lisachristine

SterlingSt, talk about a SWEET face! Your grey is BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for reading!

Thank you Birdhouse! And by the way, LOVE the quote!!!! It really does put things into prospective.

Thank you Inara, for your kind words. I often times read these replies and am overcome with gratitude. Although I'd like to take all the credit, Rosie is the one that has done all the hard work. She is so brave to trust again. Although it's been a long journey I can honestly say that I enjoy every ounce of her, from the seed messes to the long night cuddles. As far as the feathers, yes she is plucking. I believe this is do to conflicting emotions on her part. I can tell she so badly wants to come out of her cage, but because of her issues can not bring herself to adventure outside. She will toy with the idea of coming out (I have a perch on the outside of her cage), but at the last minute will go to the back of her cage and pull hard at a feather. The majority of the plucking however, will occur while I'm at work. Perhaps boredom or separation anxiety.

You are so right about the relationship category Kevin D! Our relationship is definitely a mother/child relationship. In the morning before I head out to work, she yells out "Moms gotta go!" over and over with the sound of my purse zipping up. Every morning, as I reach for the front door, she frantically runs up and down on the front bars making horrendous noise which I'm assuming is a temper tantrum because she wants me to stay. So EVERY morning, running late and all, I turn around, walk to her cage, say give me a kiss (which she does), and I tell her softy "Don't cry, I'll be back. I love you". The best part of my day is coming home to her. Before I have a chance to dig my keys out to unlock the front door, I can already hear her making the sound of my car locking along with all the other crazy sounds a typical grey makes. Thanks everyone for your post!

Thank you for the encouraging words. I love her with all my heart, but I won't lie, some days I'll come home from work to a pile of feathers on the bottom of her cage (from plucking) and think maybe there's a better home for her out there. It makes me feel soooo inadequate as a grey owner. Some days I'll worry all day long "what can be the issue?", then I get on the forum and read all the stories about plucking and how not to take it personal if your grey plucks, if no medical issues are present of course. The forum has been a great support system for me! I just wish I could break the habit for her. It's so heartbreaking to watch and causes me so much anxiety.

Here's Miss Rosie on the "rope perch"!

