Wulfgeist

Depends on who does it. When calling around for a place to have my GCC's removed I was shocked, one vet wanted $50, I suppose the cost of an office visit. My friend was calling places too and found one that did it for free. Great! I thought she meant a vet..no she pulls up at this little mom and pop pet store..I was freaking inside. "hope they know what they are doing, hope he doesn't pick up anything here". I think they had a good grasp on what they were doing and she returned the band and told me I needed to keep it so that reassured me a little bit.

Jasper wasn't banded at all. The place I got him frowns heavily on bands so I didn't even get one. I asked if he was going to come with a hatch certificate or something but aside from the sales papers I only got his DNA certificate. I did have the band removed from my GCC but it was crimped and looked to be too much of a safety risk.

So not to derail my own thread..but I've been pondering getting him chipped..I thought they put them out for a bit to do it? Poor Jake. I'm not sure which would be worse, being knocked out or actually experiencing the pain of the procedure. I guess he did squawk at the vet for his wellness check since he wouldn't behave he had to be toweled.

Made me jump! I've heard Jasper scream before when he's on his playtop battling one of his toys. He started doing it again today but while he was hanging on his Lots of Knots toy. Several times I had to check and make sure his foot wasn't caught or anything. No, he's just playing I guess because then he starts whistling and kissing at the darn thing. To give myself a little peace of mind I swapped that toy out with another. This one is plastic and wood, no fibre bits to get toes caught in. He jumped right on it and is attacking the wood slats right away, turning them into toothpicks. :rolleyes: I guess this must be a normal thing when they get wound up and playing? I guess it will freak me out until I learn the difference between the playing scream and a real "I need help" one. The latter I honestly hope I never hear.

{{{hugs to you}}} I'm am so sad to hear this news, it's just so very sad.

That was too cute. Jasper doesn't like my cats because his first encounter with them he got whiskers in his face. Now everytime one of them comes near he starts shaking his head and doing this little snort. My GCC on the other hand will willingly go down to the floor and chase the cats.

Oh he's been shedding the fluff like a madman for a while now. And they are getting bigger! So far just the three feathers I've found, they look to be maybe from his neck. I keep looking for more dropped feathers and feather sheaths on him but nothing so far.

Was going to link this but I see you have, good deal. I have one of the listed products but wrong date code. Bag is nearly gone now anyhow. I hope they don't find more but kudos to them for being proactive.

Yesterday morning after he was done with his breakfast I went to remove the top soiled paper in Jasper's cage ...and found a feather.. This morning..I found another..later I noticed another one. Baby boy must be molting now. Aww..say bye bye to those unique red-tipped with charcoal tail feathers, you're going to be getting your big boy feathers now. Approximately how long does a molt take for these guys? My GCC has been molting for maybe close to 4 months now I think and isn't done yet. Sort of bittersweet as these stages come and go. I'm glad he's taking another step in the lengthy road to adulthood but it's sort of sad to see the baby slowly leaving.

I sort of have a similar problem. My GCC always reacts to a cabinet door in the kitchen that squeaks. Since my grey came home, he's picked that up from my conure and true to grey form does it shrilly and alot more loudly. They are awesome!

Wow Nancy you sound like you were really lucky all things considered. Jasper is only 7 mos old and he's never been the cuddly kind of bird. He'll do just like he first did when he doesn't want to be scritched or touched, he will push my fingers away and I respect that. I usually *ask* him if he would like a scritch and he will lower his head if he does. He's generally pretty good about stepping up, I don't normally push him to do things he doesn't want to do. That's the first time he's really got me since we came to this understanding. He's a pretty headstrong individual.

