caleigha

Yes, his office is in the house downstairs. He is a consultant so the calls come in at any time of day, totally sporadic, and the calls take priority. Clients are his bread and butter. Chili used to be quiet when we covered him, but not anymore. He pretty much talks from the time he wakes up until bedtime whether he is covered or not. I LOVE his talking. I am a writer and I can completely tune him out and work while he talks. To me it is a beautiful background noise. But my husband says the noise just cuts straight through the phone line. His cage is 2 rooms away, but the room my dh is in doesn't have a door. I guess that is part of the problem. Hmmm....maybe that is a solution - a door on that room. As for distracting Chili, right now that's what we're doing; we distract him when dh is on the phone. We have a separate building on our property that he works in during the spring and summer, but once it gets cold outside the building is too cold. That's why this problem has suddenly sprung up - my husband is back in the house. We got Chili on June 1 and dh was working outside in the other building. Now he is in the house with us and we have to readjust! Thank you all SO much. I really need to hear all of these things. Candace

I am glad that no one can see the emotional mess I am right now - I am very torn and desperately need advice. Here's my scenario: We have had our CAG for 5 months and we are in LOVE with him. He is just the most wonderful, happy, talkative, playful bird. We have his big cage in the den, he has a play stand in the kitchen, and he has a smaller cage in my bedroom. These 3 rooms connect to each other and this is where we primarily hang out. He spends his days mostly out of his cage, but there are times when we put him in his big cage. He's very happy in there, has lots of room and toys to play with. And since he is in the middle of the action of the house, even when he is in his cage he interacts with us. He whistles for the dogs and calls their names (they ignore him), he does a dead-on imitation of the door squeak anytime anyone opens the back door, he calls my boys names when they leave the room - he is very aware of us and constantly interacts. So the problem... We are a family of 7 and are home all day. My husband and I both work from home, and I home school my boys. So Chili has lots of interaction all day. The problem is, the noise Chili makes is interfering with my husband's work. His office is also downstairs and Chili's noise is a HUGE problem when he is on the phone. Our kids are trained - they know they have to be quiet when Dad's on the phone. Chili? Not so much. My husband is not a fan of Chili's. My kids and I are head over heels in love with him. My husband would be very happy if we found a home for Chili and it is only because of the noise. Of course my husband's job is very important - he supports our family. But to me, Chili is part of our family. So my solution, and here's where I need your input...what if I moved Chili's big cage up into one of my kid's room. One of my sons is 14 and he is the one Chili loves best. That would mean that during working hours, Chili would be upstairs, by himself, in his cage, with the door closed. He is so used to being with us, would it be mean to him if I did that? I feel like, at this point, my alternative is getting rid of my husband. ha ha Just joking. Seriously, my husband would appreciate it if I solved this and I value your ideas and suggestions.

I need help in training my CAG to only "hang out" in designated areas. I have a play stand in the kitchen for him, a large cage in the next room (our den) for him that is filled with toys that he loves, and a smaller cage in my bedroom for him. Those are the 3 main areas where our family hangs out. The problem is, Chili likes to go on top of our kitchen cabinets and hang out. Last week he threw one of my decorative items off the top of the cabinets, it fell, and broke my ceramic stove top. I just ordered the part and it was $350.00 At this point, I'd like to train him to only go on his stand, or his 2 cages, or he can sit with us if we're on the couch. But I don't want him up on the cabinets. So my question is - what do I do when he goes up on the cabinets to train him that isn't allowed? Right now anytime he goes up there we stand on a chair, have him step-up, then put him on his stand. But are we teaching him that way, or just moving him? Thanks for any help you can give!

My CAG, Chili, has started doing something that is a bit naughty and wanted to get your ideas on how to best handle it. He is fully flighted and loves being in the kitchen with me. He has a play stand in the kitchen with toys he enjoys and I rotate them so he doesn't get bored, but he also likes to go on top of the kitchen cabinets. I don't mind him up there except the past few days he has started tearing up the molding that goes around the top, and I can't let him do that. I'm pretty sure my husband would have kittens if he tore up the cabinets. So today when he was up there I pulled a chair over so I could reach him. I held my hand up, he said "Step up," he stepped up, then bit me hard. I just ignored the bite and brought him to his play stand. He flew up again. Except this time when I stood up on the chair he attacked my head. He buzzed me and grabbed at the top of my head and flew to his play stand. He did it a second time and now he is back in his cage. Saying, "Wanna go back in your cage? Be nice or go back." Yep - he got that right. I left him in his cage for about 10 minutes, but just now brought him back into the kitchen with me and he is happy on his play stand. Did I handle it right? What else can I do to help him understand and obey that rule? BTW - my 16 year old thinks I should be politically correct and call him an African-American Grey. Lol.

Oh brother. I didn't mean it in a way that was judging her and you don't need to justify her purchase. I have been shopping for parts and have been pricing everything so I was just commenting out of jealousy in a GOOD way! Sorry if my words seemed to say something different. This is ridiculous - I think I'll go back to lurking.

Isn't that the truth!! And SO fun to buy for. Don't misunderstand what I said - I didn't mean anything bad by my comment.

