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ShaneO Its making a difference!Keep doing what you are doing! She is trying to remain strong not to scratch her itch. Remind her " NO!", you dont appreciate the pluck, but keep her saturated and tell her how proud you are when she hasn't pulled out her feathers. I can tell... she wants you to be proud of her and she wants to make you happy. You have to totally empathize with her and let her know " her itch, is your itch". She will learn you are her partner, and just want the " best" for her. Always think " out of the box"... think like a grey. It has served me well. I always try to think what Sophie is thinking. I never doubt myself, and I suspect thats why Sophie is a very strong, loving, idependent, well socialized bird that she is Nancy

phangtontower... I understand what you are saying. IF... you cannot provide more than ten minutes for your bird to be out of his cage... I suggest you rehome! NOT an attack against you... but greys need to be top priority, and if you can't deliver, you are not being fair to your bird. Sophie is out all the time with her own bird room, and is sent to bed at 8pm. That is story time, and occasionally I miss it when I work late. If I get home late.... she has already put herself to bed, and I miss story time! I apologize the next day... we do " Thomas the tank engine" story which she loves! I am forgiven. Consistency and routine, is very important for a grey. Nancy

Another suggestion... is opening doors thru the garage. I have done this.... so birds cant escape, I haven't opened my front door in years! Nancy

The relationship is evolving... and it does just get better and better! Sophie goes now to all my kids. She is insane when they come home, waiting at the door. She met them when they were six and nine. In college now. They both skype with her weekly, and when they come home.... look out! She is all over them! She is like the younger sister they never had. It was important for me when Sophie came home, for the kids to understand how important she was. They were babysitters at first... their relationship evolved as I knew it would. Phone call after phone call about Sophie. The calls became less as their relationship evolved, eventually... no calls at all. It actually was a " loss for me", kids didn't need me anymore, nor did Sophie. She had two new friends. Nancy

Sophie coughed within 24 hours of us joining our family. I freaked... rushed to the vet ( an avian expert), who just laughed at me! Asked if anyone was sick. Why yes... my son has a cold as well as has asthma! Sophie was already imitating him. Eventually, Sophie got soooo good with a cough, she could hear a wheeze that I didn't hear. Quite amazing without a stethoscope. If she imitated wheezing, I knew someone was sick and starting to wheeze and didn't want me to know. She could hear wheezes way before me. Sophie became an " asthma radar"... if she was imitating wheezing.... someone was sick and didn't want to let me know! Nancy

Elevenking... I agree with Muse. You are too hard on yourself! You are a GREAT daddy and if Isaac is plucking... not saying he is... has NOTHING to do with what or what you didn't do! You can be the most amazing parrent, and some will pluck! You rise above it...remind yourself " I am the BEST dad you will ever find!" Believe in yourself... believe you will offer the BEST education for your bird... believe in your relationship between you and your bird. If you believe it... so will your bird.Nancy

She looks fantastic and is contacting you! I know she feels a little itchy... but is remaining strong not to pluck her itch! What are you using? Nancy

Cotay is adorable! She IS a smartypants! LOVED her conversation on the phone I think if I ever gave Sophie a cellphone... she would learn quick how to make a REAL call. LOL Sounds like her foot is doing well Nancy

Welcome Sharon and Kita. You are about to embark on an amazing journey! I am so excited for you both. Nancy

I'm so glad Dave showed up. I was just about to suggest asking for help from Dave. You are in good hands. Nancy

Its a tough call. There is a reason breeders want us to clip our birds. My trimmer can go on and on how many calls he gets from owners that birds have flown away. He tells me the odds of survival are zero. Owls and Hawks will get them. Its depressing to listen to him. I had no choice when Sophie first came to us at age two. She was clipped and going thru the terrible twos. I slowly increased her feather growth while working on her behavioral issues. It was definitely easier working with her since she had the attention span to learn. On the flip side... it took her a decade to learn how to fly, even though she had full growth for that ten years. I truly believe, if I had had Sophie as a baby, I would have had her learn to fly, develop her chest muscles, which is very important. I probably would have " trimmed" back her flight when going thru the terrible two's, so she could listen. I did this with my Amazon, and it was a good decision. Kiki could still fly quite well, but had to stop and land occassionally.Luckily, Kiki stopped on us. Nancy

