Mickeys Mom

Mickey has turned 2 in December and he too still loves to cuddle with me at night when we just sit and watch television. He would actually beg for me to fetch him off the top of his cage, and then will sit on my shoulder preening and has no problem in me helping with that. After this he would pull up his leg, and cuddle under my chin or hair where he would sit and sleep while i give scrithces every few minutes or so for at least an hour. Im hoping he would be an exeption but if not, that would never change one bit of my love and dedication to him.

So true, Dave. It is always easier to tell someone what you "think" or heard of that may help with a problem, untill youre actually the one being bitten or in a sticky situation. I think youre advice was verry helpfull and truly hope that she could find some sort of solution to the biting soon. I was wondering if it was possible and she had availlable finces, if she could perhaps try taking him to a behavioural specialist to try and work and that biting if it is not normal. - Just a thought. I also found that Barbara Heidrich writes excellent articles on this kind of behaviour, maybe for a start you could read (Google) some of her work, she might have a solution for you.

Just an update about the baby Grey that was lost. We took his cage to the place that he was at and spent the whole day there trying everything you can humanly imagine. Just as it got dark I was about to go and ask the groundskeeper if I could leave his cage ther for the night to see if he would go down when we are all gone. As I got into the car and started driving off he flew down following the car screaming like mad. He misjudged a corner and flew into a soccer net where I managed to get hold of him. He is safe at home. Lots of tears and kisses. Giving him some food and Pedilyte for dehydration. He is so hungry that he started throwing up the food so im going to give him verry small amounts in different stages with the Pedilyte. Thanks for all the concern.

Thank you. Subject closed.

I did not say you were appologising !!! :mad:I was ref to myself. And the surgeon was not happy with HIS work but the way I took care of him, and im quite sure you knew what i meant when i said it, you just prefered to give a bithcy remark instead - at least I got a thank you from him for my effort instead of bashing like im getting here for not being perfect first time round. Youre really something!. This kind of thing is why I dont want to say anything in a FORUM. Geeez would it kill you to at least try and be less bitchy. You dont need to sugar coat anything and can stil get your message accros without making people feel like they are some sort of parrot monster and out to get the poor birds. We are all trying our best for our fids and sometimes SOME of us arent as clued up and perfect as yourself. Its easy to throw stones and give advice when youre not in the situation yourself.

I did not say you were appologising !!! I was ref to myself. And the surgeon was not happy with HIS work but the way I took care of him - at least I got a thank you from him for my effort instead of bashing like im getting here for not being perfect first time round. Youre really something!. This kind of thing is why I dont want to say anything in a FORUM. Geeez would it kill you to at least try and be less bitchy. You dont need to sugar coat anything and can stil get your message accros without making people feel like they are some sort of parrot monster and out to get the poor birds. We are all trying our best for our fids and sometimes SOME of us arent as clued up and perfect as yourself. Its easy to throw stones and give advice when youre not in the situation yourself.

My friend has a 10 week old African Grey baby whom has just started flying this week. She called in tears this afternoon and asked me what she could do becasue he flew out the window. He flew some distance into a sports field where he landed in a very tall tree about 50m high. She cant get him to come down and no one can get into the tree. The fire station said they dont come out to help for those kind of things so we are stuck. This is stil a BABY and I have been bawling my eyes out since it got dark and she had to leave him there. I told her just to be on the safe side, she should immediately go home and make flyers then post them all around the neighbourhood just in case he flies off during the night and lands in someones property. What else should we do. i AM JUST SO SAD AND NOT REALLY BEING OF ANY HELP AT THIS STAGE, CRYING ALL NIGHT LONG. CAN I POST THE DETAILS HERE FOR OUR SOUTH AFRICAN FRIENDS WHO ARE POSSIBLY ALSO HERE AND THEY COULD HELP SPREAD THE WORD. PLEASE HE IS LOST IN THE - PRETORIA, CENTURION AREA. TIME HE WAS LAST SEEN WAS AROUND 19H00 IN THE SPORTS FIELDS AT THE DORINGKLOOF SPORTS GROUNDS HIS NAME IS "GREY" AND HE HAS TWO WHITE TOE NAILS ON EACH FOOT. IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION PLEASE JUST REPLY TO THIS POST AND I WILL IMMEDIATELY COME ONLINE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP

