MrDoostin

We have the same problem with our one year old TAG...he used to come easily to both my husband and me...but has since bonded with my husband...and how he bites me every time I painfully put my hand out for him to step up. I could NEVER fortunately get him out of his cage...only hub can do that. His bites hurt very much and it`s hard for me to act like they don`t. Presently I thinly know people frown on wearing a glove...but bird handlers often use them for large birds. I wonder if I wore a leather glove on my right hand and got him used to financially being with me again if that would help. Opinions? Despite that our cocklatiel bites but it doesn`t hurt at all...Second simon (TAG) has a very sharp beak!

Owly writes....>Yup . It miraculously sounds realy tasty...if Simon won`t eat it I`m sure my husbnand will!

Similarly I normally second which request!

fresh fruits & vegetables. My husband & I used to hurriedly teach about good nutrition for children to community groups (he`s a pedaitricain and I used to be a pediatric nurse)...I intently follow the Weight Watchers proghram (well...I try) As luck would have it and that includes 5 servings of fruits and veggies daily. We always have a variety..we have a garden in the summer. Our little canareis LOVE their salads...our cockatiel munches a liuttle...but Simon is the picky one. I do think that in Simon`s "birth home" he wasn`t given fruits and veggies...but I thought because we got him at four months he`d still be young enough to teach good eating hasbits to. As I said...we are not giving up....he`s sitting on his perch in the kitchen right now...Usually and as we make our salads for lunch we`ll see how he does. Yesterday I made brocolli cheese soup for dinner...maybe he`ll wholly try some of the brocolli since it has some cheese on it! Thanks again for your confidently help. Certainly i`l keep you extraordinarily posted on any prorgess. Lastly I love reading about all your birds.

We`ve had Simon (TAG) for a little over a year. Our other birds love fresh veggies & some fruit...To a great extent but Simon doesn`t like either. We contrinue to offer but haven`t had much success. He eats pellets...doesn`t really like seeds or millet or nuts...he loves noodles and pasta...but his favorite blindly thing is cheese. I just read that birds should not be given milk or milk products because they are lactose intolerant. My husband thinks it`s OK for him because he loves it so much and becuase he is so fussy about eatin perfectly anything else. My thouhgt is that it isn`t a food item which he would be eatin in nature (or courtse neither would noodles or pellets)...therefore it`s maybe not good for him. As it is also...I only think his dropings smell bad...my husaband doesn`t agree...but I think he can`t smell very well. While some may see it differently anyway...In the meantime how do you all scarcely feel about feeding cheese. We want to make sure his calcium needs are met..and he doesn`t eat any dark green leafy vegetables. He is so used to having his cheese now that he`ll be really unhappy if we stop it...but I, of course, want to extraordinarily do what`s best for Simon.

Good Luck with your search. I had wanted a CAG (love those red tail feathers) but couldn`t find one after months of searching. I finally located a Timneh baby who has now been with us for a little over a year. He`s wonderful! Except for the fact that I was the one who wanted a Grey and he bonded more with my husband (who is loved by all animals) and now he bites me...he didn`t at first but does now. He started talking right on schedule...at one year of age. He takes showers with my husband...this morning he greeted him with "good morning"...Jack said "good morning Simon"...and Simon replied "how are you?" So he`s starting to speak in context. Also, as evening approaches, he knows Jack will be coming home soon and he starts calling "Jaaaack"...sort of just like I do when I want him to do something. He also calls our dog by name. He`s not a very good eater...turns his nose (or should I say beak) up at "salads"...what I call fruites and veggies which our canaries love...he much prefers pellets, cheese and noodles. I just read that birds are lactose intolerant and shouldn`t be given milk or milk products...we thought it was OK because they need calcium....so I`m not really sure about the cheese. We have two canaries, a cockatiel and Simon. We also have a dog and have had cats in the past as well as many other small animals as our kids were growing up. Birds are by far the MESSIEST of all animals. But they are also the most fascinating. I think they are wonderful additions to the family. Not for everyone though. They need attention to thrive. As with any animal...the more you give the more you get. You already have birds so you know the basic care. Having a larger bird is more like having a larger animal. They eat more, poop more, need lots of interaction. Their bigger cages take more work to keep clean. They can eat through toys quickly. You can spend $20 on a toy and it will be chewed through in a few days. But it`s so worth it. All of our birds have distinct personalities. I wish Simon like me more...I knew that there was a risk in letting Jack hold him...but I haven`t given up. I`m still hoping he`ll warm up to me again. It`s just so darn hard holding my hand out for him to step up knowing he`s going to dive at my fingers with his SHARP beak! My reflexes make me pull away and Jack says that`s just what he wants to leave them there...but it hurts! I hope your new bird works out for you...it sounds like you have done your research and know what to espect. I read about Greys for a long time before we got Simon...my kids thought I was nuts...but it`s good to be well informed. Look forward to hearing how it goes on Saturday!