[♥]

We adopted a new parrot. If anyone has any great ideas and experience with parrots let me know. Hope I can post a picture here okay...think you might like it!

[♥]

Here's a picture for you.

[mac128k-1984]

Parrot the other white meat

[hayesk]

Awesome. I'd love to have a parrott, but my wife doesn't like them.

[residentEvil]

uhuh, suuuure you adopted it...

Lost Parrot Found In Las Vegas - Local News Story - WDIV Detroit

[♥]

That is a cool story ^^^ up there.

This parrot was adopted because the owner has developed really bad allergies to the bird dander. Wasn't sure she was going to send the bird (shipped it through Delta) at all because she was very upset. She's had the bird for 7 years.

[starman]

Well, I hope you like cleaning up bird poop.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by starman 

Well, I hope you like cleaning up bird poop.

♥ roomed with Big Bird in college.

[♥]

I guess bird poop is easier to clean up than dog crap.

A lot less smelly. (Have a dog too so I can compare the two.)

[starman]

You can train a dog.

[♥]

Actually, this bird has been in a documentary on talking parrots. She knows how to pick out colors and is extremely intelligent. I am going to put up a live cam about her when I get around to it. Might try to do it this weekend, actually.

[angelmb]

An African Grey… really beautiful, take some picts where tail is shown

There is a member here which signature is an african grey, for sure he-she would have tons of great advice for you.

[KeyLimePi]

Nice bird. African Grey's are very smart. I've read they can actually be housebroken.

My gf and I have been toying with the idea of getting a parrot. Average age is like 80 years, so it's a big commitment. From what I've read, I think a nice Eclectus would be right for us. They don't like/need too much stimulation, but are playful and good talkers. Anyone have any experience with them?

[Atheist]

I personally don't "get" the bird thing as a pet. But to each his own. I've got two friends with African Grey's and they dote over them like children. What I've always had trouble with is the poop. They let the birds walk over the furniture and they poop all over it. They put towels down along the back and arms of the couches and chairs but it's still gross (and unsanitary). Is this normal bird ownership behavior or are they just exceptions. Bear in mind they keep very clean houses otherwise. But the area around the bird cages is always messy.

[♥]

Our bird is potty trained, actually. She says when she has to go poo and if you're going to take her out of the cage you can tell her to go poo and she'll go. She holds it for about an hour and then she'll announce she's going to go - that's the cue to put her back in her cage. We line the bottom of the cage with clumping kitty litter, but we've also used brown wrapping paper, cheap, that you can get from various places. Just crumple it up once a day and toss out and reline the tray on the bottom. Couldn't be easier, actually.

[Atheist]

Well I wish someone would have told my friends they could potty train their birds.

[centerchannel68]

Here's a tip: Don't let him have the chance to crap all over your cinema display.

[♥]

Yeah, I took her down right after. I was afraid she'd pry it with her beak, also. Crap is the least of my worries.

[Eriamjh]

A 7 year old bird? I hope you give it a good home.

Beaker is 10 this year. What a brat!

Tip: Don't take him/her outside.

Tip: Let his/her wings grow out. A bird that flies is far more fun. Teach it to come to you and to go back to its cage.

Tip: Play with the bird every day. Even if it's just for a few minutes.

Tip: Talk to the bird a LOT. Don't teach it anything you wouldn't want your kids to say.

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by ♥ 

Actually, this bird has been in a documentary on talking parrots. She knows how to pick out colors and is extremely intelligent. I am going to put up a live cam about her when I get around to it. Might try to do it this weekend, actually.

Her name isn't Alex, is it?

[brassplayersrock²]

Alex is a guy parrot I believe



Alex

[Atomic Rooster]

I want one but I think it might out-live me.

[brassplayersrock²]

it's possible

[♥]

So, I'm getting to know the bird and she is pretty darn smart.

This morning she saw me eating a piece of melon and she said, "MMmmmmm."

Then I gave her the melon and she dropped it so she went down to the bottom of the cage and could see through the bars that the melon was in the seed tray and she kept saying "Whoops!" "Whoops!" I heard her saying it and went over to see why she was walking around the bottom of the cage saying "Whoops!" and there was her melon. Picked it up, washed it off, and gave it back to her and she was fine.



Eriamjh, I thought about letting her wings grow out but it's too dangerous. When we got her home her wings were not trimmed and she was fully flighted. However, the entire back of our home overlooks a big green forested area, about 16 feet tall by 35 feet wide, and it looks like you can walk right out there. So she took off towards the trees and the green wide open and smashed into the glass. I was afraid she was badly hurt. She was shaken, but okay. I'm afraid to let her fly around fully flighted because of that.

[centerchannel68]

Try a shock collar.

[olePigeon]

You should nail him to his perch.

[Dakarʒ]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

You should nail him to his perch.

"Mommy, mommy, why do I keep walking in circles?"

