JeffNOK

I agree with the idea of chopping the veggies into a fine mixture. Gracie seems to like bite sized pieces and I have found that I can slowly add stuff to the mix that she will end up trying and eventually liking. Oddly, she has never liked grapes.

My parents' dog Barkleah has totally changed his attitude towards birds as well. He used to chase them whenever they entered the yard. Now he just watches them calmly and does nothing. I guess familiarity with a bird "friend" (Gracie/CAG) does affect the dog's view of other birds.

Life with a grey is so challenging. Gracie and I have a good relationship, but these days it seems she is testing everything. She is not a cuddle bird. She is very strong willed and seems always to be testing me deliberately. Tonight at 9Pm she did her "nite nite" ritual. Every evening at 9 Pm she says "Gracie go nite nite. Sweet dreams, Step up. Back in cage." Her cage door is open. She can go in at out at her will, but she sits on top of the cage and beckons me. I go to her. I say, "Gracie want to step up? Back in cage? Nite nite?" And I offer my hand. She either walks away or nips at me and says"Ah Ah...no no." She obviously wants to go to bed, but it's like she calls me and then resists and nips. Sometimes when she looks at me I feel like she is saying "I dare you"--"Give me your hand. I will nip it. I will reject you." On the other hand, when she knows I am leaving for work she acts so helpless and sad. The minute I go to take a shower and get dressed she says, "Daddy go bye bye in car. Daddy go to work. I'll be back!!" She flies at me. She tries to land on my head and grips my hair to keep me home. If I leave the room, she calls and calls. But if I offer my hand, she nips. It seems she loves me and hates me. In some ways I envy you who have sweet cuddly greys. On the other hand, I honestly believe Gracie is exceptionally intelligent even by African Grey standards. She talks to me very directly with meaning. It is not coincidence or chance. She talks to me like any child would. Sometimes I don't like what she says. She manipulates, charms and even lies to me--with full understanding of what she is doing. She says, "Gracie no bite. Kiss kiss. Trust Gracie" then CHOMP. "Trust? How can she even use or understand that word? But she does use it--and I think she knows what she is saying even when it is a lie. A lie. My bird lies. What does that say about her mind? This is amazing stuff. I am not discouraged because we do love each other. But sometimes I feel she wants to battle me. Fight me--win some contest. I just love her and try to let her know that we are together for the long run. When I talk about Gracie to people who have not met her, they seem to doubt what I say. It is too complex for a mere animal--a mere bird brain. But I will swear with my entire being that I live with a creature who seems to possess cognitive abilities that rival any living being. My friends and family know her and have seen it and are utterly amazed. But at the end of the day, I don't want a battle of wills with Gracie. I don't want any more bites. I don't want her to say " Don't bite Daddy" and then get a chomp on my arm. I wish I knew how to reach her and let her know I am on her side and love her. I am so happy she is in my life,but it isn't easy and my feelings do get hurt.

Don't think bad of me, but I have made a conscious choice not to view craigslist or rescue sites regarding parrots. It can't rescue them. I just devote myself to giving my girl the best life possible. I am not capable of giving a good home to any other birds now. I just focus on the grey God has given me, and hope the best for the rest. The need is great, but we have to know our abilities and limitations.

I am going to admit something that I have not shared. I don't put Gracie in her cage when I leave for work. I live in a small one bedroom condo, and I leave Gracie out during the day while I'm gone. She has her cage and play stands and toys to occupy herself with. I have done this for the last year and she is always fine, happy, content and well behaved when I come home. I justify it by saying it is her safe bird room. The only time I put her in her cage is at night when she needs to sleep. I know I am breaking all the rules here, but my little condo isn't really much different than many people's bird rooms. I don't know what your home is like or how your birds behaves on her own, but for me and Gracie it has worked out.

It is so encouraging to know that peanut is an adult bird and yet he is trying new things. It is a statement to his desire to bond. He has the capability, so there is no limit to what he can do. Greys don't seem to have an age timetable to acquire language like some other species. This may just be the beginning.

