Introduction...

[Crzy4Greys]

Hi everyone!

 

Just wanted to say 'HI' and introduce myself. I am owned by three Greys and one Sun Conure. I've previously had parakeets, cockatiels and macaws and found I prefer my Greys. I bought my first one in 2002 as a baby and named her Rascal. The second one hubby bought for me (there's a story to this one) about a year later who we named Smeagol. Our third Grey is a rehome from someone hubby knew and she is about 17 years old now. Her name is Shadow. My Sun Conure is Goober and she came to us in 2001 as a baby. All were babies when we brought them home except Shadow.

 

My Greys are also pluckers in one form or another. Rascal is starting to let her tail and feathers grow in so I am being very optimistic. IMO it was her first grooming (a little tramatic for her) that began the plucking. It started slowly on the wing at first...then her tail, but now she let her flight feathers on both sides grow in and she has a few tail feathers more than an inch long! Progress!

 

Smeagol we got as a baby but he was plucked to his down feathers on his chest, neck and upper back. The feathers grew in but he will periodically pluck, then let them grow in, remain fully feathered for a short time period, then pluck again. He has never plucked down to the skin though. Prior to Christmas one year, I was going to this bird store every week waiting for a specific toy to be received by the store. I would visit all the birds, especially the babies in the back, when one visit I came upon a Grey baby (the eyes were still dark grey) with only down feathers on his chest, neck and upper back. He had a very good disposition and I would spend about 5-10 minutes each visit. A few weeks later he was gone and my first feeling was "that was my bird!". About a month later (the day before X-Mas Eve) I went to pick up pellets and seed for hubby (I was going on a trip leaving Christmas Day) and guess who I saw back at the store? My Grey! When I asked the woman working why he was back, all she said was that the people who bought him wanted to 'upgrade to a bigger bird'! I think whoever bought him was buying him as a gift for someone and that someone didn't like the fact that he was not fully feathered. My opinion, but I just couldn't shake that feeling. I was actually mad. The next morning (X-mas Eve) I told hubby about this and expressed how mad I was. When I came home from work that evening, he was in my dining room!

 

Shadow is plucked to the skin on her chest. Previous owners allowed her out of the cage alot until the leather couch and later their baby. The owner finally decided to look for another home before she began to mutilate. She loves head scratches and any progress being made with new feathers is very slow. I'm being optimistic w/ her as I do see new growths coming in (although she usually plucks them within a few days)and she has a bit more down feathers than when she first came to us.

 

Well, I think that's a pretty long introduction. I'm crazy about my Greys and am looking forward to corresponding w/ others who feel the same.

[Poppy]

First off I must say you are wonderful

To offer these birds a wonderful and loving home is great

Welcome to the site and hope you find lots of help and advice

[Carolyn]

Welcome, you have come to the right place to become part of our Grey Family. Your flock sounds wonderful.

You will find loads of information here and people that will help you with any questions you may have, all you have to do is ask.

 

Please post some pictures of your flock when you have a chance.

 

Carolyn & Mika

[slmclean]

Hi welcome to the forum.

[judygram]

Hello Crzy4Greys and welcome to the family, so glad you could join us and we look forward to hearing more about you and your 3 greys.

 

You are so fortunate to have 3 greys to share your life with and I commend you for taking 2 of them as rescues. Even though they are pluckers you are working with them and hopefully they will stop that behavior or at least slow it down. You do have your hands full with 3 but you seem to enjoy them and I know they bring a lot of joy into your life.

 

You certainly came to the right place looking for similar people for we are all nuts for our greys and we understand each other, only other bird lovers know how we really feel, you know it takes one to know one.:lol:

 

You will find lots of useful information in our many threads so read thru them at your leisure and do not hesitate to ask any and all questions you may have and we will help you in any way we can.

 

We would love to see some pictures of all of your birds, even Goober, the sun conure, I have a sun too, if you would share some with us.

[casper]

Welcome to the forum!

With three greys I know how busy your life must be!

You must have lots of experience to share with us all.

I look forward to seeing some pictures of your wonderful flock, so glad you could join.

 

Caroline.

[she]

Welcome. I am sure you will love it hear.

[danmcq]

Welcome Crzy4Greys!!

 

What a nice introduction and story of your Greys and how you came to have them in your life. Thanks for writing that, we all love to read of other members storied and believe it or not, we also become attached to the owner and the Grey through becoming acquainted with them through this forum. :-)

 

Looking forward to hearing more from you and seeing some photos of your flock when you get a chance.

[Crzy4Greys]

Just wanted to say thank you for the warm welcome!

 

I'll post pics of my fids shortly. These guys are the best and many people think I'm nuts, but hey...who isn't?

 

I am also on a few Yahoo groups and this format is a bit different so it will take me a little bit to get used to it.

[Luvparrots]

Hi Crzy4Greys, luv the stories about how you acquired your greys and look forward to hearing more. Can't wait to see some pictures of your 3 greys and Goober. Welcome aboard!!!<br><br>Post edited by: luvparrots, at: 2008/11/12 19:15

[judygram]

Nuts, no nuts here:laugh: yes you are in good company, we are all somewhat nuts about our greys and other parrots we have, you are going to fit in nicely.:lol:

[Lyric]

Welcome here, glad you could join us. I am so glad you shared your story about how you acquired your greys. They sound like very lucky birds to have become part of your flock.

Have you tried feeding your greys red palm oil? I am currently trying that with my greys (I have one that is a plucker). I am hoping the extra oils from their native food will help. No results yet, but I just started it last week. Good luck to you with yours!

[Crzy4Greys]

I've been using Palm Oil for awhile now. I put it on their birdie bread and in their brown rice 'n vege mixture.

 

What I'm trying now is when I spray them down with water, I am using a mixture of 1 tablespoon of 100% aloe vera gel to 1 quart of water. I was using 100% aloe vera juice but someone had mentioned the juice was a bit more acidic than the gel. It's a natural ingredient so I figured, what's the harm?

 

What other methods have you tried for your plucker?

[kittykittykitty]

Hi! You are very busy with three greys! I don't have any answers for plucking but wanted to say welcome.

[danmcq]

Most of us on the Forum mist our Greys using 100% undiluted Aloe Juice. It keeps the skin nice and supple and stops the irritation of pin feathers and dry skin. :-)