Darwinsmom

Well, my hands are green and blue from veggie dye (bird safe), my fingers are sore and I have a bunch of new toys I just made, never mind the ones I bought. Now I need 4 more cages to put this stuff in! Rotation to prevent boredom will NOT be an issue in our house!! lol My fiance now thinks I have a screw loose though. Actually, he knows what he got himself into, I had several dogs, cats and a Grey when he met me 8.5 yrs ago ;-) Ray P : I dont just cry, I bawl like a kid, and I am not typically an emotional person. On my 2nd visit to see Zulu I started sobbing uncontrollably and they ushered me into a private room, I think mostly to hide the crazy crying lady from other customers!! LOL. If I saw a Grey I was utterly inconsolable for several years after Garth died. I'm finally ready for another after all this time I only just parted with his cage 3 weeks ago. I sold it to buy Zulu his own, he deserves a new home of his own, not one with Garths memories attached. I still have all Garth's toys. I threw nothing away. I'm not big on people for the most part, my profession led me to see the worst in people, maybe I am jaded, but if it involves animals I'm just a huge sucker. I tend to favour like minded people too, if you dont like animals then I probably dont like you! Amali: Such a good idea!! That would certainly help with birds that are leary of new toys. I will remember that if Zulu is one to make strange with new things. CLB & Koekie: My VISA card may disagree!! I'm not sure if it is a good thing or a bad thing but I'm Canadian (Toronto, Ontario) and Amazon.com won't ship me the stuff I see on there, I know, I tried already, dammit!!

I cannot stop buying toys, parts to make toys, browsing for toys. Foraging toys, shredding toys, puzzle toys, preening toys, noisy toys (Im going to regret these ones, I can see it now). Zulu wont even be home for another 3 weeks or and so he is already the most spoiled bird. I have bags and bags of toys and just bought a ton of in-shell nuts and a huge variety of beans to make bird recipes. My previous CAG was never a big toy guy or chewer but he loved his darn bell and would beat the stuffing out of it. (my gosh I'm a loon, I'm crying at the memory just writing this...its been 7.5 years since he passed!) I have no idea what Zulu will favour, but I am prepared!! What are some of your Grey's favorite toys?? I'd love to know if there are some things they favour over others.

Thats hilarious! Too cute!

Thank you for all your replies. I have teenagers who are careful, as we have dogs and cats so they have learned not to leave doors open, but the friends coming and going may not be as careful. Household dangers I can control and remove, its the going for the door and taking off that really, really worries me. They are fast. We have 4 dogs so the massive patio door is opened and closed many times a day. It breaks my heart to think of clipping. My 1st Grey was clipped and never learned to fly, the breeder did it, we had no say. I have asked that Zulu not be clipped and they are respecting my wishes. I do intend to work on recall training and did buy an Aviator harness. I guess we will wait and see how it goes and what his personality is like or if he makes any escape attempts. I wonder if putting a sheer curtain over the door so you have to walk through it would help? It would act as a barrier but not be heavy enough to be in my way, just not moveable for a bird.

I'm having SUCH a hard time with deciding to clip or not to clip. I understand the importance of learning to fly, balance, self confidence etc.. and I am not concerned about things in the house, all dangers have been removed, we dont/wont operate ceiling fans etc... I even bought an Aviator harness and leash. However, I just got through reading several posts about lost birds like Spock and others who have flown out a door that was only open for a second due to accident, or a Grey who knocked the screen out and got loose and it just turns my stomach. My exhusband lost my first CAG. He stood on the porch with him (I wasnt home or I'd have never let that happen) and Garth spooked and took off. I spent days searching, contacting every possible group on the planet that could help, and by the grace of dog we got him back but just remembering that feeling makes me want to vomit, it was awful and my heart bleeds for those who have not recovered their birds. Im so torn. I know I can prevent in house dangers but these stories upset me so. I dont know what to do!! We have dogs going in and out all day, what if the door is open a fraction too long? What if a visitor forgets? I dont plan to cage much, and others may not be as careful as I am. If we fledge and allow flight for a while and then do a moderate clip, when is the best time to do it? Wont Zulu be upset if he was able to fly and then is limited? I'm so torn. I cant believe how much this choice upsets me. I prefer flighted, just as my cats have all their claws,it is what is natural but that fear of loss or injury is making me crazy. Any advice would be appreciated.

Me too. Years ago I hand fed my 1st Grey and then a Greenwing we had (who was insanely jealous, HATED my kids and tried to kill my children and was rehomed to a child free environment). I used to help feed the baby parrots at the pet store on holidays too. Its hard enough and stressful enough making sure everything is perfect with an 8, 10 or 12 week old bird. I cant imagine having to care for a 1 week old. Dont they usually stay in the nest until they are a few weeks old? Has the poster posted anywhere else?

I have to wonder (and I sure hope) that this is a typo. I have a 13 week old Grey that is being hand fed twice a day still and will come home on one feeding in a few weeks, but I have a great deal of experience hand feeding baby birds, otherwise I would not take even one feeding on. I just dont see how the poster would actually have a 1 week old baby.

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Until Zulu comes home I guess I'll be busy reading and refreshing my memory on diet, body language and the like. These forums help greatly. We didnt have the internet when we got Garth and books were scarce and poor quality. Its so helpful to read about other Greys and there behaviours. Garth was bonded to my exhusband but I loved him nonetheless. I kept him after we divorced as my ex went into a small basement apartment and I refused to let the bird live in that situation, but he never did really take to me the way he did to my ex. I hope I am even better bird Mom this time around and I am sure these forums will be heavily utilized!

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