Poppy

[neoow]

Aw she is just precious. Beautiful photos.

It will take her a while to settle in but it'll soon seem like you've never been without her.

[SRSeedBurners]

The lil Timnehs seem to have the little red'ish baby faces. Not the first time I've seen that. How much does she weigh?

[Giannine]

The lil Timnehs seem to have the little red'ish baby faces. Not the first time I've seen that. How much does she weigh?

 

Her face mostly stays flushed like that with varying degrees of light and dark. I don't have a gram scale yet but plan to order one asap. I forgot to ask the breeder but will.

 

I am trying to give her time to get used to our household before trying to handle her much because the few times I have so far, she tries to bite my hand or arm when the small towel I was using to cover them exposed them.

[Inara]

Little Miss Poppy is a lovely little TAG, with such a sweet face. Wonderful that she will spend her life in such a well prepared and loving home

[katana600]

It has been seven years since our baby grey experience. When I brought Juno home, he growled just a little bit in the car and then I made the mistake of setting his travel cage on the front stoop while I unlocked the house door. Then he growled a lot! It took one or two days of just letting him stay in his big boy cage and then he was ready to come out and sit with me. As hard as it is to want to love on her and be close, follow her lead and take it real slow. Our breeder told us that if you don't listen to their subtle clues, once they start biting to get what they want, it will be the first line of defense. I was able to see Juno every couple of weeks and spend a day with him once a month while our breeder helped me learn his body language. She also warned us not to establish a routine where he was always being on one of us and entertained or he would become a Velcro bird. We backed off and let him learn to play on his own etc. It is the first time Poppy has been away from her clutch and her "mommy" figure at the breeder. She will be quick to realize you are her friend, probably less than a week.

[Giannine]

Poppy is doing really well. I have been extremely careful to go really slow with her and allow her to get used to me. Starting 2 days ago she started shoving her head between my thumb and finger to get a rub. Tonight she perched on my hand for about 15 minutes wanting her head and neck rubbed the whole time. She really didn't want to go back in her cage and made little crying noises but it was time.

I do know to show her a realistic amount of attention that will be the same amount she gets in the future. I definitely do not want a "velcro" bird lol I want her to play independently so she spends most of her time on top of her cage. I'm waiting for her to become more and agile and better on her feet before having her spend time on the tree stand, boing, and orbits I have

Edited August 24, 2016 by Giannine
Used voice dictation to type message and it messed words up

[SRSeedBurners]

Velcro birds are so underrated. I have a second head on my shoulders when I'm home and LOVE it.

[Acappella]

Velcro birds are so underrated. I have a second head on my shoulders when I'm home and LOVE it.

Yeah, but a Velcro bird potentially is a problem when you can't pay them the attention and they start to pluck because they aren't getting the attention they need.

[Giannine]

 

Poppy likes to shove her beak between my fingers and just sit there. Anybody else's do this? She also likes to shove her whole head in my hand so it covers her face

[SRSeedBurners]

Greycie does something very similar: she'll roll her head sideways and hold it against my cheek. I'll start rubbing her with my cheek or nose and she pushes into it further. Super cute when she does that.

[katana600]

Poppy is just adorable. Due to our circumstances, it has taken five years for Miss Gilbert to allow me to rub her head through the bars of her cage and just on special occasions she is starting to ask for a head scratch when she is away from the cage. Your little girl is just the sweetest baby with those beautiful dark eyes. Enjoy every minute with her. She really came around quickly to feel right at home with you. If you haven't already thought of it, this is a good time for harness training while she is so cuddly and close. That could allow her to be outside with you under close supervision. It is one of those things you have to commit to practicing frequently and make it rewarding to her. Some people have found that even going through the winter not using it will cause their older parrots to refuse to wear it later.

