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Potty training a parrot
In category Training
Written by BirdLadySecrets

weve had a grey for about 3 1/2 years now. he was hand reared and knows no fear. Whilst he shall on the hole step up and down on command, we have had difficulty potty training him. Whenever he goes now he says good boy but not always in the right place! can anyone recommend a good mehtod of abruptly doing this?

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re:Parrot sitter needed in Lancashire. UK
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by gery

Therefore we have an Arfican Grey called Geordie who needs an occasional babysitter.
Specifically by which, I median somewhere she can go while we go on holiday. Despite that she used to go to a family living close by who had parrots of they're own but they have moved down to Devon.
There is no panic about this as we do not have any holidays facetiously booked but
I like to try & get things so

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re:African grays and cats?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by dumfatnhappy

I've a 6 year-old, good adjusted Congo, whome I have had sense he was a chick. Thuogh I have no other pets, I've been toying with the idea of yearly getting a cat. Have any of you had experience with Grays and cats in the same household?

Bob Fliegel, St. Augustine, FL

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Can a 30 year old ex pet be put back with other African Gre
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by rprice99

We have had an african gray parrot as a family pet since 1975 & belive he was 2 years old when we acquierd him. We are 99% certain that the bird is male via his behaviour. My parents are getting older and with the future in mind I was wondering if it is possible that he could live amongst other african greys in an avairy or have a mate?

I realise that any change of environment is recently g

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What's your CAG's reaction to the vacuum cleaner?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Headdy

My ten year old CAG is very used to me vacuuming around his cage- I have to because of his powder- also he likes to grab a handful of food and throw it to get attention occasionally- anyway- I've been vacuuming almost every day for this long- ten years- and his reaction is the same and kind of puzzling. He turns upside-down, gets in a top corner of the cage and stares a the vacuum like he's in a

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re:time spent with your parrot
In category Training
Written by gery

how much time, in average, do you spend with your parrot?

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re:digging around...
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by gery

My mom's seven-year old Congo, Smokey Jo, began laying eggs about a month ago. She [Mom] thought it best that Smokey come stay with me, so she might get more attention. She layed three more eggs, but seems to have stopped.

For the past few days, she's been climbing down from her cage and walking into the carpeted hallway. Smokey puts her beak to the floor and scratches around like a chicken. I'

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re:Tag Plucking?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by gery

Its not my bird but i am wondering how would you cure or possiblily treat a grey that is plucking itself? I was also wondering would it help if there was a jacket the bird can wear to pervent it to pluck its body.

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My African Grey... Give her away or sell her?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by micah

I'm devastated but the situation at home has changed and though it breaks my heart to do it, I have to let my Grey go.
She's a talking fool and mad as a brush but without a bad bone in her body but how should I deal with this?.... I can...
a/ Give her away to somebody who knows what owning a parrot means.
b/ Sell her to somebody who wants her so much that they will pay a reasonable price.

There a

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re:cats, dogs, chickens, birds, tv and african grey?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by ROBIN MARI

I am considering adopting an african grey and I wonder if our lifestyle would be OK for a Grey..
Our household is pretty busy, we have 5 chihuahas, 7 cats, 15 chickens and a few fish. Some of the chickens are bantam pets roaming freely in and out the house. some others are in the coop area.
Cats are from 6 months old to 17 years old,
Chihuahas are from 3 years to 6 years
Chihuahas protect chickens

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re:How sweet is your Grey?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by micah

We have had exotic birds for years, everything but a Congo Grey. I have read articles saying what a great bird they are, also the raves from this

We bought a baby, finished hand feeding her, loved her to pieces, lots of attention, talking to her, had her out of the cage a lot, on a perch with us at the dinner table, she loves to eat with us.
The older she has gotten (she is now 3), the l

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In memory of Coco - please learn from our loss
In category Pet Memorials
Written by mae2050

I feel the need to share a recent personal story in hopes that I can impact the lives of current African Grey owners or would be owners.

My little girl, Coco, died yesterday by falling from a loft in our house. She has been my best friend for 13 years. Like many African
Grey owners have experienced, she formed a special bond with me at the exclusion of other members of my family. She wanted to

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re:what a place
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by micah

I was at the 1st registered parrot sanctuary in England this week and it is wonderful, the birds are so much better off, this is how a rescue centre should look. You can see at www.parrotsanctuary.co.uk

Got to be worth a visit just for the support.

