Shades Of Grey

I saw this documentary with my daughter. While she thought it was cute and entertaining, I was slightly disturbed by the situation. It is one thing to have dearly loved pets that do indeed become part of our families. The problem lies in the fact that some of these owners didn't seem to recognize that their pet was not a human. A couple of the owners came off as...whats the word..nutty as a fruit cake LOL. The one woman was truly offended when a restaurant wouldn't allow her monkey to dine with humans. She truly thought her pet was a human and should have human rights. The final straw was then they talked about how the poor monkey had had its teeth extracted so it couldn't bite. That would be like removing our parrot's beak. It was just sad how the whole thing was so over the top. I have seen the same people on talk shows with their "children" as well.

I finally got a chance to take some pictures of Tui without spooking him. He was busy with his toys I made a foraging foot toy that lasted less than a minute LOL. He also LOVES paper towel and will coming barreling down his cage to steal it from me when I am wiping the bars, what a ham LOL. I am also throwing in a couple pictures of Ziggy my conure. He is modeling his new Avian Fashions flight suit. I wish I could get Tui into one but I don't think that's going to happen! I think Tui looks pretty gorgeous for a rehomed bird on his third home who used to be a plucker as a baby Once his botched clip grows in he will be just perfect (see my introduction post) I like this pic! Ziggy

aww, so sweet. her voice sounds like Tui when he talks. He also makes the same squeaky door sound. It must me a grey thing LOL.

I just read through the thole thread. I am so sorry that you had to go through this but I am very happy that your baby came back. I also lost a bird a few years back. He was a dearly loved budgie and he slipped through the screen in our door (this is why I clip Tui now). We got him back after a very upsetting two days. I am so glad things worked out and that many great people here supported you through it.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I didn't think of that. He is clipped right now because his cage is in our small living room and the front door is right in plain view. He was flying to the door and hitting the glass, poor thing. I wish I had other options to keep him flighted but until we move, he needs to be clipped. Perhaps I should hold off on a gym until we move to a larger place. I posted in my introduction thread about the vet from hell who clipped him so far back that he falls. We have a large duvet around his cage for the time being for padding. Maybe when his flights grow in we can get him clipped properly where he can glide down. I will think about a gym at that point. For the time being, I am ordering a large boing swing that will be at my height Thanks again

I would like to make a play center by Tui's cage with untreated rope and hanging swings. This area would be high up near the ceiling though. He would step onto it from his cage gym. I wonder if this is a good idea because I won't be able to get him down unless he feels like coming down and cooperating. We are just starting to bond as well. Would there be a dominance issue with him being high up and not coming down unless he chooses? What are your thoughts on this. I am limited on space so I don't have a lot of other places to make a lower gym.

Thanks I wish I could leave him flighted actually. The problem is that our front door is right in our small living room and his cage is in that room. He has already tried to fly to the door many times, he is fascinated with outside. I had him by the window yesterday and he was clawing the door to get out. I am sure he would take the first chance to fly out that door when my children are coming in and out. I am hoping we can afford to move to a larger home in a couple years when I am finished college (I'm a mature student returning after 10 years) so I can leave him flighted

I agree! I felt just awful that I didn't snatch him up and walk out the door. I trusted her because she was supposed to be the expert. I also stayed across the room at a distance because I didn't want Tui to see me and associate anything negative with me. I should have been right there when she did that wing clip. I spent all evening beating myself up and feeling angry that I didn't do something. Tui is just fine today. He's back to being chipper and talking up a storm

LOL, I was going to call my guy Tiki but he already had the name Tui when we got him and he seems to respond to it. Its a cute name

My husband was eating an apple and Tui was eying it down and talking about it the whole time LOL. He is starting to learn the andy griffith theme now. He catches on really quickly. We had a really hard day yesterday though. We took him to a vet who represented herself as an avian vet but she turned out to be a basic vet who saw birds on the side. I found this out after the appointment. After a very stressful appointment including taking his temperature in his vent, chasing him around the room several times, and toweling for too long, I walked out fuming mad with a stressed bird. I didn't even know about the temperature thing until I looked into it. I wanted him slightly clipped and she butchered the poor dear. He only has two flights left on each side and he is off balance. I cried all evening, it was really upsetting. I have a big duvet around his cage for padding because he already fell once today. I thought about filing a complaint against the vet but I don't think anything will come of it. My nearest actual AVIAN vet is an hour away and I don't drive but I am working on a ride so Tui can see him for a proper check up. God, it was upsetting!

I sincerely hope you get to the bottom of Tui's problems. My grey is also named Tui . I have been using aloe juice on him as well. His feathers look sleek and healthy from it.

