Introducing myself plus a beginner question

[Miro]

Hi
My name is Miro.  My family is thinking of getting a farm and 2 African greys next year.  We have two boys.  I'm thinking I'd love to have or build a solarium if the property we buy doesn't have one.  If we don't get the solarium, I think I will let the birds out of the cage one at a time to make sure the other comes back.  What I'm wondering about is if I let them free inside the house in winter what kind of bird poop stories will I later be telling.  ie will they defecate all over the house...will I find some poop in some odd spot like on top of the fridge or cupboard months later?  I Now have finches and I noticed they mostly tend to defecate shortly after eating greens or drinking; If I take the bird out of the cage right after it defecates and don't feed it again till half an hour later when it gets back in the cage will that prevent it from pooping around the house?  Any other hygiene related info that I might ned to know, but haven't thought of asking?  Do these birds need to see the vet for immunizations... like cats and dogs or do they only need to see the vet if they get sick?  My finches haven't seen the vet yet; I had one for a few years and just bought it a partner.  Thanks.

[feika]

Hello and welcome Miro from Ali/Captain. You have posted a lot of questions, I'm not an expert here but I will try to answer them according to my knowledge and gut feeling.
1. I understood from your post that you want the birds to free fly (in the absence of a solarium). That's a dangerous proposition especially if there are birds of prey around. Even if there aren't the birds of prey, you need to extensively train your birds to have them free fly. This is a wonderful thinking on your part by the way and I will encourage you to read on harness training and free flying or if like you can read Shanlung's account of Tinkerbell and Riamfada which will tell you a lot about the hazards and joy of free flying.
http://www.geocities.com/shanlung9/
2. It's not the poop that is the biggest mess, it's the food and chewing that can be real messy. There are live wires inside the house which can be fatal to chew, moreover, have a last look at your sofa, curtains, chairs, tables, computers, because anything and everything that can be chewable will be chewed. However, you can train them to poop in a designated area by immediately placing them there when they come out of the cage and reward them afterwards. You can do it with patience and training.
3. Initial vet check up is recommended to have a clean bill of health and afterwards only on a need basis.
I would suggest you get a baby or two if you like (one is my recommendation) to train in your new surroundings as you will also be trained along the way.

[ukgrey]

I agree with feika,  you can train the birds to poop in designated areas, I really wouldn't recommend holding their food back.  I can't stress enough that if you free fly your bird you will probably lose it!  These birds are easily distracted and disorientated so literally can't find their way home.  If you're house proud this is not the bird for you, I'll try to post a picture of my walls later to show you how distructive they can be.  Read up, stick around and join in, a grey is a long way from a finch!

Welcome to the forum and kudos for doing the research

[karine]

Hello, yes ukgrey is right, boy if I could post I would also share pictures of what a Grey can do! But it's not just Greys, but parrots in general are destructive. My Pionus and Caiques will chew as well.

Keeping a second Grey behind while the other one is free outside will not guarantee you his return! Even people who think they have mastered free flying without a harness has lost their Grey! Just a matter of time.....

[kgamblin]

If you love birds you will also have to learn to love cleaning poo.  I have had birds for about ten years a grey for about a year and poo is just one part of the package.  I just keep plenty of cleaning supplies on hand and take this part of keeping birds as a daily chore like cooking and washing dishes.  You will find that your grey's poo is like super glue and will need to be chiseled off floors, tables, furniture, counters, and cages.    Whenever Ruby is out I just try to have wipes handy and clean as she goes so to speak.     Good luck and enjoy all the positive things you will gain from keeping a grey.  My Rudy is a sweetheart and funny too.  She is very worth all the cleaning I have to do.

[Miro]

Thanks,
I got a lot of interesting answers.  I'd read about the chewing which is why I thought a solarium might be the answer; I'd hate to have an electrical wire get chewed.  It's good to know that the can be "potty trained."  I once trained a rabbit to go in the bathtub, there were a few accidents, but it wasn't all over the house.  I wouldn't mind a few accidents;  I just was afraid of  turning living quarters into a sewer.  Thanks again.

[jules]

hi miro and welcome.

accidents will happen with any animal,it just cant be helped.but i'll tell you what,i'd rather clean up bird poop any day after having dogs around and hearing of my sisters 'retching sounds' cleaning the cat litter tray. i often say at least bird poop dont smell 

[kins23]

Welcome Miro! I agree, cleaning bird poop is no big deal, except the "superglue factor". After seeing what it takes to take care of a cat, the "wretching thing", I am GLAD I am allergic to cats! LOL   Nancy M

[kgamblin]

I second the litter box comment.  I much rather chisel superglue poo than deal with a cat box.

[kins23]

I spent today, cleaning the hardwood floors. (superglue!) I found, soaking area for one hour, with hot water and towel, it came off so easily!(of course I have ten million layers of protection. There went one layer!) We have enough layers to skate! LOL   Nancy M

[kgamblin]

I sure wish I had more layers of polyeurthane on my hardwood floors.  I have one layer and wish I had much more.

[kins23]

never too late! Find a good handyman, get more layers! I bought two new cages today. They are HUGE! I was shocked, that Sophie refused to go in and check it out! It took her five hours. She had new perches times 7. I was trully at a loss all day. She finally decided she was hungry, around 8pm, and decided to check it out! Meanwhile, my SunConure, decided to checkout both cages immediately! As the cages are both ceiling to floor, he likes both cages, decided to take a bath on level three! LOL! (it really was a water dish!)
     Everyone got clipped today. (just enough to fly from point A to B) After the intro to new cages, you would never know, they got trimmed! Flying everywhere!
     My 19 year old, is taking a break from college this semester. He has a job, but bird store is looking for help. He is going to apply! I am soooo excited for him. Ryan is the owner, of our rescued conure, since age 9. This bird, would fly across the room, attack your jugular. He showed up at daycare, laid his hand across the bird, instant love! We took this bird, since babysitter was a tem rescue home. This bird was out of "forever" homes. He found one. I had no interest in birds. My sitter, told me, if I didn't take this bird, he would never find a home. He had chosen Ryan!We took Sunny. Eleven years ago! This bird, loves Ryan. He tolerates us! When he goes crazy, Ryan just lays his hand across his head... he is a differrent bird! WHAT IS THAT? Its not just birds, but any animal, Ryan has contact with! It is really weird! He spent an hour, talking to Sophie. (I didn't hear anyone talking) today. Ryan told me, when Sophie got hungry, she would checkout her new cage.(thats what she did!) His father, is an avid hunter. Ryan goes.... to scare the deer away! I hope he takes this job. I don't doubt, it will be offered to him.
Nancy     
 
     My friend

[feika]

I've got tiled flooring and a scrapper and super or no super, poop is no big deal

[kgamblin]

Nancy,

I have even thought of just getting a cotton mop and spreading more layers on by the gallon but didn't know how long it would take to dry.

[kins23]

kgamblin.... let me talk to my handyman. We have alot going on right now. I'm sure he will tell me what to do!He didn't refinish my floors (that handyman died unfortunatelly). If he doesn't know, my girlfriend will, as she refinished her floors by herself. I know it is more a problem, with bubbles! I will find out the answer for you. My girlfriend and I both laugh, what will we do, when our youngest go to college! We are both divorced... our oldest are clueless, our 16 yr. olds are very helpful. She says, we need to buy the "floor model!" LOL they don't always sell it! Hey.... I was proud, to put a lamp together!   Nancy