goldilocks

Oh i see your point! I was definitely shocked she bit me at the time and everything was much a daze that maybe she decided more so herself to fly down? She has flighted, the store owners believe that better behavior comes from birds who have learned to flight and they make sure all birds leave them knowing how to do so I never thought of going in a upwards motion to get her to fly away, that's not a bad idea but I think I'll try the knock of her balance one first Thanks again, I appreciate everyone's advice so much!

Good question Sterling! They are stress bars from what the vet told us. Avah's feathers are very unique everywhere from what we've been told. We've discussed it with our current vet, as well as the Avian store owners we bought her from. I've been watching her fairly closely to see if she's exhibiting signs of stress so we're not sure what exactly they are from. We partially wonder if it had to do with her hard start to life? Avah was born missing a claw but also had hip/leg issues where she was put into a cast and had physical training in hopes she'd recover the use of the leg. We were told she probably wouldn't ever be able to perch. She worked so incredibly hard and she is able to perch and walk But as to what else it could be we aren't so sure! I wish I could be sure... she's in a quiet place in our house, has a blanket over her cage at night, cage is cleaned often, has foraging toys and toys galore, get's time outside her cage, get's attention, has an excellent diet, has UVB light, a small heater next to her cage to make sure her cage temp is around 70-74 degrees and acts like a normal happy bird (except when she was sick for a few days). We are just watching her closely for now and will follow up with vet in the future. We aren't quite sure what else to do though, but maybe someone here might now of something we all missed?

Thanks Danmcq! I am okay with Avah and I not having the same sort of relationship as her and my husband has He is more concerned at this point then I am and I'm more mellow about it as I have many years I figure to work on strengthening my relationship with her. But I definitely need to get over the fear of being bitten and asking her to step up. Thank you so much for the advice and help. I'm sure I'll get bitten again but I feel more armed now at what to do when it happens By let go I mean pointed my fingers to the floor so she'd slide off of them?

Some of you may remember my first post about Avah, she had leg troubles. I updated a little saying everything was going superb with her once we brought her home. Well... things are going good still Although little miss had her first crop infection Scared her mommy and tested my nerves! I noticed right away as I'm home quite a bit with her and she was just very quiet per her normal self. Daddy thought mommy was being a worried mom so he thought we should wait another day or two. On the next day I was gone at work and Dad said she seemed just a little bit quiet but nothing alarming. Day three I said 'NOPE, mom's too worried get your butt back home and take her to the avian vet!' So since mom's always win off she went to vet and I'm so glad, since they diagnosed her with a crop infection and gave her a shot of antibiotics (poor little miss). We eventually got results of what the strain was and of course the little miss did need more antibiotics! We are at the tale end of her antibiotics, just a few more doses left thank goodness! Also I'm a wuss. I'll explain... Daddy had many birds throughout his childhood but little miss is my first bird. Avah and I have bonded but in a different way then her and dad. I feed her, clean her cage, am with her a lot of the day keeping her company, I play wither her and talk a lot to her as she does to me. But she trusts Daddy to hold her, scratch her and take her out of her cage. We've also noticed she's much more friendlier to men and more unsure of women holding her? Her and I are slowly making progress (at least I think) she's been giving me kisses and will let me scratch her so long as Dad is holding her. She's only bit me a few times (3 to be exact lol) but I'm a total wuss! After she's bitten me I sorta tend to get freaked to try and have her step up on me. I feel like I'm awful at being dominant with her. SO I have a few questions, being bitten hurts... she didn't let go of my skin and I ended up dropping her this most recent time I feel so awful about it. The first time I got bit it wasn't a big bite, she just didn't want to step up. The second time she bit me it was totally my fault, I wasn't thinking as I put a bowl of food in front of her face instead of grabbing the food she stepped up onto the small rimmed bowl and since I wasn't expecting that the bowl shifted and she bit me as she was unstable. Then today I was taking her new bowl of treats and her to put into the cage I put the bowl in the cage and then went to put her in she bit me really good but instead of getting scared I let her continue hoping she'd stop but a few seconds in she still hadn't let go and I started to panic and let go of her, fortunately she is need of a clipping so she sorta flew down. But I feel awful for letting her go. But I had and still don't have a clue what to do if she were to continue to bite me like that? How do you get them to stop? I'm definitely fearful of her always having some nervous tendencies towards me, I don't want that! I love her so much, and I don't want her to be nervous when I hold her, I want her to trust me. So any advice is very much appreciated. Thanks for reading my story book about Avah Here are some cute photos to make up for my long babbles... She loves to play on her back kicking the bell with her feet <3 Showing her pretty tail feathers off to me She's not camera shy...