[Giannine]

I remember reading that recently about Gilbert. It has been quite a long road for you both. I have planned to get her a harness and put one in my cart on Drs Foster and Smith's site 3 times this month, then changed my mind because I have 5 kids to buy school clothes for so I am waiting until September but do agree the sooner I start working with her, the better

[Inara]

HRH Inara is not and never has been one for wanting head rubs and scritches. It's just not her deal. She absolutely loves to socialize, and is one more for chatting back and forth and just hanging out either on my shoulder/upper arm where she can make eye contact while we chat, Joe's shoulder while they read the laptop news together, or she prefers to "parallel play" while in the same room with us. She is very attached, cheerfully comes when called or when invited to step onto an arm, hand, or tree, but like most Queens she prefers not to have her minions touching her. It is just her way, and her personality. Just my opinion here, but I think that much biting and other issues (in the absence of a rescued or rehomed bird who might have arrived with a lot of baggage ala Miss Gilbert) come from us humans insisting that our birds go against their individual basic temperaments. We force ourselves on them and try to train out their natural personalities which puts them under constant stress. There are birds (dogs, etc.) who are more introverted and need more quiet time, time to themselves, and who prefer to not be handled a lot, and their are those who LOVE to play wild, be handled a lot, and spend tons of time out of cage being rambunctious. And then there are the inbetweeners. The key is knowing your own bird's inherent personality/temperament.

 

Some, like Greyciemae are velcro birds (and apparently boomerrang birds <3), some are snugglers like Isaac and it looks like Poppy is leaning that way, some are aloof and prefer little interaction, some are chatters and busybodies like HRH Inara, some love to do trick training, etc. So a lot of having a greyt relationship and a happy companion is tuning into their own unique personality and going with it rather than against it and just loving them for who they are.

 

With each of my birds and other non-human companions, I've always asked myself, "Do I want this behavior for *me,* or is encouraging this particular behavior of benefit to them?" If the answer is just for me, to get my own needs met (other than safety/health) then I forgo training/shaping it. I did teach her to fly because when she came to me at 2 she did not know flight. Flying, I felt was an important physical and psychological health issue. We also together worked on counting and colored rings, and while she picked it up quickly she really wasn't that interested so trick training was not her deal. I listen to her, and let her do the inviting and would adore it if HRH would invite head rubs, and cuddles, and sometimes I feel a bit wistful when I read of Miss Gilbert's head rubs, and see Isaac snuggled up on Elvenking's chest, or Greyciemay being tossed about like a hot potato, (and I know that there are others who feel wistful about HRH being a super talker) but she is my companion and friend, and loved for exactly who she is; I wouldn't have her any other way. Well, OK, maybe I'd have her quieter in the mornings before I have my coffee and she is shouting out me to "You get the up cookie!!" (which is her term for anything that pops out of the toaster). :D

 

You are already doing such a great job in tuning in to Poppy and what her little personality is. She is a lucky little gem that you two found one another! She's got a greyt babiebirdmomma and I sincerely look forward to watching every milestone and antic that you share with us.

[Giannine]

Good advice...I am actually very surprised Poppy is as cuddly as she is. I don't know if she will stay this way but I just spent about 15 minutes on the couch with her and the whole time, she just lay (crouched very low, resting her stomach on me) and rubbed her head on my hand and in between my fingers. She is way more affectionate than our little Quaker, Olive, who is a rambunctious, ornery little busy-bee. She just absolutely loves to be right on me snuggling and getting rubs/scratches. I would say she is extremely affectionate, not just for a Grey, but just in general.

I actually don't really have a preference for an affectionate bird or an independent one who doesn't need or want a lot of physical interaction. My full house plus editing work keeps me busy but Poppy is always within very close range and can see me. It helps that she likes to play on her play top and with her little foot toys, so I guess she is a good balance of both:)

I've been meaning to ask you, what does HRH stand for? I have been trying to figure that out:confused:

Edited August 26, 2016 by Giannine

[SRSeedBurners]

GreycieMae started out very affectionate at first (after her settling period) and then lost it and went through a very bratty phase - probably lasted a couple years. Within the last year she has circled back to being very affectionate, especially during her off-duty time after I put the two inmates in her charge in their sleeping quarters. She gets an extra uninterrupted hour+ with her Daddy which she absolutely lives for. She's always been a very tactile birdy and frequently asks for a wrestle, or to be swung on her swinging chains/ropes etc or she especially loves a good tickle under her wings.

