors used to regather in the trees every morning.. he makes sure he can keep us in his sights. He's already given us "names" which are sounds that we sometimes make that are specific to each person. He calls us this way. I am a wolf whistle. and grandfather is a clicking sound.. I can hear him muttering to himself, and he almost has "Hello" down, well atleast thats what i think he's saying. thank you for all the links, I have read the articles.

:-) thats so funny!!

27th April 2010 Although Dusty has been in the car before, this was his first day visit to a friend. And his first time in his actual travel cage in the car (and not in the basket). He chirped away in the car and took the bumps as they come. I felt like a mom talking to a toddler in the back seat. 2nd May 2010 He took off from my bed like a helicopter, straight up. It will soon be time to clip his wings. He is now out of quarantine and is healthy, so we can let him meet Missy and let him try out his new adult cage. 3rd May 2010 Dusty is so good on his harness now, a real pro! I took him to the video store and a take-away restaurant. I politely scolded a woman that just walked up to me trying to grab hold of him with her hands without even saying hello, I dont understand how people can be so rude. But I did let another woman scratch his back and Dusty was so cute with her.

:-) lovely red tale! thanks for the post!

hahaha!! a can of lager. :-) thanks for the topic!

I have the same problem too,, although i am finding that an enthusiastic "good boy" is quiet good.

Thats great news!!! so glad to hear he is eating well!

Dusty gets 1 bowel - water 1 bowel - 2 tbs pellets (Avi-Plus complete breeder and Avi-Plus Maintenance) 1 bowel - various Fruit and Veg, berries, etc. 1 bowel - 2 tbs (two Ice cube blocks defrosted) cooking mix (corn,lentils, peas,sprouts,beans,rice,etc) sprinkled with 1 tbs dry seeds. (I made pot full of cooking mix once a week and freeze the rest in ice-cube trays) Handrearing formula at 7am and 6pm. 6pm small meal of human food for supper (salad, noodles, rice, etc) no salt or oil. Treats are: Cheerios, popcorn, dried fruit, toast, muesli clumps, etc

Hi Talon, no my blog's not here, its just a small little blog on Blogger, you can see it on http://dustytheparrot.blogspot.com/ Its just fun to keep track of some of Dusty's photos and milestones, and easier to update than an actual book because i can just upload the photos. thanks, the sig line is appropriate for all of us in a way hey :-)

Hahaha!!! Murphy is already such a character! Your last glass, that's terrible! :-)

Has anyone started a baby bird blog? I started one for dusty, Its quite cute to customize and add pictures and videos etc.

Wow that is quite hectic! Just goes to show what you do in front of your grey has quite ab effect on them. thanks for the story

awe that is too cute!!! my senegal parrot has just started falling in love with me (its taken almost two years after adopting her) and ever since ive become her favourite person i can hold her upside down, pick her up in different ways, cuddle her.. all things i couldnt do before.

20th April 2010 I could see the blue shimmer on Dusty's feathers for the first time today. he was looking out the window and the way the sun caught is tummy feathers i could see the blue glow. 21st April 2010 I saw Dusty was using his foot to hold his food, it was so cute, it just shows how well he can balance now. His new favourite place is on my shoulder.. i tried not to let him up there at first but he really likes to sit there when I take him outside on his aviator harness (he stopped trying to crawl into my shirt when taking him outside). 23rd April 2010 I opened the top of his cage so that he could climb out and he managed to get onto the top of the cage all by himself. but i had to put him back in again. Now he's climbing like a pro. 24th April 2010 Dusty flew!! I opened dusty's cage and let him stand on his new perch, then i started moving the blankets on the bed and ignoring his signals to pick him up. And he just took off and flapped his wings to the wall side of the bed! 25th April 2010 I "ignored" dusty again after I opened his cage and he flew straight into my hands! he cant land yet, but I caught him mid air. He's still such a baby, but its amazing how fast he's developing the skills he would need to survive in the wild!

HI Logan! that is really great that you are taking in an older bird! I am also new to the forum and have found it very helpful to ask questions here.

