JeffNOK

Shara62: Greys have their own time for everything and I believe the bond can grow throughout a lifetime. I recently posted about my grey bonding more closely with me in recent weeks. She is 2 and half. I am happy things are progressing well.

Glad you have joined us Jojo. I look forward to learning more about you and your interest in greys.

Continued prayers for you and Zoey. My family's Labrador had the same issues when she was 7 yrs old. The doctors/vets did a great job and she was back to herself and happy and healthy a few weeks later. She lived another 6 years. I pray for the same outcome for you.

My CAG Gracie is two and a half years old and still evolving and changing. When I was on jury duty and away from home more and feeling some stress, Gracie began to fly to me and perch on me to comfort me. For many of you, that would seem normal and daily, but Gracie has never been tactile. She won't let me scritch her or touch her aside from step ups. But suddenly she wanted to be close--physically close. That is soooo huge for us. Tonight she kept flying in my direction hovering lower and lower. I sat up on the couch and invited her to "come see Daddy". She flew to me and landed on my head--she seems to only trust my head as a landing strip. I guess she can grab my hair for balance. Anyway--upon invitation--she flew to my head and then stepped up on my wrist. For the next 30 minutes she just sat with me. Sometimes she chewed the buttons on my shirt. Sometimes she preened the hair on my chest. She pooped on me twice and both times we went together to the kitchen to clean up. She never flew off. She just hung with me. During that time, she stretched and preened and almost fell asleep. But she didn't fly off. She wanted to be close--actually perched on me. That has never ever happened. I am over the moon. I could tell she was nervous at times--unfamiliar with being with me on the couch and seeing new sights. She actually saw TV for the first time. I could tell she was quite interested in the musical act preforming on Ellen (she can't see TV from where her cage and perches are located). It was so precious. I felt like we took a huge step in our relationship. I used to think that Gracie would forever be "hands off", but I am reconsidering that. She reached out and took her time, but I believe someday I will be able to cuddle her. It may be years, but I think that the sky is the limit. I am really happy.

loved the pic--upside down or not!

Welcome to the forum. I understand your apprehension as a first time Grey parront. What I believe is that the most important factor in the development of your new bird is how you forge the relationship. I don't know about Cockatoos, but in my experience with my grey--going slow, giving your bird choices, never pushing or forcing, providing a safe environment and patience really make the difference. There is a lot of discussion about grumpy aggressive greys, but that is not the norm I see here in this forum. All birds test us and do bite on occasion, but I believe that if a bond of mutual respect is established early on--none of those things need to get out of control. As long as a grey has plenty of personal attention, abundant toys and intellectual stimulation, and opportunities for new experience with different people, places, and things--they thrive. I don't think you need to discourage a gentle nibble--but if it gets too hard or painful--let him know. Communicate with him, and he will understand. They don't miss anything. Think of your bird as a new roommate and best friend who you can reason with. They get it. Enjoy the experience. You will make mistakes--we all do. But greys are very forgiving when they know they are loved, respected and safe. Also, don't hesitate to post a question and ask advice as you begin life with your grey. I owe so much to this forum, and both me and my CAG Gracie have benefitted from the support we got here. I got my grey with almost no parrot experience (I had a budgie as a child). I was almost dissuaded from getting a grey by information online saying greys were difficult and not advised for people new to parrots. I am so glad that I didn't heed that advice because life with Gracie has been so amazing and life enhancing. It's better than I ever imagined and always evolving. Keep us all posted on your journey and know we are all here for you both.

Kins... I can't imagine being on a child rape case. The case I was on was a very high profile case in Tulsa. A young couple was robbed and shot execution style for a couple of cell phones and the keys to a car. They were new to town and just falling in love. So senseless. We ended up giving two life without parole sentences, but many in the community were outraged it wasn't a death sentence. The internet blew up with locals criticizing the jury and saying we failed and were spineless. That was as hard as the trial itself. Nobody really understands what it is like to make decisions about life or death until you are in that situation. The saving grace was that the victims' families waited after the verdict to thank us. They said they didn't really want a death sentence because it would mean 15-20 years of appeals and the whole case being drug up again and again each time. This way they have closure and know the culprit will never be free and on the streets again. As you know, one of the hardest things about being a juror is that you can't talk to ANYONE about what you are going through. I couldn't even watch the news. God and Gracie were my confidants during those days.

Love Love Loved the video. It reminded me so much of Gracie my CAG at the start--she also loves to talk about carrots, corn and potatoes! When they fall it always freaks me out, but they always seem to climb back up unfazed--dignity in tact.

She looks really healthy and happy. Bless you both!

My CAG will talk all day long with me and others until the dreaded camera arrives--then she is mute. I have purchased a permanent webcam that I will set up and hopefully she will get used to. She is such a vocal girl with 300-400 word vocabulary and several songs that I hope to capture soon. She is 2 and a half now. It's funny how our fids get so camera shy. Thanks for sharing your video!

Last month I posted about my time on jury duty. It was a horrible capital murder case with weeks of disturbing testimony, images I can't forget, grieving family members, and weighty decisions. I was fortunate that I had a great support system to spend time with Gracie my CAG while I was away many evenings rather late. I tried to be cheerful and hide my feeling with Gracie, but she saw right through it all. Gracie is not very tactile with me, but for weeks during the trial and afterwards she would fly to me and land on me and just be close. She would sit on my arm and sing and coo and try in her way to make me feel better. She would always ask "What's the matter? Don't worry-be happy. Gracie loves Daddy." I'm starting to feel better and distance myself from the experience and Gracie is back to her old self. It just amazes me how discerning and empathetic our fids are. Have any of you experienced behavior changes in your greys when you are going through a hard time?

