Gwen

This is getting to be a really fun thread !!! It IS SO INTERESTING that our fids prefer only certain types of touching !!! Roscoe really enjoys a good toe massage when he's hanging on the bars too. He will do a little shuffle & place other opposite foot down to make sure I get both feet. On the floor cuddling I'm very careful to only touch his neck, beak, head and feet. He is prone to want to regurgitate at times & try to climb on my shoulder. Then it's all over & he drops wings & starts crying. I have a heck of a time getting him down!! When I put my hand to my shoulder & stay, "Step up" he just grabs tight w/ one foot & starts up again. Sometimes I just get up, walk over to his cage, putting my shoulder on it and say "get on your cage". I tell him "thank you" & walk away. When he comes down again, he's ok. There's a fine line bewteen him trying to regurgitate and the beak rub calms him down!! He's almost mesmerized. I guess he's still a little mixed up being able to show me me loves me and wanting me to be his mate. Nancy: Yes, my bonding time and TV get scrutinized by my husband alot !! He doesn't mind me missing a program but if we rent a movie he asks, "did you see that?", "are you watching?", "do want me to back this up, so you can just see what happened?" OOPS!!!

So happy to hear from you Paul!!! Thanks for the update on Missy. She sounds a bit like a strong-willed little girl with an attitude.... LOL Also, that she's a little cage aggressive. I'm sure it's a wonderful & blissfully happy journey your on with her !!!! How are your wife and Ella Rose getting on with her?? Please keep updating on her and let us know how everyone is... I always carry a prayer in my heart for your Murphy and know that I hope he's doing well

So excited for you!!! I've never had baby greys but our cockatiels had babies and the day they hatched, we could hear them peeping thru the shell!!

How very exciting to hear from you again, Karen!!! I've been thinking about you and miss seeing your posts... If you look around GF, you'll be able to read of the great strides I've made recently with Roscoe !!! I can still never thank you enough for showing me you & Marcus playing the tent game!! Hope you, Ross, and your crew are all doing well !!!

Yes, thenabird, Roscoe is like Kallie, very cautious & reaches out slowly to "test" with his beak. Poor little guy, everything is done very slowly. He's never had the chance to just explore freely. With my husband around (in the same room) he keeps his territory to about 6 feet away from his cage, ready to hurry back to safety. When I'm alone w/ him, he's like a curious baby... leave about a few feet away, reach out, touch something & run back to me. A few minutes later, get brave again, wander in another direction, look around and then right back. It's so cool to lay on the floor with him & just watch him.

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/z348/GwenClaeys/ Here's a vid of Bozo w/ his bead!!!

I had a little male cockatiel that did the same thing!!!! He had a real fetish with my mouth.... I couldn't chew gum around him; it would drive him crazy. When I held him up and kissed his little beak, he gave me a kiss back, and when I said "Thank you, good boy"... The boy on my lips, he would shove his beak in my mouth!!! He had a little yellow plastic bead he carried everywhere with him. He was extremely protective of it, but trusted me enough to walk over on the floor & put it in my mouth!! I offered it back; he would gently take it and off he'd toddle... so sweet!!!

Thanks to all of you !!!! Just in the last few wks. Roscoe has allowed me to start with petting the top of his head. Becoming a nightly occurance, I would softly say, "AWW" -- I was so thrilled my hand was shaking. I totally let my guard down & in just a few days he was holding onto my shirt and leaning the top of his head up against me. I had let the thought of a bite disappear and I firmly believe he sensed that too. He wanted more !! He has never had human touch in his 12 years !!! What a blissful way to return the love and trust I've been working towards for two years. Consequently, I have massaged his neck and now the beak thing.... I was curious as to whether this was truely a grey thing or what it was. It's amazing how baby steps have led us to this "NEW" thing. He's still a tad skiddish as once in a while he pulls away; his head still lowered but turns it sideways and lokks up at me. Then boom... like a cute little snowplow, puts his head down & runs back into my chest for more. We both, I think, look forward to our 2 hour session every night now!!!

OH YEAH!!!!! With just hubby & I around 24/7 I hear about once a week.... You cook more for the bird than me. Wish I got as many massages as he does. You pay more attention to him than me. AHEM............... I'm soooooooooooooo guilty!!

AWWWW!!! So sweet and innocent.. Welcome! You will find a wealth of knowledge here..

Just curious about a couple of things... I've just reacently been able to pet & give neck scritches. I've noticed when he's ready for me to pet the top of his head, he likes to be holding either my shirt or the pillowcase in his mouth (like a security blanket). When he's ready for neck scritches and massage. he immediately begins to preen himself. Has anyone else noticed anything like that??? Also, my question is: How sensitive is their beak?? Roscoe really enjoys petting around the side of his head and last night I started rubbing his beak bwt. my thumb & forefinger. He will just stand very still, close his eyes & purely enjoy....

