cass

oops forgot this one...it looks tiny and a bit crap but for once i can say the pic doesnt do it justice...and there's alot more to do with it too to get it finished....ladders, nets, dishes etc.

Hi all, So the stuff came and here is Louis Homemade plastand....none of it has been drilled/screwed/any kind of work it all just clips together and is made from perches and toys(all parrot safe) that folds relatively flat and can be taken down in a sec and parts easily changed or added to... the pics below are the basic structure as we still need to get sisal to make a jungle net for one side for louis to climb on....thought as he's wary of new things he might not like this but he hopped on after 2 mins and sat for a good hour or so...mind he didnt explore yet he just played with the toys at the bottom....he was wary at first but by bedtime he was tucked up on this ready to go asleep....his cage is kitted out with new perches and goodies too.... decided not to go right to the floor in the end as the 90cm perches are quite heavy and the whole structure is leaning on the wall and doesnt wobble at all...just have tissues and wipes for cleanups easier than a base for now.... lastly will be watching him closely in case there are any possible parts he could hurt/snag himself on but chose things carefully to avoid such....

thanks for the great advice....i think you're right i will get the chains and only use rope for net and bits and bobs....thanks for the dish advice will look into that! i am kind of hoping to make it as unwobbly as i can so may get bamboo anyway to cover the chains in parts for him to chew....i live in ireland...whereabouts would i source bamboo from thick enough to go over chains? if anyone knows of anywhere to get cheap chains/lengths of chain( i need 720cm) from do let me know...cheapest i have come across are lengths meant as perch type chains 77cm long for 5gbp each(will need at leat 6-9)...if i get chains it will be a very easy thing to do.....no nuts or bolts no drilling just attaching bits together so will post up pics for all as its being done and when it's finished....am considering using brick in the base of some kind of a readymade(but hopefully aesthetically pleasing!) base so he can file his nails! a basin might even be a good idea(a little drilling but nothing major) so i can put water in it too for a bath!

Hi All so i got an idea from the ebay listing below of a hanging playstand...i want to make a variation that comes right to the floor(as my grey doesnt like wobbling all about the place!) and as i already have a ceiling hook(a monster of one!) it would be hopefully the perfect stand as it will fall down flat for storage if needed.... my question is, is the sisal rope likely to be chewed through by my grey and make thisunsafe?what width do i need? i have looked at plaiting 6mm sisal to make 18mm width....is this strong and wide enough for him? i am worried if i get a thicker one knots etc will be difficult to do and making a jungle type net on one side will be harder and too bulky....what do you think? if sisal isnt the way to go i've looked at the acrylic/nylon chains as an alternative..... all going well it should cost less than 100euro and be easily breakupable(if using chains) to add and remove toys..... lastly anyone any idea how i might fit a feeding dish on there? thanks in advance for any help heres the ebay pic http://cgi.ebay.ie/NEW-MEDIUM-ROPE-HANGING-PARROT-STAND-ACTIVITY-CENTRE-/120651713756?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&hash=item1c17670cdc

hey there!i had been thinking of names for awhile too...heres what i came up with... Jean grey(for a girl...red hair andpowerful etc.) líofra(in irish it means fluent)(pronounce leeowfra) arrgyd(or airgead in irish means silver) mr. burns(if you like the simpsons i think greys have a look baout them of him...but you need to teacvh him to say eeexcellent!) naomh(pronounced knave...means holy in irsh) shredder...from ninja turtles...maybe more suitable for a timneh as he has a purple cloak... gandalf(the grey!)

thanks for the comments...he has just regurgitated on cormac before and that pic is cormac telling him not to do it again...hahaha he is much happier now he sits on a perch outside his cage right beside my shoulder and on the back of my chair...he talks and looks for me when i'm not there so some progress...he still is happier on cormacs shoulder but seems to think of me as a non threat for now anyway : o) he always gives me cuddles first thing in the morning through the cage bars he lets me pet his neck and head and bows for them : o) odd thing is sometimes he'll nod(eg. when i offer a treat) his head but then give me a nip instead of taking his treat? even if its a grape or soething he reallly wants? other times he will put a foot up like he's ready to step up and then nip (not bite just a darting quick but hard nudge with his beak) is he testing me or what???