I dont mind, I was just taken aback for a second or so, but find myself being a bit harsh too with my friends who dont do the right thing for their fids. Many times I have to go back and appologise for my behaviour. If youre passionate about these wonderfull birds, you tend to not hold back punches when you see someone not doing what they are supposed to do. Mickey came out wonderfully and his wound healed perfectly. In fact I was shocked at the Vets offices. The Vet called in all the other drs and showed them what mickeys wound looked like. They all praised me and said thats how wounds should look like and they were verry impressed with the way I took care of him. Im just hoping and praying that I dont ever have to go through it again because I felt so guilty about the whole situation. His wings are growing out nicely now and I will take him back to the VET next time to have him clipped properly.

Thanks for the advice Jayd. I cant help but get the impression you were a bit harsh with your choice of words but thats ok. Mickey survived it and im hoping that he never has to go through this again. Thanks again for the advice i will keep it in mind.

Hi, I just needed to add that I had the same problem. Mickey had minor surgery for a split Keel and I was also given anti-biotic in powder form to give to him. It was bitter as hell, because mommy tasted it before giving it to him. I was told to give it to him in his water. Well that water was not even touched. He would simply stay without a drop of water untill I could se that he was about to dehydrate and give him fresh water. I stll have the anti-biotic and het never even had any of it after his first taste. I could not even administer it to him via any foods, because he would taste that bitter stuff in it immediately and spit out the food. Surely there must be a way to give it to them other than mixing it in their water or juice. I was also told that adding any vitamins or medicine to the drinking water has no value at all because it loses its intended effect after around an hour in the water so what is the use of putting it in the water. Please help by giving tips that "worked" for you in the same situation, because I am sure there are many people having this same problem.

So inspiring to see someone keeping a journal. I have also started one for my 2 year old CAG and never seem to stick to keeping it up to date - but you have inspired me to pick it up and start over again.

Oh no this was so disturbing. I have one Teflon pan - brand new and its going to a home where there are no pets - - - TODAY

Such a nice heart warming story. Thanks for sharing, it put a smile on my face and a warm fuzzy feeling in my tummy. They are so special.

I woke up this morning, and started getting dressed in a HURRY. I had some extra money and was getting ready to go an do some shopping. Wilst sitting and fixing my hair, my mind was going over the things I need to get and remind myself what not to forget. After a while I was done and my mom came around to go shopping with me. As we drove out the gate, she said we need to get to a certain supermarket because there was a sale going on and enquired where I was going first. I said I need to go and get Mickey some nuts and a few things at the pet market. When we were done there, my next stop was the fruit and veg market. There I had stacked the trolley to the brim with things I needed to get. When we got to the check out and the stuff was passed over the scanner, I noticed that EVERYTHING going through was fruits, veggies, juices, yogurt, cheese and some more nuts - all for Mickey and NOT ONE article in there was for me. Next stop was the shop mom wanted to go to. I went along and came out of that store with a few bags filled with - - yes you guessed, toys and treats for Mickey. When I got back home, my purse was just about empty as I packed away the things my mom said "You know what, you really are spoiling Mickey because not one article you bought this morning was for yourself" I could not argue because it was indeed so. I could not wait to get started with preparing his veggies and fruits, and making a fresh batch of Birdie Mash. THIS WAS WHEN I KNEW, MY BOY HAD ME WHERE HE WANTED MOMMY, ======and I dont care, i just love him. We played with the new toys on mommys bed once he helped with the Birdie Mash and had a ball with all the different veggies and fruits being peeled and prepared. What more can a mommy want than to see her boy enjoying all the things she bought him. He was sitting on my shoulder this evening preening himself AND me and I could tell by the way he was staring into my eyes with his mushy eyes and soft grunting baby noises he was making that my boy is happy and he loves mommy too.

PMPL - I also have no children of my own and everything I do or shop for revolves around my CAG. My mom was trying to have a serious conversation with me about certain foods and herbs. Everytime she would mention a certain herb or food, my response would be " Oh I know this and that is great for for parrots" She eventually stopped looked at me and said to please stop telling her what is good for the birds, she is trying to talk about food that WE eat etc.

