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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!

Aw man, I have tears in my eyes! Who could do that to a poor little dog? Or any animal for that matter? So happy that things turned round for him though.

I spotted this on facebook so thought I'd pass it on. It's a bit too far for me as I'm in the UK [EDIT] Sorry, the image seems quite small for some reason- but go here for details: http://bird-haven.org/event/1st-annual-feather-fest-fundraiser/

Oh how sad I really feel for them.

Its the only thing I've had to do it with. He still gets irritated about us moving it through the room, but less so if we tell him what we're doing. So I just say something along the lines of "Alfie! I'm just going to walk past your cage with the washing basket so I can do some washing. It's nothing to worry about!" He used to absolutely hate wrapping paper. No idea why. But no matter what colour, how much of it there was or what kind of paper it was he would get really angry and growl at it. Any other paper was fine- he just hated wrapping paper. He's not bothered by it any longer though. I made a point to wrap presents in the same room (but as far away from his cage as possible) and again, just explained what I was doing and why. He soon learned that it was nothing to worry about. Now I can wrap presents wherever I want and he's not fussed. I can even show him the paper now and he doesn't growl. I'm sure in a few years he'll be indifferent about the washing basket too. It's just taking him a while longer to come round to that one!

I don't think there's any colours that Alfie is adverse to. I can't think of any time that he has reacted badly to something simply because of its colour. He's always been surrounded by different colours and I've never noticed him preferring or disliking certain colours.

The washing basket. It's a white plastic basket we use to ferry clothes to/from the washing machine. Unless you announce that you're walking through the room with it Alfie starts hopping about and lunging towards it. No idea what he's got against it but he always gets funny about it!

I'm sorry, I can't offer much advice with this one. But other members will be able to offer help and ideas. I just wanted to say well done for taking Alex in and being so keen to learn about him/how to handle and train him etc. I have no doubt that over time your relationship with Alex will grow and flourish and he will start to reward you in many different ways. You're doing all the right things by seeking advice and listening to the advice given.

Just a thought- as Alfie prefers it: Rather than spraying him directly, try misting it above him so the mist falls on him, rather than being sprayed directly on him. So hold the bottle a little further away from the cage and angle it up over him. Keep it on the mist setting you are using but aim above his head so the water falls on to him. Keep it at a mist rather than a squirt. Alfie much prefers it this way and he's not a massive fan of baths either. (His favourite bathing method is to go over to his water bowl and fling water all over the place! More ends up on the floor and walls than it does on him, but he still persists! :rolleyes:) You could also try giving him a shallow bowl/tub of water. It might be that he prefers to stand in water and throw it over himself (which is what Alfie tries to do in his water bowl). You may need to play with the water yourself to get him interested though. It might be worth you looking around the other sections on these forums and posting some new threads in the relevant sections whenever you have questions. More people might see the new threads and will be able to give you extra advice.

I was in the kitchen tidying up and happened to crouch down when I heard a FLAP FLAP FLAP of Alfie flying to me from the living room. Unfortunately I was too slow to stand up so he flew over me and landed behind the microwave. He sat there for a while supervising what I was doing and checking things out (he hasn't been in that particular spot in the kitchen before). He also discovered the big glass water jug I have stored behind there and took great delight in tapping it with his beak to make a 'ding' noise. His head kept popping up over the microwave so he could check to see where I was/what I was doing. It was quite sweet.

Alfie trying to hide in the kitchen.

Wow check you out with your new toy, Sully! You've clearly got a clever human wrapped round your talons!

Alfie keeps an eye on the cats for me. I know when they're up to no good because I'll hear "Oi!" followed by "No!"

Love this! I can't spot all of them- even when zoomed in! I'm look for a stand similar to the one you have in the middle of the photo- with the two birds on. Is that handmade or did you buy it from somewhere?

So happy that things are going so well for you. It sounds like Alex i settling in really well... and that's all on you. Well done for taking him in and adapting to life with him. They are awesome birds and I'm sure you'll have many more awesome/amazing experiences with him in your life!

That's an awesome idea! Not sure how "doable" it would be though, seeing as most of the forum members seem to come from over the pond. I guess it would be a bit too expensive for most! Some kind of forum member meet up would be pretty cool. Especially if parrots could attend too! Again, cost/travel might be an issue for most though.

Aww, what an adorable little greyby you have there!

It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to go. My car has a problem with engine compression so won't accelerate very well when on dual carriageways/motorways- especially if there is an incline. It's currently at the garage being looked at and I've got a feeling it's going to be the worst case scenario. I don't know of anyone else who would want to come with me (who would be willing to drive as well!) so it looks like I'm going to miss out this year. Boo. There's always next year though, I suppose!

What a clever girl she is!