Morana

mrmontana, you really made me laugh! :-) ..but sorry about your nose.. :-S ;-)

Wow, you have your birdie for twenty years!? The story is heartwarming. I am so glad that there are kind people, like yourself:-)

Hope your birdie will be fine in no time! :-) I am always afraid when I bring my Zak to the vet that he will fly away through slightly opened windows so I bug the staff till they close all the windows. And yes, I also worry about the dogs but nothing ever happened. Hearing about your vet, I think you can be assured nothing bad will happen to your pretty AB :-) She sounds like a really good vet! ----------------------- This has absolutely nothing with your bird but this sentence: " I have noticed recently that she's kinda fiddling with her right foot a lot. She kinda picks at her right foot with her beak. She's doing it really softly...almost like she's eating crumbs stuck to her foot but there's nothing there." reminded me about my cousin who had a stroke and has problem just with one side of his body. Is it the same for the birds? Would they even be able to survive a stroke?

Glad to hear Kito's doing better and hope he will completely recover soon!:-) I have to ask... What is "formula" that you give him with the syringe? What is it normally used for?

Guys help! yesterday I heated red palm oil and put some of it on pellets and it seems my Zak would rather starve to death than eat the pellets. I also tried introducing RPO with fresh cottage cheese, but no luck there either :-( Only thing I can think of is put just a tiny drop on some pellets and see if mistakenly eats them.. What do U think?

Wow, this was illuminating! I'll start tomorrow! :-D PS: aren't newspapers toxic because of the print? :-S

Hehehehe.. I know, but they don't eat only seeds either ;-)

I hope it will all be all right, and that I'll be able to train him properly :-) He is really smart and beautiful bird :-)

Now he has those things but that is recent-about a year and a half. We did invent some toys in the past (because the lack of them in the stores) but now I know some were hazardous (for example tubes from toilet paper..). Till 2 years ago I didn't even know that shreddable toys existed!! Imagine my surprise. We still invent some toys but I buy what ever I can find which I think he might be interested in. Don't let me even start about pellets! Other then my vet, I don't think anybody ever heard about pellets, as a type of food, here. All birds in Cro are on the seed diet.. And so on.. And training for the birds.. Non existent.. Behavior therapists, also not existent.. Bird lams-not existent.. Bird scales, also no chance.. :-((

I know there will always be soooooo much to learn about grey world but I was referring on my fault I haven't found (for example) this forum before. I know that because of my financial situation I couldn't and I still can't afford my precious birdie even some essential things (on a regular base) and I see in US many things (for birds) are so common as buying a loaf of bread. Here in Croatia we don't have 98% of the stuff that birds should/must have. The books and sites I found and read before I got him (now I see) just scratched the surface and in real life lacked to provide (soooo much of) essential information. Maybe, if I knew all the information I know now I wouldn't even have a bird because I couldn't provide all the care and stuff he deserves and needs. I am so sad that my Zak grew deprived of so much. He lacked basic quality of life :-(

And just a reminder... Greys are known to be reluctant towards bathing so don't lose hope. It took me a very looooong time with Zak and now my method works most of the time but sometimes he trebles like a leaf and then I back off. I can always try later when he might be in better mood for bathing. He won't hate you. Be patient and considerate. It is not necessary the bathing is the problem. You are also new to him. And don't take to personal that he is nippy and bites. it is his way to say he is not ready and that he doesn't like something. You'll both learn to comunicate better in time. Yust his body language will eventually teach you where is the line of his confort zone and when you don't push him too far (all at once) he won't bite or be nippy. He'll see and apreciate that you understand ;-)

Sorry it didn't work out :-((((((((( If it is ok with you, please share why it did not work PS: and I know it is an odd andmybe tactless request..but if you could sugest for the current owner to buy al least one toy for the bird..? Something little, maybe shredable? Sorry if I am sticking my nose where it doesn't belong

I agree with Birdhouse, some people are not cut out to unconditionaly adopt. It is of outmost importance to listen to your intuition and recognize it. It is a nobel thing to adopt but that shouldn't be the reason for it self. It would be a greater evil to rush into something like that and the concequence is a inocent bird out of another home. It could be devastating for the bird.

When I listen to music, or beter yet, I sing, my Zak shouts at me: "Be quiet!". So what elese am I suposed to do other then to shut up!? ;-) I think they learn meanings of some words/frases..

He is soaked to the skin every day?

Thank you :-) It is not yet great because I see I still have soooooo much to learn about grey world. We are getting there. Awsome picture of your grey :-)

What about bathing? Does he bathe regulaly?

