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Maybe he had a nightmare in which you figured prominently as the villain. He doesn't understand the concept of dreaming, so he thinks you actually did whatever it was he dreamed you did. (I'm totally pulling this out of nowhere, by the way. I don't even know if birds dream.) (And as for the lack of response to your original question - all I can say is I read it, pondered it a bit, knew I didn't have enough insight or experience to help you, and hoped someone else might have some useful suggestions. Which is probably what most of us did.)

Wonderful! I'm happy for you! Who would have thought he'd have so many secret words and phrases and sounds under his belt? I'm looking forward to Simon starting to talk. (I have noticed that when I go upstairs and leave the music on, all the birds practice new sounds, but I can't really make it out because the music's on.)

Aww, poor Tumba. At least you know there's a reason he stopped talking, and you can stop wondering. Thank you for coming back and telling us...I've wondered a number of times if he ever started talking again or if you ever found how why he stopped. I hope his cancer - if that's what it turns out to be - can be treated. Or, if not, that he can be made comfortable so you can spend some more time together before he has to go.

Oh no! I'm just back after a few days away and hearing for the first time about Murphy's escape. Poor Murphy! Poor you! It's my worst fear that one of my birds will get loose one day. My heart goes out to you. (And my hat goes off to you - it sounds like you're doing everything possible to help him get home.) Have you seen him at all today?

I love the name!

And that's just my two cents worth, by the way. I didn't mean to sound like I was telling you what to do.

I think Popsicle's right. A parrot does require a fair amount of time and stability in your life, not to mention enough money. You're young, and your options are probably wide open for the next ten years or so. School, college, travel, career, relationships. I'm envious! Having all those options is fabulous. But it's probably not conducive to committing to an African Grey. Even though I'm sure you would love him and do your best, there will be wonderful opportunities ahead for you that won't work for a parrot, and you'll be left with no choice but to break his heart. But...once your life has settled into a more predictable (and less exciting) routine, that would be the time to find your Grey. And you'll still be fairly young, so you can settle down and spend the rest of your lives together.

He sounds like such a sweetheart, despite the bites.

I agree. I also think she might be more willing to come out of her cage if she knows she can go back in when she wants. When you take her into another room, without her cage, she doesn't feel safe. So if you move her and her cage into the living room, where she can get to observe the family more, and where she can retreat to her nice safe cage whenever she wants, I think you'll find she adapts better.

xx, good for you for doing your research first and asking yourself if this is something you can do properly at this point in your life. You sound like someone who will be an excellent parrot person when you're ready. Unfortunately, readiness involves some factors that are beyond your control right now - like the issue with the non-stick cookware. You might have to put it off until you have your own place. If so, you can put this time to good use by preparing for your Grey. Keep reading and learning, start a savings fund for him, find an avian vet, make or buy some toys, decide on a cage, research local breeders (or decide if you're going to rescue/rehome a bird) etc. Good luck to you! I hope you don't have to wait too long.

Was it thick and gooey? My Amazon regurgitates thick, clear, gooey stuff. She taps her beak a few times first, usually on her perch or door, and then she spits this stuff out in fairly large quantities.

I've only handfed baby lovebirds. I fed them four times a day, and they were hungriest at the first and third feedings of the day (equivalent of breakfast and dinner). They hardly ate anything at the last feeding, so it was the first to be eliminated. Keep up the good work!

What a sweetie!

Oh great, now she's going to worry the snake was attracted to the rodents she didn't know she had! lol.

I love all animals, but snakes creep me out. I wouldn't hurt one, but I'd have to get someone else to catch it and move it outside. Poor Morgan! Poor you!

I'm happy to hear he's still alive and well!

Oboe and Simon like to sit on me and chew on interesting bits of my clothing. Buttons, snaps, stuff like that. Yesterday my belt fell apart, and I'm pretty sure they had something to do with it.

I have three (a lovie, a Grey and an Amazon) and I think that's all I can handle - space-wise, time-wise, and financially. But I have this crazy urge for a male ekkie, and I'm a sucker for a sad story. So I can't say for sure I'll never get another.

Simon's a 6-month old CAG. 1. Does he/she get on well with more than one member in the family? 2 2. Is he/she receptive to strangers? No, but prefers female strangers. 2 3. Is he/she receptive to chance / new things? Usually 3 4. Is he/she cuddly? 3 5. Is he/she aggressive? 2 6. Is he/she playful / energetic? 3 7. Is he/she moody / grumpy? 1 8. Does he/she speak? Not yet (speaks lovebird, plus he can bark and whistle) 9. Is he/she loud, noisy? 1 10. Does he/she damage household objects they shouldn't? Of course!

I wish you and your baby much luck. I have to admit I'm scared for him though. Is there any way you can find someone there who has experience hand-feeding baby Greys?

It looks like his eyes haven't opened yet. Is that right?

Beautiful birds! Super nice cages too. Don't you worry that they'll fly away?

My guys are free for several hours each day, but I supervise them. Even though I remove Kazoo from the bookcases promptly each time she goes up there, she has still managed to chew some big holes in them. It doesn't take her long! Same thing with the cords. They chew the computer cords while I'm using the laptop on my lap. I don't let them do it, of course, but all it takes Simon is one good chomp, and within seconds, that's the end of the cord! (I'm letting Kazoo destroy the blue box because it only cost $2 and it's been keeping her busy for days.)

Katana, that's amazing about java and the cockatiel. Wow. Personally, in response to the original question, I think they do miss their previous flock. It's all they know - it was their whole world. But I also think they adapt very quickly (as babies) to their new flock. They just transfer their dependency and attachment to their new person and get on with the business of learning and growing.

I just had my windows professionally cleaned, inside and out, yesterday. I was concerned about the potential for toxic fumes, so the window washer gave me a packet of the stuff he uses so I could research it first. It's called the Unger Pill. You dissolve the pill in water. It's odorless, fumeless, green and non-toxic. Based on my research (material handling data sheets and several other sources) I believe it is safe for birds. (I was convinced enough that I gave him the go-ahead. But just to be on the safe side, I took the birds outside while he was working inside, and brought them back in immediately after.)