Cheshire Cat

I know that my mom and sisters will do their very best for Tui. My one sister has a parrot herself - an Indian ring neck and previously had an Orange Winged Amazon who sadly passed away a couple of months ago. My other sister loves Tui but is quite nervous of her as Tui puts people on their guard. She's fine with me, but will 'eye people up' and threaten a little peck if she doesn't know them as well. I'm glad to see that it shouldn't be a huge ordeal for her, but I will definitely try what was mentioned and maybe bring her cage downstairs a few days before I leave. That should help and get Tui used to new, although temporary, surroundings.

It's awful when you see this because naturally you just want to give the bird a good home and take it out of the miserable environment. But then you have to think that your money is supporting the trade. I saw in my local pet shop some parrots (they were Greys, Amazons and Macaws) and none of them wore leg rings and some of them looked as though they had colouring on their heads. It was only later when I saw a video on YouTube that said when parrots are caught, they're sometimes marked and sprayed on their heads. I've always been highly suspicious of the place! Thankfully Tui came from another pet shop that we have faith in and she was brought in personally from the breeder and has a leg ring. The man who sold us Tui had bred Greys himself with his dad in the past and knew all about birds. If I go to the other place where I'm suspicious the staff know hardly anything on any animal in there!!

Im going to New York with my dad in just over three weeks now and Tui will be left with my mom. My mom can't come with us as she's disabled and has emphysema (also on oxygen). So we've agreed that Tui's cage will be brought downstairs as she's normally in my room and my mom can care for her downstairs. My sisters will also be visiting daily to help my mom. I'm worried that Tui might become upset when I leave. My eldest sister did suggest calling and putting the phone to her cage so she can hear my voice. I went away last year only for a weekend and Tui seemed very distant when I came back and that was only three days. This will be seven! I know my mom and sisters will take very good care of her, but I'm worried how she'll feel. My sister did talk to me about it the other day and my ex fiancee left the home back in January and she'd bonded well with him. I'm scared she'll think I've left her, too.

My Tui is about 2 years of age now. Greys can live about 50 years...You're in for a long ride, but I'm sure it'll be a fantastic one.

Thank you for your kind words. It's absolutely wonderful to have Tui following me around more now - you can tell she's becoming much mroe dependent on me. Strangely enough, and I'm not sure why, but she only talks if she's alone with me. She very rarely speaks around other people. Do any of you know why this might be?

Tui tends to hold her wings like that, too.

Firstly, I'd just like to say that I'm sorry I haven't been around much. Things have gone on and I just haven't had much online time. The main reason for this post is because I'm so happy with Tui's behaviour and just recently she's started showing more love and appreciation to me specifically. My ex moved out a couple of months ago and she was very attached to him, but since he's gone she's starting to show signs of bonding with me which is something which I was always greatly disappointed about. Just last night she sat on me while I was watching the TV and put her head to me, wanting me to stroke her head. She also watches me carefully when in other rooms and will fly to me if I go to walk out of the room. As I type this, she's scampering all over the table and messing with a bag, trying to see what's in it. Also her speech has come along very well, too. Tui has never been an overly vocal bird. Considering that she's about two now, she's only just starting to talk more. She says 'hello', 'hello, Tui', 'how are you?' and even calls my dad's name which is hilarious. I'll be getting up in a morning and she starts calling 'Paul' but in my mom's voice. Anyway, just thought I'd check in and say hello and pass along some news on Tui. I even have some pictures which I may post later.

1) Love 2) Devotion 3) Time/attention 4) Playtime with mommy and/or daddy 5) A smile

Tui absolutely loves porridge. Don't ask me why, but she does. Most mornings I take her into the kitchen with me and she perches on the back of one of the dining room chairs. If I make porridge, you can guarantee she'll hop onto the table and stick her nose in my bowl. I don't give her too much, but she loves it now and again.

The only other birds we've kept besides Tui were two cockatiels who sadly died about 8 years ago. I've never really looked into any other breed of parrot to keep as I've always had my eye on Greys. I'd obviously have to do my homework before getting another, but I do like the look of cockatoos and I've read a lot of good things about them. Another parrot for me though is quite a few years off, I think. Lol.

I hate to ever think about losing Tui but it has, unfortunately, been something that has crossed my mind in the past. Tui has her leg band from the breeder and her number is 212 JW so she could be identified by that. Also she has a toenail missing on her left foot and has always had this since I got her last year. Kind of ironic really since what we're discussing, but Tui also whistles the first part of The Great Escape after she heard me whistling it some time ago and I began teaching her it. Those would be her main distinguishing features. Also, there aren't many people to my knowledge in this area who keep parrots - I have seen bird cages though in one house up the street from me. Not that I was being nosey, but they don't have net curtain and walking past their windows are quite large and they have birds also. If, God forbid, I did lose Tui chances are it would be her if someone saw her, or it would be a bird belonging to the family up the street from me (if they even have African Greys! I've never seen the actual birds; I can just see the cages from walking past the house) As for micro chipping, I'm still not sure whether to get it done, mainly because I don't want to cause Tui any distress and upset her. But obviously the benefits far outweigh that, so I'll definitely have to look into prices (money isn't an issue with Tui) and see about it...

