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Jasper and Jake are doing what they do best! Being babies! LOL. We are all here as you know, to support you.We are all excited for you. This is SUCH a fun time. Nancy

Feed away! Nancy

Gang off to the spa this weekend for nail and beak trimming. I'll ask Paul to weigh them. I'm getting curious how much they weigh. Lets start a weight discussion! That would be fun! Nancy

Sophie came from an excellent home, but no, she wasn't talking much. She was babbling in baby talk, and doing lots of whistling. I don't believe greys are slow to talk unless way past 2 1/2. Just my experience with Sophie.Sometimes I have to say to Sophie... " be quiet for a minute, let me think!" She gives me 30 seconds! LOL Nancy

LOVED the video!!It really made me laugh. I LOVED when she took a breather.... not for long! I'm going to try that with Sophie. Nancy

I never heard of the " earthquake" tecnique. How interesting. I LOVE learning new things about our birds. Thanks for sharing. Nancy

murfchck.. follow his lead. People get annoyed with me all the time, how I focus on the bird, believe in " listen" to them. They teach us. I really believe in this. I also believe in " limiting" behavior. Sophie and I always disagree with behavior issues for the flock. I respect her opinion, but make the final decision. Nancy and Sophie

Sophie takes care of her beak, wings and nails. So does Sunny, Kiki does not. She will care for her beak and feathers, but expects our groomer, to take care of her nails.Every eight weeks. She is a spoiled girl. Nancy

alexispolicastro... WAKE UP! Stormy! Are you sleeping, or terrorizing punky?How are you going to fly to my house for a party? We can work around your nap! I live in Rochester, NY. Maybe we should have the party at your house since you need a nap, and can't fly as far. Where do you live? Sophie. PS... gonna bring Kiki my friend. She flies the best and I trust her. Sophie

murfchck Oh No! NOT the shower! Rom and everyone tries to get me to shower.I let them know I do NOT like it! Yes, I watch Kiki and Sunny shower, and how happy they are. Can't fool me! NOT going to do it! Sophie

I'm a GREAT whistler! I can do the two finger whistle! Sophie LOVES that I can do that!She knows when she has lost. Then again, she can break out into clucking and whistling in rap. I cave! She knows when I win, or when she wins.Its truly our favorite game. Nancy

We use to have Teddy Bear guinea pigs. Teddy, (how original), was a favorite. We would set up obstical courses for the pigs. Sophie would watch and get " stressed" if she couldn't see Teddy. She would yell " Teddy! Teddy!LOL She truly loved our pigs. When Gracie the runt, got pregnant( she shouldn't have), when she went into labor, it was a choice of " her", or the babies. I chose her after a c-section. She became paralyzed from waist down.We began intensive physical therapy at home in our kitchen. One 8by8 tile each day in the kitchen. Sophie and pups were always waiting at the finishing line to encourage her. After three months, Gracie regained full motor function of her lower extremities. She lived a full life. I know I sound crazy... I really am not. Nancy

Daniel... whats great about this site, is we can agree, to disagree! Yes... we are all always learning! I liked your floor idea, ( I did the same), but never tried jerking my hand away.I agree about the injury question. How did you avoid that possibility? I gently grabbed my birds beak, said " NO BITE". returned bird to cage, and tried again five minutes later. Nancy

I also have a Cag and Amazon whom ocassionally fight. mostly squaking at each other. They work it out, but we monitor it. Sophie ultimately rules, Kiki will listen, but Kiki will hold her own if she feels strongly about a situation. They are not territorial with toys. Sophie gives Kiki all the toys she wants. Kiki is the best flier, so flies out all the time and takes things back to the cage and shares with the gang. Kiki molts. Sophie doesn't( not sure why). Sophie is the nicest friend when kiki is menopausal. Nancy

