Richardsmommy

Several months after moving in our present home, we suddenly got black bugs in our flour, cereal, grits, bird food, etc. They got into everything. In our case they weren't moths...they were sawtooth grain beetles. You can read more about them here: http://www.pantrypest.com/sawtooth.htm I tried bay leaves, which worked temporarly (you have to put fresh whole bay leaves into the staple items). Then I realized that a month earlier I had tossed these square flat Combat things lying in the cabinets and under the sinks, etc that were placed before we moved in. I figured they were old and inert, but they actually last a long time. We went out and bought more, placing them everywhere we had food and seeds. It took a few days, but soon we were rid of any and all bugs and we haven't seen any since. The website I pointed out above doesn't even mention Combat products of any kind, but they definately worked for us and we've never had a problem with them or roaches since. It couldn't hurt to give it a try.

I almost took Richard to the vet because we woke up one morning to Richard coughing and sneezing. This wasn't an intermittent thing...he sounded like he was hit hard with the flu. Then my son came out of his room sneezing and coughing from allergies. I can't imagine the embarrassment and anger I'd feel if I had to pay half a week's salary just to hear the vet tell me, "Richard isn't sick. He's mimicking your son's coughing and sneezing. Pay the receptionist at the front please. NEXT!". It gives a new meaning to the term "pet peeves". But I wouldn't trade him for the world. There's never a dull moment in the life of a parrot owner.

Wow. I've experienced fatal accidents with a couple of parakeets and it made me wish I could turn the clock back 15 minutes. It also made me think, "If only 'this' and 'this' and 'this' didn't happen..." Please forgive your husband, as difficult as it would be. He didn't mean to do it, and his heart is probably aching for what your going through. If he could have foreseen the accident, he would have taken the bird out of harm's way before working on the shelves. I certainly don't need to tell you all this. I'm very sorry you all had to go through this...you, your husband and his owners. My heart is aching for you and I'm crying. Time will soothe the pain.

Since you asked "why?" and not "should I?" (no need to parrot the other responses), I would think the issue would be jealousy. Have you hugged your child or fed her in front of the bird?...Given her a lot of attention? Your bird may feel threatened by the child. The reason I say this is because my bird got along fine with my dog, but then he saw me scratching, hugging, feeding, loving Hickory. Soon after I did this, Richard bent down and bit Hickory on the head. Fortunately Hickory didn't feel it, but if he did, he'd scamper away (no one knows where I live, do they?) Richard had never behaved this way until he saw me giving Hickory lots of attention. Another possibility could be that your daughter may have scared him somehow when you had your back turned. My nephews scared my mother's CAG. It didn't take much, but now he lashes out at them. Again, another case of feeling threatened. Just a few possibilities.

I understand completely. I had to pay $10 extra for the pet store worker to pluck Richards. I couldn't bear the thought of him thinking I was purposely trying to hurt him (He would have no way of knowing I was trying to help him...and was I...really?) But, it was better than having his blood tested. Perhaps you can chesk with them to see if you can send loose feathers he lost? I'm glad I got Richard tested. According to the pics in the links posted, he has girlie eyes (I'll see if I can get a pic and post it) and as mentioned, he has a small head. He also has a gradual dark-to-light coloring on his belly, as opposed to my mother's bird, who has a consistant coloring all the way down. I was surprised to find out Richard was a boy. Now, if he lays an EGG, I'll begin to wonder if the DNA lab wasn't a bit mistaken, after all.

LOL! Go figure! It worked only after I got ticked and angrily typed it out with a "whatever...I don't care any more" mindset.

