advice please

[patti]

Id like to ask a little more advice if that's ok. I let him out of his cage this afternoon. I left his cage door open and he came out on his own. I put the cage on the floor and he is still on top of it. He's made no move towards getting back inside. What shall I do? Will he eventually find his own way? He's happy and playing with some toys. Can someone please advise. Thanks. Also do they need grit?

[patti]

No he wont step up on me. I've tried to tempt him with a treat. He hissed at me and tried to bite me. I dont want to upset him any more than I have to. Any suggestions. I could always separate the base from the cage, get him to step into the base and then place the cage back on top. What do you think. I'd rather he went in on his own but its getting late now.

[Monica]

Get a perch or stick, and see if he will step up onto that...

[Casa Amazona]

I don't know what kind of parrot this is, but mine normally respond to food. You might put a treat in the cage and watch him or her make tracks. If there's the threat of being bitten, you could toss the treat into the cage instead of placing it there.

[patti]

I coached him into the base and put the cage over him. I dont think he's quite ready to venture out quite yet. (he's an african grey). He was too nervous to eat anything. I'll try again in a few days. Thanks for all your tips.

[patti]

Thanks for your help. I will try what you advise. I've been told that a little fruit mixed in with some plain yoghurt is good for their digestion. Can anyone confirm this please. Also i've mashed up some veggies for him. Is it ok to put a little butter in with it or not? Thanks.

[The Outlaw]

Patti:

That is true so long as its LIVE yogurt. You usually need to get that in health food stores.

THE OUTLAW

[Joel]

As usual, Nancy is right on from what I have read and heard in the past relating to yogurt. That stuff in the grocery store is supposed to be either useless or almost useless. One needs to get fresh yogurt with a high count of "LIVE" cultures in it. I think the problem with the grocery store yogurt is that the pasteurization process kills all or most all of the live culture of bacteria that is beneficial to the gut etc........I hope I got all that right????

[The Outlaw]

Yes, Joel. That is exactly correct.

[patti]

I bought a live yoghurt yesterday from a reputable store. How much do I give him? I mixed about a teaspoon with a blackberry and when he 'pooed' it was brown and watery. I gave him a red grape as well. Is this too much. Also on the subject of food. I am giving him a fruit seed mix which is in his cage all day. And i want to supplement his diet with mashed veg as well. Is it ok to add just a tiny amount of butter (for flavour). Sorry if these questions sound daft. I just want to do things the right way. Am I right in thinking that in the morning he should have a breakfast of fruit and yoghurt. Then in the evening some veg. I assume the green veg should be given raw?