mcuellar2412.. I understand what you are talking about. I had three cages for three different species. Sunconure, amazon and grey. Sunconure, Sunny, was a rescue, here first for several months/ Then came baby amazon, Kiki, then two year old african grey, Sophie. Kiki moved into sunny's cage on her own, as I have open cage policy. Sunny was thrilled! They have been together past decade in same cage. Sophie had her own cage next to theirs. When I tried to upgrade Sophie's cage, left new and old side by side for several months, it wasn't working. Removed her old cage( just hid it in the garage). She refused her new palace no matter what I did. She moved into kiki and Sunny's cage and was welcomed. Oh brother! Three birds in one cage was ridiculous. Brought back Sophie's old cage... she said " No thanks!" LOL! I left out her old cage, new cage and cage everyone hangs together in.I told them to work it out.... and they do. Sophie jumps in her new cage several times, but they love to hangout on or in Sunny's cage.( remember though, the door is never closed). I'm sure they would not be able to live in same cage with door closed. I would be hesitant to separate them, in my opinion. 1 1/2 years of age is an important time in their lives. Entering terrible two's etc. I would not want to stress them out as they seem happy with their living arrangements. As far as talking, Kiki and Sunny say very little. Sophie the grey talks enough for the entire family. She ALWAYS has something to say! Kids say there is one family member that talks more than me and that is Sophie!Hmmmmm are they saying I talk to much? Nancy

The difference between parroting and learning. DON'T... pee on Sophie's plastic. She doesn't like it! She is not repeating. She feels quite strongly about this. LOL! Nancy

A six year old cannot fly? I don't understand Nancy

Chesire Cat... Tui has bonded with you. I know it is a GREAT thing, but not so great, for the rest of the family. Now use that trust, to introduce other family members that YOU trust. That's how they learn. You love them... " they gotta be okay!" Display the affection in front of Tui.There will come a day, that your encouragement of the entire family, will pay off. Nancy

I never knew whistles could be so complex! I guess I don't have a contact whistle. We play whistle games back and forth from different rooms. This has been a favorite game for past decade. I make the whistle, she repeats. We make it complicated back and forth.Its always has been a game to us. I do still believe whistling is the first step before speech.Of course, I am no expert, but know what works for Sophie and me. Nancy

Great reponses! Now when Ollie escapes into the bird room, he see's plastic under their cages. ( he has a pee-pee pad in kitchen.) He thinks he can pee there. Sophie always tells him and zoey to go out and pee in the morning. ( just repeating). If he pee's on her plastic, she gets very mad... say's " NO! NO Ollie! Outside! She does NOT want him peeing on her plastic. Nancy

Stormy and Jake. Welcome.Take those naps guys... you're gonna need them!Don't worry about being afraid. We all were in the beginning, but we are all here to help you get thru that.Roms and dads are great. We will teach you how to wrap them around your finger, don't you worry. Meantime... use your thoughts like you are doing. Before you know it, you'll be able to talk! Sophie

Sorry! The age of six, is really six.. I believe 100% we can argue about the age development.I'll never agree to anything different. Nancy

Okay all! Lets agree, or disagree! Lets be respectful. I watched the video twice, I never felt the bird was threatened! I have trained my birds from " being trimmed", to being fully flighted! Depending on their age of development. A decade later, they all fly, don't bite or chew! Kiki is hanging with me right now, our Amazon!She steps up, steps down. She is going to get her beak and nails trimmed next week. She doesn't care for them! Nancy

Syringe feeding meds, need to be taught by the vet. Even when a baby comes home, is supposedly off syringe feedings, but desires more, give baby a spoon feeding. I believe 100% in supporting the oral stage. NEVER by syringe, unless you have the experience. Kiki came home at 16 weeks, but continued to need " oral" feedings for another six months. Off a spoon. Nancy

Six years old is very young.Many don't agree with me, and that is okay. I believe greys follow the same development from the age of 1-5, as a human child. You are close. Encourage your bird to talk to you, whether it be whistling or babbling, even if there is a room that separates you! Sophie and I have always enjoyed a game of whistling back and forth, being in different rooms. I change the whistle, she changes the whistle. We have fun! Nancy