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Ms. Peach
Egg
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 8
Location: Connecticut, USA |
| Dusty |
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I have married into Dusty's life and it has been a wonderful experience thus far. He was my first contact with parrots and even though he is a rescued African Grey and needs years of recouperating he makes me smile everyday!
Dusty has been with my husband for 5 or 6 years now and we have discovered that Dusty views him as the disciplinarian.  It can be both good and bad. He's been there to bond with him and see to his health and he's also been frustrated by not being able to have a 'normal' bird. Dusty is most comfortable in his cage and does not like the act of coming out. When he is out, he gets very excited and usually crashes his way to the floor hurting himself (one wing has trouble growing feathers and he picks all the new ones out).
I came into consistant contact with Dusty about 2 years ago and at first he only would look at me from his cage. As time went on he began to whistle with me. When all three of us finally moved to a place of our own, he began to come to the front of his cage while I was working on the couch, he would let me feed him and (the best thing of all!) he would let me scratch his head!! In my husband's care, he's never let anyone do that to him!!!
When we got our Senegal and Lovebird (a few months apart), Dusty became the jealous type, not wanting me to spend my time with any other bird. Because of this, he began to whistle and talk even more! He also would try to grab our attention more often with funny things he would do or new things he would say. Overall, everyone living together has been a wonderful experience.
Now, the main reason for my post (which would not have the same effect without the above). Dusty has gone into the shower with us and sometimes he likes it and other times he doesn't express how he feels about it, but yesterday he was quite vocal on how he felt about bathing! He decided that it was time for him to take his own bath! Even though it was in his water dish  We put a bigger dish out for him and he used it a little bit, but this is huge progress for Dusty and him finally coming out of his shell!!! |
Sunday May 29, 2005 12:08 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
Great story,looks like you will all be one big happy family,good to hear |
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Monday May 30, 2005 11:05 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
Yeah, that's a definitely wow story. It's so good to hear stories like that with happy endings!
It's amazing how much a little love and patience (sometimes alot of it) can go a such a long way with these little creatures. Congrats on a job well done. Keep up the good work, and you'll be rewarded with a beautiful companion bird for life.  |
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Monday May 30, 2005 3:14 pm |
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LaSignoraMusica
Bappie
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Posts: 62
Location: The Netherlands |
I would like to ask you something about Dusty: is he wing-clipped? To me it seems like he feels safe in his cage, which is often the case with parrots. To make him feel more self-secure, it would be a good idea to have him wing-clipped. Make sure that he is wing-clipped the correct way: both sides the first eight flight feathers clipped up to the cover feathers. This way he will be in balance, with lesser chance to damage himself. You can train with a wing-clipped bird by making him sit on a rope-perch or anothe perch that you can carry around. Just walk with him around the room, the house, the garden, and even the street. Because you are the only well-known thing for him on such a moment, he will be secure whenever you are secure. To teach him stepping up, you can take him first to the bathroom, where there is little chance that he can damage himself. Or does he already know how to step up? |
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Monday May 30, 2005 4:03 pm |
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Ms. Peach
Egg
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 8
Location: Connecticut, USA |
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Dusty has one wing of clipped flight feathers and the other wing is a bit difficult to describe. Unfortunately when he falls to the floor he breaks some of his feathers and it makes it difficult (even after carefully taking the broken shaft out) for his feathers to grow in. Even if they do grow in, he picks at them because he is not used to them. But the wing we can clip, is done just right.
Yes, he can step up, but he's skiddish in doing do. He feels
very
safe in his cage. Dusty will allow my husband to take him out, but he flys/dives away from him as soon as he can. I don't know if he's unconfortable sitting on his hand or what?! He will sit with me and be comfortable, but if my husband comes close he'll fly off again.
He had a previous owner who could no longer take care of him and so an avian vet took him. He was in the vet's office for 2 years or so and rarely came out, until my husband adopted him. He was much less sociable then and he's come a long way. I'm hoping I can share my thoughts/experiences with you so you all can give me help!