Hi there, thank you so much jayd, jillybeans and luvparrots! I do try to associate phrases and words with everything I do with him but I will keep it up! And I will start exposing him to new things right away, I think it will be easier now that he can keep his balance doing things, he seemed like too much of a baby before when he was still getting his footing. I will take Dusty around and show him everything! :-) shame poor harvey, thats cute he probably wants to come bug you while youre driving! I am enjoying the baby time (besides all the stress, making sure formula is just right, weighing him, he really is a baby) but the wonderful part is how he wants to snuggle up before he goes to sleep, and how he tries to let me know he needs to poop and he *MUST CLIMB OFF* even though I dont mind if he poops on me. thank you all for the advice, your greys just seem like the happiest birds! and that makes me happy! I have to say, the one nice thing i like about this forum is that, with all the wonderful information you find on the internet, the horror stories make you think that generally parrot owners dont have it all together.. but here I get to meet people with well loved and well looked after birds. ooh lightning, have to get off the pc.. xxx

Speaking of how wonderful it would be for a GPS microchip, I found "Loc8tor Plus" on the internet for use with dogs and cats etc.. it would not really work to keep on a grey normally but perhaps if the tag is small enough then you could attach it to the harness for when you take him out, just as an added precaution. I am thinking of getting dusty microchiped just as She said it would be perfect to prove ownership. http://www.loc8tor.com/Store/Loc8torPets.aspx http://www.loc8tor.com/Store/product/Loc8tor-Plus-Pack,153,110.aspx

I loved all the pictures! well done on the play gym!! I have bought a harness for Dusty and he in the process of becoming comfortable with it, but it would be great for you to buy your grey a harness so that you can take him out more often with peace of mind. He looks absolutely adorable and im sure a name will just come to you that is perfect for him. I like the idea of a traditional african name, something that's short and easy to say. :-)

Thank you spinner and everyone. I have uploaded some more pics of other members of dusty's flock. If anyone has some advice for me I asked a question in the nursery, introducing new experiences to a 10 week old.

Oh okay, thank you! I will be sure to follow that advice.

Hi there.. I am looking for some advice about introducing things to dusty at the right time. Dusty is now 10 weeks old, eating formula 3 times a day, trying out all sorts of new solid foods, learning to climb, playing well and enjoying light misty showers every morning. He is still under quarantine from Missy the senegal. so he is still in his baby/roost/travel cage. He seems quite fearless and has already learnt that if I say "big noise" then he can be calm when the hairdryer is on etc. I understand that usually people would normally get a grey quite a few weeks older, so having him from 8 weeks i understand is very young. maybe i could get information from breeders who are still handling birds at 10 weeks of age. I am taking everything super slow, I do not want to rush anything. but my questions are these: He is very afraid of outside. I can only carry him close to me to the back door of the house, but not actually outside. I know he is just afraid of the big bad world and predators. At what age should I start getting him used to the thought of going outside? He has only ever been to the vet in the car, at what age should I start getting him used to car rides? (I suppose liking outside would help) Also while he is learning to trust humans (the three humans in the house have been well instructed on how to behave) how do i socialize him with strangers (neighbours and friends), if I think that the strangers will be very nervous and thereby make Dusty more nervous? ( I cant give everyone I good talking to about appropriate behavior can I?... or is this just accepted as being part of a baby parrot owner?) And at what age would it be okay to introduce him to these weird strangers that dont know not to jerk away and stuff? Any advice would be appreciated..?

Hi there.. just a question.. why do you advise to do the walking away bit? does it help them to stop doing the mating dance? and if so then why is it bad? :-)

Hi there.. um okay well I am still a novice to african grey ownership, but i am studying zoology so i can tell you a little bit about the anatomy and how they manage to mimic sounds. Parrots do not have voice boxes similar to ours at all, infact they are very different, the larynx is an organ that evolved in mammals for producing sounds (and protecting the trachea). However in parrots it is the Syrinx that (together with the trachea) produces the sounds. Parrots make sounds by the movement of air (vibrations) through the trachea and syrinx (essentially they are whistling). Birds can change the pitch and volume using the muscles in that area. It is also thought that some parrots use their tongue as well (but i am not sure about this). In Grey's in particular, i have read that they actually mimic the sound of predators in the wild to deter other predators (i am not sure how correct this is but it would indicate an evolutionary reason as to why they are so good at it). I hope that helps!!! Picture of the syrinx and a http://www.birdwatching-bliss.com/images/syrinx.jpg

awe!!!! Spock your avatar is the cutest thing!