JeffNOK

Great looking birds Tias. How do your fids get along with each other? Also, I'm curious how your relationship is with them. Definately post more in the Grey Lounge and the Other Birds room.

Best wishes on a long and happy relationship. Great photo. Keep those updates coming. I'm bringing my baby home in about 6 weeks, so I am eager to see how your first days and weeks go with your new fid. Welcome!

I'm feeling a lot better thanks to all of the encouragement here on the forum. I'm looking forward to sharing my progress with Gracie after she comes home. I'll be getting her while I am off from school, so we will have plenty of time to get to know each other in a quiet new environment.

Shanlung, whatever thread your new fid is in we will all be eagerly awaiting your updates. I hope you don't feel you are being pushed away from one thread to another. It's just how this forum works. Believe me, anything you have to offer will be eagerly read by any bird lover here. I always look for your posts, and am happy to read them in any thread--grey or otherwise. You offer so much and I can't wait to hear more. I love to read posts from the the Amazon room and the Other Bird room. "Other Birds" is certainly not a term describing anything "less than". These creatures are amazing and we learn so much from you.

Your photos are awesome. There is so much joy in them. I'm a total newbie with birds. I will be bringing my baby home in a few weeks. I only hope I can offer my fid the experiences and adventures you afford yours. Thanks for the post.

I considered many types of parrot before deciding on a grey. Sennies were right there in the running. Your little guy is adorable.

Jodi-odo--Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with Perry. I believe that Gracie will get comfortable and be just like you describe your fid. I'm already so enamored with Gracie that I know we will be OK. It's good to hear encouragement, though. I suppose I have wondered for a few seconds here and there whether she will be the right match for me, but for whatever reason I just love her to death already and I am not even tempted to tell my breeder I would rather have one of the other greys available (cuddly though they may be). Something just happened when I met my little grey fireball and there is no going back now. She is my baby.

As far as clipping, I'm going to avoid it if possible. But I don't judge anyone who chooses to do that. Sometimes it may be a benefit. I will cross that bridge after I get her home and see how things go. The truth is, that she is pretty good about stepping up and going where I need her to go. If that continues I don't believe I will need to clip her. I think she will be a handful. She is curious and has a big zest for life--which is great. I think that shows intelligence. I just have to remind myself that we have years and years and years to find our stride. I have a lot to learn, but Gracie and I will learn together. I plan on taking her with me most places I go. I am a teacher and I have permission to take her to class with me. I have a cage and playstand ready for set up in my classroom. I teach adults English as a second language in small classes with 8-12 students who I think will be respectful with Gracie. She is going to have a world of adventures and lots of sights and sounds in her future.

What I love about this forum so much is people like you who are taking this journey in baby steps and enjoying the ride. You have made great strides and the sky is the limit. You have a lucky fid and I know this is just the beginning. Best wishes.

Dan, yes Gracie comes to me to say "hi" voluntarily. I never have any issue with getting her to step up or come to me when I visit. She knows my voice and seems happy when I show up. But I agree, I think she realizes that when I take her out, this is her time to explore and play and test her wings. When she is in a relaxed mood she will stay in one spot, and I will talk with her and sing to her and she really seems to enjoy that. One day she sat on my hand for about 10 minutes just yawing and preening while I sang and whistled to her. When she has energy, though, she does tend to spend her out of cage time seeing what mischief she can get into. As far as how I reacted to that woman, I wanted to wring her neck, but I worried that a tense situation would upset Gracie more, so I just calmly told her to let Gracie go. I can't wait to get Gracie home and really start to build a relationship. I'm in it for the long haul and deep down I know we are gonna be a good match.

I just got back from visiting my baby at the breeders and I'm feeling a bit low. As I've mentioned, Gracie is pretty independent. She doesn't like to be handled a lot although she will step up and occassionally rests on my finger for a few minutes. Most of the time however, she likes to fly from perch to perch, play with other bird's toys, and play with some of the other babies that are there--particularly her cage mate. Well, when I went today there was a woman there getting to know two of the other babies who are available. These two other birds seem pretty docile and like cuddles, pets and scritches. The woman asked me if I handled Gracie much, and I told her that I wasn't pushing at this point because I wanted Gracie to make up her own mind about things. The woman looked at me and said, "Well, it's only gonna get worse, then." She then proceeded to grab Gracie, forced her to step up, pinned her toes to her finger so she couldn't fly away and began to rub and pet her. Gracie was not pleased. She protested, tried to fly away and even gave the woman a "pinch" on the finger. I asked the woman to let Gracie go. She finally let her fly off to a perch. Her comment before leaving was that Gracie was "a cranky one" The whole thing really upset me. I didn't like Gracie being treated that way. But also I just wanted some reassurance from the group that I'm doing the right things. This is early days. Gracie and I haven't bonded yet by any means. We are just getting familiar with each other. I've been going to see her daily for about 3 weeks, and we don't seem to be making much progress. I know I shouldn't expect much until she finally comes home, but part of me was stung by the woman's statement that "It's just gonna get worse", and "she's a cranky one". I just love my little girl and hope we have a rich life together. Should I be worried?

