Timbersmom

They do love a puzzle. Cockey sure looks content and at home with you. Enjoyed the pics, thanks for posting

Timber does that too (hanging and flapping). As as I know, it's just a bird thing. I'll let someone with more experience with a flighted bird address the question of when to let him out of the cage.

Happy birthday Cricket!

Glad you pointed that out. Timber always has his own spoon.

Good news about the vet. Like you, the closest avian vet for us is over 2 hours away. There is a closer vet who will "treat" birds and I use her for nail trimmings etc. When Timber needs a real check-up or were to seem ill in anyway, to the avian vet we go. I have a picky eater too. You just have to keep trying and you will find things Joey likes. Also, it is very early days in your relationship. He will probably be more receptive to new foods when he is comfortable and relaxed in his new environment. This can take awhile for a grey. Timber will eat cooked sweet potato, a bit of raw carrot and broccoli, fresh peas in the pod, and a bit of raw cauliflower. Those are his standard "will almost always pick a bit" veggies. He also, strangely enough, likes artichokes. I buy a whole artichoke in the produce department, cut off about an inch at the top and about 1/2 inch at the bottom, strip the outer leaves (to aid cleaning), wash it well and hang it on a skewer in his cage. You really have to experiment to find things they will eat, and often they will eat something one day and not the next. Just keep putting it out there. Timber also wants whatever I'm eating, so if it is safe for him I give him a bit. You can also try a boiled or baked chicken wing with most of the meat stripped off, egg white, etc. Timber is partial to meat, and it is good for him in small quantities at least. When we eat out, I always bring him home a little piece of steak, he is really partial to that. You might also try feeding Joey off of a spoon. I don't know if it is because most of them are hand-fed by breeders and retain memories or what, but Timber will at least stick his beak in anything I give him on a spoon. He may fling it (like he does yogurt) but he at least tastes it. Sometimes he will lick the spoon clean! It is trial, error and persistence that wins the day with diet.

Hello and welcome to you and Mahi! If I were you I'd read all the stickys. Specifically, here is where to start on food and diet http://www.greyforums.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?6-Bird-Food

Hello and welcome to you and Joey How exciting for you and what a nice Christmas present! Glad to hear the vet has checked Joey over and given him a clean bill of health. I'm assuming the vet is an avian vet? My advice to you is to read the stickys. There is a lot of good, basic information in there. If you have any questions or need specific information, feel free to ask! Many here are experienced and very willing to help. Post some pics of Joey when you have a chance, we love seeing them. Good luck and God bless

Good deal! It is always a relief to get a good report

Haaaa... love it!

It took quite some time for me to get my TAG to accept his new cage. I put it next to the rust bucket he was in. It actually took him a few months to move over and start exploring it. The first time I saw him poking around inside of the new one, I started moving favored perches and toys over. After that it was a quick process. I removed the old cage and we never looked back. You need to move at your bird's speed, which is usually much slower than you'd wish! Good luck!

Very nice!

Timber makes a sound I can't even describe. It sounds like a stack of things falling to the floor. It is loud, and that is what he uses to scare the cats and make them run.

Hello and welcome to you and Savannah It sounds like the two of you are a great match! Someone else may have more insight on Savannah's needs. I'm relatively new myself. As luvparrots said though, my TAG will make a little cheeping sound when he want to get on my arm for some serious face scratching time.

Progress indeed!

I have no idea. I've looked for a source in the US and have been unable to find one.

I hope it happens! I talk to Timber all the time, but only rarely does he respond. Usually he will say something after I am out of sight.

Timber is 6 years old, and he is primarily a closet talker. He says the occasional word or phrase when I am with him, but the vast majority of his talking is when I am in another room or out of the house altogether. Don't know if this helps, but you are certainly not the only one with a "closet talker!"

Timber is in birdie heaven right now with the Christmas wrapping paper rolls.

I agree Talon, which is why I started giving them to him again. As to the wax on paper straws, argh! However, he wouldn't chew on the paper ones anyway so no worries there :\

LOL Not before 16 I say Timber doesn't react to mirrors either. As you said, he just looks at me in the mirror.

Happy hatchday Rikki! Love the pics!

I've gone back and forth on this as well. Timber loves plastic straws, especially dark blue ones for some reason. I had given them to him for months then read something similar to what you said Muse, and also something about an AG who died from ingesting the plastic. Freaked me out so I stopped giving them to him. I bought paper straws for him but that just didn't cut it. A few weeks ago, I started giving the plastic ones to him again. He is just thrilled. When he finishes with them, there are little blue pieces all over the floor where he has been. Long live the plastic straw!

Very nice! I was so excited this morning. In August, I had hung a large boing for Timber which is accessible from the playtop of his cage. While he wasn't terrified of it he had no apparent interest in it, no matter what the bribe. I was talking to my mother on the phone this morning and watched him gingerly step off on the boing and climb to the top. After 45 minutes he is still on it. I'm just tickled. So, note to those who have a "timid" bird like Timber, don't give up! Just give them time

I opened a box the other day and inside was the coolest packing material (from an AG standpoint) I have ever seen. If was heavy cardboard that had been perforated and used as packing material. When I pulled it out, it was about 3'x2', opened like an accordion, and looked like a cargo net (that pattern). Since Timber loves cardboard I thought he would be thrilled. Instead he was terrified! I'm keeping it anyway, hoping he will be interested when he gets used to it.

Wow, sorry to hear that Nancy Hope you have a speedy and complete recovery.