HeatherStrella wrote: Hey! I got that ball for Richard! It's supposed to be for cats (that's what the box said, anyway) but I've found a lot of cat toys are also suitable for parrots (s'long's you don't let them both play with it together). Check his poopoo outlet and see if there are red feathers around it. That seems to be a surefire way to tell that it's a boy. Apparently girl birds find color on male birds fascinating and erotic. The head size is NOT a good indicator (I've only read the first post, so if someone suggested the head size, it's purely coincidental and not personal). The reason I say this is because the pet store worker told me she was SURE a particular bird was male because of his massive head size, but was tested to be female. THEN in the next sentence, she told me, "It looks like this fella is a girl", referring to Richard's head size. Although it's petite, he tested positively as a boy. So, head size may be an indicator statisticly, but isn't errorproof. Soon after I got Richard tested, a few red feathers began appearing around his anus. But I don't know if even THAT is errorproof. I got my parrot tested at http://www.avianbiotech.com . (I tried several times making it into a link, but it doesn't work and I gave up. You'll have to copy and paste it into your own browser address bar...sorry) They'll send you the kit for free, and you can send them a check with the feathers from your parrot's chest. If it doesn't work, they'll retest it for free. You can check the results online in a few days, and then they'll also send you the results in the mail.<br><br>Post edited by: Richardsmommy, at: 2007/07/19 18:56

hmmm...I named Richard after my father. I was going to name my second child after him, but he turned out to be a girl. I wanted him to know how much I love him. I originally considered naming him "Drumstick", but went with a human name 'cause I think human names on animals are cool. I also love seeing the looks on people's faces when I talk about him in public: "Oh! Did I tell you Richard said a few new words today? He hates being locked up. I think I'll let him out to play for a couple of hours before I make him go back in his cage." I'm surprised child and family services hasn't been called yet. LOL! (just kidding)

Oh!...and about the regurgitation thing, Richard does that with me. He looks like he's choking at first, then up comes seeds. I knew it wasn't bulemia 'cause he didn't stick his foot down his throat. When I took him back to the pet store one day, I took him over to the other CAGs and he immediately did the choking thing. He didn't actually vomit, but he was trying to. I'm thinking that even though we have difficulty telling them apart, they know immediately when there's a girl CAG present, even at a distant (we weren't very close to the CAGs when he started). My mother owns a boy CAG and he didn't do that with him.

Congratulations, Spooky! I thought that was the best one, also.

Tari wrote: Hmmm...I've never interpreted Richard's behavior in that way. When hubby or the kids come near me while he's on my shoulder, he'll nip my ear. I just thought he was ticked at me for allowing these people to come close, or that it was displaced anger...biting me because he couldn't reach them, or got confused about who he was angry with. Thanks for clearing that up.

A woman buys a bird only to find out when she got home with him that he was a very rude bird who swore like a sailor. After a week of swearing, the woman decided that she'd had enough and she scolded him. He quieted down for a few minutes but then began swearing louder, adding more swear words to his vocabulary. She pulled the bird out of his cage, flicked him several times on his beak, but this caused him to swear even louder. She was at her wits end when she grabbed the bird, took him to her freezer and shoved him in, closing the door behind him. He began swearing even louder through the thick heavy door. Suddenly the bird quieted down and all got silent. After a few minutes, the bird started pleading, "Please let me out! If you let me out, I'll never swear again!" "Finally," the woman thought, "The cold air has caused this tropical bird to come to his senses and he's rehabilitated!" So, she opened the door and out walked the apologetic bird. "It's so good to hear you apologize and promise to never cuss again", the lady said. "I promise I'll never swear again..." the bird promised, "But can I ask one question?" "Sure!" the woman replied. The bird inquired in a shaky voice, "What did the turkey do?"<br><br>Post edited by: Richardsmommy, at: 2007/07/14 05:43

trevazellers wrote: Do you hand feed him? Perhaps he's expecting a treat and when he doesn't see one, he bites to say, "I want to bite something and you aren't holding FOOD!" I'm thinking that because he doesn't bite when you kiss him or hold your head to his cage, but he only seems to bite your hand. As for the letting your parrot (CAG is what I have) sit on your shoulder, I havent ever had a problem with Richard sitting on my shoulder. When he sits on my shoulder, he sits there...that's it. He did stick his beak in my ear once, but that was it. He probably got some earwax 'cause he's never tried that again. LOL! But, I think the shoulder-perching is a bird-by-bird decision. I don't recommend it, but I don't discourage it, either.<br><br>Post edited by: Richardsmommy, at: 2007/07/13 20:50

