Darwinsmom

I feel so torn, I like both names. The other name I am considering is Darwin.

So I decided to name the new baby Zulu because it was cute and had African roots. Today a name struck me that I just love and is so fitting for a Grey and rolls of my tongue a little more easily. Would it be wrong to change my fids name? He doesnt know his name, he hasnt even come home yet. Sooo torn. I jokingly said to the Hunny that I'd just need to get a 2nd bird to use the other name, I think part of him is worried I'd do it! lol To change or not to change, that is the question! Also, will "Zulu" be hard for a Grey to say?

I may be out of date on this but last I knew hissing and head weaving indicates an aggressive bird who is annoyed or about to bite, or perhaps defending its territory.

Oh, those loofas are nylon, I'm not sure of they are safe. I know people use natural loofa sponges but those ones in the photos are man made. Maybe someone here will know.

My goodness, you sure are fond of the hard cases! lol Bless you for giving him a good home and sending you tons of good vibes for positive, pleasant future with your boys.

Thank you for updating us, I was worried, as were most of us I am sure.

Wow, Ruby is a lucky girl to have survived that. Photos?

To my understanding, pellets are not an absolute must, but they make it easier to ensure your boy gets the needed vitamins and minerals. Otherwise this needs to be done through a fresh diet. There is lots of information on this list and ton of knowledgeable people. My previous CAG did not eat pellets, we tried, and I had to use supplements, our new baby is eating pellets like mad so hopefully that will not be an issue.

Does he get pellets at all? There is tons of information on diet in the diet section, it has kept me reading for hours!

He needs veggies every day, but fruit as a treat once or twice a week in small amounts. ;-)

Hey Jayd, I am aware of the difference but to intensify a trait often inbreeding is used, particularly with a recessive trait that is hard to find naturally. Be it inbreeding to continuously produce a particular trait, or selective breeding, its still done for the wrong reasons. PROFIT. Edit: If it was not clear, my post was actually agreeing with Jayd but also underscoring the fact to the other postster that breeding, in whatever form, to focus on one trait is wrong, as these "red" breeders are intending to do. As with all breeding, the focus should be on total health of the animal, not whatever unusual trait is going to make a quick buck. That is not responsible breeding.

I dont disagree its a naturally occurring mutation, HOWEVER, your statements are a perfect example of not understanding genetics and misleading people to think this is a harmless, safe thing to breed for. This mutation is a recessive gene. This means the both parent birds need to carry for it, are selectively bred to produce this gene/colour, and then INBRED over and over again to produce more and more red on the feathers. Inbreeding damages a breed, that is fact. Loss of hybrid vigor, setting undesirable traits as well as the trait they are being bred for etc... Selectively breeding for one particular trait is NEVER EVER a good thing, particularly a cosmetic one and particularly on in which the breeder stands to capitalize on an unusual or unique characteristic.

Looks yummy! I plan to do fresh too but the chop helps with variety. I have skewers and foraging toys to make the fresh veg/fruit into fun toys.

Yes, we sure screw up almost everything we touch, including our own planet. The world was a better place before we became so "advanced" in the last 100 years or so.

I think what Dave is getting at (and correct me if I am wrong Dave) is that selectively breeding for colour mutations involves inbreeding, as well as the blind eye to everything but colour when colour is the primary focus. Therefore there can be significant damage done to a breed because uncontrolled inbreeding, particularly done by amateurs who have no good understanding of genetics, for a particular trait is a very dangerous thing, and often unusual colour mutations can also go hand in hand with other undesirable traits. This red colur is neat, but it IS an undesirable trait, we just like it for being unique and humans try to replicate it, playing god if you will. I cant imagine a bright red Grey being a good thing in the wild, if they were meant to be that colour Mother nature would not have made them grey with red tails. Anyway, thats my take on what I think Dave was getting at. I've got a pretty extensive understanding of genetics, I've been breeding cats and dogs for more than 25 years now. I may need to bone up on bird genetics just for fun.

OOOHH!!!!! I cant wait to teach Zulu "Whistle". I LOVE that song!

Did he spend 25 years in that little round cage? I'm crying just thinking about it! How awful. Bless you for taking him in and giving him quality of life!

Too funny! you're going to have to buy it for her when it comes out! Oh hey!! Just noticed your a Canuck! I'm in Durham Region, not far at all!

Makes sense Jayd!

Ack!!! Youtube banned your vid in my country because it contains a copyrighted song....but I am sure Dayo bobbing away is adorable.

Zulu is both an African language and an African tribe. The word zulu itself means "the heavens'.

Hilarious!

I dont think I'd try this with a baby either. Garth used to like being flipped upside down but we didnt do it until he was steady, he would do it himself and spent most of his cage time upside down too. I may attempt it with Zulu when he's a bit older and there is already trust established so he knows I wont drop him.

I like a huge variety and listen to rap, hip-hop, metal, country, rock, jazz, pop, classical...pretty much everything. It will be interesting to see if Zulu likes music and reacts to it, particularly if there is a different reaction between the different genres.

Garth used to hang upside down n our hands and if you put the other hand under him he'd just lay there on his back. I believe it takes trust to do something like that.