munch

Thank you! I assumed molting were all those fluffy feathers, I did not know about the flight and tail feathers as well. I was ready to freak out!

Last week I first found Took with 1 big grey feather in her mouth. Then I found two big grey beautiful feathers, about 2 longs, on the floor near her perch. Can someone please explain this? She doesn't seem to be plucking her feathers off near her legs or chest, she does groom extensively every night, she went through a molt...

So good, I'm going to copy and paste it so that I can email them! Thanks!

CAGs can be very picky- I'd make sure you budgeted for food. I wouldn't count on $40 for pellets- your bird might hate them and you'll have to try several brands and keep rotating. Same with fruit and vegetables- you will buy a lot, they will decide what they want to eat but you'll have to keep up the variety. And nuts. Cleaning suppiles! I know you already have pets, but CAGs have a lot of dander- need a good vaccum. Humidifer (cheap, $30)

FACT: The Hyacinth Macaw is the largest flying parrot, approx 3 feet long. It is a beautiful rich blue with yellow on its beak and around their eyes. They generally have a puppy like disposition. They are very costly, over 10K for a new baby FACT: The kakapo is a very rare and endangered parrot found in New Zealand- it is the HEAVIEST parrot and the only FLIGHTLESS parrot. They are large for a grounded parrot, approx 2 feet long. FACT or FICTION: The best escape plan when being chased by an alligator is to make frequent, sharp turns. (Thanks Ray for making me research the kakapo! I'd never know of it otherwise!)

It wasn't easy, they are just so cute! But, like judygram, wecdo not let the bird sit on us or with us (at the table) while we are eating. Took has tried flying to us while we were eating but we did not let her stay. We put her right back on her playstand/cage. She calls from there begging just like the dog sits and waits for anything to fall on the floor. But neither are allowed on the table or the plates. They will both get some treat in their bowl when we are done. (and yes, they both have food sitting in their bowls all the time)

Great idea! I'm going to try that tonight! Took's a shredder, like you said- most will end up on the floor but maybe something will get down. Thanks for the suggestion!

What kind of pellets does he eat? Took is also extremely picky and she always changes her mind about the food she will eat, everyday i have to double check she ate. She doesn't love it, but she will eventually eat her harrison's pellets (taht's my back-up since somedays she will not touch her vegetable bowl). anyway- she will only the pellets when they are soft so i add a little water and mash them up. Inside of the pellet mash, i add one or two finely diced veggies . Harrison's mash really well (and then they dry out again so you have some room to play around). Took hates sweet potato, but i can mash some into the harrisons and she will eat it. I still haven't been able to get her to eat anything green and leafy. She did munch on afinely diced broccoli stem a couple times but that fad didn;t last

We did experience everythng Dave spoke about- Took used to go for the ears, but we were firm that it was not allowed and she does not do that anymore. She tried to run across our back to "hide" when it was to get off, but again, time to get down was time to get down. Now she listens. The thing I need to do is always is take off my earrings because that was one we could not teach her was off limits. Shiny=Gotta Have It so no more shiny, attractive stuff. Of course Dave has been right about everything so we will probably have to repeat this training when she hits her adolescent years!

Good luck! I gave up on that. First we heard that a bird on your shoulder is battling for control and such so in the beginning we were adamant about not letting her on our shoulders. But then we got to know her and read other opinions that a bird wants to be on the highest perch, she wants to be with us as a member of the flock, plain and simple reasons that were more true to her behavior. So she sits on my shoulder my when I first come home from work and cuddles with me (9 months and still cuddling!), i clean up a little, she hangs on my shoulders, and then i prepare her dinner- she watches and then off my shoulder when the food is placed in her cage. She had her shoulder time and i'm not forcing her off either, it's a mutual decision and she doesn't feel slighted by my kicking her off. She gets her shoulder time and the rest of the evening she is content with talking to me form her playstand.

Preemptive strike. Well planned, Marcus.

I was just wondering how things are going and if you took your grey to the vet. If it cleared- yay! If not, please see a vet. Another thread spoke about red spots near the eye which turned out to be a virus. Better neurotic than sorry (my version of "better safe than sorry")

My first action would be to report this guy to authorities. Repeatedly if needed and to other institues if you local authority doesn't care and won't do anything then find someone who will. Federal authorties, animal activitist groups, there are people who care with power to do something about it , i would find them. If this is the 2nd bird you have to rescue from this guy, image how many other shady animal deals he is working that you are not aware of. If you really want to help the grey, stop this man from bringing in more. If you don;t feel comfortable doing it, tell anyone here, let us know who/where these offenses are happening and we will put a stop to it.