I keep track of Richard's on a notepad file. Here's a cool trick, folks: In Notepad, you can hit F5 to stamp the date and time. But, here's what's REALLY cool...open the new notepad file, type in ".LOG" (without quotes...BUT in all caps) and save. Next time and every time you open the file, it will automatically stamp the date and time. Try it. So, every time Richard learns a new word, I open the file and the date is already there. Richard learned to shake on his birthday. I wouldn't have remembered this without the notepad trick. I also use this trick after starting a new med to keep track of side effects, for memoires, prayer requests, phone messages I need to keep track of, etc.

Well, since they don't have any lips... Richard smiles by straightening up and walking toward me when I enter the room. He doesn't smile, but he sure laughs. I think he knows what laughter is and how to interpret it because he always laughs at the right times. He's seen me at my worst and best, and knows that when I'm laughing, things are going better than when I'm not. He can get us all laughing because he'll start, then we'll laugh, then he'll laugh louder...He even adds coughing to it, just like my husband does when he really gets going.

Sorry to change the subject, but this comment raised a red flag. Are you sure it's two years and not one? Good job, Heather.<br><br>Post edited by: Richardsmommy, at: 2007/07/07 06:18

Lidia wrote: Wait a minute, now. I was told Richard was less than a year when I got him...he supposedly turned one in May. His eyes are black and yellow.

Thanks...you're doing us all a favor. LOL! Seriously, I still feel like a teenager when I'm not in pain. When I AM in pain, I feel like I'm 90. I'm *COUGH!* years old, but I already have osteoporosis...and pretty bad from what the doctors told me, yet I don't have any broken bones yet.

Richard's are: Telephone ring Creaking door My laugh My husband's laugh "Hickory!" coughing sound Sexy Whistle (the tone that rises up/rises up and then down...there MUST be a name for this since it's so common) "Alright" "How are you?" "Come here" "OWWWWW!" "Hello, Richarrrd" "Come here, Richarrrd" Dog barking Dog growling "come here you shoulder rat!" Kimberly! "Stop it!" And he also shakes hands (zygodactyls?), Give me kissy-kissies He obeys commands: "put your head down" "Shake!" "Kissy-kissy!" "No!" "up-up!" "Come here!" "Let me have it" (comes to me and drops it in my hand)

We have a perch made especially for the shower, and Richard goes in the shower with me. He loves getting wet..but I only do it on hot days. I shouldn't do this, but I also take him outside at night. He sits on my arm while I'm on the porch and we listen to the crickets and frogs. I keep Hickory beside me in case there might be a cat around. Richard loves these evenings and it's a great way to end the day.

I'm 20. That's my story and I'm sticking with it! (And don't ask me again or I'll have to kill you)

What about something like Insure? Would that help, or is there something in it that would make him sicker? Or perhaps baby formula?

Spend a lot of time holding him and loving him. Speak to him often. Make physical contact as often as possible, offering food at frequent intervals. He may be afraid to eat because he doesn't trust you and he might have to gain that trust. He could also be mourning the loss of his previous environment and owner's presence; in which case, loving him and bonding with him could reinforce the fact that he's still loved and can adapt to his new environment.

xxbeccyxx wrote: That's odd. Richard is most vocal at night. Then again, there's no guarantee your bird won't take to your dad more than you. Some greys are one-person parrots. Richard is...no matter how much I try to bond him with the others in the house. This scenerio happened with my parents. Dad bought the CAG for himself, but he bonded only with Mom. Personally, I'd suggest that you get him when you have a few days off (the more the better) to be able to bond with him. I was bonded with Richard within days. If you get him and then leave him with your Dad, he may bond with your dad.<br><br>Post edited by: Richardsmommy, at: 2007/07/06 17:56

Richard has been coughing all day the past couple of days. My husband has allergies and he can get into some pretty big coughing fits. It's so funny to hear Richard do all the hacking and coughing. He also said, "Come here, you Shoulder Rat" yesterday.