kins2321@yahoo.com

BlackOpal...You have GREAT questions! You are gonna be a GREAT parrent Nancy

Got home from work as usual, let Sophie out of bird room and she went CRAZY! TOTAL destruction! She found a pencil, thats a no, started chewing lamp shade, thats a no,pooped on my pillow while I was changing, pulled on Ollie's tail ran off laughing, destroyed the mail before I could check my bills! Of course, its all my responsibility... but in ten minutes???? Put her on my shoulder and grounded her! LOL! It drives me crazy when she is WAY ahead of me and I can't keep up! Nancy

May be vertigo with a middle ear infection.Even in an animal, they either lose consciousness and have grand mal seizures ( like my Zoey-pup), or have clonic tonic seizures and pullup one leg. Nancy

Looks like allergies to me too! You COULD go to vet... but it is certainly not life threatening Nancy

Its the caffeine that is a serious no no! It can create a serious cardiac event in a bird that even a vet can't reverse. I like Misty's dads idea! After all.... they are just imitating us and yes it can be a bonding moment! Sophie is good munching on a treat while I drink my caffeine.I get up at 430 am for work, a half hour sooner than I need to. Its for her. I will be a slug for thirty minutes. She is up and ready! We are slugs together as everyone else sleeps. I can't imagine us not having our " slug" half hour. I know its important to Sophie, so it is important to me Nancy

BlackOpal... I was thinking of you today... and took a good look at Sophie. Her wings are definitely a darker grey and has a very red tail. I will have to wait for Sean to come home from college in a few weeks to have him take a picture. I also suspect many babies are darker at first and lighten up as they mature. Nancy

hope all is well! Definitely not a seizure... but may want to checkout chemistry levels. Nancy

Does sound like from screaming and protesting too much! Vasodilitation! Try finding someone that can do the job without as much protest Nancy

AWWWWWW... absolutely adorable! I would suggest limiting choice of toys to three.They ARE just like kids, and in my opinion, follow the same age group to a tee! I would just give my baby limited choices so they don't "stress", over too many choices.Sophie thrived more with routine, and a few choices. Our greys are all different and I find this amazing! Nancy

I am so excited for you! BEAUTIFUL picture!My DNA sexed Congo is similar in coloring. I don't have pictures as I am not good with uploading pictures! My son did a few years ago, so maybe her pictures are still there. If not... let me know and I will bug the kids to send a picture of Sophie again. I LOVE the darker grey Nancy

Maybe we should all write a book together! Sophie is fine with Sean gone, now she is " my girl" once again Nancy

kitt4kaz...symtoms sound unusual! Let us know how he does. Nancy

Chezron...so glad you pay attention, and know when something is abnormal! Now.... as far as starting to backpack, meeting new people.... have I got a group for you! Not me.... but my sister... when she comes to visit me... she meets this group of people that she doesn't know. They backpack, bicycle, and other activities!Its national, so I would have to get details from her. She has had two knee replacements, and has become a bionic woman! LOL... As the youngest of three girls... I still have to pluck her from the ocean when we go on vacation, but I am very proud of her for getting her weight down from 300 pounds down to 142... Nancy

AWESOME! GREAT ideas and thanks for the link to the websites....I am going to take some time and review each site. Sophie doesn't really like toys, but she MAY like that coconut filled with paper. I HAVE been spoiling Sophie lately! ( I mean this seriously), I brought her home two college kids... she is in heaven, and I got put on the " back burner". I was thrilled she had soooo much fun with them. Sean got a new guitar that he wanted, and while he sucks.... Sophie thought he was awesome and was welcomed into his room, as she would sing and dance and act like he was the best! LOL! Sophie's human toys didn't let her down this Christmas! Sigh.... I REALLY wish she would play with toys...It is tough to entertain her all the time. I know she will shred anything and everything, but it gets hard to think of new things Nancy

I LOVE that Sophie LOVES us all for different reasons. Honestly... I was happy for the break of having Sophie on my right arm, all the time! She still spent alot of time with me, even with kids home. I couldnt believe she felt she had betrayed me, when Sean was packing. Sean recognized quickly, Sophie was concerned that she had betrayed me! He quickly pointed out " I'm out!" You're up! I don't understand why a Grey feels they have to be loyal to one person! Sophie loves us all.... why does she feel she can be loyal to one person? Nancy

All have such GREAT ideas! Sophie hasnt played with toys for years! You sound like you are in the same situation! I continue to buy them, she continues to ignore them. WE are her toys, and your bird thinks the same I am sure. Of course we cant always be there, so think " shredding". Pinatas, phone books. As others have suggested leave something to shred, when they shouldn't shred or destroy. I've tricked Sophie many times! As my kids LOVE popsicles, I save the sticks for her. One of her favorites! Always be careful, that as tempting as it would be, don't use glue to create your own bird toy. I know it is dishartening, that your bird continues to chew, but is happy and well adjusted, difficult to understand. I believe your bird IS happy and well adjusted! Plucking.... is a habit, and you can have a bird that is happy loves his mama and daddy, well cared for.... and they still pluck. Don't feel guilty... its not your fault.I wish I had the answer, but their are others that can help you more with plucking. Nancy

I wish I knew! I use my shark for all vacuming messes. Sophie is kind to us now, and leaves all her down on plastic under her cage. ( granted... her plastic is HUGE!). A little extra dusting, occasional poop on hardwood floors in hallway trying to get to Sean in his bedroom Nancy

I LOVE when my kids come home from college! Sophie is thrilled and responds immediately with joy! Doesn't matter that she hasn't seen Ryan for a year. She seeks them out immediately, and puts me on the back burner. I'm always ready. Sean started packing... I told him to make sure he spent his last hour with Sophie and let her know he had to go back to school to get " smart". She seems to like the word " smart", and tells us she is smart. His last hour, he spent with us in the family room. Sophie ignored him, just hung out with me...regurging like crazy! She wanted nothing to do with him. It reminded me, she responded the sameway last year. Is she trying to makeup with me? I kept encouraging her to hangout with Sean, I'm not upset with her at all! I am thrilled that she loves and accepts them when they come home. Sometimes its difficult to figure out what they are thinking. Nancy

Handsome guy with GREAT feathers! Welcome Nancy

At most... Rio is a year old? The terrible twos are around the corner! Your baby is NO where near the teenage years. I found it most difficult with Sophie until the age of four. We all trained like crazy! It was worth it! Nancy

Asthma, or COPD, will not give you a heart attack.... thats just silly! Acappella... you NEED to complain to your MD, as long as it takes! Also... look into a support group and see what works for them! I deal with patients all the time that don't use their machine. I would say around 50%.I put them to sleep with either conscious sedation, or general anesthesia. Their sleep apnea ALWAYS complicates their recovery...It is hard to understand how serious sleep apnea is, as most patients are asleep! It really is life threatening! Nancy

Sully looks good! Nancy

Sophie farts and burps just like the boys! If I ONLY had girls!!!!!!!!She wouldn't fart or burp, because ladies KNOW better!!!! LOL Nancy

My birds, don't have " cage time". They don't live in their cage. Once in awhile, I find them in their cage. I NEVER put my fingers in their cage as I would be asking for a bite! A cage to me, is just a home. If they don't feel its a home, they just let me know Nancy

Think of something new...." outside of the box"... how about opening the cage door, leaving it open, put fun gym in front of cage. ( only if you have family members home 24/7). Nancy