Our African Grey

[skyla]

This is my grumpy grey boy, he is 7 years old, we've had him for 4 years now after he had been passed around at least 3 previous homes and he is the love of my life! Bit of a handful at times but wouldn't swap him for the world, not sure my other half would agree though as he's a one person bird and only loves me! hee hee

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[BudgiesBuddy]

He is handsome. Does he talk?

[Marianne Marlow]

He'a lovely

[Hezz]

What is his name, Skyla? He looks like he has been into mischief in that photo. "Who? Me?"

[suejr69]

Feb 22, 2012 16:11:34 GMT @skyla said:

This is my grumpy grey boy, he is 7 years old, we've had him for 4 years now after he had been passed around at least 3 previous homes and he is the love of my life! Bit of a handful at times but wouldn't swap him for the world, not sure my other half would agree though as he's a one person bird and only loves me! hee hee

Hi skyla
He is beautiful and i know how you feel.my african grey is two in july and she is a handful at times but i wouldnt get rid of her. She only comes to me and my husband cant get close when she is sitting on my shoulder having some love.
That look your boy is giving to the camera is just like nina does with me.its a kind of "what are you doing" look or a "i'm not doing anything honest."
Sue

[skyla]

Oops sorry! his name is Liono [die hard thundercats fan here ] Sue - lovely to meet another grey slave haha! Does Nina like your hubby at all when you're not around? took us a couple of years just for Liono to tolerate my other half in the same room!

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[windsor6898]

Hi skyla i am another grey slave foggy is supposed to be his bird but only has eyes for me and a nasty beak for anybody else lol

[Hezz]

Being such long-lifed birds, has anyone looked at how these darlings fare if their "other half" human passes away? Morbid topic, I know, and without taking a peak at your ages, I am guessing none of you are elderly. I know Sue has "arrangements' in place for Nina, but I wonder do they cope very well, and are they capable of re-bonding with someone else.

[skyla]

It's something i've thought long and hard about and if anything happened to me imminently *touch wood* my sister would take our grey, further on down the line i am hoping that my daughter [9 at the moment!] would take him on, he allows her to handle him already. i'm 31 by the way! As for bonding, in my case i know that Liono would definitely bond with another female owner as he bonded like glue with me pretty instantly and he had at least 3 previous homes before me, their need to bond is strong and while i'm sure it would be very confusing and upsetting for them to be parted from a long time owner it's likely they would settle with a new owner quite well! i know someone who took on a 45 year old grey a couple of years ago and it didn't take him long to settle with her! It's a really good topic though Hezz and something people should definitely think about isn't it!

[Captain Howdy]

He is gorgeous!!

Its good you have people in place who are willing to take him on just in case, a lot of people don't think about the lifespan when getting one, or that they are known as one person birds and can be very aggressive if they don't like you.

Does he talk at all?

Also has he been chipped? I have an Amazon I recently got chipped but haven't found many parrot owners who have had theirs chipped.

[skyla]

He rarely shuts up! haha ;D very wide vocabulary including some not so pleasant words he came to us with! i have to admit i didn't know a thing about parrots when i bought him, i was intending to look at a few birds before choosing but responded to an advert and once i got there i couldn't leave without him, he was living in squalor in a small filthy cage with no toys but a rusty bell on a piece of string The last 4 years have been a huge birdy learning curve to say the least! As for chipping, no he isn't chipped, don't they require anaesthetic to have it done? i wouldn't be happy with him being put under unless absolutely necessary What kind of ammie do you have? gorgeous birds!

[Hezz]

As far as I know, microchipping birds follows the same process as cats and dogs but yes they do need a general, but it is a very light one and the bird is awake within minutes. My budgie has been anaesthetised for a much longer time and more heavy duty anaesthetic with no problems. AS long as you trust your vet.

[Captain Howdy]

Feb 24, 2012 17:26:31 GMT @skyla said:

He rarely shuts up! haha ;D very wide vocabulary including some not so pleasant words he came to us with! i have to admit i didn't know a thing about parrots when i bought him, i was intending to look at a few birds before choosing but responded to an advert and once i got there i couldn't leave without him, he was living in squalor in a small filthy cage with no toys but a rusty bell on a piece of string The last 4 years have been a huge birdy learning curve to say the least! As for chipping, no he isn't chipped, don't they require anaesthetic to have it done? i wouldn't be happy with him being put under unless absolutely necessary What kind of ammie do you have? gorgeous birds!

Most vets will require them to be put under, I had my Amazon chipped and I was very nervous about having it done, however by the time I had filled out the paperwork and sat back down the vet was bringing him out to me, he was chipped and she took feathers for my to send off for his DNA, he came out very alert and bright eyed and not at all how you would expect an animal to be after being put under, it is only a very very light anaestetic they use and I would defo do it again if/ when I get another one, the peace of mind it brings knowing if god forbid anything happens to him I have a sure way of proving he is mine.

He's an Orange Winged Amazon called Rocky

[suejr69]

Feb 23, 2012 11:20:02 GMT @skyla said:

Oops sorry! his name is Liono [die hard thundercats fan here ] Sue - lovely to meet another grey slave haha! Does Nina like your hubby at all when you're not around? took us a couple of years just for Liono to tolerate my other half in the same room!

sorry skyla i havent got back to you.Nina will let my husband in the room and these last few months we have been working with her to get closer to him.she now even has a fight with jim(my husband) with a piece of kitchen roll rolled up.she doesnt shake or get aggressive towards him now and will even sit on his knee when he is eating something.he cant stroke her yet but can touch her beak with his finger.the problem is my daughter now.nina wont allow my daughter to sit next to me or even hug me when nina is out.my daughter can give nina food through the cage and this is progress but if nina is out of her cage my daughter cant get near me.one step at a time for me i will keep up the training with my husband and nina.
It sounds like liono is more protective than my nina.what are you going to do about liono and your other half?
sue

[suejr69]

Feb 24, 2012 16:14:17 GMT Captain Howdy said:

He is gorgeous!!

Its good you have people in place who are willing to take him on just in case, a lot of people don't think about the lifespan when getting one, or that they are known as one person birds and can be very aggressive if they don't like you.

Does he talk at all?

Also has he been chipped? I have an Amazon I recently got chipped but haven't found many parrot owners who have had theirs chipped.

Hi
my nina was chipped before christmas as i think its important they are done.the only thing i worried about when she had it done was, she wouldnt go to anyone else so the vet had to sedate her as she wouldnt let him touch her otherwise so she was a little stressed with the visit to have her chip implanted.it was over and done in ten minutes.

Sue