new here need advice

[audreyandkia]

actually have lots of ??? but will start with.... We have had kia, an amazon grey, for 3 years. she is about 8 years old and laid an egg yesterday. No way it is fertile but she wont get off it much. should we take it now or wait until she abandons it? She already hates me and I don't want to make that worse. She only likes men so my hubbie will do it based on advice.

[Wolf]

I would leave the egg(s) until she abandons it. The reason for this is that if you take it before she is ready to leave it she will just lay more. I would however, consider giving her a calcium supplement. Egg laying uses a lot of calcium and Grey already tend to be a bit low on it.

[audreyandkia]

thanks for the info. We were talked into the 'bird rescue' without knowing much about them. It has been an interesting time. it was evident at the start that she preferred men but has gotten to the point that hubbie has to lock her in the cage if we set on the same couch so she won't draw blood on my feet. We have discussed sending her to a rescue group but since she would need a home with a single male we don't see her getting a forever home..... so I will try any advice I can to keep her with the one person she trusts.

[liz]

Welcome to the forum.

Wear long pants with shoes and socks. If you don't react she will tire of trying.

[Wolf]

My CAG is 15 yrs. old and is a one person bird and will bite anyone other than me, especially if they try to touch me while she is out and sometimes just if she thinks they are getting too close to me. I don't lock her up for this, but I do insist that she either sits on my shoulder or on the far side of me so that I am between her and her intended victim. I feel that it is my bird, my responsibility to keep her safe as well as to keep others safe from her.
Kiki, my Senegal, 6 yr. old, is also a one person bird and like Kookooloo, my CAG she has chosen me to be her human. She has a foot fetish or so I call it and loves to nibble and bite feet and toes, if a foot is not available and she sees a shoe or boot she goes for those and can destroy either in short order. I try to keep them out of sight and the same with my feet. I do warn my Lady on occasion that Kiki is feeling particularly aggressive toward feet today or when ever. It is the best protection that works here so far.

[liz]

[quote="liz"]Welcome to the forum.

Wear long pants with shoes and socks. If you don't react she will tire of trying.


Protect yourself and don't react.

[Pajarita]

Yes, Wolf is correct, do not take her egg away until she abandons it.

The reason why some birds prefer men to women is nothing more than what they got used to (previous owner been a man) but it doesn't mean that she cannot have a good relationship with a woman. I have a couple of birds that came from male households (Pookey, female TAG; Isis, female ARB; Pretty Boy,male sun conure) and, although they all prefer my husband to me, I have a very good relationship with them now. It's just a matter of not antagonizing them (if she gets caged every time you are with your husband, she will resent you -they are very smart and reach conclusions of their own), interfering with their relationship (don't try to get between them, don't ask her to have anything to do with you while she is with you) and working with them when the 'chosen one' is not there (let her out of her cage, talk and sing to her, give her treats, etc).