Maiosameru

She's already been released! I think about a week ago we started letting her stay outside during the day where she could watch the other birds playing and flying. First day she flew off and came back around dusk for lots of food. Next day, she didn't come back for food, although we hear her call pretty much every day when we let the dog outside. So she's doing great! We did find out that she is a female robin from a bird watcher, so she's doing great out on her own now!

I've got a grey that is very territorial of his cage and is starting to bite like crazy. We're expecting a baby in September and want to make sure that he isn't going to lash out at the baby if he tries to pull himself up on the cage..or at least find a way to make this guy a little more accepting of strangers. Is there any good way to do that? I'd love to be able to take him out and around, but I'm afraid of people scaring him and them getting bitten..

He's doing great! The little guy is quite the little pig. Although for some reason he cries like mad until I pick him up and let him lay down on my chest. He seems to sleep the best when he's able to touch me or I have my hand over him. I'm starting to get worried he might be getting too attached to me and that might affect his going back to the wild. Although my husband has already expressed a big interest in keeping him, which I've stomped out more or less. Does anyone have any experience in this? I would really like to let him go back to the wild after he's weaned and flying well...

"Come here pretty girl...." or..if he's wanting something right then.. "SAM!!"

My husband found a little bird that had fallen out of its nest this morning..unfortunately mom didn't come back for this little one..we waited as long as we felt was safe for the little guy..ants had already started to climb on him and he was pretty lethargic when I picked him up. So..teeny tiny bits of sugar water till he perked up and went off in search of birdie formula. Turns out we don't have any wildlife rescue centers that would take him, so I decided to hand raise him myself. Right now he seems to be doing great..really active and vocal, eating like a champ and best yet..pooping like a champ. So, here's my question. I've handfed other birds before when I was a teenager..other than a heating pad on low with a nest-like towel over it, and feedings every half hour..is there anything more I need to do for this little guy?

Heh I know Leo's going to be picking up some really interesting things with me craving so many different things. I think he was trying to whine at my husband today.."Ice cream?" And yeah, we are close-by ^^ I used to live up in that area but got really tired of traffic and crazy police..so we moved to a pretty nice area south of Atlanta. I know its so much warmer..enough so that it feels like summer already..great news for Leo and the dog..bad news for the a/c

I was able to get some baby toys that were hand-me-downs from my sister. He was playing like crazy with one of the rattle things earlier today..making all sorts of noise ^^ I take it that means it was a hit

heh the suns are the only ones I've ever heard of. I'm not too picky on how the bird looks..just want one thats well adjusted and friendly

I decided to feed him some egg noodles, carrots and green bell pepper (slightly cooked) with a tiny bit of yogurt mixed in. Crazy bugger ate all the noodles...LICKED the veggies of their yogurt and proceeded to toss the little plate in the floor :confused: Well...I tried!

Wow, never seen that in a conure..only experience I have with sun conures was at a free flight aviary as a teenager and I got bit when I tried to get one to step up. Didn't stop them from crawling all over me for food though. Also a sun conure would work in the cage we use for our grey...its a smaller one that we could actually fit into our car when we brought Leo home..since he's getting his uber cage this weekend. I'll definately look into them to see if they are even an option

hmm...never considered a conure...I don't really know much about them though. I'll see if I can find some info on them. Thanks ^^

Yeah, after reading that website..I don't think these guys would fit in very well at all with our family. Sad, but I don't want to get in over my head..I think I'll stick to loving on the one down at the groomers instead ^^

Thanks..will picking them out of the mix be good enough, or should I rinse the other veggies off after picking them out?

I was planning to wait until the child is old enough for school anyway..I can't imagine adding another needy critter to my family in the next few years even. Although I didn't think about not knowing the older birds background..wasn't so bad when I was single, but I would be pretty wary with a child of any age. From the sounds of it..chances are a cockatoo isn't a good choice for us for a long while. Thanks for the info..I had no clue they didn't give warning bites. Definately makes you rethink things lol

Okay, I went out to the store today and got Leo some veggies (frozen and a fresh bell pepper) and I plan on introducing him to some of the veggies in the mix (corn..potatos..umm celery carrots and pearl onions) sometime in the next few days. Can he eat these defrosted, or should they be cooked? Also, would it make any sense at all to toss some egg noodles in there since he seems to love them so much? I've not yet looked into the main diet food..waiting on some cash to get that ordered. Onions are okay for birds, right? I can't quite remember if its just dogs and cats..

Hi, I'm currently living in an apartment with a large dog and a CAG...and in September, a baby. When we do finally purchase our own house..my husband and I would like to get a cockatoo. We want a bird that is going to be super cuddly and hopefully bond with my husband and child (when he'she is OLDER of course). I personally don't know much about these birds..what they need in a cage or family situations. I have heard some are screamers..which honestly..in a house no one is going to care if the bird gets rowdy at sunrise and sunset. We want a breed that will *hopefully* bond with our CAG. We also would like to look into rescuing rather than getting a baby if possible...I've rehabilitated horses and dogs and cats..and now, a CAG. Its something I love and enjoy doing. What would be a good place to find a bird like this? Also, cage wise and equipment wise, how do they differ from greys? I want to be very well versed before I take on a challenge like this..so..where can I look or read up on them..also any good rescues? Thanks!

