caleigha

Great idea - thanks for the picture. I am at the point where I need to buy more toys and I don't want to spend a ton of money. This looks like a perfect inexpensive solution!

Oh that picture is so funny, (reminds me of the line in The Lion King, "Hippity Hop all the way to the birdie boiler") and so scary! As my kids will attest, I tend to be a bit neurotic at times, and Chili landing in a pot on the stove is one of my hugest fears when he is in the kitchen. Okay that totally has my rolling, because that just sums up my life. Yes my bird is flighted and he is EVERYWHERE. He truly is like a toddler getting into everything and constantly needing to be watched. I stuck Christmas bows on the frame of the door because he is chewing up the wood. Think my husband gets mad over the counters? The man is having kittens over the woodwork being destroyed. Lol. That is a good perspective. I grew up with birds and maybe that's why the poop doesn't bother me - who knows. Just get a paper towel and wipe it up. It takes about 2 seconds and voila - no more poop. Magic.

What is it about the counters and table that are a magnet for my bird? Any ideas for keeping our CAG Chili off the counters & table? Yeah, I know - please stop laughing. I'll be honest and say it doesn't bother me in the least, but drives my husband crazy. And when Chili gets an idea, it is so hard to dissuade him. I've tried bribing him with food on his play stand, I've removed the food from the counters. For instance we used to keep a fruit bowl out on the kitchen table so the kids (not fids!!) could have a snack whenever, and Chili really loved his buffet. We'd find apples with little birdie bites taken out them. I think it is really funny, but sadly my husband isn't seeing the humor in it. *sigh* So either I spend all my time chasing him off the counters, or I put him back in his cage. I've tried time outs, but like I said - he is hard to dissuade when he wants to do something. Please say you have a magic solution for this. Pretty please?

I think it is SO adorable and I too am jealous. Our CAG is almost 2 and we adopted him when he was 1. So no cuddles for us - I am living vicariously through everyone's cuddle stories. Yes. I think this is a GREAT plan.

Gotta is right! Too funny - he's quite the animated talker.

Yes! I agree and was going to post something very similar. I think we need a tour of your house.

Have you found spices that aren't okay? I only seem to be able to find lists of ones that are okay. Onion powder/dried onion flakes wouldn't be safe. Also salt or any spice mixtures that contain salt or onion. What else?

We have taken 2 vacations since we've had Chili, and we went through the same dilemma. We finally decided it would be better to leave him home where he has his familiar cage & surroundings. The other animals were in the house too, so we knew they would help keep him company. We had someone come over twice a day, but did not allow Chili to be taken out of his cage. I was too afraid of something happening or our pet sitter having a problem getting him back in his cage. I also bought a bunch of new toys and let him have extra treats while we were gone. I think that was for my guilt, just as much as it was for him! I just didn't want him to get bored. There were too many unknowns going to a boarding facility, and I liked having him safe and sound at home. It worked out well each time - he weathered (feathered) it just fine!

NikB - I think your experience is definitely appreciated! This is not an area I have any personal experience in because I only have one bird, but it seems to me that everyone is giving their own experience so that the original poster can make an informed decision. Just like you are sharing yours, others are sharing theirs. No two birds are alike, nor will they behave in the same way in a given situation. So yes, your experience is just as valid as anyone else's experience. And I for one am not thinking that you have made a bad decision - as long as it is an informed decision. All the BEST to you.

I've noticed with Chili that if I mix his veggies with spices, he enjoys them more. For instance he used to love carrot sticks I cut up for him, but now he just enjoys throwing them. Now he'll only eat carrots if they are cooked and basically mashed. I add fresh ginger to his carrots and he really loves it. Fresh ginger freezes great - you just put the whole root into a ziploc bag. When you want to use it, use a microplane zester to grate it, then return it to the freezer for the next time. Saves on waste since you don't really use that much each time. I also have a mixture that I made up one day and froze in little portion-sized baggies. It has shredded sweet potato, beet root, turnips, kale, jalapeño peppers, carrots, collard greens (everything is raw), oats, and I think that is it. Chili likes it, but only if he sees me eating it first. So I have to take pinches from his food and make a big deal about how yummy it is, then he'll eat it. I've also noticed that he loves it when I add cayenne pepper and cinnamon to his food. So I try to get creative with spices instead of the actual vegetables and so far so good. Oh and the eggs? Beyond love, but I only give them every now and then. Seems a little cannibalistic to me (he he) but he doesn't seem to mind that he is eating one of his fine-feathered friends. I think he'd live on eggs if I let him!