"Shut up, kid, or I'll nail your other foot to the floor."

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Try a shock collar.

perfect!

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

Try a shock collar.

I laughed so hard I wheezed.

[♥]

Here's the bird having breakfast this morning, scrambled eggs. Never thought parrots would like scrambled eggs (it's a bit cannabalistic), but she does.

[centerchannel68]

That's kinda messed up dude.

[Eriamjh]

If you trim the bird's wings, leave plenty to safely control her fall. Grey's are pretty clumsy and have a tendency to trip over their on two feet. Also, if she gets startled, she might jump and if she doesn't have enough feathers to control her fall, she'll get hurt.

Find a good avian vet in your area. Beaker needs her nails dremeled down every 6 months. Your's might, too.

By the way, Beaker loves scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, bagels with cream cheese, grilled cheese, corn, peas, peanut butter sandwiches, perogi, apples, strawberries (very messy), bananas, and much more.

Anything bad for you is bad for your bird. Beaker loves Cheetos, but only gets one and maybe once every couple months. Do not give your bird chocolate and avoid salty foods. A little ice cream is ok.

As far as the glass window, you might want to put some kind of decorations on the glass so she can see the barrier. You have to teach her about the glass. She could break her neck flying into the window.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

That's kinda messed up dude.

I agree. It's gross. But cool bird though, all in all.

[wolfen]

I think this has been a topic in the Lounge before (what hasn't?) and as I recall there are several sites on the Internet that teach you how to potty train a bird.

IIRC, there are several stories of parrots that simply poop into garbage pails whenever they have to go, and don't actually go into a cage at all except at bedtime. They just fly around the place free.

Anyway, I'd look it up and scour Barnes & Noble or Amazon for some books on it. Seems like the coolest way to go.

[Cipher13]

I wouldn't recommend trimming the wings. I don't have any specific reason, apart from the fact that it isn't "natural". It's better if they can fly. Depending on how well trained it is (and it seems to be very well trained), and depending on how fond of you it is, it shouldn't fly away. We have a T. h. haematodus (Trichoglossus haematodus haemaodus) and can safely take it outside... it doesn't fly away at all. It also likes to fly around the house (just short bursts, between people usually).

Regarding hygiene, just keep a bucket with water and soap handy and immediately clean up wherever it goes... you'll usually notice because they tend to either be on you, or in their favourite spot. They don't tend to just randomly wander around.

Also, be careful of what you feed them; it can have a significant bearing on their colouration and especially their health (for example, I'd never feed our lorikeet avocado, as I believe it's toxic to it).

YMMV, as our bird is a nectar-feeding Lorikeet, so very different to yours. Either way they make great pets.

[Eriamjh]

Only a fool would take a flighted bird outside.

[olePigeon]

Like I said, nail it to the perch.

[Mark Larr]

I have a citron cockatoo and her beak is like a cross between a crowbar/vise grip on the end of her face.

She can do massive damage to a computer or keyboard in a matter of seconds.

[♥]

Love that picture!

The Grey is REALLY smart. After having her here for a week I would really miss her a lot if she weren't here. She's just awesome. Her vocabulary blows everyone away when they hear her talking. It's truly amazing.

Here she is this morning - yes, her wings were trimmed so that she can glide but not fly away - out on my patio.

[Mark Larr]

Here is Roxy speaking a bit.

She has a pretty good vocab and can assemble it correctly.

She absolutely adores my girlfriend and will say anything for her.

http://wltison.home.comcast.net/MOVIES/roxy.mov

http://wltison.home.comcast.net/MOVIES/heyroxy.mov

http://wltison.home.comcast.net/MOVIES/prettygirl.mov

http://wltison.home.comcast.net/MOVIES/cmere.mov

[Eriamjh]

That is a beautiful grey.

[♥]

She's interesting because, though you cannot see it, the ends of all of her feathers are tinged with rose or red. She has a dusty rose look, actually, all over when you see her in person.

[Buckaroo]

Pretty Bird.

[wolfen]

Yeah, pretty bird. It craps in the cage. And stuff like that.

...can we let this thing drop to pg 2, now?

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

Only a fool would take a flighted bird outside.

Only a fool would deny the possibility that in some situations it's safe to do so.

[Buckaroo]

[centerchannel68]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

Only a fool would deny the possibility that in some situations it's safe to do so.

How about a leash?

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by ♥ 

She's interesting because, though you cannot see it, the ends of all of her feathers are tinged with rose or red. She has a dusty rose look, actually, all over when you see her in person.

Colored fringes on the feathers of a grey could indicate a vitamin deficiency or diet problem. Have you had her checked out by a vet? What kind of pellets do you feed her?

[Graviton]

You should teach it to ride a miniature bicycle and wear a little top hat.

[Sky Captain]

A few of my Goffins...

YouTube - Dancing Cockatoo