Oliver, blue and gold macaw Stewarts new brother

[oblivion]

My Grey is almost 14 and is definitely adding to his vocabulary. He's picked up my and my wife's voices and has learned our cockatiel's name. Apparently the other night my wife heard him say from under his cover, "Go to bed, Anya."

[Luvparrots]

I know for a fact that it doesn't matter how old a parrot is if they want to learn. My neighbors have an ekkie that is at least 10 years old. He is learning new words because he is saying the kids names now. How do I know these are new words, because I owned this ekkie for 2 1/2 years before the neighbors and he didn't say the things he says now. Sully is happy and content now, well just like Oliver and so he is talking up a storm! Congratulations!

[murfchck]

This is wonderful news! I am so happy to hear this! I really think he is trying hard!

The vets office called today to check up on him. I asked about his regurgitating (ms?), the girl was really concerned about it. She said she would contact Dr. Moore, that he was on vacation so it may be tomorrow before i hear back. I told her not to bother him, just ask when he returned. I wasn't sure if he "loved" me or if it was his PDD, but hes eating, drinking and seems just fine, it could wait till Wednesday. Well they called him anyway and he laughed and said it is "love"! Yeah!!! I can not explain how i feel right now. Content, happy, complete! What a great day!

[murfchck]

Started back to work, jumped in full time. Lol the boys don't like it. Oliver was a stinker and Stewart was mad when i got home. Sad part daddy was home with them so they didn't freak out with me being gone, but they did anyway. Pat said Oliver said "hello mama" yesterday. That cut through my heart, like missing your childs first step! They both changed their tune toward me after dinner and got all loving again!

I read somewhere in the forum about covering the cage, that we shouldn't. I was always told to cover birds at night, what do ya'll do?

[judygram]

I read somewhere in the forum about covering the cage, that we shouldn't. I was always told to cover birds at night, what do ya'll do?

If you have always covered their cages then by all means continue to do so, I cover my birds cages at night as they are in the family room where we are until we go to bed, they seem to settle down and you don't hear a peep out of them until I uncover them in the morning. Some people do not like to cover their bird's cages and that is fine if it works for them.

[Luvparrots]

Cage covering is a personal preference. I have also read information about not covering a cage because of the grey dander that greys have and how enclosing the dander and other airborne particles can cause respiration problems. Personally I like fresh air so I do not cover my birds' cages.

[Greywings]

We cover our cages as they seem to sleep better not so grumpy in the mornings. I would like to see your birds in separate rooms as the Macaws have large open nostrils and they can suck in too much Grey dust causing them breathing issues down the road.

[murfchck]

I have been going back and forth with them in seperate rooms. We want to but now with me back at work i am worried about one or the other getting lonely during the day... A perfect world would pay me to stay at home with my babies!!lol Maybe Friday we will bring Stewart to the living room and see how they act over the weekend.

We have covered them since they have been here. The last two nights we have not and it hasn't bothered them. I doubt, where they came from, they were ever covered. I just feel they need the air. Going to see how it goes.

[Greywings]

You can add a non ionic air cleaner to the far side of the cage away from Stewart. That should suck the dust away from him. Considering relocating the cage where they could see each other might be a thought and no matter what they can still hear each other.

[murfchck]

If i move Stewart they couldn't see each other anymore. Olivers cage is so large, it was assembled in the room, moving him isn't an option. Their room also has a tv for them during the day, if i move him, he won't have that. Last night we heard a commotion, went in and Oliver had climbed up on Stewarts cage and Stewart flew to Olivers. It isn't that Oliver is attacking him or anything but it scares Stewart i think. We decided to move them today after work and do a trial run this weekend, see how they act. But the air cleaner is a good option if it doesn't work. Man, why is this such a hard choice?

[chezron]

I really think they work things out. Jimpster, the quaker, bosses the other two around. Every other day or so i find Pancho, the Amazon, perched in some other room because Jimpster intimidated him into flying. I joked with my husband that Jimpster is Pancho's fitness instructor because otherwise he wouldn't fly. I worried at first but i think they always manage to work it out. I do feel they are comforted by the other's presence, even if they don't always get along. When Jimpster and Brutus are upstairs in my husband's office, Pancho calls out, "hello?"

[murfchck]

Too close of a call tonight. We had put the boys up to relax before bedtime and then went out back. Heard a squeal looked in to see Stewart surounded by all the dogs. They were more curious than anything but he flew from his cage to the door down the hall to the kitchen to the back door! We would have made a bet but it was mute, we knew we would find Oliver on his cage. Sure enough, there he was on top of his cage. Arrggg!

[Greywings]

Stinkers-like little kids getting into trouble when your back is turned.