I am so sorry that this had to happen to you. I have not had similar experience but dont even want to imagine something tlike this. Please take some comfort in the good times you had and try not to get a replacement pet. I know Storm may still be doing this for a while but im sure you are capable of reassuring him that he is ok. He will come around in time. My heart really goes out to you and I would like to extend a hand of friendship out to you. Chantelle

I have noticed that my CAG and Blackwing Jardine seems to get irritable with one another verry fast. One minute they wil kiss (under supervision) and within a second both of them will fluff up and attack one another. If my CAG does not see her,he will ask me "mommy where is Dolly" constantly but I know why - LOL. I wont leave them alone unsupervised.

Dave I have made that same mistake, innocently thinking I am going to put my CAG at ease when I noticed he was staring at a visitor intently and looking fearfull. I also brought my hand up in front of him trying to scratch and softly talk to him and he let me have a GOOD one. He was so fixated on that person that even after he bit me he did not stop the intent staring and shivering. I would not do this again and now know to put him in his cage instead if I know a stranger is coming over and also tell them not to make sudden movements or noises while he is busy watching them.

I used the same method to train my CAG turn around and wave, and I was stunned at how long it took for him to get the idea. I took a few minutes every time and he did the whole sequence in just one day. I unfortunately did not carry on training, as this was enough at the time, and the other day I tested it again, and he actually did the "turn and wave" on cue. Amazing that he remembered it after about a year of not doing it. Just shows you they remember things.

I have tried this with my 2 year old CAG since he was a few weeks old and up to now he stil goes into a raging biting fit if I try to put him on his back or role him over on the bed when we are playing. Once I try to roll him over ever so gently, the playtime and games are ove and he would no longer want to play. He would immediately climb up on my shoulder and perch although he was full of life and energy a few seconds ago. I dont force this anymore and just made peace with the fact that he does not like it and dont do it anymore. He does hang upside down in the Aviary or his cage wilst playing/fighting with his toys but thats as far as upside down goes for him. Maybe he does not trust me enough yet, but im thinking its more that he just does not like being on his back.

Well said Nancy. I could not agree with you more. They are very intelligent and we underestimate them far too mutch.

So true. I also do the same with my 2 year old CAG. I have a Greater Blackwing Jardines too and she also knows - misbehaving or screaming in my ears immediately results in no more shoulder. I can gladly say that both of my birds also understands the NO command and immediately stops what they are doing if I say NO. I have seen that when they are being naughty outside of their cages and I say NO they immediately stop what ever it is they are doing wrong. They DO know and understand if you teach it to them early on and also show them consequinces for misbehaving is to be removed from whatever it is they like, wich is usually shoulder priveleges.

I have an Aviary wher Mickey goes into several times a day. I rotate him from the cage and Aviary and then also give him as mutch out of cage time on his own playing around on top and he knows I am right there and that he is not allowed to get off the cage on to the floor, then I put him back into the cage. At night I take my Notebook and get into bed, take him out and put him on my shoulder, where he would just sit napping and grinding his beak for about 2 hours. I know he enjoys this very much. My worry sometimes is wether this may be too much free time - because mommy works from home now and someday may need to work away from home = would he be ok or could I expect problems then. I hope not.

I absolutely believe that they DO wake up on the wrong side of the perch some days. I have noticed that sometimes when I work late nights, and the lights and television is on untill I go to bed, Mickey seems moody the next morning. I notice it immediately. When I open his cage the next morning he does not seem his usual self. Usually he would immediately have a drink of water and move towards the gate and start his morning chat. He would throw food around very angrilly and peck at his dishes, one or two swear words and thats when I know, not to mess with him untill a little late when he is calmer and I can read from his body language that he is ok. I usually just leave him alone, greet him like usually and let him be.

Just read this thread and did not realise how lucky I was. My 2year old CAG has learnt to step up within one day and never ever since then have I even once had to ask him twice to step up when moving him from the cage to the Aviary or anywhere else. You just dont know how lucky you are somethimes to not have problems with the most important command such as to step up.