Yes, Paul..... Shanlung is correct. A little piece of my heart is out there somewhere with Murphy

Shanlung: Somehow you bounce in & out of this forum & I pray I haven't missed you this time. I want you to know how much I've missed your posts & I'm hoping from time to time you will grace our presence with your wisdom.

ABSOLUTELY !!!!! Thank you Shanlung & Janet for passing on valuable knowledge for ALL bird owners. I have never clipped and wouldn't want to take away one of the only defenses an innocent bird has. I do understand it is personal preference but please be educated enough to make this type of decision on behalf of your bird......

All greys have their own way of expressions. Neck ruffling (or whole body ) along with the growling you can be pretty sure the pinning is a way of saying Back Off! However, mine pins when he is eating pasta or sweet potatoes as his way of saying, I'm in heaven!! There have been times while giving neck scritches w/ his head bowed down, he also pins. It definately is a gesture they do at will & I think it's a really cool thing......

When I look at two faces, I see a complex soul that has been able to open his heart a little at a time. Since a month ago when I overcame the fear of the beak Roscoe will "mouth" my fingers intermittently while allowing me to not only pet his head (which he soaks up w/ his eyes closed) but also now is getting into deep neck massages in his thick neck feathers down to his skin. It was as though he waited & has dropped his guard along w/ his devil personality so I could be with him in his world. This beautiful wild creature is truely amazing!!

Congrats on your baby boy !!! I love the name Grimm and most of all that cute little red butt !!

congrats on your new little one!!! Yes, it does appear that he is very interested in you & what your doing... It's a getting acquainted time. Have you opened the door to see if he will come out?? Maybe have some millet ready next to you since you say he alraedy likes it. What does he do for responding to you talking or singing to him?? Can't wait to see more pics & have you post updates.

Hey Janet... Can you can some of Louie's energy for us old folks???

So cute !!! Gilbert, the little comedian....

I'm so very happy for you, Janet!!! I watched in your videos where you offer the back of your hand to Louie on his boing & have to tell him "no bite". It's wonderful that he's flying to be with you... Baby steps, it sounds like you & Louie have connected!! He looks curious in your picture too. It's taken me almost 2 yrs. for Roscoe to let me pet his head & give neck scritches without a sucker bite. Maybe by the 2 year mark Louie will allow you too. I very much agree it's a loooooooooooong journey but slowly IT IS coming true... Congratulations again on your progress!!!

Welcome Jillann.. My heart aches for your poor Molly. I can't even imagine what she's been thru. I try to focus on the future & start new. I acquired (rescued) a neglected grey after learning of his situation. It was worse than I thought!!! I couldn't wait to get him out of there. He had no food or water or toys. There was a rock hanging on a chain & his perch. He clung to the upper back corners for 24 hrs. after I got him home. If I went within 5 feet of his cage he would thrash about & scream nonstop. He clung on shaking for 2 days. For the next week he tried to bite me thru the water & food doors. (something he was experienced at -- I could tell) Sitting, talking, singing softly in a chair outside the open cage door, one evening he came out & sat on the top of the door!!! Gradually, I started reaching into his cage to clean & talking to him. Now..... This is finally where I get to tell you what I wanted for Molly. I put a bendy comfy perch up high & to the back. I then proceeded to hang "a wall" of toys in the front of his new perch rope. In less than a day he was up hiding behind his toys!!! He was like a cat in the tall grass... He felt secure, hidden, up high !!! It was so darn cute to sit on the couch across the room & see one little eyeball peeking thru !! Over the next few months he learned to play with toys & still goes up to his secret hideaway to nap & at bedtime. It has worked so well that I made a hidey place for my cockatiel, & she loves it too. I'm wondering if Molly would also benefit????? Let me know....

Hi, DawL !!! What a perfectly adorable baby... Welcome and looking forward to sharing..

Just found your thread, Janet!!! My Oh My... Your little Bam Bam sure gets himself into some strange situations!!! It IS a good thing he has had you around to rescue him. I checked all the toys & attachments to be sure everthing was OK. I hope you motivated all of us to do that!!! Sorry you had to go thru all that but very glad both of you are ok

Yup... they are little ones from a spare cockatiel cage. He likes two of them at a time to clang together or stack them inside each other. He also flips it on top of his head like a helmut and jabbers away!! Still doesn't compare with "Isaac, the wild man" !!!!! )