carriekinz

Girltron--GREAT IDEA! Those would look so cute in little glass bowls! Also, added another question to my first post!

That would be a good idea! I don't really care for cinnamon scent either but it's better than the lovely odour of wet dog today! LOL Rain--go away! I thought soy wax was safe...but I am learning that 'safe' doesn't mean bird safe. I will start my search for reed diffusers using essential oils. I am sad that my house won't be smelling like a tropical location, ha ha, but I am happy the bird will be alright.

Just to clarify--these are wax pieces that you melt in an electric burner (or above a tea light but the wicks are apparently an issue?)...is it the fragrance oils themselves that are harmful? Or the wax? Even soy wax?

Dang it. Oh well, sacrifices must be made. Oh wait--I meant the scented candles, not the bird! LOL

Is there ANY scented wax melts (tarts) that are safe to use around birds? I really enjoy having different scents but I'm afraid to harm our bird so I haven't used any since he arrived. I am not a fan of vanilla or flowery scents so those options are a no-go. Surely someone makes non-toxic scented wax tarts to melt in a burner? Maybe this is a good business idea for our crafty members? JUST FOUND A LOCAL COMPANY THAT SELLS NATURAL CLEANING SUPPLIES--could someone please critique these ingredients for bird safety (I don't know what sodium borate is)? They also have reed diffusers with 100% essential oils...can I please have one??? LOL AND they sell pure essential oils that can be added to water to spritz...would that be alright NOT in the same room as Mr. Bird? All Purpose: Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive and Jojoba, Essential Oils, Organic Aloe Vera and Rosemary Extract Scents Available: Peppermint Zinger, Citrus and Ginger Glass Cleaner: Distilled White Vinegar, Alcohol (from grain), Sodium Borate (a mineral salt), Essential Oils, Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive and Jojoba, Essential Oils, Organic Aloe Vera and Rosemary Extract Scents Available: Peppermint Zinger, Citrus and Ginger Bathroom Cleaner: Saponified Organic Oils of Coconut, Olive and Jojoba, Distilled White Vinegar, Sodium Borate (a mineral salt), Essential Oils, Organic Aloe Vera and Rosemary Extract Scents Available: Peppermint Zinger, Citrus and Ginger

Thank you for your reply! He is three years old. I just checked the tail feathers and they do not come to a point at the end, like you'd see in chicken feathers...but they don't looked gnawed on either, just broken. But I really don't know how a chewed one would look anyways...so it's possible he plucked these out. He is chatty and active, eating and drinking just fine. Not itching so badly today.

We've had Colton for three weeks now I think. The day after he arrived he was chatting up a storm--and hasn't stopped--and the feathers he'd plucked at his last home were growing back wonderfully (from no red tail feathers to over two inch red tail feathers). We were so proud that he felt at home with us, these were great signs, right? Three nights ago my husband opened the cage to let him out (the first time since his arrival) and Colton was happily climbing around, seemed very happy. My husband picked him up to put him in the cage for bed, he seemed alright with that. Since the next morning Colton has been plucking like mad. Downy feathers EVERYWHERE. And this morning his three lovely long red tail feathers were lying on the bottom of the cage. I am so disappointed. What could have caused this after such a promising start? Did we cause him too much stress with his walkabout out of the cage? Nothing else has changed--same food, same water, same placement of toys, cage hasn't moved an inch. No chemicals are being used in the house, no disruption that we can think of (except I did put a movie on for him one afternoon, ha ha). Could this be molting rather than plucking? How do I tell the difference? He was vet checked top to bottom and they found no problems whatsoever health wise--his plucking is an emotional issue.

The potato was peeled...so no skin, no eyes, no foliage. Maybe we dodged a bullet here? And I am printing off safe/unsafe lists right now!!!!!

Thank you both. I am going to email the lady we got him from--she works at a vet's office.

I didn't think to check here first!!!!! It was maybe the size of my thumb from the top joint to tip. What should I do? What symptoms should I watch for? Was this enough to harm him? Oh my goodness, I feel so damn stupid! (I meant to type up a list of food that isn't allowed a week ago and was just being lazy.)

Sorry, terrible camera and shooting through the cage...I will try to get some better ones when my husband is here to bird wrangle (bird wrangle = keeping him occupied so I can take a photo of anything besides a close up of his beak). LOL

OK, since you posted that adorable photo I thought I'd share the one I have.

LOL Yes, this little guy likes to give our dogs treats as well. Yesterday he dropped an almond on the floor...our Mastiff puppy tiptoed over and carefully picked it up. As she was sneaking away the bird says "I love you!" as though he tossed it out on purpose. Priceless.

Thanks everyone, for the warm welcome! I am going to wait to post pictures--he is (was??) a plucker so he looks sort of ridiculous right now...sort of like a drowned bird, ha ha. He's still adorable to us though. This morning we woke to him apparently dialing a phone number: "beep, beep, BEEP, beep, beep, beep, BEEP...hello?" LOL Hilarious! I would fall right over if we change his name and he decided to correct us with his current name...that would be SHOCKING!

Thanks everyone, for your replies. The bags of food are: Kaytee Fiesta Max Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health and we picked up: Vitakraft Menu for Vitality (to mix in with the more expensive grub above) Approximately how much (cups-wise) fruit and veggies would be appropriate for our 3 year old Grey, in addition to the seed mixes above? (I think I'm putting too much food in the cage--1 cup that lasts 1 1/2 days approximately. Maybe I should give 1/2 cup a day or 1/2 cup then only add a bit more if he's gone through most of it?)

Our new Grey came with two bags of seed mixes--two different brands (I'll have to check the names tomorrow, they are upstairs). I was wondering how many of you feed these seed mixes. Would I be better off switching to pellets? Pros and cons of each? And, according to the packages, I should be feeding about 1/2 cup per day. That seems too little, no? I have been putting about a cup in and it lasts about a day and a half before he has picked through and taken what he wants. (Of course I am also giving fruits and veggies.)

Very informative, thanks!

Really??? Even unshelled ones? Why the heck do so many parrot seed feeds have unshelled peanuts in them?? Our new Grey came with two bags of food, one of which contains peanuts.

When we decided to take on our new little critter I was secretly sad that I had to give up my plug-ins, my scented candles and air freshener sprays because I lovelovelove having a house that smells of fruit/home baking/tropical getaways, ha ha, but I was thrilled to read that I can still use reed diffusers, beeswax and soy candles! A bit more pricey but the quality is usually miles above what I get at the grocery store. Can I still use scented soy wax tarts (the kind you melt with a tea light underneath) if I place it somewhere the bird can't get near it?

Thanks for these helpful tips! I have slowly been whittling down my 'regular' cleaners if favor of natural, non-toxic ones for the health of my family but it's tough because the safe ones are sometimes TRIPLE the cost of the old standards. I know, I know...it's important, but it's not easy when you aren't a millionaire, ha ha. Maybe I don't need to bother with the fancy, naturally scented cleaners after all--your hints really opened my eyes!

Two days ago we acquired an adorable 3 year old Grey who has yet to be renamed as his current moniker isn't quite our style. His previous owner sadly had to give him up when her partner developed allergies. Despite the fact that he was known to give 'the silent treatment' for a few days whenever he went through a change--moving cage, moving toys--the morning after he arrived we heard him chatting away upstairs. He hasn't shut up since! In fact, he's yakking away right now--giggling to himself, carrying on a one sided conversation, whistling. How adorable!! We are new to Greys but have been studying and researching these characters for awhile now. I look forward to learning even more here!