Corvids are brilliant. I always get a bit defensive when scientists say that crows are the most intelligent birds. I always root for African Greys. I see my CAGs intelligence and wonder how any bird could be smarter. Gracie is amazing and I could go on and on about her smarts. But, the fact that a wild bird with an innate fear of humans could subject itself to human interaction that would be viewed as threatening in normal circumstances shows amazing intelligence. These birds are just wonderful. Since I started to share my life with Gracie, I view ALL bird differently. Before, I may have dismissed them. Now when I go outside, I watch them,. talk to them, and wish them the best. We probably have no idea how gifted even the most ordinary pigeon really is. Thank you for posting.

Have you tried dimming the lights like luvparrots has suggested? I don't know if you could draw the curtains/shades and make it darker and then try. Gracie is more compliant when I do this.

Gracie is still progressing steadily. She probably says close to 200 words now, but I recently stopped counting. It is interesting that she is recombining words in novel ways to narrate her life. Every day when Gracie finishes eating, she dumps her food bowl on the floor and says, "Gracie dumped food bowl. Gracie is a stinker." Well last week Gracie was hanging on one of her toys and chewing on it. Evidently she chewed off a string that was attached to the hook and the whole toy fell to the floor. Gracie looked at the toy and said "Gracie dumped toy." Another example is that my parents' Toy Fox Terrier had skin surgery. I showed Gracie Brakleah's stiches and said, "Barkleah has an ouchie". Well as I mentioned a few weeks ago, Gracie has been nippy with me lately as she enters her "Terrible Two's". Over the last few days Gracie has said several times, "Gracie no bite Daddy. Ouchie. I'm sorry." I have never said "Ouchie" when she bites. The one and only time I said it was with Barkleah's surgery, yet she made the connection.

Good for Peanut! How old is he? Have you had him quite a while? It's always fun when they talk to us. We bond in different ways, and language is one of them. I know what you mean about talking to friends outside the forum. Most of my close friends know Gracie my CAG pretty well and have seen first hand all of her antics. My co-workers are more dubious, but I subject them to "Gracie Stories" several times a week nonetheless. It is always good to post things here because we all do understand.

Nancy, I'm sure the stress hasn't been good for your immune system, so please take care of yourself. Still hoping for good news soon about Kiki. As for your friends and their "hawk" pronouncements...I might just start screening my calls. Friends like that aren't very helpful at a time like this.

Nancy, you and Kiki are in my thoughts today. Wishing you a speedy reunion.

I didn't take your comment as anti-Too. Each of us has a personality that seems to match more with certain parrot species, even though we may admire and enjoy knowing about others.

From about 8 to 11 months Gracie was a babbler. From 11-12 months about 10 words came. Than at 13 months the words just poured out and it hasn't stopped. Sounds like your fid is following the same path. I look forward to hearing more as it evolves.

I like Bama pies. Does that count?

I love cockatoos. They are so beautiful and full of personality. I am pretty sure I will never share my life with one, so I appreciate the posts and pics from people who know about them. To be honest, I think Gracie is my "dream bird" and we will go into our dotage together without any other fids. Even though I might toy with the idea of adding another bird, Gracie has sort of a Queen Bee personality and there is only room for one Queen at the palace. Remember what happened to Mary Queen of Scots when she crossed paths with Elizabeth I !

Good luck. Sorry to hear about the mites. This too shall pass.

I have found that consistently narrating our lives together in simple ways does the trick when it comes to learning new words. 80% of what Gracie says is related to our daily routines. I have taught her songs, animal sounds, and "fun phrases" as well. Mainly she picks it up based on my enthusiasm and tone of voice. I have tried to teach her a few phrases which she refuses to repeat no matter how many times she hears them. It seems word use among greys is very dependent on the individual. Gracie seems to prefer human language to parrotese. When she vocalizes, 90% of the time it is in English. The only sounds she makes in parrotese are the pterodactyl screech when playing with toys, a kind of squawk when she is nervous and outside her comfort zone, and some whistling here and there.

Thanks for the post and the pics. Cosmo is a nice looking chap. Happy hatchday Cosmo!

Sadly there are many teachers who do not have the calling or heart for the profession. I certainly had many like that. But, there were a few key teachers that made a huge difference in my life, and I try to model myself as a teacher after their example.

Nancy, you are doing all the right things. I will keep praying.

Definitely a beauty!

I find darkening the room helps a lot. I learned that from luvparrots and it has been a lifesaver.

I'm praying for you and Kiki. I'm so sorry Nancy. There have been several similar incidents on the forum lately that have ended well. I'm hoping to hear good news soon.

Any updates? How is your little conure doing?