[murfchck]

This going back to work thing is breaking my heart! The positive is they really seem to have missed me during the day. Oliver gets soooo excited when i get home now, his eyes pin and he makes a really low click sound each time i say hello. It is so cute! Stewart fluffs up and is mad at me until i get my kiss from him then he is okay. Hubby goes in at 6 am, i go in mostly at 9am and he is home by 3 so it isn't to bad for them...

Stinkers is an understatement! Haha They are making me a nervous wreck! The braver they get the worse i am!

[murfchck]

Been a while since i have updated. Things have been going about the same for Oliver. Its been two weeks since i went back to work and i have not been able to figure out a good routine for Olivers steam baths. Now that he isn't getting one every day i can really tell how they were helping him. Gotta figure this out. He is really bonding with me now. Instead of the screaming when he wants picked up he says hello over and over and over until i do. Sure beats the screams and i can't complain since i am the one who taught him that! ( he still screams for my husband, but he runs to him when he screams so there ya go, lol.)

[murfchck]

We finally made the move. Stewarts cage is in the living room now, and Oliver has his own room. We will see how that goes for a few weeks. Boy, no joke about all the dust from greys! I dusted alot but when we moved stuff around, it looked like i had never dusted in there. Oliver should breath easier. On Daves reccomendation, i ordered the Feather-in, anti pluck. He has so many little blood specks where he has pulled a pin out. Naked boy or feathered doesn't matter to me but it breaks my heart thinking he is not comfortable. Fingers crossed!

[Greywings]

Interested in following his progress with those feathers. It is a shock just how much feather dust our little Grey friends can produce I am certain your big blue & gold boy will breathe more freely now.

[murfchck]

I am really excited to see how that will work for him. I am planning on a photo journal to document the process, hopefully. He seems to really like having his own room. Stewart isn't to sure yet, he gets on the edge of his cage looking down the hallway, lifts his wings like he is saying, look lady, i know thats where i should go, either take me or i will go by myself! Hardest part is the morning. Hubby is up at 4-5 am and it wakes him up since he is in our living room. We cover him up at night to ease the morning lights but he still starts his peeping at first sound. My hope is he will start talking again being less intimidated with Oliver not near him. He is moving his beak like he is talking alot but no sounds come out, yet! Lol

[Greywings]

Any change brings a new situation to get used to, he will adjust and feel safe again.

[murfchck]

I should get the new feather-in today! He almost has 3/4 of his head feathers back and a bunch of small feathers around his tail, i can't wait to start his picture diary for everyone.

I was putting Stewart on his cage last night after dinner and the little bugger didn't want to be there, he wanted on his stand. He took off for it. It was the first time he has flown with a direction in mind. He almost made it too, landed about a foot short and a foot too low. Although i want him flighted this is new to me and i am so afraid he will get hurt with his willie nillie flights.

[Greywings]

Landings are the higher skills project, when Pookie my CAG was first with us she flew like a heavy rock that was just dropped, not even tossed lightly.

[murfchck]

Well, he didn't drop, he slid pretty calmly into the travel cage under the stand. Lol

I am so sad.... My feather in was supposed to be here today, the ups tracking said delivered but i didn't get it. Did some looking and some how it got shipped to California. All my info was correct on my confirmation so don't know where the mess up happened. Sad day. :-(

[murfchck]

Wow, that company is good. I called and left a message about the delivery and they called back within 15 minutes. They have another customer with my name and when they printed the shipping label, it pulled her info up and they didn't notice it. She said she would overnight it to me. Whats a few more days, lol.

Tis the season i guess, Oliver has chosen me as his mate. I was very worried about his weird actions and noises when i would go near him but he is just showing his love to me. I am trying not to encourage this but sometimes it is just too cute not to coo over. Lol He runs down from his stand leans over to reach me and spreads his wings a little, eyes pin to where there is no black at all at first glance and little click noises are made. And to think 4 months ago i was scared of him and that beak! Ha, he is a pussycat! Stewart is more unpredictable than he is!

The move so far has worked good for them. Stewart still won't come out on his own but he will again in time. He is chatting more so i assume he is getting past this!

[katana600]

I am glad to read that the move is working well for you. I have been considering moving our bird cages about fifteen feet from an open living room to the dining room so they can be in front of a window. They can still see me if I am in the kitchen and I would put my chair and computer in there with them. It was not for their benefit I was thinking about moving cages, it is because of the influx of furniture we are holding while our daughter makes a change in her life. But, I have noticed when I am spending time in another room, Gilbert is especially chatty and active. A little change might be good for us all. I am learning a lot from your posts. Taking on two at a time makes it a little more complex but a lot more interesting. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how grateful I am that both these guys came to your home. You are a natural.

[murfchck]

Thank you. I have learned so much from this forum, and i really don't think we would have made the progress we have if not for everyone on here who has shared their experiences and offered advice. I could only hope that by posting our activities and experiences that we can aide even just one person in experiencing the love and enjoyment these guys offer us. Sappy i know, but sooo true! I really do love my boys! :-)