I can only speak of my relationship with my CAG Gracie, but I am supportive of this decision to at least reconsider hand rearing. My CAG stayed with her parents for 9 weeks before she was pulled. She was basically weaned by that time, but the breeder did handle her and feed her for a few more weeks. She was eating pellets and veggies right away but still accepted formula. Some research does indicate that such birds fare better long term. They may not be as cuddly initially, but they are less likely to pluck, have phobic behavior, or bond inappropriately with their owners as mates. Gracie is not cuddly--never has been--but we have a wonderful balanced loving relationship as friends. Because of her time being parent raised--she knows she is a bird and not a human. This sets us up in our relationship as equals. At first I worried that her extended time with her parents would make her less connected to me. For many months I was unsure that we would connect. But when things changed--they changed in a big way, and now I am thankful that she was at least mostly parent raised. The article below supports this premise. http://www.charlieandpeggy.com/thesis_greys.pdf

Thank you so much for posting this. Made me smile on a day when I really needed it.

On the plus side, Gracie is getting to spend time with friends and family who love her and whom she loves. I am sooo blessed that I have people willing to take time out of their day to give an hour or two to Gracie. Also, her "neediness" is expressed in affection (which she has never been very demonstrative about). She flies over to me and just rests on my arm for 15-20 min. She has never done that before. She sings and talks and has really come out of her shell. As far as "enjoying" the jury experience...that will be impossible in my situation, and frankly tonight I had to let out a lot of emotion before I walked into the house. As much as I want to leave everything in the courtroom, I don't think I can. As empathetic as our greys are, we just can't hide our emotions. I walked in the door and greeted Gracie with a big smile and Gracie said, "Don't worry. Be happy. Whatsa matter?" Then made a big kissing sound. I did not fool her.

Hello all. I was called up for Jury Duty last week. After a long selection process, I have been seated on a jury that may last 2-3 weeks. I usually am only gone from 8:30-2:30 most days with my teaching job, but now I will likely be away from Gracie from 8-6 most days. I have plans to have family and friends stop by the house in the afternoons to feed Gracie and keep her company for an hour or so. I hope my absence doesn't stress her out. In addition, the trial I am participating in is emotionally very difficult, and I hope that my mood doesn't affect Gracie too much. She has seemed needy over the past week.

I find that Gracie adds phrases in context. I have tried to teach Gracie to comment verbally on what she is doing and what I am doing at any given moment. I began by saying "Gracie whatcha doing?" and then describing her current activities. It started with location and then moved to activities in that location. Now When I say "Gracie Whatcha doing?' Gracie responds with location and action. For example. "Gracie on perch. Gracie like toys"(said when playing). Or "Gracie on cage. Gracie like veggies" (said when eating). She does the same with my activities. When I nap on the couch on weekend mornings, Gracie says, "Daddy on couch. Daddy sleepy. Daddy take nap...(snore sound)" She always says this in context when it is actually happening--not random words.

Definitely read lots of previous threads and ask as many questions as u can when the need arises. Welcome and let us know how things are going.

I know it must be frustrating for you. The advice given has been spot on, but it will likely take time. By the way, I thought I heard another bird in the background--do you have other fids?

That is quite a beautiful red tail on Isaac! Welcome! We are glad you are here, and I look forward to more about your CAG.

Gracie taps a mirror hung near her cage. She loves bells and plastic things too.

Inara is a charmer, and I love the way you interact with her. I'm gonna have to play more music for Gracie. She loves to learn songs from me, but I don't play a lot of music with her. Your choice of the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" brought back a lot of college memories (memories I probably shouldn't share!). Thanks for posting!

My deepest sympathy to you for this loss. I'm so so sorry.

Like all my female relatives and friends, Gracie refused to get on the scales when we visited the avian vet last month. Every time I tried to place her on the scale, she flew off. I guess it is a family tradition. As my mother always says, "a woman's weight is nobody's business but her own." I leave my bathroom door open for her to weigh herself privately on the digital scale. She always erases the memory afterward. Thankfully she looks robust and healthy for a small grey.

A quick update. On Sunday I went to church and put Lucy in a crate while I was away. I need to crate her while I am away. Well she didn't do well. When I got home there was a note from my neighbor that she had been barking non-stop and Gracie was cowering in the back of her cage. I realized Lucy would not work with Gracie and I. The good news is that I found a new home for her with a retired couple who are home all day and want a lap dog. The husband had been checking shelters this past week looking for a Jack Russell in particular, but couldn't find an older calm one. Well Lucy is now with them. As I left her there, Lucy was asleep on the recliner next to her new owner. Both looked happy as could be.

I will be a diligent supervisor! Gracie is like my feathered child and I will not under any circumstances endanger her. A Jack Russell was the last dog on my list as a possible companion in my home with a CAG. This dog shows no prey instinct at all--so far. But I will definitely be on the lookout for any hint of danger to Gracie. As I said, this is a trial adoption. Hopefully all will work out.