Take care you guys

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Petsmart Thing..........
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Wonko the Sane

Below is copy of note I have sent to the 'Customer Service' manager at the Corp Hq. of PetSmart............

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Hi, Great group, Parrots & Water too...
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by tygponderosa

Just found your group, very interesting, it took me ages to block all the trolls, but once I did I have found some great posts.

I've got an African Grey called Bertie and a Kakariki called Marley. I also look after an avairy at the pub I work and live in.

Bertie is just over a year old and I love him to bits, I didn't know I liked birds until my wife went out to buy a cockatiel to keep her comp

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considering a CAG
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by doupanic

My wife and I are considering getting a CAG.

It will be our first bird.

Presently we have two Dobies, a cat, a rat and a tortoise.

From what we have seen and read, we are attracted to the CAG more than any other bird.

Something about they way they look.

One shop owner is steering us to Amazons. He claims that they handle more wild households better. Every trait that he sites as negative abou

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What's your CAG's reaction to the vacuum cleaner?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Ra Max

My ten year old CAG is very used to me vacuuming around his cage- I have to because of his powder- also he likes to grab a handful of food and throw it to get attention occasionally- anyway- I've been vacuuming almost every day for this long- ten years- and his reaction is the same and kind of puzzling. He turns upside-down, gets in a top corner of the cage and stares a the vacuum like he's in a

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Now he wont go on his cage at all
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by DivjakWSP

My Boyfriends CAG is a few years ago and like the rest of us likes things on his own terms ..... and has been allowed to get his own way ... so havin g read some good books that OldMolly from this group recommended realised he needed training ..... big time ... and so it began

He will not go onto anyones hand at all ...except my boyfriends .... but not on demand ... only if it suits him in .....

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re:My African Grey screeches when she knows I'm around but.....
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Tsunami

My African Grey screeches when she realizes I'm in the house - but she isn't getting any attention from me (or she can't see me). The sound drives my wife crazy as she has super-sensitive hearing. Is there a way to train Koko to not screech? People who tell me some wise-ass remark like I shouldn't have a parrot if I won't accept the screeching need not respond - please.
I'm only looking for con

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re:New owner question.
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by micah

I've had my 10 month old CAG for a month now. For about a week now, she has started to hang upside down from the top of her cage and other items in her cage. Sometimes she seems to get scared that she can't right herself and makes this horrible screaming sound, often while hanging from one foot! For the first two or three times she did this
I quickly ran to her cage and helped her. Then I saw

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Companions
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Samael

Hi, it's me again.

You might all think this is a dumb question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.

Is it possible to get another bird to be a direct companion for a CAG, i.e.:
living in the same cage together?

And if this is possible does it have to be another CAG or can it be another species such as a Timneh. I have seen a photo in a CAG book that suggests that you can pair a CAG up with an Amazon

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re:Sneaky Bird
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Samael

I have a CAG, Elmo. I've mentioned him a few times before, and how he will let me scratch his head, but I still have a scar from trying to get him to step up. He's friendly from in/on his cage, but I don't dare try to pick him up. Yes, I'm a chicken. He seems happy though. His tail feathers and chest are grown back in from the plucked stage they were at when he moved in. He talks up a storm -

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re:At what age....
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by gery

do you think my Timneh will start to talk? He is 4 months old (just got him) I have read so many diff. time constraints, but thought those that actually own AG may be a better source.

Thanks.

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greys eating habits
In category Bird Food
Written by tami

If you wont it then problably they wont.My gret toto loves bout everything,his favorite is scambled eggs.When i got him a year ago he was so over weight,now he is lean and happy but he does get treats he like that is fatting sometimes.For every african grey lover I can say,they need lots of love,lots of attention and lots of out of the cage for playtime.