Is your bird scared of you or your hand? Bites your hand? Or just plain wont leave it's cage? Here's sweet Rosie's story and a method that seemed to work for us. First a little background: When I first received Rosie, a two year old rescue grey with plucking issues, I had no clue what I was in for. I had other small parrots, but obviously not ANYTHING like a grey. I grew up around my Aunt's grey and knew how wonderful and majestic these creatures were and someday knew I would have one. When I bought my first home, I decided to take on a rescue bird of my own. There was a rescue grey in town and by word of mouth she pretty much landed in my lap over night. I was excited to finally have my own grey and companion just like my Aunt!! I have ALWAYS had a special connection with animals and thought for sure I would win Rosie's heart and we would live happily ever after. WRONG... My expectations were completely shattered the day Rosie entered my life. That day, I situated her big cage in an area that I thought was appropriate and next brought in her covered carrying cage with her in it. As I slowly uncovered her, she began SCREAMING and throwing her body against the cage bars over and over again. Her wild eyes zoomed in on me and blood from broken feathers splattered across the wall behind her like a horror movie. I have never felt so many emotions in my life! Fear, sympathy, panic, regret all at the same time. I knew that I had to stop the bleeding. I had been told before that birds could bleed out pretty quickly if action was not taken so I ran to get the styptic powder and a towel. I had never handled a bird like this before and was scared to death. I dove in, covered her with a towel (she was laying on her back still screaming). With wings batting, blood slinging, feet grabbing, and both of us crying I FINALLY was able to swaddle her and stop the bleeding. We sat on the floor, both out of breath, my hands bleeding from bites and her gasping for air from a gaping beak. When I felt her body relax a little, I slowly stood up and put her in the big cage. She once again screamed and jumped to the bottom of her cage. This was the routine for almost TWO YEARS......Anytime anyone would walk by her cage, she would scream and jump, sometimes breaking blood feathers on the way down. I found out later that her previous owner used to hit her cage with his cane to "shut her up". God only knows what else poor Rosie had to endure. Over a four year period, I finally habituated her to having my hands in her cage, feeding her by hand, and an occasional quick head scratch (she was a fear biter) She stopped jumping after two years but continued to scream if I mopped or swept near her. Now seven years later she no longer jumps or screams. The issue now days is actually getting her to step up onto my wrist and out of the cage. She's too fearful and will not leave her cage. Here's our progress: Last year I decided to start training Rosie to step-up, however I noticed that every time I said "step-up" she would start quivering with fear. I though about this for quite awhile and come to the conclusion that maybe perhaps she had a strong association with "step-up" and her previous abusive owner. These birds are so smart! I even contemplated changing her name because she would quiver at the sound of her own name, but decided against it. I decided to reword "step-up", a demanding command, to "Come out?" which she is more relaxed with. I also noticed that when I tucked her in for the night, she was more relaxed and would let me give head scratches without biting. "Maybe I should try to handle her at night right before bed instead of during the day" I thought. "Maybe there are too many distractions with daylight that scare her". When it was time to interact with Rosie, I made sure all the overhead lights were off and a small night light was on. The week prior, I had ran a rope perch across the front of the door on her cage, that way I wasn't "reaching in" to get her. It allowed her to leave her favorite perch and go to the rope perch which keyed me in that she was willing to be social or come out vs. being forced to come out. The first couple of nights she would come down to the rope perch, I would give her treats, but if I offered my wrist she would quickly return to her favorite perch. Sure enough after about two months of offering my wrist to "come out?" she finally reached out to me with one foot! She held my wrist for about 30 seconds and then released. This went on for about a week then she finally made the decision to "come out" with both feet! I didn't move a muscle, my wrist was completely different than a 2 inch hard perch and I could tell the texture, temp, and girth of my wrist was awkward for her. I allowed her to step back on to the rope perch at any point instead of holding her hostage on my wrist by walking away from the cage. She needed my trust before going the next step. After two weeks of two feet on my wrists and LOTS of cuddling, I slowly began moving away from the cage. First night, one slow step away, pause and then step back and offered the rope perch, giving HER the choice to go back if it was to overwhelming for her. Second night, two slow steps away, pause and two steps back to the rope perch. This went on for months, but we are now able to walk around the house in DIM lighting. We stop in the kitchen for cheerio snacks and fresh water. Last night I decided that it was time to bump it up a notch. As we walked through the kitchen, I told Rosie that I was going to turn on the light. I reached over and flipped the overhead light on. She wasn't as anxious as I thought she would be, more curious than anything. In a couple of weeks, I going to try to habituate her to overhead lights while we walk around the house and the ultimate goal of "coming out" during the day. Hope this might help someone. Good luck and have patience!

Dave, she is allergic to aloe vera (blisters). Greywings thanks.

Anyone know if it's safe to use pure organic coconut oil on a small pluck site? Thanks, Lisa

My rescue Grey was very aggressive due to fear from previous owner. One word my friend, PATIENCE. It took almost four years for Rosie to trust me. Everyday I worked with her and I can tell you I almost gave up. I thought she would never like me and that she would be better off with someone she "connected" with. With the help of this forum and my mother's advice, I dug my heels in and didn't give up. It was the best decision I ever made. I love to watch her progress which she continues on a daily basis. Just last month she graduated from one foot step-up to now both feet for a few seconds. I noticed yesterday when I walked passed her cage, she reached out for me! FOUR LONG YEARS it took! Good luck!

Here's Rico!!