Hello! :-) I am really happy you are considering to adopt such a pretty bird. I didn't pick my CAG, nor did I care are we going to conect on first note. If your, birdie to be, had been neglected it is normal for him to be reserved, even frightened but don't judge him too fast. Listen to your intuition. If you want a friend then it is a right thing to do. It shouldn't matter how he was handled before and how will he react when you see him for the first time. It is, IMO, something like adopting a child. Great responsibility, lot of (hard) work, lots of patience, maybe he will (even turn out to) be ill, but most of all, great love and joy. It is ok to be frigtened how it will turn out, but if your wish is to love and care about a bird there shouldn't be any reservations, expectations or solid boundaries on how he should behave firs time you see him. Even if he likes you for the first time, there is no guaranree. There could still rise some shock , mistrust in him (because of the past) and it could last for some time. Even long time, but it is you on whom everithyng dependes on from this point on. You must have courage, perseverence, gentle heart and love for both of you till he bloomes -and he will . You need to buy a proper cage, introduce him with toys, learn him how to play with them (my Zak pyuked when he saw toys for the firs time; he was terrified of them. Now he loves them!), time to play with him, proper nutrition, have in mind someone thrustworthy to take care for him when you need to go away (without him), great forum like this one, and above all else, LOVE. They are great friends, great surprise and great challange. Have faith:-) PS: if you were to adopt a child, you wouldn't consider taking him back. You need to be in this with all your heart, for the longrun, because greys are exactly like children:-) You'll get tenfold what you put in your relationship. Good luck! :-) Please, be sure to let us know what you decided:-)

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I just read what happened to your Jimmy and I can't stop crying :-( I had a parrot before Zak. My mother found him outside in the rain, lying on the street soaked to the bones and brought him home. He was my very best friend ever since. When he got sick I was devastated and imediately started to search help but we had a bad luck and the vet we found wrongly diagnosed Kikic and he died after long and painful struggle. It was too late for my friend and I couldn't bare to be in my house with that awfull silence. I wanted to work with birds, instead buying one, because I couldn't bare to be hurt so much again. Coincidentally, Zak came in to my life just few months Kikic past away and at first I felt guilty about loving him as though my love for him would erase memory of Kikic. I still can't think about Kikic without sadness in my heart but Zakica brought new life, laughter, love and comfort in my heart and life. However, you mentioned you are 70 now. Maybe it is a hars thing to say, especially in this moment, but I think it is very important thing to say it anywayt because I am thinking how would your potental new grey feel whne you would to be gone one day? I know many people can relate to that but I urge you to concider whome will you live your grey. A loved one deserve the best care,love and home posiible. From the things you have mentioned I can't think that would be you daughter. If you know sombody who would take him/her one day with all the love and care you and your housband provided maybe it is fair and just. Sorry if I offended you and your grief but if we feel this way when our fethered friends die, I can't help but wonder how do they feel when we are gone? The parrot I rescued called his previous owner every day for six months and didn't wan't any of us to touch him in that period. Eventually he recognized our love and made peace with his loss but I can tell you it was damn hard watching him so sad and torn. He was calling his owner, by the name, as if he hopped he would come for him one day.. :-((( Again, I am so very sorry for your loss.

That is so beautiful- what you said about your grey:-) Yes, he is perfect. I feel the same way about my naughty little thing ;-) Welcome

No, the no pooping regime is definitely not good for the bird! Try giving him lot of fruit (oranges, grapes,fresh figgs,..no pit). After this kind of meal my Zak poops like crazy. So maybe your bird won't be able to hold it anymore. Have you tried talking to the vet? Iam interested what other memers think about keeping the bird out of the cage all the time for a couple of weeks in hope he learns to poop throughout the whole day...?-since he won't be worried about pooping in the cage. I'm affraid your bird might have some serious concequences if he doesn't start to poop soon..

Tnx so much:-) That explains why my Zak didn't want to touch the stuff:-S

.. so I can drip it on pellets or other dry food.. Any other suggestions? Is it wrong to use it while it is so mushy/solid?

Table!?!! LoooooLAnd it is so sweet that he tries to get his poop off of you!.. Loool Not very hygienic, but sweet! Loool

I totally agree. Hell my bird does the same thing and sometimes hardly manages to go out of the cage because of how desperately he needs to poop but still, he will try to go outside and poop there. If it slips he is not happy but he wouldn't restrain himself any further. Another thing is, I think I read somewhere that their frequent pooping prolongs their life span. So, conclusion is, it is normal to restrain themselves from pooping to some extent (for any number of reasons). To hold it 4 to 6 hours is insane.