What I wish I'd known.......!

[JillyBeanz]

Each day I learn something new about Harvey. Each piece of information is invaluable.

 

I'm sure all of us (masters and novices - myself most definitely the latter!!) have a piece of information they'd like to share (I dearly hope) - and then others new to the forum can compile their "checklist".

 

I'll start with Number 1:

 

# 1. A hand held hoover is a necessity! :laugh:

 

Go on, add one - be it comedic or practical!

[Talon]

Great topic! Karma for you for starting this.

 

2. It is impossible to ever think you can eat your entire lunch without making extra for your birds! :blink:<br><br>Post edited by: Talon, at: 2009/09/16 20:07

[she]

3 You have a lot less money once a grey starts spending it.

[Joolesgreyuk]

"# 1. A hand held hoover is a necessity!"

 

OMG how true is this, we didn't have a need for one of these until shortly after the arrival of Beau, in fact we only needed to use the main one occasionally. My, how times change.

 

4. A grey can poop it's own weight in an hour

[SchroedersJen]

5)You can't (wait hang on, Schroeder is calling me) finish anything (Ugh, just a second, he is at it again) without (OMG, last time, I promise) being interrupted.

[Luvparrots]

6. You now have to plan two vacations instead of only one. 1) Where you will be going? 2) Where your grey will be going?

 

 

Karma for this great thread Jill!!!

[Tycos_mom]

Vacations whats that? After my birds get through spending my money there's not much left for vacations. Unless its a camping trip so they can come too

[judygram]

#7 That all those T-shirts I have collected somehow holes develop in the most improbable places!:blush: :laugh:

[Hannah_Rae]

A computer key (or two or three) can be stolen and snapped faster than you can say "JUJI, NO!!!!"

 

and

 

No potato soup (or any other food that looks interesting) is safe when there is a fully flighted grey in the house.

 

Hey all! Glad to be back!

 

Blessings!

 

Hannah

[kittykittykitty]

#10 Buy white vinegar by the gallon (or two!) Surprising how much it takes for cleaning the cage, the walls, the floor (carpet), whatever.:silly:

[Char]

#11 Don't ask your Grey for help when you play Scrabble. Even if they know the words. Those wooden letters last about 3 seconds in their beak.:laugh:<br><br>Post edited by: Char, at: 2009/09/17 14:01

[jessdecutie18]

#12 Be prepared to fall in love instantly Everything they do is so cute, and the unexpected suprises are the best

[danmcq]

#13 The depth of love, responsibility and fretting as you would over one of your own children. I nor my Wife, have never felt this deeply and intensely over any other pet, that you know you will out live, can actually have a conversation with and must plan for a future owner upon your death perhaps decades later.<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2009/09/17 15:15

[jessdecutie18]

BTW Jillybeanz is right seriously the portable vaccuum is a necessity. We bought a Roomba electronic vaccuum that's a blessing because I really don't want to vaccuum every night

[JillyBeanz]

# 14 There are so many dangers that a new owner needs to be aware of, so many dietary and health needs that anyone thinking of purchasing a grey should study long and hard. They can't just be tucked in a cage when you're bored.

[cf737]

15. You'll find yourself waking up at the break of dawn for food prep and early cleaning - and surprisingly, you might not mind!

[JillyBeanz]

#16 You come home from work and you walk past your husband and your kids to kiss your parrot - you've waited for this opportunity ALL day.

[chelseaB]

#17 You will skip & worm out of social gatherings because you really would rather spend the time with your grey! ( unless it's a "parrot people" event!

[JillyBeanz]

# 18 You find yourself in the supermarket buying things you would never have before.

[Jaguar]

# 19 Cant fall a sleep on your sofa or let anyone esle sleep on your sofa with your grey out of its cage. Otherwise he or she will fly down and nip/bite an ear or toe just to say "hi"<br><br>Post edited by: Jaguar, at: 2009/09/19 15:45

[SamsDad]

Great question and great replies!

 

Having a portable bird stand can be helpful depending on the personality of your bird. My Timneh, Nelson loved to just hang out with me where ever I was, and would sit on his stand very content to be close by. He was a very low key, mellow bird that didn't play with toys very much. Being with the flock was his favority past time - oh yeah... and EATING!

 

Now Sam is a different story. The stand works well for bringing him into the kitchen so he can help fix dinner - and be a taste tester, but for just hanging out? NO WAY! He's got too many things to do and not enough time to do them in. For him, the big thing on the checklist is TOYS TOYS TOYS and more TOYS. Every time I go to the pet store or even the grocery store I'm looking for play things. Play things that will last more than 5 minutes before being destroyed is a plus. If your bird is active, an important accessory is a fist full of cash and/or the time to build your own toys. And don't ever, ever, ever, throw away those cardboard toilet paper rolls, or paper towel rolls. Man are they fun to shred.

 

Oh, yeah... earplugs. If you like to sleep in on weekends. The sound of every electronic device and phone in the house going off over and over again just at sunrise can be tough to sleep through. Not to mention all those darned converstaions and in Sam's case - coughing mixed in doesn't help either.

 

Tom

[ramsabi]

I wish I had known:

1. not to have buttons on my shirts

2. to have cast iron zippers

3. to learn to operate the TV/DVD... without a remote

[Acappella]

I wish I'd known that not everyone in my life would be as fascinated by Dorian's every antic as I am. That's why I'm glad I found this place and youl lot:laugh:

[JillyBeanz]

# 27 If you were once house proud and your house once looked like a "show house" it won't anymore!

[JillyBeanz]

# 28 If he loses a few feathers you will convince yourself that he's plucking and you haven't looked after him properly (or is that just me