kins2321@yahoo.com

Judygram has excellent advice! Whatever cage you start with... plan on it for a long time. Greys don't adapt well to a decent cage, then to a grand cage. Whatever cage you start with, plan on this cage being around for a long time. Same goes for gyms. Sophie was given a new mansion, new gungle gym.... she refuses. Decided to live in cage with Amazon and sunconure, even after I brought back her old cage, she refused to leave Kiki and Sunny's cage. Easier for me.... but weird! Nancy

I agree with judygram. 15 weeks is young. He needs to have additional syringe feedings, in my opinion. Satisfying the oral stage, is very important. They can still do pellets, but if they are still interested in formula, I would do it. Kiki was our only baby. She demonstrated this behavior until six months. She had a syringe of formula, twice a day, until six months. CAREFUL! They will want you to syringe feed all the time. NOT an option! Decreasing the amount is important. Talk to your breeder regarding amounts. By the time Kiki was down to 1/2cc... daily, i stopped. Ten years later, she is our best eater. Tons of fruits and veggies, healthy pellet mix. I also would weigh baby weekly, so you don't need to worry they are starving! ps... they never get to the point of starving! Its a battle. They want the syringe! LOL Nancy

Welcome Chickie, mom and dad. You are adorable!We are all here to help you. Baby sounds perfect! Nancy and Sophie

Amazons, can be soooo different! Our Orange winged amazon, was our only baby, we ever had. She is very sensitive, but also the bravest. LOVES new toys, fruits and veggies. While she is not the leader of the flock, everyone looks to Kiki regarding new toys and food. If she likes it.... everyone else likes it. She is the BEST flyer. Kiki never bites. Not sure why. She loves her shower, and being blowed dryed. Between 3-4pm, she screams at the top of her lungs. I let her. Its Kiki time. Sophie the grey is removed during Kiki time, since she will imitate Kiki. Kiki gets very upset. Not sure why! Nancy

Shanlung.... of coarse... getting a new grey in your life, out of forever homes, doesn't mean you will never have a healthy grey in your life. You can make them healthy again! Greys ARE set in their ways, but with an " optimistic" attitude...they CAN be rehomed. You have AMAZING birds! People on this site truly respect you, including me. We all need to respect each others beliefs, including cultural diversity. Lets start there! Nancy

Gwen.... Roscoe is trusting you. With leaps and bounds! FANTASTIC achievement! Be very proud. Remember, 12 years old, is still a juvenile. Continue to work on the trust. I would suggest, going out and buying the board game " trouble". Sophie LOVES it! Sit on the floor, play the board game between you and hubby. Whose ever turn it is... Roscoe needs to step up, to that person, help pop the bubble.( they think they did it!) YAY! Praise. Sophie is a pro now. It is her favorite game, besides UNO. She learned to step up to entire family thru this game. I think I have bought the game at least ten times! ( sure, they chew the pieces alot!) LOL She has loved all of us equally for years now. Of course, I am her Rom ( mom). I LOVE being called rom. Many times she would yell " ROM!", If I was busy, I would have one of the kids check on her, satisfy her needs. She learned she could trust either Ryan or Sean. She yells for them as much as Rom! Nancy

Life is Greyt.... eye pinning is NOT always about backing off.Sophie's pupils dialate and constrict, over and over, when she is learning something new. It has peaked her interest.Look at the situation. You can eventually tell if they are threatened, or are learning! We went thru six months when she was two, of " threatening". Since then, pupil constricting and dialating.... she wanted to learn the new word, or liked the social situation. If I say a new word, pupils go crazy.... I know she likes the word, wants to learn it. Her favorite... kotchiekotchiekoo!!!! She says it about fifty times a day! LOL Nancy

Gwen.... so sorry about Bozo. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Nancy

Welcome Semion and Gandalf. Not only it is a great idea... take it one step furthur.... record music of all kinds. You will learn what your bird loves! ( hopefully NOT rap). Sophie's favorite! It drives me crazy! She is an awesome dancer, has lots of fantastic moves! Kids work with her all the time with dancing and rap. ( clean mouth). Not allowed to curse, or be taught a bad word or suggestion. Also... she is only allowed to learn rap songs, that have positive messages. I know it stinks.... but shoulder status is only earned after 100% trust is established between you and baby. Once baby steps up easily on request, follows your instructions, and you trust baby, THEN, they can be on shoulder. Until then, wrist only.It is important to establish child/parent relationship first. Even more important than establishing... " my bird LIKES me!" On average, at least six months. We are all excited to help you!Baby sounds fantastic and headed to be an excellent friend and family member! Nancy and Sophie

Brett... good for you and Echo. Hope you find traveling awesome! Sophie LOVES to travel. Problem is, years ago she was owned by a race car driver. I KNOW he took her for lots of rides. She waggles her tail, anytime I take a corner fast! She LOVES speed! I say no! Just got done with six hour defensive driving course. First ticket in my life of 51 years old. No more speeding for Sophie! I already have to reinforce her travel cage. She breaks it open... pops up on my shoulder. Of course I have to pullover... Nancy

