MarcusCAG

Malachite is beautiful! I can't wait to hear more about him and his personality as you two intertwine your lives together. And, of course, I can't wait to see some more pictures!

Congratulations! You know your Louie loves you and he is certainly "coming around" in a wonderful way--even if it's taken a bit longer than you might have hoped.

Louie is absolutely gorgeous in that photo! What a jewel of a boy you have in your life!!

I'm glad to hear the idea for the new room is gaining momentum, there have been some wonderful thoughts and ideas shared so far, it sounds like it will be a fantastic addition to the Grey forums--I'll be keeping my eyes peeled!

I think that is really wonderful advice... I agree, I think Gilbert might be on the verge of something, something inside of him that's struggling to find balance right now. Change isn't always easy, for humans or animals, but Gilbert seems to be giving you signs that he is ready to take a few more steps forward, come what may. I think it's awesome that he was able to relax with you in front of David like that--fantastic! And you might have another few setbacks in the meanwhile, Dee, but that's okay. Gilbert knows you love him and, I think, as long as there is no doubt in his mind that you're sticking this out for the long haul like he wants to, and you won't disappear on him, he seems to be giving indications that he wants to and is ready to move forward with you into the relative unknown and uncharted. Marvelous! And it sounds like Roscoe may not be too far behind.

Oh, how wonderful--I am so glad to hear she is finally home with you, Jeff! How have things been going since you last posted? Can't wait to see pictures of your sweet little girl.

Yes, it is wonderful news!!! These little steps are adding up so quickly anymore, congratulations!

Maybe it could be broad enough to encompass all the species, like the "Rehomed Parrots Room" or something. Then everybody with a rehomed bird whose 'baggage' they're dealing with and working through could feel welcome to post there (and not just parronts of rehomed Greys) and the different threads could be more species-specific, as necessary. Just a thought--but I like the idea in general very much!

^^ Yes, that picture is just beautiful! Glad to hear your Echo is doing so well with you.

You know you have a Grey when you start talking like one!!! I was out with my hubby at a restaurant and I ate something that made me suddenly very thirsty. Because of the other dishes on the table, I had to reach across for my drink on my husband's side. He looked at me and asked something like, "What do you want?" All I could get out was, "Thirsty-making! Thirsty-making!" The look he gave me was so odd ("Do you mean you want some water?"), and after me spouting out some other strangely short phrases at other times recently, we've come to the conclusion that I've started speaking like Marcus often does. Oh, yes, he has his golden moments of perfect articulation that leave us slack-jawed, but most of the time his comments are short and sweet and just a little bit goofy--and apparently I'm now taking lessons from him!

Yes, judygram, I think it's like entertaining a child sometimes. And hopefully that day when Marcus steps up for him will come soon... it would make things a lot easier, at least, and show that a new level of trust has finally been reached!

It is such a beautiful process... I'm personally enjoying reading about all of your memorable breakthroughs and milestones almost as much as I'm enjoying living through this wonderful time of discovery with our dear Marcus. <3

Wow. I guess Marcus is very gentle by comparison! I have to buy him a new big wooden toy to hang in his cage maybe once every few months or so--if that! I think I've honestly only placed a couple of orders for him online (for toys) since we've had him. I will say I do try to rotate his toys as I am able (foot toys included), and my mom gave him a couple as a gift when she visited last year, but he's really not a Mr. Destruction like your babies apparently all are. I'll come home some days and there will be some colored bits of wooden block beneath the grate on his papers, but the effect on the toy in general is pretty negligible. Our Tybalt, on the other hand--yes, he loves ripping apart his hanging wooden toys! Haha, have to keep that shiny red beak at its sharpest! In any event, thanks to the OP for sharing the pic... it made me laugh!

Dee, I just had to log back in when I read your newest Gilbert update. That... is just so wonderful that you could spend such tender and safe time together in the sofa!! And that part about his little leather toy from his first home... I read that bit out loud to my hubby, it was so heart-rending, and he just had this sad tone when he said, "I hate to think that if something happened to us, Marcus would call out for us and call out for us in another home." But even though Gilbert has come so far on such a long journey during his little life, he's ended up in a very loving space with you, and he's finally starting to relax, it seems. Congratulations to you both, you both have so much courage and love to share... I am looking forward very much to reading many more happy stories that you will be able to share with all of us here in the future.

That is an amazingly simple concept which you have articulated perfectly. I've never thought about it in exactly that way before, but certainly--it makes a lot of sense. At this point, if Marcus really tries to bite me, it's often accompanied with a strong "NO!" in a man's voice, or "Stop it!" To me, that just means I've ticked him off somehow (like not letting him chew on something forbidden). If he bites me accidentally (like he's grabbing for balance but uses too much pressure and breaks the skin), he'll often make a kissy noise after I show him my finger. Very, very infrequently, he will say "sorry" as well. He knows what his beak is for and what to do with it... I don't doubt that a bloodied hand and a stiff body with a calm face still will give whatever satisfaction/reaction/whatever that the parrot is looking for once a sincerely-meant bite is dealt out to someone they find deserving of such punishment, for whatever reason. They know they've hurt them, which was the whole point of it.

Bozo was a special boy, Gwen. It was so sweet how he wanted to share his bead with you like that... I'm sorry he isn't with you any longer, he looks as though he was quite the charmer, a real character! I know I still miss dear, beloved animal babies of mine who have passed away. I'll always love and remember them as I know you do yours, and I do cry over them sometimes, but I think it's good to try and remember them with smiles too (once the acute grief is past). They wouldn't want us to be sad forever, they loved us too much for that. Your Gabby is gorgeous, though, makes Bunsen look a little plain by comparison (hehe, don't tell her I said that!). Thanks for sharing your beautiful babies with us.