He is still settling nicely and talking up a storm. There is never a dull moment here anymore LOL. We ended up keeping the name Tui. Its what he knows and he seems to respond to it. He had us laughing today because he loves apples and my husband was eating one. Tui had already had his morning fruit but he kept watching my husband eat it while talking about apples the whole time. It was too funny. He ended up getting a piece, it was too cute. Here is a new picture I took.

Thanks for the suggestions I am getting a little more comfortable handling Tui. I have some serious scratches and gouges on my skin though. He's one big bird! He goes to the vet for his first check up tomorrow and I am going to have her trim his nails. I found a nice article with pictures on how to properly hold a larger bird. I find that holding him on my hand with my thumb over his feet works pretty well. I hold him away from me with my elbow bent. He still manages to weasel out of the hold sometimes but its a work in progress

I have only had my adopted male CAG for two days. He is three years old and fairly social. He has a bit of a stubborn attitude and has not been trained much. I am glad to see that he has taken a liking to me already and asks to step up by either lifting his foot to me or crawling across the cage and climbing up my chair. I am getting used to him perching on my arm now although I wear a cotton sweater because his nails need to be cut and its too early to take him in for that, he needs to settle in a bit. I am still a little cautious when I hold him because I am not familiar with him yet. My issue is that he insists on climbing up to my shoulder after a bit of time on my arm. He has been partially trained to stay on the arm and the previous owner. She had a cotton perch she stepped him up onto to get him off her shoulder. When he is on my shoulder, I try to step him off with my opposite hand but he refuses to move. He bites the 'step up" perch and has tried to bite my husband when he offered his hand. I worry that he may get angry and bite my face. The only way I can step him down is to offer a peanut on his cage then he will climb down to the cage top. Peanuts seem to be the only way to entice him to listen but I can't offer too many of course. I don't want to avoid handling him if he is asking to be held but I need a little direction of what to do when he is on my shoulder or if he is on my arm and refuses to move back to the cage. I had to hold him for quite some time yesterday because he refused to step down and play on his cage. I know he is still settling in but the previous owner said she had problems with him doing this as well so its learned behavior. Any suggestions on how to work with him before this becomes a bigger problem ?

I'm so sorry Maggie I use a ceramic type coated pan called Earth Ware. They are sold at Zellers here in Canada. I am not sure if you can get them in the US. The pans are a bit expensive but they are bird safe and relatively non stick. Just a reminder, don't forget to check out things like bread makers, baking pans, electric grills, hair dryers etc for non stick coating. I had to get rid of a lot of products when I bird proofed my home.

Just an update:) Tiki (formerly Tui) is doing wonderful and is adjusting much better than I expected! He already steps up for me and has came over to sit on my chair with me. He talks up a storm when we leave the room and he responds to our calls. He is eating and playing happily and wishes to be out of his cage as much as possible. we did have a bit of a time getting him in his cage today. It took over an hour to get him to step up inside. The ride home went really well despite my concerns. He didn't even need to be covered as we planned to do. he sat on the perch of the travel cage and clicked at me. He is going to be an awesome part of our family. I was expecting him to be really timid but this boy has a bit of a bold attitude LOL. I was surprised to learn that he used to be a plucker and his chest was bald when he came to live with the second owner. He is in great feather now and no longer plucks. I hope all stays well with him. He does look really dry. I bought some aloe vera juice to spray him with when he is more settled. Apparently he enjoys spray bottle showers and will lit his wings for it I will get some pictures in a couple days when he settles in.

That is reassuring that pretty bird pellets are alright to give him. I ended up getting the fruit nut seed mix before I read your reply. I was out today. He is actually enjoying it right now and I am mixing it with parts of his current seed mix. Its just a small supplement that I provide once a day on his gym for some protein and fat. It's for his size, nothing huge in it that would be meant for a macaw or anything. There is a grey on the bag I hope that it's alright for him to have. I don't intend for it to replace his pellets and fresh food diet.

Thanks guys. I assumed it was too soon to switch foods but I just want the best for my new fid. I will probably be looking at Zupreem naturals down the road. he is in great health and feather for a former plucker! I went and got the fruit and nut mix today as well. He is enjoying that. I bought a ton of toys that I will introduce really slowly as well. He's not overly timid in nature which is great. I can't believe how fast he is settling in. Hes vying for my attention at the moment LOL.