You don't know me, but I've been thinking about your flock/family. Glad you have a computer again so we can hear more! Love the conversation between Spock and Joey! I'll be thinking and chuckling about that all day long. Ahh, perfect thoughts for a Friday.

MarcusCAG-- That Marcus of yours is an amazing little guy! What practical application of words and insights into his understanding.

We bought an Air-O-Swiss humidifier, i forgot which model but it was the #1 rated model, and we bought b/c of the grand reviews and our Took deserved nothing less than the best! Morana, before you spend tons of money- we returned it for an old school basic humidifier. It claimed to work in a large area btwn 450-600 square feet. It didn't cover our tiny living room of 350. We set the it at 60% humidity, it never reached above 40% and we had it running 24 hours a day for a month. After that happened, I did read reviews that said that had happened to other people who live in cold states. Well that isn;t gong to help then! We needed it most during thr cold winters when the heat is on, in NY our summers are humid enough... Pros- extremely quiet and very low use of electricity. Cons- it doesn;t work in cold weather, if outdoor temp is 40 degrees or below (and we didn;t try it in warm weather so who knows if it could work then). If you do try the two in one, please let me know if it works. we need an air purifier. And truth is I did love the quietness of it as well as the lower electricity. I'm willing to try again. But it didn't work for us when we needed it most, with the dry indoor heat of winter months.

Hmm, ok, another question- What size is are your outdoor cages/mobile cages? Bigbird519- And not to be taken as offensive but looking to be convinced of a point and if I can engage you in a friendly debate- you can get the health benfits through proper indoor lighting (not as good as the real thing granted). As for indoors- born indoors and never seeing anything beyond ceiling and walls, I don't feel cruel about keeping her indoors- she doesn't know there's a sky. I would love to take Took outside this summer, I do think that she be mesmorized at the sounds and sights-- what if she likes the outdoors better? i would feel terrible for keeping her (even though logically she is captive born and raised and would never be able to live wild)

1- How did you bring your feathered friend outdoors for some sun? 2- Do you feel weird or "cruel" about it? I keep thinking that's its cruel to show a bird the beautiful wide sky and lovely tree bracnhes for perching with their fantastic wings and saying "no, you can't have that." Like dangling the carrot but never letting them get it...I "know" a lot of your personalities and you would never do something cruel to you precious, beloved birds- so, please, argue this point! Michelle

While I, too, didn't choose a grey or a parrot for training- I do admit that she was chosen because greys are supposed to be talkers. After joining here and reading that not all greys end up talking, shamefully i admit was a bit disappointed that perhaps Took is not going to be the talker we wanted. But we love her so much who cares! My dog doesn't talk and we don't hold it against him! Took is simply a fun, loving family member. She doesn't have to do tricks, her own personal quirks are entertaining enough (like talking herself to sleep every night in the loudest voice ever, attacking her bell, watching her look out the window, etc).

Reading this thread from the beginning, let me tell you- YOU know how to build anticipation!! I'm practically jumping out of my seat in excitement for you getting your litttle Isabella! "Getting a new grey, its girl, no its a boy, no wait! its a girl!" Even now, waiting until after the night feeding...Sooo close!

That's awesome!!! And let me also say that you must be a very special person to adopt a grey who was a plucker especially as your first grey! That is truly wonderful. Good luck with Rocky, keep posted!

Took does the same thing, she mews and I eat it up! Think its a good sound b/c we heard it a lot with cheek cuddling when we came back from a vacation. I also love when she nibbles on my fingers! I scratch, she nibbles, I scratch, she nibbles. Good luck with your baby!

Hello! Its been said that greys need stimulation or they get bored and that's when the trouble begins. Took is now 8 or 9 months old, she is more confident and more independent, still cuddley-- but not bored. Or at least she doesn;t seem to be. I haven't given her any new toys or changed things around; she seems happy. So, when does the boredom set in? What are some signs? ((i'm only aware of feather picking) Is she bored already and I just can';t tell? Should I be giving her new toys or stimulating activties already? Thanks!

@Judygram- Thanks! I also give half at a time, I cut straight through the shell since I heard about the calcium. Just wanted to make sure it wasn;t because of counter-health reasons!

Judygram- why don't you give the shells when feeding your grey a boiled egg? Thanks Michelle