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That's awesome! It's possible that it will be a regular thing. Alfie quite often babbles away to himself, testing out all sorts of different noises with the odd word or phrase thrown in. He likes to contact call as well- if he knows I'm upstairs and can hear me moving around then he'll start whistling to get my attention. Him and my housemate quite often have "whistle-offs" from opposite ends of the house haha. It can go on for quite a while!

From my point of view as an outsider who isn't experiencing the problem, it's quite funny. ...Sorry! However, I appreciate that it must be get very irritating very quickly every time it happens! Hopefully your fabric and magnet idea will help though.

I agree with the advice from Acappella. It's very tricky to know what's going on in those little grey heads sometimes. For now, I'd back off a bit and let her get used to you being around again. She may need some time to get used to the fact that you're back home and therefore you may need to gain her trust again.

That's awesome! Go Mimi!!

Happy 4th July to all American members

Hello and welcome to the forums! What an awesome intro! And some lovely photos too!

Hah, my housemate pointed this out to me the other week. I was very careful as to how much I played as I didn't want Alfie getting any ideas! Not my cup of tea, to be honest. But amusing, nonetheless.

Alfie has been a busy boy lately. He's slowly redecorating my lounge. I have some lovely beak marks in the wallpaper near the fireplace. He also decided that I should let some more light in (even though it was dark outside) and put some holes in the curtains for me! Got to love them and their mischievous ways!

Congratulations on the new job!

Aw, well I'm glad it made you happy! Do you think Miss Gilbert will ever find her wings? I'd like to hope so!

Keep going Samansad- you WILL be rewarded eventually! You're doing a fantastic job with Alex and you've already come such a long way. You will learn over time what he does like and doesn't like and you'll soon find your way of working with and around Alex's quirks and traits. It's clear that Alex wants to work with you too. He's learning as much about you as you are about him!

Yes the vet I take him to is very good. So glad I take him there because he always does a good job. I was surprised when he said he'd only be ten minutes as he was taking Alfie away.. but he was right and it didn't take very long at all. Alfie was a little bit damp and a little wide-eyed. But he soon settled on the way back and he was fine at home too. He just wanted to sit and relax in his travel cage- which I don't mind- I'm glad he finds it comfortable!

Alfie is now micro-chipped and has had his ID ring removed... which I was allowed to keep.

I took Alfie to the vet today. He was micro-chipped, had his ID ring removed and also had his beak sorted again. He's back home now and is chilling out in his travel cage. I think it was a bit traumatic for him today as he clearly did not want to leave the house and refused to get in his travel cage. Now he's home and the travel cage door is wide open he's having a nap and doesn't want to come out just yet. The vet did an awesome job and Alfie was in and out within 10-15 minutes. Here are a few before and after photos!

No he's been flying for years, believe it or not. He has always been very chaotic with it and just flings himself in the general direction of where he wants to go. His landings aren't always so bad though. It's just the first time I've actually managed to catch him on video in flight.

A very short video of Alfie flying across the room to me [video=youtube;ARax9_Z-y-I]

Awesome stuff- well done Sully for figuring out what your wings are for! Now all sorts of mischief can happen!

Haha naughty daddy! Awesome videos. The second one made me laugh so much.

I honestly had never heard of microchipping parrots until I read about it on these forums and started asking questions about it. I just didn't realise it was possible! Both cats are microchipped in case they get out- so as soon as I found out I knew I wanted to get Alfie sorted too. I keep reading numerous stories at the moment about parrots escaping from their homes and it does worry me. I'm super careful whenever Alfie is out but it just takes one little mistake and one fleeting moment for it to happen. At least if he's chipped I would have a bit more chance of him being identified and returned to me.

Thanks Sterling. I'll ask the vet on Monday and hopefully he'll be able to do it with minimal hassle.

Hello all, Alfie is going to the bet on Monday to have his beak looked at and also to be microchipped. Does anyone know if it's possible to remove the ring round his leg (it's a closed ring- no gap) and if so, is this something a vet is going to be able to do? The ID number on it has mostly worn off so it's redundant... especially as he'll be 'chipped. I also feel that it may be rubbing on his leg and starting to irritate him as he keeps poking at it. I'd rather have it taken off to avoid any possible problems.

Like others said, I think every bird is different. For example, Alfie (my grey) much prefers whistles and noises to words. He's not a big talker compared to some. However, if you start whistling, it's a sure fire way to get him going. He'll try and join in and copy whatever you're whistling. Him and my housemate have regular whistle battles- sometimes I struggle to tell which whistle came from who! They are always watching, listening and learning. Alfie is 12 years old and picks up new sounds and the odd word all the time. Sometimes he suddenly starts recalling sounds/words that he hasn't used in years too. If Alfie is learning new words he quite often waits til he thinks nobody can hear him and mumbles away to himself. He practices all sorts of different voices, words and phrases. Sometimes it's just pure mumbling and sometimes he comes up with a new word or phrase which he practices for a while. Other parrots learn all sorts of words and phrases and can pretty much hold a meaningful conversation (of sorts) with their owners. Just keep talking to Mayday. You'll be surprised with what noises, sounds and words he'll eventually come out with! However, don't expect him to be a big talker. They don't all learn/use words

This is interesting. He's obviously now realized that biting won't get him anywhere- that you're made of tougher stuff than he originally thought! So it worked- well done you! You know when you showed him the treat and he was reaching for it but you were pulling it away? You might be able to use this to your advantage. Show him the treat. Get him excited about the treat. Make him well aware that the treat is in your hand and that he can't reach it. Then, put your other hand between Alex and the treat. Move towards the cage slowly, showing him the treat and telling him that you have a tasty treat for him. Don't use the step up command just yet. Just focus on how tasty the treat is. There is a possibility that the command "step up" has negative connotations from him previous home. So don't use it just yet. Keep your arm in front of the treat so that if he REALLY wants the treat, he'll have to use you as a method of getting it. (Just like you started to do in the video). If he runs away, let him. Just show him the treat again and see if he comes back. You might have to break it down a bit further if he's still not playing ball- let him have a treat if he comes over to you. Then see if he will take the treat when you have the other arm nearby. Just keep going. Just keep going until he realises that you're not a threat and that coming to you = treats and praise. Keep training sessions short and simple though. 10-15 mins at a time should do it.

Hello and welcome to the forums! Peanut looks like an awesome bird! I look forward to hearing more about her!

Deaf or very tolerant neighbours. Or neighbours who own birds!