amiraweston

Hi Dave, Thanks again for your advice. I have been walking away from my parrot, Boo, after I give him his fruits and veggies in the morning. The morning time is when he wants to mate with me. Now he has attacked me a few times. He will step-up and then bite down on my hand. He has flown onto my head and attacked me. I understand he is probably angry with me. Now I am afraid to have him step-up and I know he can sense my apprehension. I can not use a perch or dowel to pick him up with because he is terrified of them, he screams and flies off his cage. I hand fed Boo and he is 4 yrs old. I give him a lot of attention, take him RVing with us, play the guitar for him, give him fresh food everyday. He is becoming more and more aggressive with me and I am becoming more afraid of him. This is very sad for me because I have wanted a Grey since I was in my twenties. I love him very much. I have read books and looked up info on the internet. I am unable to find helpful info about aggressive birds. I understand his body language and know when to back away but his new attacks are out of the blue while he is on my hand. I'm not sure about the internet bird training video's offered. The training video's on You Tube stress the importance of "stick training". Boo is afraid of sticks! Do you have helpful info for me? I want a confident parrot. What can I do? Thanks. Arlene

Hi everyone, I have a grey that recently has started his mating ritual with me, usually happens in the early morning. He makes little noises, tries to feed me, rubs his beak on my hand. What should I do? Do I allow him to do that or walk away? He is not an affectionate bird and I don't get to touch him very often so I enjoy the attention But am I doing something wrong by allowing him to try to mate with me? He is a male and is 4.5 years old. Thank you for any advice you can give me.

I thought about allergies but it is only from the right nare. I should have the results of the cultures tomorrow. Thanks

The pet shop was treating him since April. It's been closer to 3 months.

What did your Grey have? My vet still does not have a diagnosis yet other than sinus infection.

Yes, they did give me that option through a third party, they never called me. I owned him for over a month and visited with him 2-3 times a week while they were taking him to the vet and giving him antibiotics and never told me about it. It was just very bad business on their part. If they would of said something right away I would have chosen another bird. I think they were getting rid of a sick bird. They even referred to him as "the sick bird"

Hello all, I had to rush Boo back to the Vet last Sunday. He was in respiratory distress. Tail bobbing, mouth open etc. I woke up and found him that way. It's his third trip to the vet since I brought him home May 19th. He was admitted and stayed for 4 days. A full battery of test were done and I'm still waiting for culture results. For those of you that do not know about Boo, I bought him from our local pet store in Big Pine Key, Fl., Walton's Pet store, on April 16th and left him there for over a month to be weaned. During that time we visited him 2-3 times a week. On April 26th, while Boo was still living at the pet store, the pet store owner took Boo to the vet for respiratory problems and he was placed on antibiotics for "a while". The pet store never revealed this to me. I took Boo home May 19th and heard him wheezing and he has never stopped wheezing. The pet store paid for his first visit which was May 21st and I was offered the option of returning him. My husband and I did not want to return him, we are in love with our little Boo. We already bonded with him during the 5 week period that we visited him. The pet store owner informed me that they should have told me but thought Boo was better. His Antibiotics, that the pet shop people were giving him, were not given as directed. Boo had to go back to the vet on June 10th again for the same problem. The last visit, June 30th, he was admitted. MY cost so far is over $1,300.00 and Boo is still wheezing and having nasal drainage from the right nostril. We have to suction him or irrigate his nasal passages twice a day or more. My question: is the pet store responsible for my vet bills? Does someone know the legalities of this situation? I was never given any paperwork when I purchased him. The owner stated "in retrospect, I should of told you". Are any of our members Attorneys? I know Boo will be going back to the vet again, he's still not well and I think he might not ever be well. It breaks my heart to see him sick. Arlene

I have a 2.5 month old CAG on a Lay-away plan at my local pet shop. He was born Feb 14th. I go and see him about 4 times a week. He is still being hand fed but down to once a day. I was told I could take him home in about 4 weeks. Every time I go see him he nibbles at my fingers, sometimes very hard. The pet shop lady, the one that has taken care of him since birth and is hand feeding him, tells me he's just hungry and he also associates my fingers with food. I visit him at different times of day. I carry him around the pet store so he's not in the community play pin area and away from the other birds. Is this normal behavior for such a young bird? Is he just tasting me? Is it true about him being hungry? The pet store said he's from a local breeder in town. I'm very worried about owning a bird that bites and I realize that he will bite in certain situations and I am hoping just not all the time! I don't want a mean bird. Should I be concerned about the birds parents? Age, temperment ect? This is my first big parrot and I want everything to be perfect for him. I am reading a book "The African Grey Parrot Handbook" that is increasing my anxiety, it's seems I could have a twisted bird, it all depends on my actions and behavior. I'm loosing sleep over this. Please help. Sleepless in Big Pine Key