Doug

I love it! And wherever did he get that combination??

?? I'm not sure how to take your response. I was just trying to suggest something that worked for me in hopes that it might help "meadows".

My concern when doing this is that we are telling our birds, "Chewing on keyboards is not only okay but encouraged! Next time you see my work keyboard, just go to town on it!!" Of course, Ellie already thinks that it is fair game...

I've seen those before but never really thought about why you'd want one. I'll give that a try.

Thanks, Judy. The site to which you've referred actually gives the website of the guy that makes them. He sells them at a much lower price (but I don't know how the shipping compares). http://parrotenrichment.com/products.html I'll order one to see how it looks and make one myself. Maybe I'll make a few up for the club...

Try hanging a slice of fresh corn on the cob in his cage or play area. Maybe he will treat it like a toy and actually eat some...

I find with Ellie that WHERE she eats impacts WHAT she eats. She is more inclined to eat her veggies if I give them to her when she is on her window perch, rather than in the bowl in her cage. Try taking Herbie to the kitchen table, and make a game of the veggies and Herbie won't be able to resist... Fresh veggie devastation! by shyzaboy, on Flickr

Welcome to both of you! It sounds like things are moving at a good pace. Thank you for giving Skippy a new home. Skippy may get jealous when he sees Willy getting scratched. Jealousy is a powerful motivator!

I'll have to give that a try! Thanks, Judy!

Congratulations on taking on such a challenge as your first foray into the wonderful world of parrots! Do you have any information about your boy's history?

"Trouble trouble" meaning, "I'm getting ready to cause some trouble!" These little guys are so amazing. I don't understand people that don't "get" parrots...

Welcome to Paloma! She's lovely! How old is she?

Not I, but I don't have the depths of experience that people on here, like Dave or Jay, do...

I used to tease my parents about their horses - it seemed like if you just moved a bucket they'd freak out. Now I have the only creature on the earth that is more skittish than a horse. Sigh... Where did you get the pine foraging block? That looks pretty cool...

Good luck! This is such a weird situation. I wonder if one of the previous owner's sons was tormenting the bird during the day and the bird's favorite person was with it in the evening...

Maybe if you put him in his carrier and keep him in the office with you for an hour or so each day. Talk to him. If he feels safe in the carrier, he might relax and start to accept that you don't turn into a monster during daylight hours!

Jay, I'm a little confused by this. I thought that four months was pretty standard. (I got Ellie at 3.5 months.) Jeff said that the other two greys at the breeder (same age as Gracie) were more outgoing. I would assume that they went through the same life experiences (up to that point) as Gracie.

I boiled it briefly (not as long as I would for myself) since someone mentioned that it was possible to have some type of fungus. I cut it into disks first before I boiled it. Canned corn is a product of Satan. That stuff is distilled evil. I'd rather eat Spam... Just one man's opinion, of course...

I've also been looking for walnuts in the shell the past few weeks and haven't seen any yet. I guess I'll have to widen my search!

I'll do that before I give Ellie any more peanuts. If that isn't high enough, how high is enough? Also, I haven't seen unsalted pistachios in the shell. I'll have to seek them out. I'm sure she'd love them just as well!

Shoot. That said, I'd like to find a way to continue to give them to Ellie since she gets so much pleasure from them. If I roast the "roasted in the shell" peanuts myself, what temperature should I use and for how long? (Of course, I have to keep an eye on them so they don't burn.) It wouldn't be terribly difficult to do a whole bag's worth at once.

On a lighter note... Who says greys are messy? I think that's a myth... Who says parrots are messy? by shyzaboy, on Flickr Ellie's been very focused on her kabob this morning...

More fun with the corn on the cob! Corn on the cob by shyzaboy, on Flickr (One of the rare pictures of Ellie in her cage...)

I'm not saying that I like the idea of acrylic (or plexiglass) cages, but this is not a new idea. There are plenty of them out on the market. Including full enclosures with air openings only on the top. I think that, instead of being rude to KL31, we should help to make this the best parrot environment as it can be given the situation. I think that, by attacking KL31, you will just drive him/her off and he/she will do this anyway, but without any help from those that can improve the bird's situation. Do our birds get exercise from climbing on the walls and ceilings of the cages? Of course. Will KL31's bird have that? No. So, make suggestions to give his/her bird activities! 4' x 4' x 8' can hold a lot of perches and nets and toys and activities. Let's offer ideas that will keep KL31's bird active and entertained so the bird can be in the middle of the activity in the house. KL31 seems willing to clean daily, Luvparrots, but not PERMITTED to have the mess get on the carpet at all. Yes, Dave, these things should've been considered before getting the parrot. That is water under the bridge. You don't know if KL31 and his/her parrot are well bonded and loving. This may be a temporary thing until KL31 moves out from his/her parents' home. (Unfortunately, KL31 hasn't really given us any personal information or pictures of the parrot or himself/herself so we can get personally invested...) KL31 did say that he/she would be taking the grey out. It would be good to know what he/she means by that - other playstands and/or perches? Time on the couch?