snoepgoed123

I can't believe how warm it's starting to get here! March and already mid 70s (around 21c) Ofcourse I'm gonna take full advantage of the warm but not HOT HOT weather and took Archimedes outside again today. As we went outside I saw the mail woman drive up and figured we could hang out in front of the house and get the mail. She was SMITTENED she thought he was adorable (of course he looked as handsome as always!) and he did great! wanted to help me carry the mail, such a little helper. Though I did flap around a letter accidentally, and it startled him, but he flew out a foot and landed right back on my hand! Afterwards we went to the backyard and I put him down on our patio and we were just hanging out for a few minutes (then I noticed wasps... urgh) When I asked him to step up he did it no questions.... I wanted to walk him back to the path behind our house, but I felt him tense up, and realized... mm he's had enough for the day... There are some daffodils out back that I wanna show him tomorrow hopefully!

I got one of these http://www.mybirdstore.com/product.cgi?group=227201&product=245817 yea the toy can be a bit *or a lot* obnoxious when it goes HELLLLOOOOOOOOOO or HE HE HEHE HELOOOOOOOO (depending on whether archimedes is standing on it) but it's made for birds... so that's always an idea... and we keep it by the computer when Archimedes wants to go after the keyboard

I was thinking, and I wanted to add. Something I also do is we have little *toy boxes* for Archimedes, so that when he's out he's got toys available to him wherever he is. All it is is a plastic tupperware container, (holds like 3 cups) and we just keep random knick knacks in there, wooden cubes, short plastic chains, plastic circle thingies... all different shapes and colors... When he comes to the computer, I'll focus his attention on the toys and it'll usually keep him busy for 15 minutes finding what he likes, and then he'll sit there for 20 minutes just playing with the toy...

I have an aviator, Archimedes and I both love it! I will say, you HAVE TO GO SLOW with it. It's a completely different feeling for them. The nice thing is that the Aviator harness comes with a dvd, but basically what you wanna do is start getting your guy comfortable with being handled, especially wings and having something go over his head. next just take the ribbon and just lay it over him, it's ok if he bites. Eventually ,y6 b4346 (archimedes is helping me write) loop just the head part over the grey, nothing else. Then the next day loop one of the wings, then the other wing. And just do one body part at a time. Then work up to head and 1 wing, and then 2 wings.... Only after he's comfy doing all 3, tighten... That's the part that archimedes freaked out about.... it should take around 2 weeks before you even begin at tightening. Also before taking him outside, make sure they know what it feels to fly with an aviator harness... the bounce was weird too for Archimedes, but now if he spooks and flies away he knows to fly right back to me

thanks everybody, I'm happy knowing that what I'm doing isn't harmful. I know greys need a good 12 hours or so of sleep. But I feel that if I'm able to take him out for 15 minutes and he'll fall asleep shortly after going back in his cage, it's better than him begging at the door for hours and getting himself worked up.

Archimedes has bonded to me, he enjoys the rest of my family, but Archimedes is my little buddy. I'm a late riser, so the rest of the family is up before me, and they'll take him out and play with him, but when I come downstairs, he comes to me straight away. Anyways, I go to school/work at nights and I come home anywhere between 7.30-11.00 at night. Last night I came home at 10.00 and Archimedes was already half asleep in the cage and my father was watching tv, well I barely whispered a hi, and Archimedes woke up. I ended up taking him out for 15 minutes, for some bedtime snuggles, and put him willingly back in his cage. Same thing again tonight, I came in and he woke up and started calling for me again. Took him out for a little bit, and the moment I put him back in he went to sleep. point is... am I creating bad habits when I take him out for late night snuggles... I know that if I don't (I only started taking him out yesterday) he'll dig at the bottom of his cage for a good hour... now he'll be asleep within half an hour TOPS...

One thing I could suggest is using a different door (like go through the garage) in order to go outside, that way Nilah will know only that door will take you outside, and if she does slip through, well, there's always the garage door that will stay closed. I'll also reiterate what Dave said, looking outdoors and being outdoors are 2 completely different things. Archimedes is very timid when we go outside, and the other day Archimedes was just hanging out on his tree (by the glass patio door) when my dad was outside grilling. Now Archimedes loves my dad, but seeing him on the other side of the glass door, it was like he saw a monster and flew away.

oops, sorry talon, didn't know there was a topic on this already...

I've noticed over the last couple days that any time Archimedes holds something it's always with the left foot, I guess that makes him a lefty... just like me! Are your greys lefty, righty, or ambidextrous?

danielsingh, you're comparing apples to oranges... while that article is talking about african greys at some points, mostly during the molt... african greys are not dimorphic birds (male birds look different than females, think eclectuses). African greys are also a completely different type of parrot than poi's... take for example the congo's scientific name is Psittacus erithacus erithacus while a senegal's is Poicephalus senegalus. Both species of birds have similar characteristics, but unfortunately, we aren't able to sex greys just by looking at them. Body shape may give an idea, but the only true way to find out is either dna sexing or surgery.

yea, he's been in there plenty of times, and he's always fine being in the bathroom, it's when I step in the bathroom he freaks out... eh, just another joy of having greys

door open/close it doesn't matter, heck I could go into the bathroom to use the mirror and he'll still flip out...

Archimedes has picked up a new habit (seems to pick up a new habit everyday) He will be fine hanging out on his tree minding his own business, I can come and go into the room, and it doesn't bother me, walk through the kitchen fine, family room fine, dining room fine... but the MOMENT I walk into the bathroom, he freaks out. First he'll start contact calling me, around 3 or 4 times, I've responded, I've not responded it doesn't matter. Then he flies off with reckless abandon around the whole house and usually lands on the keyboard or in curtains (the high ones of course).... Like I said, any other room he's fine with, I can even go upstairs to the bedrooms... but that bathroom, he freaks out over...