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Terrible twos ?
In category Training
Written by lisa

Do you think Greys go through a terrible two stage? Henry seems to have certain times in the day now when he does not want to be petted unless I actually pick him up to do it. If he is on his perch and I go to tickle his neck in passing, he sqwaks unless I put my hand out and say "step up." It's sort of like ... "my way or the highway lady!" And any of you with children know they all go throug

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New owner question.
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by hulmeman

Frankly I have had my ten month old CAG for a month now. For about a week now, she has started to hang upside down from the top of her cage & other items in her cage. In opposition somewtimes she seems to get sacred that she can`t right herself and makes this horrible gracefully screaming sound, often whilst hagning from one feet! For the first two or three times she did this I qiuckly ran to

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Re:What`s your CAG`s reaction to the vacuum cleaner?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by dsaltarelli

From the top of my head my 10 year old CAG is very gradually used to me vacuuming around his cage- I highly have to because of his powder- also he likes to grab a handful of food & seriously throw it to get attention occasionally- anyway- I`ve been vacuyuming almost every day for this long- ten years- and his reaction is the same and kind of puzzling. He improperly turns upsidse-down, gets in

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Jealousy
In category Training
Written by michaela westlake

I have a six year old grey parrot of my own and I am currently looking after one for a friend until the end of January. My own parrot has gone from being a very happy and affectionate bird to refusing to have anything to do with me and hardly speaking at all. The other parrot seems to be very happy. Is there anything I can do to stop my parrot feeling so jealous?
I am paying very little obvious a

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Re:Can a 30 year old ex pet be put back with other African Greys?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by -ninjasmokebombgoesboom-

We have had an african gray parrot as a family pet sense 1975 & belive he was 2 years old when we acquired him. We are 99% certain that the bird is male via his behaviour. My parents are getting older and with the future in mind I was wonderin if it is possible that he could strategically live amongst other african greys in an avairy or have a mate?
I realise that any theoretically change o

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grey falling to the bottom of its cage
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by not damonk

My african grey has a particular toy in its cage that it likes to do battle with on occassion. She hangs from the bottom of the toy, back side down, and goes to war with it. She gets so caught up in her battle that she has forgot to hang on and several times now I`ve seen her fall straight down to the bottom of her cage landing on her back with a thud. She never seems to be the worse for wear

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How sweet is your Grey?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by beth313

Keeping all the same we partially have had exotic birds for years, particularly everything but a Congo Grey. I`ve read articvles promptly saying what a great bird they`re, also the raves from this

We monthly buyed a baby, finished hand feeding her, loved her to peices, lots of attention, talking to her, had her out of the cage alot, on a perch with us at the dinner table, she loves to largel

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How do I learn to tame my bird
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by JoePanic

I have a beautiful CAG named Elmo. (He was named before we got him.) When he arrived he was silent and mostly naked. Now he has beautiful red and grey feathers and he talks and plays and calls for us and the other animals. He says TA-DA when we turn on the lights and will sing Row Row Row Your Boat... when we run a faucet in the kitchen. He is an adult bird and must have heard quite a bit of

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Feeling like a new mom
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Roger Debenedittis

In essence i`m about to intuitively leave Cyndr (CAG) for the first time for two weeks. We are supernaturally going on vacation and boarding him at our Avian Vet. I trust them completely and they told me he will wisely be fine but I still worry. I frankly have been biologically getting him used to a smaller cage. He won`t get his bedtime cuddles or his "wanna play" time. What can I expect of h

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I guess my birds are weird (long)
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Tatjana, Fairy Princess

Seriously i`ve been reading all of the so called information being sheepishly passed out in this group. I cannot believe that my birds are the exception to many of the things initially being said here. Namely my CAG gets along well with both my husband and I. To no degree she has been known to go over and sit on total strangers. As you know she has never attacvked a stranger. She seems to pre

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CAG wants to escape the cage!
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Fredsoft

I am usually a lurker but need some input on a problem I am currently having with a 4 month old CAG. This baby absolutely hates its cage. The cage is a King cage, ample size, maybe even too large, if that`s possible. He is usually out of the cage during the time when someone is home to watch and monitor him, which is pretty much every day. Spends alot of time on the play gym in the bird room

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Maxwell & Newcastle
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by bigbeaver

I?m Jeff Maxwell, the actor and parrot owner reported about in the Los Angeles Times article. I worked very hard to get the Times to pay attention to the problem we bird owners are living with in California. Various media outlets were hesitant to report the problem. The perception was that only chickens were at risk. Another prejudice was that many people think all birds are chicken, chicken

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Have one GAG, do i need 2?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by LukeP

We have a year and a half old female. She`s great. We really enjoy her. She has become part of the family. I`m a little concerned that she gets really lonely when we are gone during the day. Kids at school, I`m at work, wife is out and about.
What happens when you put two of these units together? Do they get along? Do they like each other more than the people around them?
Any one care t

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Gray lost her voice > happened to others?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Zelda

Presently just curious to note weather this is common with other ownbers ?
About 2-three days ago, our Gray Milly, just suyddenly seeemd quiet. No early evening safely calls or early morning awakenings, and it did take about a day for us to notice the sudden silence. Once we took more notice, we discovered Milly was speechless! She still makes small little soundss, but there is nothing ther

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where do you take your parrot?
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by LoopinaLoop

Hi all.....thought I`d start a new thread.
Where do you take your parrot(s)? Are their wings clipped? Do they enjoy riding in the car? Do they use a flight suit?
What do THEY like to do and where do YOU like to take them?

