JeffNOK

i'd just want to be sure it is safe and secure and my parrot couldn't get loose from it. She will not tolerate a harness, so if this was safe and effective I would consider it. I would need to be very sure though.

I would suggest subscribing to photobucket.com Then you can uplload videos and pictures there and then post the link here. That works for me.

You are certainly not alone. I have been on this forum about one year and a half and I have read your story time and time again. It is very very common and normal. Judygram gave you good advice. Tango may not always favor your bf, but he might always favor him. I don't have this problem because I am single and live alone--Gracie is stuck with me as her favorite whether she likes it or not!

Looking Good Birthday Girl!

One small step for Timber ...one giant leap in your relationship!

Nice to see another Okie here. I'm up in Tulsa.

My CAG did the same thiing the first week I had her. She was a bit standoffish for a while--but she loves me to death now. It will take much more than that to damage your relationship in a serious way. Relax and be patient. All will be back to normal soon. I have heard that if a grey hurts itself it is wise for us to go to them slowly and not run over because they can associate it with a predator chasing them when they are vulnerable. Whenever Gracie has a crash landing I just walk slolwy to wiithin 3 to 5 feet of her and let her waddle over to me for help.

I have heard good things about Old World Aviaries which is near you. I spoke to the breeder there before I fouind a breeder closer to me in Oklahoma.

Great photo. I'm excited for you. Just enjoy the moment and journey ahead. Let your baby lead the way. Let him/ her get used to things. Talk and be close but let your baby settle in. Try to take that pesky word "perfect" out of your mind if you can. It isn't attainable. Just do your best with as much love as you can muster. That will serve you welll.

Good looking playstand. Glad you had fun at the fair.

Make sure you get a "Friends and Family" Plan.

I think you'd be happy with either sub species. I have a CAG, but from what I have seen and read about TAGs, they are great birds as well and basically the same in personality.

Ray, you make a good point about the tough times being liimited to a few years. This is where commitment and unconditional love come in. Two or three years out of sixty may seem like a short time, but when you are going through it, it might seem like a lifetime. If I ever get an Amazon I would have to remind mysef that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that with proper interaction those times would be less difficult. Too many Amazons are given up because people either don't know that things will get better or they don't have the tools ro deal with hormonal times when they occur.

Training can be a great way to interact with your baby. The key now, however, is bonding and building a relationship. It sounds like your bird adores you. That's a wonderful start. I would recommend getting some training videos or books by Barbara Heidenreich. She is a well respected bird behaviorist and uses positive reinforcement training methods. I'm getting ready to invest in some of her materials myself. My CAG is one year old now and we haven't done much formal training. I've just been bonding with her. She is a more shy and sensitive grey, and I didn't want to rush her at the beginning. Now we are at a place where training will be fun for both of us. Good luck and welcome to the greyforums family.

sounds like a good plan. good luck

My CAG Gracie is generally pretty quiet, but on occassion when she has energy to burn, she takes to flight and buzzes the room with that Pterodactyl screech/roar. It scares the bejeezus out of me. I can't say it is even a remotely pleasant sound, but I know when she does it she is having fun. I just hope I won't need a pacemaker as a result!

I'm looking forward to reading more. I only have a Grey. I've always been partial to Amazons, but since I live in a condo I worry about noise. I also admit that those "hot three" males seem challenging. My personality can deal with the cautious grey nature, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would be with hormonal aggression. If I were in a position to get an Amazon, I would lean toward an Orange Wing or Lilac Crowned female. Who knows, in years to come I may end up with a Double Yellow Head male if circumstances were right. One never knows in the world of parrots. I hope we get lots of posts from the Zon gang.

So glad to hear your story. Virgil is a lucky girl. It's clear you want to provide a good home for her. This forum is a wonderful resource. Just read read read read--and ask questions. You will do fine. Life with a grey is a unique and rewarding experience. Welcome to the family.

I can't belive I just stumbled on to your pics Nancy. What a beautiful little flock. Thanks for sharing.

My CAG Gracie is small. She weighs just 395g. But--she was only 345 when I brought her home in December, so she has gained a bit.

Glad to hear the good report.

Great pix==classic. I'm sure your TAG is a sweetheart. Grorgeous kitties too!

Very sad to hear this. Bless you and know you gave much love and were loved greatly in return.

I love my CAG's whistles. I look forward to more human language soon, but we have a great time whistling together and making all sorts of other noises.

I would have to say that you should take things very slowly. You mention that your bird tries to bite you when you try to pet her. I would suggest you don't try to pet her right now. Petting isn't something all greys enjoy. When she tries to bite she is saying, "Please don't pet me. I don't want that." My grey and I have a great relationship, but she doesn't like being petted. I touch her beak with my nose and she will step up and sit on my hand or shoulder, but if I try to pet her she resists and avoids it (she doesn't bite). You have had her for a very very short time. It takes months to bond. Focus on interacting with her in her comfort zone. I see slow but steady progress with my one year old CAG all the time, but when I rushed things at the beginning it set us back. My CAG did occassionally nip/bite when I first brought her home, but when I got to know her body language and she came to trust me, I discovered that biting disappeared. The worst thing Gracie my CAG will do if she doesn't want to be handled is use her beak to push away my finger. If it isn't a big deal, I just respect that. If I really need to handle her for some reason, then I just persist and say "step up" despite her objection and she complies. Remember life with a grey is a long journey. Good luck and keep us posted. I know we are going to hear stories of your progress together.