Our Marcus twitches his head occasionally like that, but I will say that (in my humble and relatively inexperienced/uneducated opinion) there seems something... um, a little bit off about your Grey. I can't quite put my finger on it. Marcus ruffles his feathers sometimes but they don't really look like that, it's like if you had a well-groomed dog and you had friends who had dogs and then you suddenly saw a dog that looked a little greasy or something, you'd know something wasn't quite right but perhaps you wouldn't know why. With birds, being 'off' isn't always an easy thing to just take care of, like washing this figurative dog could be. Parrots hide their illnesses and you want to make sure your baby is okay. Other than those concerns, though, I'm quite tickled to have 'met' your new boy! All the best to you both and hopefully anything that seemed worrisome in the video was just a result of him being so new in your home.

You're welcome. The so-called "pillow game" is what my husband devised so that he can interact with Marcus without me being around. Really, aside from the shock that happened a couple of nights ago when Marcus attempted to fly across the room and landed on his forearm (good boy!), Marcus will not let my husband pick him up. He can pet him and everything, but Marcus won't step-up at all for him. So the pillow game occurs essentially when my hubby grabs one of the smaller couch cushions/pillows and uses it like a stand for Marcus to step up on. He makes a big, happy deal over it all and carries Marcus around the house on the pillow like he's King Marcus. Then they sit together on the couch or something for head-scritches and music played off the computer and just general Daddy/Marcus time. It's nice. So, I guess it's only a game because they just have fun together, but it's practical for us in its own way and hopefully in time Marcus will start stepping-up for my hubby, too.

Gwen, Morana, you both are so sweet. I pulled out the camera and looked through the old videos and, yes, there is that one of the "tent game" that Marcus and I played that first night. I forget why I didn't upload it to begin with, maybe it just seemed a little bit silly at the time--we had to stop shooting almost as quickly as the camera had turned on! So it's not that big a deal or anything, but I am so happy that Roscoe has been able to blossom through your implementation of the tent game, Gwen. And Morana, maybe Zak will find it fun at some point too. I honestly haven't really tried playing it with Marcus again since this video was shot! Most nights, my husband's "pillow game" with Marcus has taken over... and that's a whole other story!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hKrLiIvLEI&list=UUXRCAK6gqHP6EN6YnzwK44Q&feature=plcp

All these replies, thank you for your lovely comments! Gwen: Yes, it's wonderful the progress you've been making with Roscoe, congratulations! I know that you must be so thrilled!! He sounds like his little butterfly-self is pushing out of his chrysalis with your encouragement and, even though that can be a struggle, in the end they're finally free and happy to be what they were meant to be. Wonderful! Cupid: Good to hear from you, even if it's not as often as you may like. Please give your babies scritches or air-kisses or something from me! Morana: A couple of months ago I posted a picture of Marcus on my shoulder while I had a blanket over my head. Actually, I think I have a video of that in the camera too (which I should probably upload at some point, haha!), the 'tent game' was just an impromptu fun thing that we made up together one night. Marcus seemed to enjoy it... Anyway, here's a link to the thread, and if I do find that I have a short video of that in my camera, I'll put that up soon too. I recall Marcus getting feisty at the end and me being afraid of getting nipped! http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?193952-Marcus-With-His-Parronts chezron: Yes, I was quite surprised when I heard him ask that. I guess he really wanted to know! Oftentimes Marcus just kind of mumbles when he talks to us, but that question was as clear as can be. katana600: I love hearing about Gilbert, too. My hubby wants me to offer Marcus a french fry (or at least show him one) whenever he starts up with that--but we hardly ever have them around, and I don't want to encourage him asking for one, anyway. I get the feeling he used to eat them a lot (sigh!). Anyway, Dee, I'm sure when Gilbert is ready he will broaden himself beyond his "cracker" too. I just hope Marcus eventually decides that getting squash for his effort is something worth repeating, so we can work on him with his own vocabulary a bit more.

^^ I think all of us who know of everything you went through with Murphy, Paul, are so happy to hear how things are working out with you and Missy and your family now. She sounds like a fighter, which again is probably what helped her get as far as she did while she was out on her own. I, too, think of Murphy at odd moments and I just pray that he's doing well somewhere. Sometimes things just happen in life, there's no particular reason for it but those twists and turns can bring happiness in the end nevertheless. I would very much like to check in here someday and read that you have finally discovered Murphy's whereabouts, and learn that he is well and contented with a caring family, too. In the meanwhile, I am just so glad that you and your family and Missy are sharing this new and exciting journey together. E-hugs to all of you.

Oh, that's very cute!

I think it's neat to read how your Greys all accept/want attention--in ways that I might lose a nose if I tried with Marcus! (Haha, just kidding!) But whenever I try to touch his toes, he gently but firmly grasps my fingers and moves them away. And he's not much for 'beak rubbing' either, unfortunately... that sounds so sweet! Thank you all for sharing your stories here, they're wonderful... Marcus will bow his head for a back-of-the-neck "tickle" when he's feeling affectionate with either my hubby or myself, and we can both kiss his beak. Very occasionally he will respond by pushing into my lips with his beak and make a big *kiss!* sound, which usually startles me (for a half-second I worry that he's lunging, it's so rare for him to try and 'kiss' me back), but it is adorable and heart-warming to contemplate his intent after the fact. Generally, though, if he's feeling loving I can get away with kind of laying my head against his head/neck while he's perching somewhere, and kind of rubbing my cheek all along his neck and upper wing. Sometimes he will try to sing to me (he hums, really) and then I'm expected to sing a song to him in return. That, to me, is our version of "special time" and I really treasure it.

^^ Yes, any change in the eggs yet?

Shelly, I'm so sorry to hear things have turned this way for you but I just hope everything works out for you and Austin somehow.