I bought my three year old adopted grey home today. He is settling well and is already talking and stepping up. I am very pleased with him! The current owner had him on pellets called "pretty bird African special" as well as some type of seed mix with pellets. I already plan on switching his mix to Hagen gourmet large parrot fruit and nut mix. I have my conure on the small parrot mix (as well as Lafebers pellets and fresh food) and I am very happy with the quality. My concern is the pellets. They are supposed to be formulated for greys but they are colored which is not great. I guess he is doing well on them though. When his previous owner got him at a year old his chest was plucked clean. (this is the third rehome! ) In the last two years his feathers have grown in nicely and he no longer plucks. Maybe I shouldn't mess with a good thing but I also heard that "pretty bird" is not that great of a food. I am heading to Petsmart today or tomorrow and I wonder if I should pick up something else to try or stick with what he has. His current food has to be specially ordered and he will be running out of the amount he came with so I need to make a decision. I guess I will have to mix any new food in slowly anyway so I have to atleast order a small bag of the pretty bird food. I only have zupreem (natural and fruit), lafebers, tropimix and the pretty bird that I order from a pet store. Any suggestions? pretty bird african special information: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=6128

Here is a picture of Tui in his current home.

His current name is Tui. I have always have my heart set on a grey named Tiki. Tui is very close sounding to Tiki. Apparently he sings a song about his name already LOL. I am debating on changing it to Tiki or saving that name for my grey baby that I will get in a few years. I am going to wait a bit and see how attached he is to his name. Decisions decisions...

I understand Aly. I would love to quarantine the bird but unfortunately, our place is so small that it would be pointless. I will watch him closely and take him to the vet at the fist sign of problems. I know in my heart that things are going to be fine though.

Thanks, that was very helpful. Having him covered should eliminate some concerns. What I meant about having him in the truck is that both my father and myself would be very close to him and that would make him nervous. Having the cage covered will help with the process I am going to ask the current owner to include the blanket she usually covers him with at night if possible.

Thanks for pointing that out. I only have one bird here right now, my green cheek Ziggy. He is mommy's baby and I will be sure to address him first. I read the rehome stories you linked to as well. Very touching and sad but with happy endings. Very inspirational

I made an introduction post explaining that I will be bringing a three year old male grey home tomorrow. He is my first grey and he has already been rehomed twice, poor baby. The current owner says he is quite social and will often take to a new person after one or two visits. Tomorrow will be the first time meeting him and I will be taking him home. This is not ideal but I have to work with the owner's schedule..sigh. Anyway, I would love some direction so I can make his transition as stress free as possible. He is located in another town that is about a 20 minute drive. We will be in my father's truck so we can take his cage home as well. I am glad that he will be coming with his familiar cage and toys, it is a fairly nice cage as well. I have a travel cage already arranged for pick up. It is a large cockatiel cage with a large door that is almost the whole front of the cage. I have placed one perch inside the cage and I coated it with a bit of vet wrap so he can grip it well. The only other thing in the cage is a toy (orange nut hatch) filled with human grade peanuts which are his favorite treat. He owns the same toy already so it is familiar to him. Does this set up sound adequate? Now, my concern is if he is not willing to go into the cage at all. Should we place him in the cage or allow him to ride outside of it. He is only partially clipped and I worry about him traveling from the vehicle to the door uncaged. Would it be horrible for him to make him ride in a cage if he doesn't feel comfortable? Should I cover the cage as well? He is covered at home at night. The cage is going to have to ride on the front seat between my father and I, again not ideal but I have to work with what I have to get him home LOL. I imagine I should ask the current owner to place him in the cage. This will be hard as well because she is really attached to him and is only finding him a home because of severe allergies for her and her daughter. Its a sad situation. I don't think the grey will allow me to handle him right away. When we arrive at home, I plan to have the children (ages 9 and 10) upstairs playing, the dog in another room (hes a chihuahuamix) and our GC conure in his cage. My husband will rush in and set up the grey cage then we will see if he steps up to me to go to his cage or I will just leave the travel cage door open on top of his cage so he can come out. I will allow the children to come down quietly and talk softly to him after awhile but not too close. I imagine he will just want to observe us for a couple days or more before he is ready for any real interaction. How long should I give him before I try to step him up? I won't rush him. Does that sound like a good plan? I just want it all to go smoothly. Any tips for a smooth transition are so very appreciated. I love this bird already and want nothing but the best for him. I have wanted a grey for so long. It all seems a little overwhelming at the moment, but in a good way LOL. I feel like I did when I brought my first born child home One more thing, his name is Tui (two-ie) but I would like to change it to Tiki. I am not sure if that would be really confusing for him. I am going to wait for a bit until he is settled though then see how he reacts. Have you ever changed an adult grey's name? Thanks again Amanda