 

I recall asking our breeder if GreycieMae's parents/past siblings were very tactile and she kept avoiding the question by telling me I don't want a velcro bird or one that constantly needs attention (she obviously didn't know me). When we picked GreycieMae up, she was the most aloof bird there which I was not really keen on. She would come see me and then off to sit on a lamp and just look at me. GreycieMae's sister was extremely friendly and tactile, even never having seen me before. That bird was taken or I would have walked out with that one. So all this to say, I kind of wonder if I MADE GreycieMae tactile, I know some of it may be genetics, but I was very hands on from day 1. There are times when I can tell she doesn't want to play rough but most of the time she asks for it by leaning off the back of my chair (or my back) and giving me 'that look' or leaning across my shoulder and putting her fist of furry in the air.

[Acappella]

I've been meaning to ask you, what does HRH stand for? I have been trying ti figure that out:confused:

I hope it's ok answering a question not directed to me, but HRH stands for Her Royale Highness Lol.

[Giannine]

Ohhhhhhh! Gotcha! LOL Thank you for answering because it has been driving me a bit crazy trying to figure out if it was a commonly known bird-related abbreviation or not.

 

Sterling, thank you for sharing. Poppy has been home for 8 days now and so much has changed just in this short period. I was afraid and not confident at all when she first got here, now I am confident and enjoy spending time with her. I also wonder if this want of hers to be physically interactive all the time will evolve into her being like GreycieMae those couple of years.

My 7-year-old daughter, Giovanna is the other bird person in this house and tamed one of our Parakeets and our Quaker adores her probably more than me. She has been trying to get Poppy used to her today by slowly approaching her on her cage top and very slowly moving her hand toward her to see if Poppy will allow her to stroke her head or neck. Poppy seems to like her and is accepting of her attention. Giovanna has been begging to hold her since I brought her home but I wanted her to get used to being handled by me before allowing anyone else to touch her.

 

I would have to agree that being very hands-on would likely play a large role in how she now interacts with you

[Giannine]

The lil Timnehs seem to have the little red'ish baby faces. Not the first time I've seen that. How much does she weigh?

 

I just received a gram scale and weighed Poppy and she weighs 278g at 16 weeks. Not sure how much she weighed before she left the breeder's because her scale conked out but she said she felt good and chunky

[katana600]

It is very rewarding to watch someone with a new baby grey putting so much time and effort into reading, researching, asking questions and just plain learning to read her baby. Considering you got her from so far away, it is almost like an arranged marriage where you both just happen to have fallen in love at first sight. As for personality and shaping, I think there is a balance of nature and nurture. When you keep that balance all is well. When you fight to turn a Tigger into a Pooh, that is when you have disappointment. Just as Miss Gilbert is shaped by where she has been, she also is shaped by learning to trust. Many people will come and go from Poppy's domain and she will learn from each person and learn that you are mom, you are always with her and her heart will be part of your heart.

[Giannine]

Beautifully said. Balance is important in everything we do. Because I've never had a Grey before or even laid eyes on one in-person before getting Poppy, I think that has helped me to have no expectations of her nor preferences for her personality. I am really just enjoying learning her and getting to know her. The littlest sounds she makes are fun and exciting because I see her coming out of her shell more and more. It is like unwrapping tiny presents each day:)

 

The evening Poppy first got here, I felt a feeling of completion and contentment like my family is complete. One day my 7th child will leave home and I know I will have serious empty nest syndrome. I have been extremely content being single the past nearly 3 years and at this point, don't really care if I get married or not. That may or may not change in 10 years:D

 

I first became captivated by African Greys when watching another Grey named Poppy on Youtube. I also fell in love with the name. I remember thinking "Do I want the commitment required by keeping one of these birds?" At first, I was like, no way. That is huge. But then the more I thought about it, the more perfect it sounded—I would have a constant companion, possibly for the rest of my life (I'm 38). Sometimes I think about when my dogs will no longer be here and get sad and just knowing I will have a companion for so many years to come is a comfort to me.