Late one Thursday afternoon, I went to the back yard to bring my sun conure Rico in for the night. And that's when the nightmare began. I noticed the door of the cage was open and Rico was gone! I ran around frantically calling out his name "Rico! Rico!". My heart was pounding hard and I could hardly breathe. I knew the chances of him coming home were slim to none since he had never flown outside his room before, let alone flown to me before. He was only a step-up on the finger kind of bird and that was it, but I loved the little fella all the same. After a few minutes I heard his squawk in a distance. I was instantly relieved that he was nearby and that there was still a chance. I took off running towards the woods, tearing threw the briers and thorns like they were fragile webs and each time I tripped on the hard earth, I bounced back up like I had super powers. Not easy for a lady of my size! I know now that it was pure adrenaline. I finally located him high in a pine tree, some 30 ft. up. The wind was blowing and I could tell the little guy was scared to death! Neither one of us knew what to do. He squawked repeatedly and I called his name over and over again. I started to panic. The sun was starting to set and I knew time was of essence. With one big gust of wind, Rico's tired legs finally let loose. He flapped those little out-of-shape wings awkwardly high into the sky until I could no longer see him. I was crushed. I knew that if he was caught in a gust, he would end up miles from our home. I searched the neighborhood in pitch dark with no luck. Back at home I decided to call my mother who is an Alabama falconer to get some advice. She put my mind at easy, telling me that after sunset, most birds perch for the night and don't fly until dawn. Where ever Rico was, I knew that he would stay put and give me some time to come up with a plan. That night, I reviewed our surveillance camera footage which revealed how Rico's cage door was opened. Our new puppy had pawed it open. I couldn't sleep. The thought of Rico out on his own, cold, hungry, and scared tore my heart in two. The next morning I called into work, I told them a "family emergency" happened. They won't understand otherwise. I was up before the sun and started on foot in the direction where Rico disappeared, no shower, no breakfast, and no coat. I couldn't spare any time. People thought I was the crazy neighbor who was walking early in the morning calling out "RICO!" while looking at tree tops. Two blocks away at approximately 7am, I heard his first squawk! I found him perched in the biggest pine tree in North Alabama! From 7am to 7pm I kept a close eye on him. I sat in a grassy area, trying to dodge fire ants and the sun. I could tell Rico needed me there, so I didn't leave until sundown. I said a quick prayer and told him good night. As I walked away, Rico gave one last squawk in the distance as though he were saying "Please don't leave me". It was the saddest thing I had ever heard. I cried all the way home, replaying him over and over in my head. Too heart broken to eat, shower, or even change clothes I fell into bed. Once again I cried myself to sleep. As soon as my alarm went off, I sprung out of bed, again no shower, no breakfast, but did grab a folding chair. This time if I was going to sit all day at least I would be comfortable. As I made my way towards the tree where Rico was last perched, I could hear his morning squawks. I set up camp across the street in a catholic church parking lot where I was and HE was in full view. At noon time I notice a huge bird soring high in the sky. I knew from hawk hunting that this could be Rico's worst nightmare. Hawks most of the time get what they come for...before I knew it, the resident redtail hawk was zooming in on my Rico. I screamed as loud as I could, but the hawk shot down towards Rico like a silver bullet. I closed my eyes and plugged my ears, knowing that Rico would scream as he was being ripped apart like so many of the birds do with my mother's hawk. Looking threw the slits of my closed eyes, I saw the hawk fly away. Not only did the Hawk return, but he came for Rico THREE times!! A nightmare for both of us. Rico was still alive, scared as hell, but ALIVE!!! How did the hawk not kill Rico? Was it because I made a promise to God that if Rico survived I would go to church? What ever it was, my miracle happened. By day three, the local people were curious as to why I had been sitting in one place from sunup to sundown. Many people pulled into the parking lot to ask if I needed help. Heck, one person even brought me lunch! Rico finally made a move that day. I brought out his favorite mashed banana in a ceramic mug. I knew that if he heard the clinking of the spoon on the ceramic mug, he would do something! That brave little bird jumped from the pine tree flew over me and crash landed in a tree located in the parking lot where I sat. I was so excited that he was making an effort to come to me!!! Still high in a tree, I tried to climb this time, but the branches were to far apart. Once again I was powerless, I was exhausted, I was emotionally drained. My mother arrived later in the day with her T perch, which is a perch that extends 20 ft. I knew Rico would be frightened of it and I risked him flying away from it, but I took a chance and left it out for him to get him used to it. Saturday evening came, and once again I went home without Rico. Sunday morning as usual I was out before the sun. Rico was still in the spot where he had been before. I felt like giving up. This is never going to happen, I thought to myself. And that's when Rico flew to the perch and I was able to lower him to me, grab him and shove him up my shirt!!! Just like that! I was in shock for the next couple weeks. The following Sunday, my husband said "Didn't you make a promise to go to church?". " Yeah, maybe next Sunday" I said. And without hesitation Rico flew from his perch to my shoulder and gave one loud squawk!!! It was the first and only time he had ever flown to me. "Guess we're going to church!" We dressed up and headed out to the catholic church where Rico was rescued! I just wanted to tell my story for those of you who have lost a parrot. DON'T GIVE UP!!

Just wanted to post some silly videos! For those of you that think your Grey will never come around, it will happen with time!

Don't get me wrong, Rosie still dislikes the water, but tolerates it MUCH better than the others. The more I spray her the more she gets used to it. At least she's not jumping to the bottom of her cage like she used too

I love it when the light bulb comes on!!! I was spraying a pan with a "Misto" filled with olive oil when it suddenly hit me that this was the bird misting apperatis that I've been searching for for years! Rosie is terrified of misters that make the slightest sound! I ran to the store, purchase one, and Voila! Best $7 I ever spent!