TeriG

Virgil definitely keeps me on my toes. I always know he's up to something when he gets really quiet. Normally he's constantly talking and whistling. If he stops, I go to him and sure enough he's on the floor chewing at the rug! LoL. Then he fluffs up and backs away from me, cause he knows I am going to put him back. We go through this every day now. I wish I had a room that he could be in and not get into trouble! He will when we build our new home, but that might be awhile.

Yay! So glad to hear!!

I haven't tried giving Virgil a chicken wing yet, but I am also curious on how often they can have one.

Thanks for all your input guys! I have been watching Virgil more and I can see where he really isn't clumsy per say, just cautious. He will occasionally slip while trying to reach his foot out to something that is just a little too far, but he will most times catch himself. I think he really wants to fly. He just started launching himself off his playstand and fluttering/falling to the floor. And oh does he get upset when I pick him up and put him back! He will immediately run over to our area rug and start pulling it apart! I have tried giving him toys while on the floor, but all he wants is the rug. So back to his cage or playstand he goes. After the 3rd time or so he will give up. He's not really into just sitting with me and getting scratches. He always wants to be getting into something. I'm sure a lot of it is because in his previous home he was stuck in his cage almost all the time. So now all he wants to do is explore!

Virgil hasn't tried escaping yet either. I really hope he doesn't! Lol

Do you have to grind the flaxseed? How much do you give? Thanks

My boy will do that same beep. I take it as an unhappy beep. He too will do it when I cover him at night cause he hates to be covered and he doesn't care for my husband and will beep at him if he gets too close. He is a beautiful baby and lucky to have found you. I just rehomed my baby 3 weeks ago. I have known him for 21yrs so he has adjusted well. I'm sure he remembered me (I hadn't seen him in 7yrs) and that helped with earning his trust. It took me a little more than a week before he would step up to me without biting. Now if he doesn't want to be touched or held he will just turn his head away from me. He is such a good boy. You will get there, it just takes time. Everyone here on the forum is great! They have so much advice and are so willing to give it. We are lucky to have a place like this to go to!!! Teri

That's too funny! I just got Virgil starting to play peek a boo. He's slowly catching on!

Will his feathers grow back normal? How long is a long time for them to grow back? I always thought it was weird for a bird to be clumsy. I don't think I would ever clip him, but it does scare me a little giving him flight. I'm planning on building an outdoor avary for him when we build our house, but that might be awhile. Till then I worry about the dogs and cats colliding with the bird! So I don't think I will try to teach him flight till then. But if he tries on his own I won't stop him.

I can't really give any advice since I'm a new Grey owner, but my boy doesn't like my husband either. He will whistle with him and take a treat, but really that's it. I'm hoping with him talking to him and giving him his favorite treats, he will eventually accept him, if not like him! Good luck!

I just watched all your videos and I was laughing so much my coworkers came over to see what was so funny. So of course I had to show them and soon everyone was laughing! They were great! I hope Virgil will pick up more the longer we have him. I just cant stop laughing!!!

Naturally clumsy or is it just my guy? I don't know if he has been clipped in the past. He can't fly and it looks like he is missing his flight feathers on his right side. Maybe even some on the left. So I dont know if they were clipped off or if he pulled them. Is he clumsy because he never learned to fly? I was just curious. I am always telling him "careful" when he slips or misses his perch, so now if he misses he will say "careful". It's so funny! Thanks, Teri

LOL! I hope Virgil doesn't figure that one out!

So, Virgil has been with me for 3 weeks now and is doing wonderful! He has bonded very well with me. We are still working on getting him not to regurg every time he comes to me. On Saturday, I was cleaning the house and I had noticed that he got really quiet. I went out in the livingroom and couldn't find him in his cage or on his playstand! When I called for him he squeaked ever so softly to get my attention. Some how he had climbed up on top of the mantle! He can't fly, so I'm thinking he climbed from his cage, up the wall over to the mantle. Our walls are a rough hewn cedar with 1X2's covering the joints. So I got him down, which I think he was grateful because he couldn't figure out how to get down on his own, and put him back on his playstand. Well yesterday, I was in the office doing the bills when again he got real quiet. I went out and again couldn't find him. Only this time when I went around the couch, he was standing on my sneaker that I had left out So I go to pick him up and the little booger runs away from me and laughs! This happened about 3 times yesterday. I watched how he is doing it. He climbes down to the floor of his cage, gets on the seed guard, and then jumps off onto the floor. So I guess he's feeling comfortable enough to start exploring! Only now I have to figure out how to keep him out of trouble! LoL

Oh I almost forgot. When he doesn't want to come to me, instead of biting the crap out of me, he will just turn his head and walk away! I guess he doesn't want to hurt me any more!