HL, maybe you need to read the spanking threads
I Got this Parrot
by Honesty 66 Replies latest jw friends
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FreedomFrog
Also, please keep the cage clean...very important and fresh water always! Birds are pretty messy.
Yes, their water can get messy within a few minutes! I use to use water bottles and food dispensing cups. I stopped when I lost Cheeko because I have a nagging feeling that she stuffed seeds and other things in her bottle and couldn't get water. I didn't notice because her water bottle seemed like it was going down and I thought she was getting water...I'm thinking that is what caused her kidney failure. Not sure because the Dr said she could have been born with it and it just took time for it to develop.
I think I will go back to a water bottle for kitto but I will be making sure his water bottle is clear of things every single day. So if you do go the water bottle way, make sure he's getting water. Water bottles are less messy and don't become contaminated as easily.
My African Grey LOVES to take baths...I will fill up a sink with about 2 inches of water (luke warm) and he'll have a ball. Though, slowly introduce this to your bird if you choose this way. I got my bird loving baths by starting out with a bowl first...then I gradually allowed him to "test" the water. This will keep them well conditioned and their feathers in great shape.
Here's another link that may help...
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restrangled
Freedom Frog, your picture with Mr. African Grey brought tears to my eyes.....like I mentioned I still miss my "Doobie boy"......I spoiled that boy rotten and allowed him to have his flight feathers. We had a screened in pool with a large tree in the center. So he loved to go out and fly and sit in the tree.
Here is his story which I've written about before on here but it needs repeating for new bird owners. He pecked a hole in the screen and flew into 100 foot trees. When I went out to check on him I screamed "Doobie come back, and he instantly flew to my shoulder and never strayed again.......until some big guys came in to pick up a plant without me there and left the screen door open. I was not expecting them until I got home and they came early scaring my bird to death. He took off never to return to me.
After 15 years I still watch and listen for my lovey bird, Dobbie Doo.
r.
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Honesty
Thanks for all the great 4-11.
I may be able to keep him after all.
I don't usually cook since I live alone, just use a Hot Water machine and eat soups and chili and drink a lot of water so he doesn't have to worry about aluminum.
Hmmm. maybe the cult was right about aluminum, no they said it did something to people. Oh well, another discarded 'truth' that was not.
I have been using Watchtower and AWAKE! magazines to line his cage.
Four of them side-by-side just about cover the bottom of the cage.
Do you think that they may be harmful to his mental health?
Can you guys and girls help me out with some new phrases to teach him?
I am more inclined towards Theocratic phrases myself.
What do you think about these...
"The Governing Body is apostate"
"Jesus... He ain't no angel"
"The Faithful Slave is a myth"
"New Light Blinks"
"I got Jesus in my heart"
I would really like something for the rare times (maybe once a year) that my siblings and Mom answer their phones when I call (they seem to have lost my phone # and address since I quit da cult) so they can enjoy that parrot, too.
BTW, do African Grey parrots need a mate to be happy?
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FreedomFrog
I spoiled that boy rotten and allowed him to have his flight feathers. We had a screened in pool with a large tree in the center. So he loved to go out and fly and sit in the tree.
He sounds like he was spoiled. I'm so sorry...I do know what it's like losing a bird. My Cheeko death still hurts my heart to this day and it's been over 2 years, partly because I think I was the one that caused her death.
Hugs to you (((restrangled)))
Like you, I allow Kitto to keep his flight feathers, and I do worry about him escaping but I can't bring myself to cut his flight feathers because he loves to fly around in the apartment. I'm even paranoid because I'm afraid the ceiling fan my be accidentally turned on while he's out. When my bird is out he's with me every moment or he's back in his cage.
There is a lot to learn about these wonderful birds...
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FreedomFrog
I have been using Watchtower and AWAKE! magazines to line his cage.
Four of them side-by-side just about cover the bottom of the cage.
Do you think that they may be harmful to his mental health?
LOL, may cause him to be controlled more in the cult since he'll be reading as well...
Just be careful with the color ink. The newspapers use to use something that could have been harmful, I'm not sure what that was but I think they stopped using that kind of ink. At any rate, I stay away from inks that are colored. New's papers that are in black ink is what I use. I won't even use the adds if they have color in them. That's a "just in case".
BTW, do African Grey parrots need a mate to be happy?
No, they do not need a mate...this is a misconception on most people's parts. In fact, if you do get him a mate, you are taking the chance of him not wanting to bond with you. And on top of that, sometimes the "mate" you pick out for them they will not like. Just like humans, they may not like the personality of the new bird and then you'll end up with two birds that don't like each other.
Spending time with your grey and training him will make him happy. Learn his language and he'll learn yours.
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horrible life
beksbks, LOL!!!! Thanks Hiss, Hiss
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Honesty
Thanks Freedom Frog!!!
The Wathctower Society at one time used a non-toxic ink.
They didn't need it because the articles contains enough toxins to kill 6 million people with one reading.
I kinda work for a publishing corporation (contractor) that produces newsprint and the ink they use is almost as toxic as Watchtower articles so I stay away from their newsprint.
He is going to be celibate.
I'm like the WTBTS in that regard... I hate competition.
Now...
How's about some help with his vocabulary.
Let's start with replacing "Get your bookbag" and substitute something that has "Get your (fill in the blank)"
He drove me nuts until I dug out the last bookbag I bought but never used in FS and let him see me stuffing it full of Watchtowers.
Then I went outside for 10 minutes and he was satisfied with my 'token' FS... at least for the time-being.
We can work on replacing "That's apostate thinking" and "The Society says" later.
Let's exorcise his worst habit first.
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Finally-Free
I'd never discipline a bird. It only destroys any trust they have for you. I reinforce Rocco's good behaviour with attention, kisses, tummy rubs, and treats. If he's bad I'll leave the room and ignore him for 10-15 minutes. He's learned which behaviour gets him the results he wants.
Make an effort to learn his body language. Often biting is just communication. Many times if Rocco starts biting rapidly it means he wants to go back to his cage to take a crap. He likes to do that job in the same place all the time, so it's nice that I don't have to clean crap off the floor.
I don't clip his wings, and he'll often fly across the room to land on my shoulder. That being said, be very, very careful about allowing a large parrot to sit on your shoulder. His beak is a lot tougher than your face or eyes, and he can do a lot of damage if something startles him.
A parrot must be part of the family. They are very sociable, and love to eat with you. That was how I introduced new foods to Rocco. As soon as he saw me eating something he had to try it. Just putting something new in his bowl didn't work at first, though it does now.
Be careful about rubbing birds under their wings. They love it, but they also get sexually aroused from it.
If he ever starts bleeding for some reason, such as a broken blood feather, apply corn starch to the area. It's a great way to stop the bleeding.
Edited to add: I saw a picture of a cockatoo with a prosthetic beak. Someone decided to pair her up with a male, and the male didn't like her. He bit her beak right off, and she's lucky she survived. Birds, like any animal, have distinct personalities and prefer to choose their own mates.
W
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FreedomFrog
Oh, and you mentioned that you "know" he's a boy? Both female and male Greys are very difficult to know. They can act and do like either or. The best way to determine what sex your bird is is by doing a dna test. The pet store thought Kito was a girl and called her Gracie. I done a DNA test and "she" was a "he".
Sometimes you can tell if they are a female or male by their eyes but that is also not easy to do.
Determining the sex of an African Grey parrot will sorely depend on their physical traits: males are generally bigger in size, round eyes, have a flatter and broader head while females have longer and slender neck, small rounded head and elliptical eyes.