Definitely send a picture or two. I'm not an expert with molting or plucking, but many here are. I'm sure Sophie goes thru a molt...but I just find a few more larger feathers than usual. Her personality remains unchanged.( Thank God!) Nancy

It keeps getting better and better! Those proud moments are so special! Nancy

Elvenking... You and Isaac have such a great relationship! Sophie LOVES her sunlight and has adopted one of my favorite chairs, that I moved next to sliding glass door. I'm going to harness her this year and get her outside. I was a bad parent ( naive), and took Sophie outside without a harness. She would always dig in the dirt, and LOVED being outside with me. I was lucky she never flew away during those summers when unable to fly, was outside always with me in the summer.I know she misses those times, but I became educated. I'm still unsure of the harness but I really hate her watching me garden without her thru the door. She is happy to see me and I always interact with her. I'm concerned she will consider the harness as a form of " restraint". It worries me. I know very little about harness training. You can teach Sophie anything, if it benefits her, and allows her to be with us. Nancy

We are ALL losing it! Inara... too funny... you ARE a good girl ! I get a kick even after all these years how Sophie thinks she is sooooo PERFECT and we need to change! LOL You know you are owned by a parrot when your son gets home from college and there is lots to talk about, but can't, because Sophie wants to talk first! and talk.... and talk....and talk...I let her. I have all summer to catch up. All about my girl! Nancy

katana600... Too funny! LOL LOL Nancy

What a cutiepie! Nancy

I'm a believer in letting a bird learn to fly. As they progress to terrible two's, I am also a supporter of trimming back. You HAVE to have the perfect trimmer! I could tell my trimmer my plan with age of development, and he could deliver. I needed my birds to stop and listen when they were out of control. I wanted them to fly safely within two rooms. Kids and I could practive flying. We did, and the bond eventually extended to kids.Flying is awesome, but an out of control bird who has no idea what you expect... doesn't work in my opinion. Nancy

So happy all is good. Sophie nor any of my girls have ever laid an egg. So happy there are people here to keep us calm! I'm stellar with diet and behavior, biting issues, timeout etc... but no knowledge with eggs! LOL It is awesome that we all come with different experience, and have the opportunity to share. Nancy

I have no clue! A very interesting question that I would never had thought of! Nancy

Yay for being an A+ patient! Nancy

Muse... you suck! LOL Now lets get back to the thread which I interrupted...I know I live with a bird...when I am cleaning bird poop off hardwood floors, Sophie steps down to help and goes thru the motions! Nancy

I just wanted to add for newbies... I tell a certain side of Sophie during these posts. I want to add... when I have had a bad day, or am upset with something personally, Sophie comes running... sticks her beak under my left eye( not sure why), says " awwww Rom"... she knows when I am sad. She is perfectly still, and I tell her everything! She never moves, but adds her awwwww. She is better than a psychiatrist! ( not that I've seen one, but maybe should!) Nancy

I like that title! I know I am Sophie's slave! I try to think I have one up on her.... but I never really do. She just LETS me think I am so smart, but she is good at bringing me down to reality. Nancy

Chezron... I am so sorry! All have excellent posts especially the hormonal aspect! As a divorced mom, who also got Sophie after the divorce, I can understand and empathize how important your bird is for you during these raw emotional times.I would feel betrayed too! But your baby is your wingman... always will be and the love will always be there. A bite doesn't mean "I don't love you... it means many other things, but not that. I find it amazing how anyone can get their bird to stepup from inside their cage. I never did it. All my guys stepup off their door. They all taught me that! LOL Nancy