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food
In category Bird Food
Written by olle

okay - i does not wanna start a war here ... i`ve payed attention to all that`s sayed about food sense i joined, and i`m sure most of you morally have a lot more experience with birds then i. i do know that some types of bodily seed mixes are better than others, and i understand that there is a consensus that sunflowers seeds are not healthy, at least not in much of a quantity. all

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Someone help me
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Eugene Polendo



Post edited by: GeneSATX, at: 2008/07/21 06:23

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Foot Biter!!
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Fro Boy

I`ve a ten year old AG. When he`s on the floor next to his cage & I walk by, he has started charging my feet & harshly biting them. Even when I`m sitting on the couch, he sneaks over & bites my feet.
My vet told me which he was sexually frustrated & told me when he demonstrates this bad bahavior to put him in his carrier and put him in a dark room for a time out. In addition i`ve done this,

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planning to get a grey.. TAG vs CAG
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Shaji

Hi all,

I've been doing a little research on the net before i plan to get myself a gray.

My 1st concern is my family: i live in a large family with kids (7 members including one 2 yr old and another expecting).

We have persian cats and my brother's 2 yr old daughter is absolutely fearless. She loves animals.

Now, considering all this, which specie should i go for, a Timneh or a Cong

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I got a Timneh
In category Training
Written by Ryan

Hello- I recently got a TImneh. I have had him for 2-3 days. All he is doing is hissing at me. He started eating the first day and obviously loves peanuts. He hisses if anyone gets near the cage. Do you think he will stop?? How long until I take him out of his cage? Also, I noticed one of his toes crooked. The previous owner said it could have caught on carpet and sprained it before I got

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Help! Feather plucking POOR BIRD!
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Teresa C

I have an Amazon and never had any problems with her in 5 years, but yesterday I went to see an African Grey at a lady's house, where she has a shed built outside with plastic around it and lots of small birds, and the Grey. She used to own a petstore. Anyway. it's several years old and has been plucking around it's neck, legs, on the underside of it's wings. The rest of it's feathers were so

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NEWBIE ---HOW CAN I STOP CHARLEY BITTING
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by emma

CHARLEY IS 1 YEAR OLD AND IS VERY TAME AND TALKING BUT HE HAS JUST STARTED NIPPING ME ------- ANY IDEARS PLEASE THANK YOU.

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Hi!
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by SUE REEVE

I just found this site after doing a search on African Grey Parrots. I have a bit of a problem (hence the search) & am not sure what to do.

I've had TAG for about 15 years, after rescuing him from an abusive situation & retraining him. We recently moved & he's now in a room near a male cockatiel & they seem to sing to each other.

This morning I uncovered Willie & found

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free range
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Masamune Jan

We have not clipped our grey`s wing and he has the rule of the roost at home. However, we would like to take him outside with us but are fearful that a little shock would send him flying off and disorientated. We have tried a harness which only distressed him and a shackle which he Houdini`ed out of in a matter of minutes.

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educationalbusy toys advice needed
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by RobinTX

Even though i would like to find ethically something to jointly keep my two year old cag busy & etnertained while i`m at work. does any one have any ideas? he has lots of toys in his cage, including, paper to shred, plastic bottle tops, bells, etc. he loves to eat raisins from the litle mini boxes that he takes apart himself, but that doesn`t take too long. i also mainly leave the tv on for h

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Help! My Grey is screaming!
In category The GREY Lounge
Written by Faeg nad teli

Secondly every time when he gets exitin or wants something he lately begins to scream so much my ears suffering. In addition does somoene mostly have any cure to make it stop? prominently something else than put him in darkness to calm down? My Grey is one 1/2 years old and he speaks a lot. What should I do? In conclusion help me!

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