Our grey is very talkative..when he wants something he screams at the top of his lungs "Want some water!" Problem being..it takes me a glance at the bird and a quick assessment of the whole situation to know what he wants..I believe my husband called it Mommy Language one time. Now, here is where we have a little problem..I would love to get it to where my husband can understand Leo's wants..and him saying want some water every time he wants ANYTHING is very frustrating..since there are obviously going to be times where I can't play translator. I've been working with him on saying what he wants..for instance, he starts telling me he wants water..yet he's pulling his nails and I'm eating something tasty. I ask him "Do you mean..want some cheese?" And he'll do his typical yes squeak and nod his head, spread his wings a bit and generally give me the yes!! cues. I've been able to get him to say want some chicken..but once again..he uses it for everything. I know he's now practicing these new words, as I hear him quietly talking to himself about cheese and chicken and seeds..as well as attention. Here's my question..am I going about this the correct way? Or is there a better way to show him that not everything is water or chicken?

Okay, the grey I got from my parents is currently eating very cheap parrot food/seeds. I've already started supplementing his seeds with fresh food..generally what me and the husband eat he gets a taste of. I would really like to get him off this crap..as it has peanuts and sunflower seeds in it..plus..he doesn't seem to be very happy with it as a whole. What is a good diet for these guys? I want to switch him over very slowly as he's been on this stuff for a number of years. What would be a good start for veggies and fruits and such, and how often do I feed them to him? Also..pellets..or a different seed?

What I actually did to get my grey used to my husband when he moved in was to have my husband feed lots of treats and play with him (dancing and mimicing in cage) and when he was finally comfortable enough to step up onto my husbands arm we transferred him between my arm and his for about 15 minutes till he started relaxing, with me talking to him soothingly the entire time. Also when he is in need of food or water or needs to go to the groomer..I always put him in his carrier and have him associate me with bad situations. For instance he had gotten ahold of a food he shouldn't really have, and I was the one to take it away from him even though my husband had given it to him. Therefore the bird saw him as the good guy. I'm still working on it daily, as is my husband and its a slow process..but it does get better everyday. He got bit the other day pretty hard, but he didn't give up until the bird had done what he wanted and then left him alone to chill. As for the nails..I would suggest getting them done by a professional..they get it done quick and easy. Yes..the bird gets really stressed out for a few moments, but its better for his overall health. That and I've been toweling him gently for a few minutes till he calms down and releasing him to make it less stressful.

I don't have much money at all, and my grey didn't have but one toy when I took him from my parents. I know the poor guy has to be bored stiff with the one thats in his cage (he's probably had it over 5 years) I want to keep him entertained and help to make him a bit more cuddly and less jumpy around my husband and I..what would be a good cheap toy to use in play between me and the bird? What would really get him thinking, and challenge him?

Hiya, I just joined the boards. I'm the proud momma of an 8 year old Congo African Grey named Leonardo Di Pinchi (Leo) My parents adopted him when I was just a teenager, and now that mom and dad can no longer properly take care of the feather ball, he's now come to live with me and my husband! I'm finding out a lot of new things I had forgotten about taking care of a grey, or never learned to begin with and often have questions on how best to go about his training. Unfortunatly the bird was forced to stay in a cage every day for about 7 years and had become very snippy and all around angry. Once I convinced my mom I could take better care of him..the work began. First was the 2 and a half hour car ride home..which he didn't take to very well and got carsick several times. Now its getting him socialized! He's allowed out of his cage everyday from when I wake up till its his bedtime (9ish when he's being very loud..neighbors don't think its very funny when he screams at night). He's been at my apartment almost a month now and has fully integrated into the 'flock'. Even stepping up to my husband and playing games with him on a daily basis..all this from a bird who couldn't stand men..and only stood me so long as I didn't try to make him get out of his cage. He gets to eat whatever we do..my husband and I both make sure he gets a taste of everything that he can actually eat and even has his own 'plate' to make him feel like he's one of us. My parents were entirely unable to care for his beak nails and feathers..and I finally plucked up the courage to clip his wings myself so he would stop flying into walls, and the day after took him to get a pedicure (his ankles were starting to look inflamed from not trimming his nails for YEARS.) Now he is doing beautifully, and this weekend we're upgrading his cage to one thats about 3 times larger, and putting him a play pen out on our porch so he can sit outside. All in all, I think he's doing great and is well on his way to being a mentally balanced birdie. Since we're expecting in September, he's going to have a new little baby to imitate and love. Well..thats my story in a nutshell!