Things are going very well!! She is learning to go potty in the garbage and she's pretty much got it down (only took a few hours and she got it)! She is just so smart and we are so in love with her!! We can clearly hear her say 'step up', 'hello' and 'hi'. We think we hear something that sounds like 'i love you' but maybe we are just wishing on that one lol I can't believe how fast she is learning!! Thanks everyone for your comments and support, as always appreciated!

Everything is going fabulous! Avah is absolutely amazing and keeps shocking us at how well she's doing! We are so very in love with our little miss Avah! We were prepared for giving her lots of time, slow transitions and intros but she has done so splendid and we are going at her pace which is faster then we expected! She's coming into a big family all of whom love her lots, but Mom and Dad wanted the first 24 hours to spend some good quality time with Avah and making sure her adjustment was easier so two of our kids are currently at grandma's and grandpa's. Avah has 3 big brothers and 1 big sister (our black lab). She's eating wonderfully (TONS of food already), drinking water (we didn't forget water ), playing with her many toys, fluffing her feathers/preening and talking! We are seriously having to try and not get overly excited and hold her too much lol. Thanks everyone for the well wishes, advice and help!! I will continue to update you all on our little miss Avah! Some pictures... At her first home, saying hello to dad and about to go to her forever home! Out of the travel carrier finally, long trip home! Checking out her play top on her cage Loving her forever home! Her littlest big brother saying hi

Congrats! Cute baby! Have you named him/her yet? Some french names I love are... Jean Paul, Cecil (Cecile for girl), Pierre, and Claude. You could also google french names

Thanks everyone, just want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything Haha danmcq, I think I'd rather it go slow then run 10 miles to make it go fast if that's the case LOL

We are picking up our baby African grey, little miss Avah, this Saturday! I am so excited but also nervous! We are buying our cage that day from the store owners as well as food. We have already bought a few toys, a foraging toy, a wood perch, travel carrier and food bowls. We are going to purchase a table top play stand (thinking this one... http://www.amazon.com/Cage-Co-Java-Table-Size/dp/B005VEV86K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_2) and a shower perch. What else do we need for her? Thanks!

UPDATE #3: I know it's been a bit since I last posted and wanted to update all you wonderful supporters! Hubby eventually decided that no matter the outcome of her leg she was our baby!! We picked and agreed on a name, Avah! Shortly there after she had more troubles with her leg, so the store owners took her back to the avian vet and he put the cast back on. We've been visiting her every other weekend. She got the cast back off a few weeks ago and she has started the physical therapy process and is now walking and working on perching!!! She is our amazing miracle!! We are so honored to have her in our family and so excited because we get to bring her home this next weekend!!! Thank you, thank you everyone for your kind words, support, advice and positive thoughts, very appreciated! Avah's first time on mom's arm, she did so good!! Kisses from Dad!

Thanks everyone I'm pretty picky so it'll have to be a pretty perfect used cage! Wanted to know if it was an option though

Is there any reason to not buy a used cage if it's in excellent condition and the proper cage for your bird? Thanks in advance!

Yep, hubby want's to wait till we go see her again (sometime in May) before we actually decide. But my heart has already made a decision. I just hope that he'll come to that same decision too.

Aw all these disabled greys stories are so inspiring! Thank you to those who shared their neat birds with me! Latest update... Her leg is looking GOOD! We were sent pictures (see below) and it looks much better then prior to getting the cast. She has a follow up appointment today so we shall see what the vet says. We are cautiously optimistic and hopeful. I've been praying daily on this, my husband and I have differing opinions on bringing a disabled bird into our family. I'm already attached and love her so much I really want her no matter what. Pictures... When we went to see her a few weeks back... Right leg/claw now after cast was taken off...

Awe, thank you guys so much for being supportive either way. We already got the chance to meet her and I'm feeling very emotionally torn over it. She goes back to the vet this week to get the cast off and to see how it's healed. We will meet her one more time and see how she is able to walk before we make our final decision. The shop owner's are wonderful and super understanding, I'm so thankful as they are such wonderful and nice people. Again thank you all for your input and words of support!!