Christmas came early this year - what fun!!! I just came into this forum to find a good place to buy pieces so thanks for the site. You are going to have a great time making toys - hope you post pictures of all of your creations. I don't even want to know what your total came to - yikes!!

Emma has such manners. Maybe she could come over our house and teach Chili how to eat over the bowl like that. We have a fig tree too and Chili loves the fruit. I was at the farmer's market the other day and picked up a jar of fig jelly. I have it on my toast in the mornings - it is soooo yummy!!

I read a trick that has really worked well for us. The tip is in regards to biting, but I find it works great when our little guy doesn't want to go to bed either. If you want him to step up onto your right hand, hold something in your left hand that will serve as a distraction. I use a coffee cup or my sunglasses. Having the item in my other hand distracts him enough so that he forgets why I am asking him to step up, he steps up, and before he knows it he is in his cage. So far it has worked wonderfully.

That is so wonderful he landed in the right yard! I lost a tiel about 18 years ago. His name was Napolean and we never did get him back. I still miss him, so your finding your new little friend reminds me that maybe my little guy found a happy home as well.

LOl! Wow - I'm really impressed. Those are some very talented dogs you have!!! You should take that act on the road.

Hi Sarah - your Bridget is is so beautiful!! This made me giggle: because it made me think of what couples say when they want to have a baby. Not that your baby isn't a 'real' baby...you know what I mean!!

What funny birds we have!! I think the part that cracks me up the most is how he stops and looks at me to make sure I'm watching, then continues. What a goof-ball. JJsHoney - every time I tried getting close to Chili with the video camera, he wouldn't do it. But then I remembered my phone can record video so that's what I used. Since it is small he didn't feel quite so self-conscious with his performance. And about asking the previous owners - I do have their email address. She told me that Chili used to do that when he was very young, but hadn't done it in quite a while.

I am new here and couldn't agree with you more. What a blessing it is to find like-minded people. Especially since my family thinks (knows?) I am riding the crazy train with crayons in hand. ha ha Everyone has been so helpful and supportive in anything I've posted.

Here it the video...Chili does this every night after we put him in his cage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOUdb9RhcyY

Okay - thanks guys!!! I'll be patient while he unpacks his bags and gets to know us. I guess I just have remember he really is the new boss of the house. He has made that known to the dogs and cats, and I suppose I'm a little late to the party.

When we adopted him from the previous owners, they told us that he didn't like women as much as men. Well...my bird loves my husband, and loves my 5 kids (all of whom are boys), and doesn't like me. at. all. And I totally love him SO much - definitely a one way street. Most of the time when I try to give him a head scratch he pulls his head into that very aggressive posture that I call his flamingo stance. And he will follow through with the bite if I don't take the hint and back off. He doesn't do that with any of the guys in the house. When they say "head scratch" and hold up their hand he bends his little head down to help them reach the back of his head. He's very thoughtful like that. ha ha There are times (albeit very few!) when he'll cuddle with me and allow me to scratch his head. Oh and he allows me to give him treats like peanuts. He does step-up for me and he isn't afraid of me, he just doesn't want me petting him. Is there any chance of the two of us becoming life-long, head scratching, cuddle bugging friends?

Yes - good idea. Can I call that a senior moment on my part? Even if I'm not quite a senior, but feel like one? She emailed me back and said he used to do it when he was a baby. It is his way of telling us he doesn't want to be in his cage. It's funny, we've had close to 40 email exchanges within the past week, as well as talking for about an hour when we picked Chili up...and yet I'm still learning more and more about him. This was one of those "oh yeah...forgot about that silly thing..." type things. He's such a funny bird and we're loving getting to know him. <3 @Lambert58 - I tried when he was doing it last night, but as soon as he saw me paying attention to him, he stopped. He's all, "Yeah! My high kicks worked!" he he

I'm wondering if anyone know what our grey is up to... We adopted him on Tuesday from another family. (It really sounds strange saying that - I can't imagine him ever NOT being here!) He spends the majority of the day out of his cage with me and my kids and is such a funny & happy guy. In the evening when it is time for him to go in his cage, he does the funniest thing. He hangs on the side of the cage that I am sitting on (or one of my kids is sitting on...he has done it to all of us), hangs by his beak and one of his legs, and high kicks his other leg up and down - like he is a Rockette. He'll stop and put his little eye to see if we're watching and then he'll do it again. Then he'll go play with his toys for a while, then he'll be back doing it again. Does anyone else's bird do this? What in the world is he doing?

I used some of my embroidery thread to string the straws. How do you know if it is bird safe?

The cat in the box is Maru and he has his own channel. Yep, I'm a total dweeb and subscribe to it. This is my - I watch it over and over again. And Christian the lion? So sweet - makes me cry every time.

What a great find aeriga - thanks for sharing that! I just made a variation of this one for Chili, and he is enjoying it. He really likes the end of the toy where the plastic bead is tied on - are those okay for him to chew on?

Just what I needed to know - thank you SO much!

He is very sweet looking. I love the name Mowgli! Are you a Kipling fan? Makes me want to start singing ♫ "Look for the bare necessities, The simple bare necessities, Forget about your worries and your strife..."♪♪

Oh that is such great news and I'm so happy for you. I bet your Teal'c is very glad to be home safe and sound!! A wonderful ending.