Okies in the BYC The Original

[MAllen]

Quote:
Hi Al,

Not long ago I would have said drink a theraflu and go back to bed but now days with the pig flu & all that I wish you would just take the time and go see the doctor. Better safe than sorry my friend.

Matt

 

[bigokie37]

good morning everyone.hope today is going to be a good one.feels like it to me cause i know im not gettin up to another busted pipe got everything patched an stable yesterday.waitin for the sun to come up to see how many deer are out there.been between 6 an 15 almost everyday not 40 yards from the house

 

[al6517]

Thanks everybody I am loading up with over the counter type medicine, just trying to keep congestion from moving to my chest. I wish I could find a way to stay home and still get all my work done, I ain't worth spit today.

AL

 

[faerielady]

Quote:
It's not "care". It's interaction. African Grays require the same kind of interaction as a curious 5 year old. You can't just leave them in their cage all the time, just like you can't lock a toddler in a closet (even though you might have WANTED to on bad days

) They are intelligent, caring little things, they need to be treated as part of the family unit.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Hi Al,

Not long ago I would have said drink a theraflu and go back to bed but now days with the pig flu & all that I wish you would just take the time and go see the doctor. Better safe than sorry my friend.

Matt

I hear ya I can get it licked with some rest and med's, I have plenty of cold & flu medicine on hand from the Doc, with my girls propencity to catch everything we stay stocked up. Thanks guy's for thinking about this ole dog, I'll be back on top of things in no time.

As far as talking to the bird there won't be any problem there for those of you who know me well LOL.

AL

 

[faerielady]

One of these days I'll post a picture of my conures in a "flight suit", which is something they wear so they can stay on my shoulder and not poop on me.

Grays can be cage trained, the people that I know with them don't have a problem with the gray pooping outside the cage (like litter box training a cat). The bird will go back to the cage to poop unless you make the bird mad.

Any parrot will self-pluck if they are bored... it's something to do, and can be an anxious habit. Grays, cockatoos, and macaws can be bad about that when bored. Also, because they are house birds, they need to have their flight feathers clipped.

edited to add: Buy a young one, when it's just been weaned. I do *not* recommend that anybody other than an experienced hand feeder purchase baby birds and hand feed, because it's long difficult work and requires a very rigid schedule so that the birds eat on time (I've hand fed both my conures, but I've done it before). If you get an older bird, they will probably have some bad habits to break (beaking, biting). Any bird will bite, given half a chance... until you teach them that it's not ok. They also can't be yelled at like some people yell at a dog... parrots can be loud (although Grays are quieter than my conures

) and if you yell at them they think they've done something GOOD. They are funny little creatures. I'm going to get one after I graduate college.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
You can't just leave them in their cage all the time, just like you can't lock a toddler in a closet (even though you might have WANTED to on bad days

)

Say What........ you can't leave a toddler in the closet ??, uuuuummmmm I raised Alyssa in a closet until just last year when we let out on Christmas, I don't think she minds it much.

AL

 

[faerielady]

Quote:
Say What........ you can't leave a toddler in the closet ??, uuuuummmmm I raised Alyssa in a closet until just last year when we let out on Christmas, I don't think she minds it much.

AL

Funny... my daughter would have made more noise IN the closet (banging on walls, door, talking to herself, singing, etc) that it'd be quieter just to keep her out so the noise disperses.

 

[artsyrobin]

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yes, they are grogeous, but they need the kind of attention a 2 year old does, to get one without being ready to commit lots of interaction time isn't going to work, also they are very verbal, as a trial run, consider a cockatiel- they are parrots, have the parrot personality and if you end up having to rehome him, not as difficult as a parrot- they talk and interact....

ok off my soap box...

today is payday, so off to get feed both human and critter... have a good one okies!!

 

[faerielady]

Quote:
yes, they are grogeous, but they need the kind of attention a 2 year old does, to get one without being ready to commit lots of interaction time isn't going to work, also they are very verbal, as a trial run, consider a cockatiel- they are parrots, have the parrot personality and if you end up having to rehome him, not as difficult as a parrot- they talk and interact....

ok off my soap box...

today is payday, so off to get feed both human and critter... have a good one okies!!

I had parrotlets before I decided to get conures. Cute little things, and fast! Not as fast as parakeets though... parakeets (budgies) were my absolute first birds, and they usually bite right at the quick of the nail... that's where I learned to wear thin leather gloves when it was time to clip their feathers and all that jazz.

However, I do think that people tend to forget how long they live, so if you HAVE a will, they need a place in it (i.e. designate where they go should you die).