Brianlinkes-My girl is named Gracie.

Good Analogy to weight loss. Great to hear about the progress being made.

LOL--I think many of us here are considered "over the top" by some. I'm single, and I was talking to a friend of mine about how excited I was about getting my grey and all the cool things about parrots. He just laughed and said , "Jeff--you need a woman!". I don't expect everyone to understand.

Welcome to the gang! He's a cutie. I wish you the best in your budding friendship. Pics, stories, and questions are what keep this site alive. Nothing too trivial to post.

I remember when "Pong" was high tech. I'm 44. I'm not a spring chicken and not a prime timer. I'll refer to myself as a Prime Chicken.

Merlin, you definately want the best for you and your grey. If only all prospective parronts were as concerned as you are. My breeder is wonderful as well. She is a vet and allows me to visit my baby as often as I want, spends any available time answering questions, and shares her experience as a lover of greys. There are certainly puppymill equivalents with grey breeders, but thankfully with time and patience we can find caring competent breeders whose motive is not merely money. All concerned parronts have their individual non-negotiables and prefernces when it comes to choosing a breeder. Some lists are longer than others, but the bottom line is that you need to feel comfortable with the breeder you select and the bird you decide to welcome into your family. The work you do now will pay off with a lifetime friend.

I think something was in the air this summer because so many of us seem to be getting girls. My breeder got all girls this year. I didn't really care which gender I got, but I think all things being equal, I am glad I have a girl.

People bring their greys home at various times and breeders and potential parronts have different views about this. I feel most comfortable with the idea that my grey will be fully abundance weaned before it comes home. My breeder is of the view that 4 to 5 months of handfeeding (gradually reduced in frequency) gives the grey time to fully wean. My grey is 12 weeks old and still happily accepts 2 handfeeds a day in addition to pellets and fresh veggies. In time she will resist this and prefer to only eat food on her own. I may be taking my grey home a little later than most, but as a new bird owner I want to allow the breeder to do all the formula feeding before I take her home. It sounds like you are basically doing the same thing that my breeder is doing, but feel confident to do it yourself. Your baby is getting great attention and I'm a bit jealous you are getting to enjoy her at home through the weaning process. I just didn't feel quite ready to take on that responsibility.

It might asking a bit much for the breeder to socialize the bird with children or dogs or be trained to accept an aviator harness. If they are willing to do that, God bless them, but I wouldn't expect my breeder to do that. As far as the 15 weeks--I found a breeder that wanted me to take a bird at 12 weeks and based on that I chose another breeder. I'll be getting my baby at about 18 weeks. You definately have your heart in a good place and want to ensure the optimum experience for you and your grey. I wish you the best.

Marcus seems like a very happy boy! Thanks for sharing.

LOL==I know what you mean. I just keep reminding myself--"This is early days". We and our fids have a lifelong journey ahead.

Was Isaac cuddly with you from the beginning or did it take time? I've been visiting my baby Gracie at the breeders almost daily and although she steps up and will let me handle her, she doesn't like to be stroked, and she definately doesn't cuddle. It's not that important to me really. I want her to be herself, but I do look at your avatar and think--awww i hope Gracie will do that with me.

My baby comes home just before Christmas as well, so I agree it is the best holiday gift! I originally planned to visit her a few times a week, but I go every day--sometimes twice (once on my lunch hour and once after I finish teaching. Im also trying to resisit the "worrywort" in me. I keep telling myself that love, respect, education, and an open mind will be my best tools. Worry can be the enemy of progress. I'm jealous that your baby lets you cuddle her. My Gracie is Miss Independent. I'm lucky that she lets me handle her for a few minutes before she is off to explore something or attack a toy. She is flighted now, so when she decides she has had enough of me--whoosh...off she goes!

I remember when Betty White was middle-aged and "Three's Company" was a 'dirty show'.