Jasper is pretty set in his mind when he doesn't want to do something. He's not been one of those cuddly babies..ever..still he's a pretty sweet guy when he wants to be. Our relationship has improved alot since he's been home, I have learned to respect his wishes when he doesn't want to be touched or scritched, when he does he will lower his head for me. The trouble is sometimes he just doesn't WANT to step up. Now I am taking most of the blame for this one, looking back I am 100% sure I could have avoided it. It happened something like this: The other morning I decided to go grocery shopping so off to the shower I go with Jasper in tow. He got a little wet and proceeded to chew up the curtain liner while I showered. My shower perch just won't stick to the surround so I have it on the mirror instead. Once the shower is done he goes from the shower rod to the perch on the mirror. I get dressed and..here's my mistake...ask him to step up so I can take him back to his cage. He grabbed my fingers and pushed them away. No, I am going to the store, we don't have time to play around, let's go, step up. *nip*. Hey! Bad boy, come on I need you to step up..BAM. I'm bleeding everywhere, he gets put in the hand towel for the trip back to his cage. I should have left the room and given him a moment. When I leave him, he'll likely step up so as not to be left alone again. This is the part that kills me. I am all for respecting his wishes but there are sometimes that he needs to just step up and don't argue. What if it had been an emergency? Silly bird. It's like 3 or so days old now, picture below, somewhat oogie. NM I can't figure out how to include a picture, it's not letting me drag anything. Still pretty new to this forum, lots to figure out.

Yikes! I'm so glad he's ok, this could have been a much much sadder tale.

Very good thing to remember. I always have to remind my friend when she comes over of that. Good thing I didn't have success toilet training my cats.

I had ordered one before Jasper came home. I caught heck from the ladies at the shop because I "should have been bringing it and getting him used to it, he'll never take to it now". Well I couldn't because I had just gotten it! After he came home it didn't take but a day or two to get it on him. The first day was a mess, I wasn't good at putting it on. Second day he held still for me, I guess I was lucky in that respect. Zulu is handsome little guy and you will have so much fun taking him outside with you to get some fresh air and sunshine.

Thanks for the info! The dander isn't a problem at all, I have 3 cats and litterboxes. I'm not going to notice it so much with that. I just can't believe I've never read anything about the fluff. I seem to notice him preening alot more than usual lately. He doesn't much like the shower but to drink the water but I take him in a couple times a week and at least put him on the shower rod so he gets some moisture. Thanks for all the info, Dave. I'll keep an eye out for feathers.

I guess this got overlooked maybe as I added it onto an existing thread. So from what I see now greys have their first molt around 8 months and not a year as I had previously thought. Jasper has been losing fluff for a while and it's getting really bad now. He just turned 7 mos, is this a sign that his molt will be coming soon? Also is the fluff just a baby thing or do they always have this? I can't believe that all I have read on greys the dust is always mentioned, I have never heard of this fluff going everywhere.

Aww Congratulations on a boy! And he's so sweet. Cherish those black baby eyes because they grow up so fast!

Jasper has been losing the fluffy down stuff nearly since he came home but I notice it's everywhere in this room now and has been floating around for some time. Is this something that preceeds the molt? I have a green cheek conure and he's going through his molt right now too but being smaller I never noticed do they always have this fluff? I've heard about dust from greys (can't tell over litter boxes) but no one ever mentioned the marble sized fluffs blowing everywhere. Will it always be snowing these large snowflakes in my house or is this just a "first time baby molt" thing?

Fed everyone this morning and was sitting down to browse the web with my cereal, Jasper ate some of his breakfast and was up on his perch doing his morning routine. He's whistling, burping, making noises and those sounds that sound like he's trying to make words when I *swear* I heard him say "peek a boo". It is possible, lately I have been doing the peek a boo thing with the towel after the shower and things like that. This last week there has been such a change in him. He's actually wanted to go explore in the living room and things in the kitchen (he has a table stand for when I'm getting the critters' breakfasts together or doing dishes), supervised only of course. It's so exciting and yet a bit sad at the same time. The baby is slowing leaving and will be gone forever.

Oh dear, I thought they had their first molt at around one year old. Jasper just turned 7 months, if they start around 8 months..I might be having a major life transition at the end of the month and moving from WI to VA since I can't seem to find work here. Molting and a major life change at the same time for him. Poor guy.

I'm so sorry for your loss, losing a precious baby is one of the hardest things ever.

Once again congrats, she's gorgeous and I love the name. Nice to see you over here, too

I am so happy for you both!! I love happy endings.

Update! Maui has been returned home! He was found in a man's yard up in a tree being harassed by some other birds. The man took him in and tried to find the owner. He had pretty much given up and went out and bought a cage and everything. He happened to be over visiting some neighbors of the owners and mentioned this bird he found. The rest, they say, is history. Maui is back with his mommy and I hope now since the gentleman has a cage he will give a forever home to a bird that needs it. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers! I love reporting happy endings