The man with the rats just broke my heart. So many times I wanted to reach through my tv and give him a hug. I hope that he follows through with counseling and is able to grieve for his wife. The lady? I wanted to smack her, but I do understand that she is sick and needs help. I'm surprised she agreed to do the show, but she probably didn't anticipate the vulnerability and judgement she'd be feeling. It just made me mad when she loaded up (40?) of her cats in a shopping cart and hid them - it was the epitome of selfishness. I am a total cat lover and while she feels like she is giving them a good home, she isn't.

Oh too funny. So what did Millie think of Steven Tyler and JLo?

Very cool that our birds have such acuity! As Charlotte might say, "Some Parrot!" And that goes for all our parrots!!

Oh I am so sorry - your poor Annabella. Hopefully the antibiotics will knock this out and all will be well. Please protect yourself while you care for her.

Fantastic progress - way to go! I just love the 3rd picture in your first post - what a sweet face he has!!

I am so sorry & hope the poor guy didn't suffer too much.

Glad you were able to take him in & I hope he gets better. I have to tell you I just love the name Pickles. It just makes me giggle, in such a great way. What a fun name!!

That is such a great way to think of it and you are absolutely right. The guy is a total jerk, but even total jerks can be used for good. Sorry if you've already mentioned this, but is Mino banded or is there some other way you'll have to prove he is yours? Also, how is the guy bringing Mino out around people - is he bringing him out in a cage? Sounds like everything is moving along is just the right direction. Praying you get him back SOON!!!!

What area of Florida are you in? We used to live in Central Florida - I can pass it along to friends as well.

What irks me is when the person at the checkout in front of me at the grocery store gets in a long conversation with the cashier. When I lived in a small town, this was the norm and it drove me crazy.

I've been thinking about you and your Mino. Sounds like you have a good lead. It saddens me to think that someone would knowingly steal another person's pet. To us, our pets are like children and this is on the level of kidnapping a child just because you want one of your own. So, so, sad. I pray that you are able to get Mino back soon. Thanks for all the updates. I haven't commented until now but have been following your story closely.

(altogether now) how smart is he? My parrot is so smart he can tell my identical twins apart, when most people (including me at times - their mom!) can't. My twins are just about to turn 15 and Chili, my CAG, picked one of them as his "chosen one." I find it so amazing that he can tell them apart because they truly are identical. He must go by mannerisms much more than looks, because that is one of the only ways I can tell them apart. And he knows instantly. When flying across the room, he'll always go to his chosen twin, and when his chosen walks into the room he flies right over to him. How cool is that!

My CAG can be so sweet and I am head over heels in love with him, but he did something to me today that has second guessing everything. He will be 2 in March, so perhaps his age is a factor, but lately he has turned into a brat. When he doesn't get his way he bites, and he bites hard. And he attacks. It started today when he flew down to the kitchen table and grabbed a pencil. I took it away from him and he didn't like that so bit me really hard. He flew to his perch then he literally attacked me - he flew at my face and just attacked me. I put my hand up to defend my face and pushed him away. He flew back to his perch. After I calmed down, I talked to him in a calm voice and told him that he can't act that way and there is no biting. I put my hand for him to step up, and he bit me really hard again. I had to call one of my sons into the room to take him back to his cage. Now he is in his cage and happily talking although he is saying, "No biting. You bite, you go back." This is not the first time he has attacked me when he doesn't get his way, and he has also attacked my 8-year-old son for no reason. It left my little guy in tears because it really hurt his feelings, although he wasn't physically hurt. He has attacked my husband as well. But at other times he is just so sweet and lovable. He's a great talker, and makes us laugh all the time. He's a character, but then he's also a really naughty bird. I really don't know what to do, what to think, or how to feel. I am doubting my ability to raise him, because clearly I am doing something wrong, but all I do is love him. He has a giant cage with tons of toys that he enjoys, he has a perch in the kitchen with even more toys that he enjoys. He certainly isn't bored,and he's fully flighted. I love my bird, but I'm not sure I like him. Doesn't that sound horrible? Any advice?

MUCHO thanks to everyone for your ideas. It looks like we are going to either put a door in, or get a heavy-duty heater for the outside office. Yay!!! Peace has once again entered my home. I wish that my husband was a bird lover, but alas...he isn't. I let him have his giant dogs (don't tell him I secretly love them!) and he lets me have my cats and birds. And we shall live happily ever after in our crazy zoo.