Timbersmom

Yes, our greys hate change! This makes sense to me. I'm going on a mission trip next week and I feel sorry for the hubby, who will be staying home with Timber. Though nothing else will change about his routine, I won't be in my usually spot and he will get warped.

You and Alex are getting along great for this stage of your relationship. Greys are very slow to trust. There was lots of good advice given. As Accapella said, don't let your hand come at him from the back, it will freak him out every time. Also, unless you were dripping blood and had hanging skin, that was a warning, not a true bite. I say this from experience and have the scars to prove it. Give Alex more time. As some one else pointed out, he lowered his head a few times. When Timber does that he wants a head rub. Be careful though, he could still startle and nail you. Take at his pace, which is probably sloooow, and try some of the things mentioned. This may not apply to Alex, but I'm going to throw it out there. Every time I would try to get Timber to step up on my hand he would bite. I also can't say "step-up." Not sure what happened in his past, but those are no-nos. I finally found out he will step up on my forearm, and I use "wanna go?" as the command. One of the hardest things about rehoming is not knowing their past and what makes them react like they do. It's a learn as you go thing.

Timber does not like orange. He was terrified of the mini pumpkin I bought for him the first year he was with me. I've noticed since that he doesn't like orange toys either. He will, however, eat cooked sweet potatoes. Maybe size has something to do with it.

Timber usually only gets stressed when he doesn't get his way...

There are several threads on bathing you might want to check out. Here is one that is a sticky in the health room to get you started: http://www.greyforums.net/forums/showthread.php?189753-Bathing-possible-method-1

When it comes to vet visits, you do what you have to do. I took Timber to the vet the day after I brought him home. Yes, we used a towel and a small cage. I waited until he was outside the cage, closed the doors so he couldn't get back in, then used the towel. Not one of my finer moments, but you do what you have to do to protect their health.

LOL Doing a pretty good job but I see him! Of course, I'm used to looking...

Looks like Alex is ready for some face scratching! That would be what I would try next...

Always love seeing these flight videos!

It is fine to touch his beak. I do that every time I pass Timber (unless he's in a mood). As to the plucking, I hadn't had that problem, but I would say the first thing to do is have a vet check to make sure the plucking does not have a physical cause.

Timber works better than leeches when I feel the need to be bled! The practice is old, but it brings him much satisfaction.

One universal thing about birds, they are flock animals and if you are eating they expect to be eating too! Timber wasn't wild about my husband, until he started sitting near him when he ate and sharing.

Awwww sweet!

I am so sorry for your loss. My mother died suddenly at age 90 last summer (she lived alone and was in good health) so I can truly feel your pain!

Another thing I thought about... with a rehomed bird you don't know what training they have had. I've seen lots of videos with people training their birds to turn in a circle (why I'm not really sure). Makes me wonder if this is a "trick" he was taught.

Hello and welcome to the forum

Loved it, thanks for posting!

Same here as Sterling, my cam allows me to talk to him but no video of me (I can see him) so no help here!

So sorry for your loss! God bless you for making Peck's last year on earth a good one.

What JeffNOK said plus whistle with him. One of my first "communications" with Timber was whistling. I would whistle, then he would whistle. Back and forth we would go. We still do as a matter of fact.

Hello, welcome and congratulations! I'm a rehomer so don't have baby experience. I'll leave your questions for someone who really knows from experience...

Neat pics! I see Gracie had to photo bomb on the last two.

What a beautiful baby! I am a rehomer so enjoy seeing the baby pictures. I am no help because I've never had a baby bird, but keep posting pics

Sure glad Java is OK!

Inside the cage is your bird's safe zone. My TAG, who is pretty docile (now, not when I brought him home) outside the cage will never step up from inside the cage. Does your grey come outside if you leave the cage doors open? That is the usual routine. When he is comfortable and trusts you, he will probably come out on his own as soon as you open the doors. I can never get the doors open quickly enough for Timber, and he gets miffed if I don't let him out the minute I come in (like when I've been gone or in the morning). I would assume it is just early days yet for you and your grey, and he is still adjusting to you and his new environment.