Like Ray said the only way to truly test is DNA. Body shape is an indicator, but not really 100% When I got Archimedes part of me knew that he was a male, though I'm sure a lot of it was also wishful thinking. Whether your little one is male or female, in the long run it doesn't matter because he or she will be your little bundle of joy regardless!

that number can vary though, like it you stated earlier, does it include sub species, and if it includes sub special, does it include hybrids... is it only for current species, or are extinct species on the list as well? While that number is large, I wish it would be more precise as to how they define species... (not blaming you for lack of information)

aww she's such a cutey! please don't take this the wrong way, but be careful with those plastic yellow chain links, we had some of those attached to one of Archimede's hoops and he kept getting his toes stuck in there, luckily I was home when it happened and we removed them... I'm not saying you need to remove them, but just keep an eye on her if she climbs them that she can't get herself stuck in them

my guy won't eat food if I didn't try it before giving it to him. Perfect example is carrots, offered him a baby carrot, and he darts that thing like it's poisoned, but the moment I put a carrot close to my mouth he will snatch that sucker from me. That's actually how I get Archimedes to try new foods, just wave it in-front of my mouth while it's out of his reach, boy he will go from being a 12 inch little monster to a 17 inch little monster if that means he can eat whatever I'm "trying" to eat!

It took Archimedes a few days before he fully settled in at home, and for the first few days, playing was not on the top of his list. Since Varo is still a baby, he's still getting used to everything, give it a couple more days for him to settle in. Once he's settled in some more, take some foot toys and show it to him, bring it close to him, but just out of reach, pretend to mouth it, then get it close, but still out of reach. After doing this for around 30 seconds, give it to him, he'll probably nibble on it twice and then drop it, remember he's still figuring out how to hold something with his claws. You could also do this at the table. Surprisingly, the less *made for birds* the item is, the more in demand it is... Archimedes LOVES click pens (with the ink removed). I will also say, he's had toy on his java tree that has been on there since day one, and he only just started playing with it, 3 weeks later... so don't give up hope

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I'm starting to take Archimedes outside... He's starting to get used to going outside but I'm curious, how much natural sunlight would a grey need to get the necessary UVB exposure? right now we're up to 10 minutes of outside time before I could tell he's had enough... But I'm hoping to stretch it to longer times, or even split it up into 2 or more sessions during the day if thats best for him

a good example of intrinsic motivation/reward is think back in middle school. You're learning multiplication in math, and just having difficulty with it, then all of a sudden it clicks, and you get this rush of excitement that "aha" moment. The teacher didn't need to give you a sticker, because that moment of "getting it" was your reward, and now that you finally get how multiplication works, you're more willing to tackle on more difficult math problems. Another idea is shooting your first basket (in basketball) you don't get a sticker from your coach every time you scored a basket, but that rush of excitement and happiness that you get from doing it is intrinsic motivation/reward. the reward is that moment of excitement, which motivates you to continue going.... I hope that helps!

oh you mean when he puts his head down, I need to pet him.... yea, I've mastered THAT command... real well haha

another thing you could do is cover your shoulders with a slippery fabric, if he can't get a grip, then theres no reason for him to land there

Ray you hit the nail on the head (sticker for you) and what you said about the Zon great too, right now my mother is my grey's least favorite person, however with food, he is able to come close to her. That's different than giving an intrinsic reward, I feel. By having my mother give any food, it shows Archimedes that food is good, mom gives food, mom is good (aka association and assimilation)

let me start off by saying, I've only had Archimedes for a few weeks, but he isn't my first bird, I'm still learning about him every day, and I will probably continue to learn from him for the next few decades. I do however go to school to learn to become a teacher, and essentially, train young minds. A few weeks ago we had a discussion in class that I could relate, not only to my future career, but my relationship with Archimedes. In the classroom (especially at younger ages) it's important for children to be motivated to learn. In order for these young minds to be motivated, they often times need to see a reward for a job well done. That sounds familiar, doesn't it, just like our greys will suddenly spin in circles when they see the grapes or whatever their motivation is. Anyways, there are two basic types of rewards, the first reward is extrinsic. It's the smiley face sticker on the ditto, the star chart, the treasure box, and for greys, it's that grape, that piece of nut, or seed. It's a great way of getting a grey to do something, because he can see the outcome... "if I can do this weird movement, somehow I'll get that nut" however, when there is no nut... the outcome might only be 50% accurate "pshh, I don't see a nut, why do I have to do that movement?" which brings me to the second type of motivation. Intrinsic. This is a harder one to teach your grey (yes you have to teach them to be rewarded intrinsically.) Basically, while extrinsic motivation there is an outside reward for a positive behavior. The intrinsic reward is being internally motivated to do something. An example is your grey is in the other room and decides to fly over to you, he is motivated to be part of the flock, and once he's there he is happy that he did it. You didn't hold a nut to make him come to you, however boy does he feel rewarded when he's there. next time you do something with your grey, see if you can teach him something without a piece of food, you might be surprised that he'll want to do something, just because he wants to do it.

I feel for people who try to quit smoking, luckily I never started. I work in a restaurant where out of the 30 servers/bartenders/hosts/takeout/managers only I think 6? of us don't smoke... But theres often a person going on about how they'll stop smoking in X amount of weeks... and yet, they never do.... it's hard because it seems like everybody smokes, you just can't get away from that smell... So far, nobody at work has quit successfully. My tips for you guys would be first of all, get away from the smokers if possible, and always remember why you quit smoking... and remember how much money you won't be burning away (and that you can now spend on your grey)