Guys... noone is wrong, to clip, noone is wrong, not to clip! Everyone needs to stop...make their own personal decisions. BOTH choices are GOOD ones! To care for a grey, it is important to follow your own choices for your bird . Shanlung... I have followed some of your suggestions, some things I chose on my own. I know you stand by your convictions, but sometimes your passion, can irritate some owners! ( sorry!) Carlsjr, has every right to follow their beliefs. YOU... have every right to follow your belief! Your belief is respected... but if someone has a different belief... except it, and respect it as well. What doesn't work, is getting a site divided.... choosing sides. The bird site is meant to assist each other. Lets get back to that! Nancy and Sophie

If you reread my post... I said IF my birds were outside... they could fly only sixteen feet in either direction. I HAVE seen them spooked! Don't trust them at all! Kiki especially, who is an amazing flyer, would be up that 100 ft. willow tree in my neighbors yard. As the years go by, they get trimmed for annoying feathers. I still considered them trimmed. Sophie use to garden with me. She doesn't anymore. ( sad). Nancy

I watched the video. No... i'm not a grey expert, but have had a grey for over 12 years. Sophie shakes her head frequently, exactly the same. Sophie fluffs up her neck and head feathers all the time. She is happy and well adjusted. From the video, I detected nothing unusual. Good " tilt of the head", for curiosity. No signs of stress, warning you to back off. ( eyes). Would think to see a little more curiosity. Just a little sluggish. A little excitement, new activities, games involving you is a recommendation. Could also be lots of dander. Are you able to spray, or shower? I can't with Sophie. Bird trimmer does it.( not always a trim, but a good spritz). Of course, if you are concerned... go see vet. Try to find one that cares for exotic animals. GREAT one here in Rochester, NY Nancy

Whispering, doesn't work either! LOL Greys are like teenage girls! Sophie is always one step ahead of all of us, when it comes to gossip! Nancy

You can have a " clipped", bird, that can still fly, with perfect accuracy, as I do. All my birds are clipped, and have been so since birth. We have always practiced flying, in the " bird room". It is their room, meant for training, flying, etc. They can fly with perfect accuracy in the home. They can fly upstairs, find me, if they need me. they can fly into our family room, two rooms away. What they CAN'T do.... is go outside, fly furthur then sixteen feet. After 12 years of working with trimmer, we have got it down pat! It works for us. My birds are happy, proud of their flying abilities. I'm proud of them! There is NO difference between my birds, and birds that are fully flighted. I understand the rational behind having fully flighted birds. Our system works for us, as well as fully flighted birds, works for others. Ultimately, having the bird be happy, is the goal! Don't you all agree? Nancy

HMMMM... suspicious, it is! LOL Nancy

Dawl... welcome! I have to be honest... not crazy about the name choices!.This baby will be amazing! Pick an amazing name to match their status. Nancy

Bah Humbug! Come on guys!!!! Ask Santa for new feathers! Alls Sophie wants for Christmas is for Ryan to come home for college! He's coming home next week! YAY! She's going to go crazy when she sees him. I can't wait. Its going to be the best Christmas ever... just watching her reaction. Nancy

My orange winged Amazon, is named Kiki. She is ten years old. Her owner is Sean, my 17 year old. She is our adventurous child. Tests all new fruits and veggies. All other birds follow her lead when it comes to new food and toys. Nancy

GREAT cage! My cage is similar, but the door opens for them to stepup on HUGE wooden gym. Next to wooden gym, is a metal gym, Sophie's favorite. Make sure you have a mixture of sandy perches, etc. I now have two cages, two gyms. One wooden, one metal. Sophie's metal cage is hanging by a thread. We keep fixing it. I want to buy her a new gym... she refuses. We keep bandaiding her gym. She's had it for past 12 years. Nancy

Rayson.... hope we all didn't scare you! We would all take our baby to the vet. They are not like human babies, sleep all day. We are all concerned, just want best for your baby. Please keep us informed, how things are going. We are all here to support you, as many parents were here to support us, when we were all new parents. Nancy and Sophie

DEFINITELY... keep an eye on breathing and shaking. If breathing is noticed to be heavy all the time, go to vet as soon as possible. It can be a sign of infection, compensation for electrolyte imbalance, etc. I take breathing issues very seriously. Hope all will be well. If your concerned, go see the vet. Nancy

Good for you! I agree, if it works for dogs, which I do when they get groomed, why wouldn't it work for a grey? I support your choice. Let us know how it works. Nancy

Can I join, if I don't get bitten anymore? I will handle dejection well! LOL Nancy and Sophie

What IS going on? Update on Sophie.... Ryan, who is off to college in North Carolina, is coming home for two weeks next Saturday. While I am Sophie's " rom", and we are best friends... she is also very bonded with Ryan, and misses him terribly! I am not telling her. It will be a surprise! He will be her Christmas gift! I am soooo excited for Sophie! Nancy