Timbersmom

Good one!

Hard to say what Kiwi was up to! My experience with Timber is that when he wants to bite, he really BITES. Could this be come kind of grooming thing? Hopefully someone with more experience will have an answer for that one.

I suspect your optimism will pay off!

I'll also add that sticking my hand or arm in Timber's cage is an invitation for a bite. I understand your fear of not being able to get him back in, but a lot of birds don't want their space (cage) invaded and react to it. They need to feel like the cage is their safe place. Like Nancy, I would suggest that you wait to try for a step up until he is out of the cage.

Sadly true that getting bitten is the norm for most parrot owners. Many of the members here who have had their birds many years and are usually pretty good at "avoiding the beak" get caught once in awhile. I've had Timber over a year now. I don't get bitten nearly as often now as when I first got him, but he still surprises me once in awhile. It's easy to miss a hint or misread their body language when you are in a hurry even after you have been at it awhile. Yes, it's hard not to be angry and hurt when it happens. Like Judy said, don't take it personally! For most of us, it is just part of owning a parrot. Hang in there!

Haaaa.. pretty close but I've had a trim

I'd tend to agree with BaileysPapa. Timber does a lot of stretching, wiggling, wing spreading, shrugging, etc. I have always assumed he is just stretching. He also does the quiver thing Talon mentioned. It is like he is trying to get every feather exactly the way he wants it. Wish I could read his mind!

Wow Nancy, you sound almost like a professional! Timber loves that song too.

Haaaa! You guys are funny!

Sweet! I'm late getting to the forums today. Hopefully I'll read an earlier post from you about the homecoming etc.

Hello and welcome! What a cool story about how Jacko became part of your family! Very nice pics too, thanks for sharing.

A 6 year-old TAG and an unspecified old goat (me) here

LOL! Sounds like someone at Bird Jungle is a prankster. Or just tired of being bitten so they decided to try to unload that macaw! A bite is never really funny, but your description of your attempts to stay "cool" was

LOL great idea! Their fears are so strange. Things I think Timber will love he doesn't, and things I think he will hate he loves. Great use of the evil driftwood!

LOL... no it won't! That is one of the things I actually took a bite of in front of him to try to tempt him (I'm not a pumpkin fan). He still acted like the creature from the black lagoon was sitting in this cage. I bought a mini pumpkin and cut the top off, tried that, no go. I cut it in half so it wouldn't look so intimidating, no go. Cut it in quarters, no go. Hung a piece on his skewer, no go. I don't know if it was the color or what, but he wouldn't come anywhere near it in his cage. On second thought, not the color since he loves sweet potato. Who knows!

How excited you must be! I don't know how others here do it, but I upload my phone pics to facebook, save them to my desktop, then attach them through the tool in the advanced post section.

What a pretty flock you have! I'll bet Bailey's and the other's curiosity is killing them while separated like that. Timber is the ultimate nose. He can't stand it when there is activity in another room that he isn't able to view or be a part of.

LOL it is hard not to laugh at their "bad behavior." Especially since I am always thinking "if someone were watching this they would think I was totally insane." Hopefully you'll get there with the harness!

Hello and welcome Jamb. Post some pics of your fids when you have a chance. We love to see them! Also were your birds babies, rehome, rescues... give us the scoop!

Woohoo! Good for you Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm glad you have been researching. I was ill-prepared to get a grey. I had no idea of the complexities involved, or of their needs, or of the cost for the matter. I have no regrets, but wish I had done the research before I got Timber.

That has certainly been my experience kittykitty! I've gotten a lot better at reading his body language etc., but like a toddler, when he isn't getting his way I have to watch out for the "spite bite."

She will get used to the level of activity. Things that made Timber jump or spook the first few weeks don't phase him now. It just takes time! When Timber startles and takes off, I think he realizes he overreacted almost immediately most of the time. It appears to be just instinct (to fly from danger). He has a light clip, so when he glides to the floors he will shake himself off and start walking toward me for a step up, with a "what was that all about expression." If the cat or the macaw had gotten hold of her, that would be traumatic. They seem pretty pragmatic to me, and usually all's well the ends well. If she's still coming readily out to sit on her door when you open it, I don't think you have any worries.

Yes, love the pics! What a beautiful baby Sounds like you are off to a great start. I wish Timber was harness trained. We are nowhere near that level of trust though, and may never be. As a baby, I'd think Bailey is a lot more likely to cooperate.

You are making progress! I don't know if this is relevant, but Timber refuses to step up on my fingers (period, ever). It is my forearm or nothing.

Awww, what a pretty girl! Thanks for sharing