Birdnut

Watching Moussa destroy my plastic utensils.

Happy Hatchday Corky! Great pictures. Corky looks like a happy camper.

Wow! That bill does sound really steep, if that's all the vet did. Our vet is much more reasonable for similar services.

Did you know....? There are 4 species of venomous snakes native to Texas.

Might as well have a little fun making snowmen. Sort of a "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" thing, I guess. It hardly ever snows here in central Texas, so when it does, it's a big thrill. But this weather you guys are having doesn't look like much fun.

So sorry things aren't going well. Please keep us posted.

Moussa has been vocalizing A LOT lately. He has always had periods when he liked to sit and whistle and chortle and make noises, but now he's spending a lot more and longer periods experimenting with many different sounds. Some are starting to sound more and more voice like. Moussa is 9 1/2 months old. Could this be a warm-up leading to beginning to talk? Has anyone else observed this kind behavior prior to their grey starting to talk?

Dave, that's a good one!

So how are our friends in Europe being affected by the severe weather?

LOL! I think this is a conure thing, especially. And especially when you have more than one. We have a pair of blue crowned conures who are the same way. Only it's not just their cage they become aggressive over -- it's anywhere they have settled to roost. So if you haven't gotten them back in their cage in time, and they start settling into a spot and saying, "Night, night," you just better let them roost in whatever spot they've chosen! We say they go into "Chucky" mode when the sun goes down. But seriously, to the point of the discussion, I have noted that the pair of conures can be rather dominant and aggressive toward the other birds at any time. I think having a "mate" confers more dominance. They will sometimes bully the other birds. This is something to keep in mind if you want to allow birds loose together and have more than one of a particular species that might tend to gang up on the others.

Awww, how sweet. My Moussa is a sweet bird, but he hasn't been a snuggler. So far, our only snugglers are the cockatoo (of course) and the parrotlet. This cracked me up. I can fully identify!

If it's any comfort, I will tell you that Moussa fussed at his broken feather for a few days, and then I found it on the floor. I guess he pulled it out.

Thanks. It's really cool to see these photos of the birds in flight, as the movements are too fast for the naked eye to really enjoy their beauty.

Thanks for the update. My heart goes out to you. Does your vet believe that this is a condition Chilly could recover from with treatment?

I love this bird but .... Could sure do without the food flung all over the kitchen every morning. (He has his breakfast in the kitchen with me.) Could do without the constant clanging of his bell when he's in his cage and wants attention. (We are considering contracting him out to the Salvation Army for the Christmas season.) Barbara, I can sympathize with the shirt issue. I have given up wearing decent shirts or any jewelry at all when at home. Mostly go around in old t-shirts with holes chewed in them. (Lovely, huh?) No buttons allowed, or they are promptly removed. This is not just a grey issue; the conures are the worst. No pictures on shirts. Pictures attract beaks determined to remove them from the shirt.

All very good advice, which I am also taking to heart. I am learning that it is good to allow a parrot as much dominion over their own life as possible and as many opportunities as possible to make choices for themselves.

I try to have Moussa out of his cage any time I am home and able to supervise, except when I have to work outside for an extended time, or am doing something hazardous, like certain cooking. I think you cannot have too much out-of-cage time for these intelligent birds.

Good story! LOL! Sounds like your discomfort made the shower more fun for Cleo! Who knows what goes through these little bird brains.

I'm going to guess that Marcus lunged at your husband because of his quick movement and alarmed state, more than any attempt to keep your husband from picking up Beaker. I agree with Birdhouse. It would be fine to give the boys an opportunity to see if they might hit it off, but be sure to supervise, especially if you are going to trim Beaker's wings back. I have also read that Greys don't tend to be very sociable with other species, but every bird is an individual. We have a variety of parrots which cohabit our bird room, and most of the time they are out loose together. So there is a parrotlet, a pionus, several conures, medium cockatoo, and sometimes a lovebird loose together in the room. I think it works out because they are all flighted and can easily approach or retreat from each other, as needed. I would not feel at all comfortable with them all having unsupervised access to each other if they could not fly. Given this arrangement, several relationships have developed between various birds, especially the sun conure and the cockatoo, who are BFFs. Our Grey does not live in the bird room, and so far, has not been very friendly toward any of the others and vice versa. Usually, dissension between our birds occurs when one of the humans is present and jealousies are aroused. This is something you will have to watch for when you bring your birds together. These kinds of jealousies are also the reason for many nips and bites directed toward the humans. For example, my sun conure loves me, but does not like the Grey. If I am holding the sun conure and make any move to approach the Grey, the conure will nip me hard. So be careful of this type of redirected aggression if you try to bring your birds together.

flowers I love to smell the flowers And while away the hours In quiet contemplation of the sky But then I have parrots....sigh. listen

So there you go. The sex probably doesn't matter much ... just the bird's unique personality and how they're handled.

Thanks for posting this. I had not seen it before. This is a great idea, as it is action in the interest of the birds, while still respecting the traditions of the Native American people. I do not own a macaw, but I think I will print this information and post it on the bulletin board at our local bird specialty store. Some of the molted feathers from our flock are so beautiful, I can't stand to throw them away. I have collected colorful feathers for a local artist who uses them in her work. I am currently collecting feathers to have made into an ornament for my drum.

Most of our birds are female, and we have only had an egg laying problem with the lovebird. Too bad you are unable to meet the babies and choose one in person. Perhaps, when the time comes, the breeder could tell you a little bit about the different personalities. I suppose, if you have nothing else to go on, sex is as good a deciding issue as any. I defer to Spinner for his great expertise in this area. I will note that I have read that the males can tend to be a bit more confident and outgoing.

The early winter wind in the baring branches of the oak Rips leaves loose and spins them across the silver sky Its sighs, now shrill, now low, invoke The gods of death and loss and leaving by Like mournful chords on an ancient organ Or the keening cries of the fearsome Morrigan. Rebirth