I have a picture of him on my homepage if you want to take a look. |
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Monday May 30, 2005 4:45 pm |
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LaSignoraMusica
Bappie
Joined: 26 Feb 2005
Posts: 62
Location: The Netherlands |
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I think the problem with Dusty is rather complicated. Maybe you should try to find a vet specialized in bird behavior. Here in Holland we have just one vet who is an expert in that field, his name is Dr. Hooimeijer. He is a friend of bird behavior consultant Liz Wilson (http://www3.google.com/liz/) who can be contacted by phone and on her website. This type of behavior is rather common with African Greys, unfortunately. They are sometimes not self-secure, and jump off your hand. By bending down and looking at them you're just confirming their behavior, but that's mostly what you do automatically. Especially when, like Dusty, the bird is off balance because of the plucked wing. He probably started plucking because the growing of new feathers was itching, and you can ask yourself if he continues plucking because you give attention to that wing. These are questions that come to my mind, but of course, I am here in Holland and have seen your bird only on a pic. So therefore you should try to find a behavior consultant who can see you, your husband and your bird, and give advice especially for your situation. It sometimes takes years to find out why a bird behaves the way it does, and to find a therapy for that behavior. My african grey is a chronical plucker, and I already discovered that, if you put ten pluckers together, you'll find ten different reasons for their plucking. The same goes for parrots that jump, scream or bite. I'm very curious about the outcome, so keep us updated! |
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Monday May 30, 2005 9:40 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: Dusty |
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MsPeach, how is Dusty today? Haven't heard from you in some time.. |
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Friday July 15, 2005 11:14 am |
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dim1g
Flutterer
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 126
Location: Chicago |
| jumping greys |
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geez, Dusty sounds an awful lot like Sake was when i first adopted him, although Sake now loves coming out of his cage much more often and the jumping has reduced by a LOT (thanks in great part to the suggestions on this forum by Fluffy Sue and others!!). he still will have a day every once in a while where he jumps, but it is usually obviously him being a stinker and refusing to follow normal routine or because he is mad at me for something (being too late bringing him down for breakfast, for example). sometimes he will just yell at me when pissed, but sometimes the leaping still occurs. we get most days now where he won't jump/leap. it is great. i much prefer him to yell at me (it is a very angry squawking that he does) if pissed at me.
Sake's wings are like Dusty's, as well. One is a mess from his jumping, and he picks at the new feathers coming in, and the other was clipped to keep him balanced and he picks at those too. And even though he rarely leaps now, when he does he almost always breaks a feather or two  . CAGs are such complicated creatures...i guess we all are. but i must say it certainly seems easier to keep the cat and dogs happy. sigh. i sure love the complicated bugger though!
cheers
dim |
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Friday July 15, 2005 12:51 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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I agree Dim! Those CAGs are complicated.. Well, or should I say they are masters in manipulation?
I have underestimated the greys here. He he he! |
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Saturday July 16, 2005 11:03 am |
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dim1g
Flutterer
Joined: 15 Mar 2005
Posts: 126
Location: Chicago |
| complicated greys |
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Fluffy Sue, that is EXACTLY what the vet (Dr. Sakas) told me Sake was doing: manipulating me. LOL! he also reminded me that we have another 50 years to figure it out...
dim, trying to wake up and get out for a run (6:30am here), yippeee! have had two slow and short ones already. latest CT scan showed that my ribs are still healing but all else is well inside. outside is the tale i have yet to tell, family here this weekend but will try to write of it next week.
dim |
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Saturday July 16, 2005 11:35 am |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
Dim,
Very glad to hear that you're recovering nicely. |
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Saturday July 16, 2005 5:40 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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| Re: complicated greys |
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LOL! So Dr. Sakas was onto Sake.. (You can't outsmart a vet, right? LOL!)
Good to hear that you're doing better..
How're your ribs feeling? |
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Sunday July 17, 2005 12:56 pm |
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