He is just so gorgeous. I love when he does 'peek-a-boo'. Bless him. Great video!

Awwww! You're lucky. My Grey is about eighteen months old and hasn't mastered the art of speaking yet - that doesn't stop her whistling and making general noises though. She does tend to go through phases of being vocal. For example, usually in a morning when I get up and then at night when I've finished work and settle down to watch the TV. She's also extremely loud when I'm on the phone to someone and she knows I'm talking but it's not to her.

From what I've heard Greys can't get fleas, but they can get mites, although this is extremely rare with domestic bred birds. When I took Tui to the vets last year about her plucking, the vet mentioned mites but said that it's very rare to see mites on pet birds and didn't really look any further. With fleas, I don't think they can actually attach themselves to a bird's feather like they can with a dog, cat or rodent's fur. Fleas, mites and even head lice are all specially adapted to the environment they live in so fleas are more adapted to animals with fur rather than feathers.

I personally would not clip my Grey. She has never been clipped and I don't intend to clip her. I see it from the perspective of, she's a bird and she's built for flight and I'm not hindering that. But that's my opinion and I respect anyone who does wish to clip their bird's wings; I do understand why people clip their birds. I just choose not to.

Awww! Rat rescue. That is fantastic! I have people also tease me and say it's disgusting because I also have two Dumbo rats. I keep telling people that rats are one of the best small animals to keep - contrary to popular belief, they're actually very clean and intelligent.

It's actually very strange you mention a missing toenail; when I had Tui she was missing a toenail on her right foot and it has never re-grown, so I doubt Ozzie's will. As said before, just keep an eye on him and his foot and I'm sure he'll be fine. He's going to the best place on Friday so I'm sure the vet will have a look for you and give you any advice.

Dan, I love the sound of your book! That is fantastic. You'll have to post more as you write it. I'd certainly read it. Birdhouse, I agree. I stated in my comments before that some people have never had the experience of keeping animals, so they don't know what it's like to shower their love onto something that isn't a human. You're also right when you say how people 'convert' once they've seen you with your birds. I feel the same. Once people have seen Tui and seen me with her, they seem more understanding. Maybe they need to see that devotion in practice. Reggieroo - I must say that is awful. Why on Earth would people give strange looks when you're looking for your pet? Sarcastic remarks? I'm sorry to hear that happened. Some people have no clue, and it really is a shame. I don't think there's anything more satisfying than opening your heart to an animal and watching their trust in you grow.

And you know what, Ray? Your parrots SHOULD mean the world to you - it's their loss. In my last post I said how people don't experience that kind of love and it's a shame.

There seem to be a few people on this forum who are writing books. I'm intrigued. What are they about, peeps? I'm trying to write my own fantasy novel...but I doubt it will ever amount to much. My mind is always going from one thing to another and can rarely cope with one thing for a prolonged period of time. Lol.

I've always had animals around me; practically since I was a baby, we've always had pets from rabbits to gerbils, to hamsters to fish to dogs to cats. You name it, we've had or have it! I've always held a deep respect and love for animals, and that was why in my teens all I wanted was to become a Vet. The only reason I didn't go in for it was because it meant moving away from home for 6 years to study and to be honest, my grades weren't high enough. I'm 24 and still keep gerbils and rats alongside Tui. We're actually taking on my sister's turtle soon as she's got to re-home him. That will be very interesting! Haha. I look at Tui sometimes when she sits on my shoulder or even if she's just playing with her toys, and I know I'd do anything for her. And people who don't keep animals, don't know anything of that bond or love and it's very sad that they can't experience it. The one co-worker I mentioned in my original post who teases me over Tui doesn't keep animals herself - none whatsoever. She also, to be fair, doesn't seem to hold the respect and love needed to care for an animal. But that's just my opinion. I know I shouldn't care what people think of me, but it just annoys me that people judge you as being strange because you hold so much love for something that isn't a human being. I hold a deep love for a bird, not a person, and people find that amazingly strange because they haven't experienced it. I hope one day they can find something like that.

I know that feeling all too well. I don't know anyone else around here who has a grey so everyone I speak to probably don't care and I wind up bending their ear. Lol.

I think a lot of people also still see a huge division between animals and humans, and to some people loving an animal like a human is ridiculous. Sometimes I do pity the people who've mocked me because they'll never enjoy the experience that all of us here share, and that's opening our hearts, homes and lives to a Grey. It was just a question I thought I'd present to everyone here as I wasn't sure if I was the only one who had come across the small mindedness of other people. I compared Tui to a child because parents would do anything for their children and talk about them for hours on end, and I'm just like that with Tui. She's never far from the conversations.

Awww! That is so wonderful to hear. I'm glad to hear that Oscar is settling in well. Please keep us updated on him.