SRSeedBurners

Well, I have fantail pigeons that are related to doves and my first bird was a wild caught baby pigeon... We were given two fantails because the owner no longer wanted to take care of them and they were living in a small box which I couldn't just leave them there. I built a small 8'x8' aviary onto our barn where they now live and have since hatched out two identical babies that look just like mom & pop. Anyway, they are as wild as you describe your doves. I worked with them for a while and seemed to make some progress with the male but the female is still very flighty and will only get near me when I start withholding food which I do at times because they get so fat they can't fly anymore. I finally gave up taming them and just let them be wild pigeons. Your birds will need persistent messing with and I would advise withholding their food just a bit to get them eating out of your hands. That's what I did to get mine to come around. Pigeons/doves aren't like parrots that need free feeding, fliers and pigeon fanciers DO NOT offer free feed for these types of birds, they WILL overeat to their own detriment. Professional pigeon keepers usually only feed as much as the brood will eat in 5-10 minutes and then no more for the rest of the day. I don't advise that for pets, only trained fliers if you know what you're doing. But for birds you're trying to settle, 2-3 times a day offer them as much as they will eat out of a pan with your hands in the pan....and then transition to feeding from your palms. You might want to find a good pigeon mix too, pigeons/doves like whole kernels, not chopped kernels and you have to provide a grit for them as well. Check out 'Pigeon Talk' over at pigeons.biz. It's a very old forum, which I've been a member on for a while. They know ever damned thing about pigeons, rock doves etc..... This is really a parrot forum and specific to African Greys.

Seriously, go out with a block of cheese too. That I know would get Greycie out of any tree.

Greyt to have you! Look forward to posts and pics of your babies.

Oh my gosh...that Alex is a horny dog. I'd be super careful touching him anywhere besides the head area. Me and GreycieMae sit at the computer and jam to her favorite tunes. She currently has triggered on Nazareth - Hair of the Dog. Go figure, I got a little rocker on my shoulder.

I don't know what the problem was - it' all sounded so fun from Corky's perspective!

You know if that was my brother that logged some garbage under my name on a site without my knowledge, I'd punch him in the mouth. Just sayin...not too cool. Pass along my sentiments.

Dats purty. We can't have nothing purty at our place because we have parrots...and goats...and llamas...

There are some who advocate never letting a bird on your shoulder due to the hazard they pose with their built in can-opener. I however play in traffic racing and training on bicycles, ride a motorcycle daily and crawl onto the back of a 3/4 ton animal and expect it will do what I tell it without falter (wife's horse yes) yet I've been thrown more times than I want to count. A shoulder bird is the least of my concerns and I let them all sit on my shoulder. I've been nailed on the lip twice by my Jardines. Hurts but not enough to make me quit. That was when he was young though and we were both getting to know each other, his rules being laid out plain and clear. I know once you've let them sit on your shoulder, it's going to be a long haul to tell them they can't anymore. And I can't wait for those Smokey opera videos!!!

I think a round of pistachios is in order!

She doesn't chew the bag. She runs in and hides. I always rip a hole in the bag because don't you know it's all about hiding and being quiet so nobirdy sees you in the bag. She loves to slowly peek out. Sometimes she'll bang her beak on counter to try and get me to reach in and grab her. Otherwise, she's never unsupervised.

I was found this morning talking to a used grocery sack. I swear it was interacting with me, I really do.

This is weird. Sophie was going to the kid last I read, when time came.

Love the metal grate idea. We're thinking the same thing after the last round of storms here knocked 'storm' windows completely out. I've even thought about a grate cage extending out from the window so they can get a little outside time while in their room if they want.

I need one of those dogs for our barnyard! What I don't need is that fat lip!

Regarding bathing: take a casserole dish ,fill it with water and ice and set it somewhere they you won't mind water getting everywhere. Most greys love an ice bath, on their terms only - let them see it and then let them make the decision to get in it.

Hoping for the best. The day GreycieMae fell to the hard floor and landed with a thud, she wasn't herself for a couple of days.

He's a very cute boy. Love the photo.

What a pretty girl that one is.

He is a pretty boy.

Usually only takes 5-10 minutes. I try to limit my videos to a max of around 3 minutes as that seems to be the max of attention spans out there. 1+ minute is even better. When I do edit, I use Windows MovieMaker. It's free and pretty easy to use. Editing is what soaks up all your extra time but it's worth it if you need to chop out the fluffs.

Just like kids, they can get themselves into trouble and scare the heck out of us. Glad Maalik is ok. I would say extra pistachios just to be sure though.

Here's some entertainment for HRH Inara. Court jesters they are... I'm toying with my GoPro using the chest harness. Trying WVGA 120 setting. Brat birds were out for their morning romp before going to their birdroom for the day while daddy goes to work. This is them getting shoved into their cattle cars fro the ride back to the hotel.

ermegerd....a Hawkshead. They are on my short short list. I've never ever seen one in person. What's the story? I looked back a couple pages and didn't see anything.

She sounds like a real joy to be around. I can only imagine what it's like to be around a talker like her. You always want what you don't have and I don't have a talker. But GreycieMae is one of the cuddliest Greys I've ever seen so I'll take it. And she will also sell her soul for a tiny bit of cheese. I've been toying with the idea of strapping my GoPro on my chest and doing a video of all the trouble we get into...I'll have to get on that soon.