kellync

Thank you, everyone!!

Thanks SO much for your replies! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem! It breaks my heart to see him hurt himself.

Here is a picture with me and Georgie

See if that works! Tried to make it smaller

Willow is a beautiful girl! Glad to hear she is feeling better!

Please let me know what the outcome is! My CAG, Georgie, is a year and a half years old. He has chewed and picked his primary feathers out on only one wing. You are the first person I have found with a similar problem.

Georgie is a one and a half year old CAG. I have had him since August of 2009. He has always been a little on the neurotic side. This past summer, he took to diving into the tile floor anytime he was spooked by a random noise, sight, etc. and ended up splitting her sternum. After stitches and lots of time with blankets, pillows on the floor, etc. his chest healed up. He still has the reaction to just dive if he is afraid, however. I have tried to learn to see it coming, to anticipate it, and often times I can, but sometimes... I can't! It's been frustrating and so hard to see him hurt himself. In the past couple of months, he pulled out every single flight feather from only his left wing. It doesn't make any sense. The vet says that anxiety medicine IS an option, but only once we have ruled everything out. I'm just really hesitant to medicate him. She said to try leaving him in his cage at all times when I am not specifically interacting with him (ex: Don't let him sit on the cage with his CAG sister while I change clothes, do laundry, wash dishes, etc.). What do you guys think? If I leave him in his cage, I feel like I am neglecting him. The doc says as long as he has everything he needs to entertain himself and food and water, it is OK. He eats constantly. He seems otherwise healthy. He is a very sweet boy.

Sorry the photo is so big!!

I'm new here, but I just wanted to share a little about my little guy. This is an excerpt from my blog, http://www.twobirdsandus.wordpress.com Being “owned” by an African Grey can be trying at times… especially when he tends to be on the neurotic side, threatening to pluck his feathers at a moment’s notice or crash dive into the tile floor at the tiniest fright. It can be overwhelming to try an understand how to make him feel safe. Bites can be frustrating. Loud screams can be piercing. But in all honesty, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Georgie is one and a half years old, and I have already grown attached to the less-than-a-pound bundle of soft feathers with a big attitude. I come home from work each day and look forward to hearing him screech with delight when he sees me drive up and walk to the door. When I decided to buy an African Grey, I wanted a bird that could communicate with me. Georgie is quiet. He talks, but not that often. What I have learned in the last year is that I do not care— at all. When I first bring him out of his cage in the morning I know he will greet me with the tiniest “beep!” and that says more than an hour of Kyah’s blabbermouthing (Kyah is our other, MUCH LOUDER, CAG). I know what he means based off of his noises, so when he talks to me, it’s really just an added bonus. His kiss noise as he rubs his warm beak against my lips are enough to make anyone fall in love. When he lifts his scaly little foot in the air for me to kiss, he sometimes reaches forward to get his beak in on the action, too. I laugh. He clucks. It’s love. His voice is so tiny and sincere and sweet. He is a perfectionist in everything that he does. What he doesn’t know is that he is already perfect.

Isaac is well on his way! My CAG, Georgie, is 1 1/2. He is a quieter Grey, but talks very well when he gets on a roll. Katana600 is exactly right: He practices when you aren't around. Some Grey's are more inhibited than others. Georgie likes to have his words perfected before throwing them on us. I have heard him in the early morning hours talking oh so softly in his covered cage, quietly repeating a word over and over. Then when I, bring him out, he acts as though he never said a thing! A month later, he might surprise me with the word- perfect and clear. My mom's CAG, Kyah on the other hand... Well let's just say we ALL know when she is going to have a word learned. For months, she lets everyone (even the neighbors) hear her attempts, no matter how awful, at her word or phrase. By the time she gets it, it's no surprise! They all have unique and charming personalities. You and Isaac are going to have so much fun growing on one another.