please welcome louis to the forum....he is my foster grey that is now looking like an adopted grey : o) and with my other half cormac...

hi snoozy...ii am doubting this is the same bird for a few reasons...firstly this birds was lost in february....this grey was found in august...also the bird in the picture looks alot younger(am i wrong in seeing blackish eyes?) and nothing really like the grey i have...the grey i have is at least 4 years old if not older...the person also says they contacted everyone and put posts up on net....all ads for lost parrots in ireland have been replied to....thanks though and if anyone sees anything like my guy do let me know : o)

well im definitely up for the challenge...in it for the long haul if needs be so will do my best...its just funny cos before he met cormac on the first day he stepped up and sat with me happy as anything...since cormacs arrival onto the scene he has no time for me...even this eve cormac is sick so i let him out of his cage..he wouldnt step up to come out but climbed out and wouldnt step up to come over and sit with me(as he did a few days ago)...he did take treats happily and chat away to me...will keep trying eventually he will see im a good guy....tried sitting with eyes closed now and then too and noticed him relaxing...will keep trying all the tips and tricks to show him im on his side....he is a clever clogs and its very early days yet(5 days now) so time will tell : o) as a side note...arent they funny these guys?cormac has no idea about birds, what they like, how to handle them, behaviour and body language...and yet he is the chosen one???

diego sounds like a sweetheart....yeah i read about treats at the wrong times so he only got a treat when he said proper words or attempts(some words are a bit slurred!) not for any of the high pitched chirps...he seemed to pick it up and it was a nice game for us to learn together....he was almost as excited doing this game as i've seen him with cormac....almost....hehe

thanks jayd....will do all that.....(just to note he/she isn't a baby) we dont know how old he/she is but reckon over 3 anyway as he's talking a decent amount and from other details about him/her....also no name yet or idea of sex...think shes a girl though ; o)

hi judy...this grey looks like he's gonna be staying with us forever...his owners cant be found and if they arent in future he will stay with us..so it does matter...also i will be the one at home and taking care of the grey, i'll also be the one taking him out of his cage and interacting with him so he won't get much time with cormac... so far i'm giving him a treat every time i come into the room to greet him and any time he talks(as he mostly talks when we are out of the room?!) while we are in the room....i am sitting next to him and talking to him and i will be the one to take him out of his cage and let cormac put him back in for a while....any toehr tricks for him would be appreciated to buy his love..haha

hi! thanks for the reply i love reading about diego!!!so you think he will always be bonded to cormac more because of this initial reaction? well i guess i was more careful around him in the first day but more trying to give him space and letting him come to me as i didnt want to stress him in his first few days...then cormac came in not knowing anything and swooped him up and that was it...if what you said about cormac being more comfortable but not necessarily the preferred one would he be regurgitating on him?he also does this dance up and down cormacs arm like he is trying to impress him??? thing is cormac isn't even a bird person...i am the one who will be the greys owner...should i allow him to come out and sit with cormac in the evenings or should i take over?it just seems if he's int he room the bird wants him and not me...also to take him to a different room every evening would be no fun for anyone! yes the country has been searched and every ad that was up for a lost parrot have been replied to...he has a silver tag on his leg john hayward was contacted with the number and no owner found still???

so i am fostering a grey at the moment...he will step up for me when its just me and sit on my shoulder and allow the odd cuddle....when my other half cormac comes int hough his attention(not sure of sex) is totally for him...he will do anything for cormac, calls when he leaves the room and regurgitates on him...allows all kinds of cuddles and cormac can move and touch him without him being anyway hesitant...i move my hand and he darts to look at me... how do i change this bond for him to bond to me? we have only had him/her a few days and he was a rehome(he bonded instantly to the male in the house who found him wandering the streets)