 

Reading Miss Gilbert's thread on here erased any lingering doubts I had. Some of the stories here are so enchanting and really wonderfully illustrate how intelligent these creatures are. I made a vow to myself that I would stay committed to Poppy no matter what. Just a little while ago, she was sitting on my chest on the couch and shoved her little head between my chin and neck LOL She is such an affectionate big baby. She is definitely braver than Olive, our Quaker. Olive is afraid of new toys, boings...really just anything new, but Poppy isn't at all. I can't even put Olive on the kitchen counter because she will scurry up my arm. I just took Poppy into the kitchen and placed her on the counter as I was preparing her formula and she busied herself by looking around and checking things out. I have yet to get Olive onto the large boing I got about a week ago (though she loves her smaller one in her cage), but Poppy went on it today and climbed to the top and stayed there for quite awhile as I was cooking dinner. She loves the huge toys I have all the way down to the foot toys. I hope she stays this easy going but I'm not exactly counting on it:)

Edited August 28, 2016 by Giannine

[Giannine]

This is my youngest, Giovanna, the other "bird person" in our house. She finally got to start touching Poppy yesterday and spent a lot of time patiently talking to Poppy and moving slowly near her so as not to scare her.

[katana600]

Aww, just look at that. Giovanna is definitely a bird person! You have a great set up there with Poppy. It really does get better and better as you learn from her and teach her wonderful things about life in your family. Before I had Gil, I had no idea just how much these creatures wrap themselves around your heart. Now I realize just how much they have you printed on their hearts as well. They really are not a pet, they are a family member. I do have an empty nest and love having Miss Gilbert here to keep life interesting. I look forward to watching Poppy grow up with your kids.

[Giannine]

Giovanna finally got to "hold" Poppy tonight. Not exactly on her hand but on her lap. She has been begging me to let her but Poppy isn't yet always stable on my hand so...Poppy spent about an hour on the couch with us tonight happily shredding toilet paper, shaking her head like a dog with it in her mouth. I also let her listen to some beat boxing since my own pathetic attempts would not do real beat boxing justice. She liked it:D

 

Yesterday as I was in the kitchen cleaning a vacuum part, I heard a wolf whistle so I peeked my head around the corner and did it back, then popped my head back into the kitchen and she did it again. We went back-and-forth like that several times and she seemed to think it was pretty cool:cool:

[Giannine]

Poppy is doing great and seems to have really settled in well. She will be 18 weeks tomorrow and I am still hand feeding her 2-3 times a day. She does this little mournful cry which is how I know she wants the hand feed. She is getting better about eating her fruits and vegetables in the morning before begging for the formula and actually didn't beg for it the last two mornings but did this morning.

Poppy is way braver than Olive, our Quaker parrot. Olive is afraid of anything new, Poppy is the opposite. She loves all her toys from the foot to the large toys her breeder thought would be too big for her:D

She was getting baths in the sink when she was with the breeder but that is the one thing she does show fear of—me trying to bathe her in my kitchen sink. She does well on a shower perch in my bathroom (suctioned to the mirror) while I take showers but I have not yet tried putting it in the shower with me yet. Any kitchen sink tips?

Also, Poppy is quite possibly the most affectionate animal I've known. She is most affectionate when she is begging for her formula. She acts like the sweetest little baby, closing her eyes and laying her head against me or shoving her whole head between my chin and neck lol She does do something which I have wondered about, though...after she has been fed the formula, her whole demeanor changes and she kind of breathes hard like she is in an excited state and she definitely is rougher in her physical contact (though not biting or anything like that) and gone is the sweet little begging baby. Do any of your greys make a hard breathing sound? I'm not sure that's what she's actually doing but that is what it reminds me of

[SRSeedBurners]

She's a cute little one. Has some great coloring too unless it's just the camera doing that.