So, Maui is FLYING pretty much everywhere he wants to go, so sweet and cute, but, since his new found independence, he does NOT want Mommy to "hold" him as much any more (unless he's sleepy OR it's time to go in his cage) I guess that's to be expected, right? I mean, he DOES still want scratches and attention, just doesn't want to be snuggled up as much. He has been practicing and practicing the "come here" whistle and the "wolf whistle/cat call whistle", He's got them both pretty much down. I say "Good Morning, baby" every morning when we wake up, and this morning AS I was saing it, I could swear he ended my sentence with "baby"!!!!! Could be a fluke, but it was pretty neat for me. I know he's only 11 weeks old, but he sure tries hard to vocalize already, I'm not expecting him to even TRY to talk until he's much older, so when I think I hear him say something or try to it's exciting.

On another note... My Moms zebra finches have laid an egg, don't know if it's viable or not yet. AND her Fisher love birds have laid eggs and I'm fairly certain they ARE viable, but again, we shall see.

My Mom has also adopted another Cockatiel to add to her flock as well as 3 sweet little budgies, she loves them to pieces. Well, ya gotta admit, those little budgies are cute as heck!!

Thats all I have to say for now, except, Is it normal for Maui to be trying SO hard to mimic already? I mean he's still such a BABY still??? I don't have anything/one to compare him to, since he's my very first GREY and I don't know when they're supposed to be trying to do what. Any comments are welcomed!!!!

Mom ..... Maui is growing up, boys must be boys
I am sure you heard him correctly saying baby, it's a mother's natural instinct to pick these things up. There were many many times, I "thought" I heard Mishka saying a word. MY guys said she can't talk yet. I then left a recorder nearby, and guess what Mishka was saying a few words, without us even knowing it.
When she started talking, she would only talk if she was alone. If anyone walked in to same room as her, she was hush hush.
The moment she got over she shyness, no one and nothing can stop her from being a 24/7 chatterbox, I would not have it any other way.
Good luck with your mom's finches, and the new cockatiel

Lisa talk talk and talk all the time, Maui hears, listens and learns every single word that is being said.

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Aww, Thanks Ant!! I've heard that it's "impossible" for babies to vocalize words so young, but, like I said, there's been a couple of times that not only myself, but my husband, mother, daughter, whatever could SWEAR we've heard him say a word. LOL.... I'm stickin' with my story and I'm just going to keep on talking, talking, talking to him, like you said!!!!

Make sure to feed him lots of calories because flying takes a great deal of the birds energy. So does growing up. It is normal for the "honeymoon" period with a baby bird to end and they will not be as cuddlie and want to be close to as much. It is a part of their natural instinct on the road to being an adult.

I never say "impossible" anymore.....improrobable or highly unlikely, maybe, but birds never cease to amaze me, you'll be enrolling him in kindergarten here pretty soon if you don't watch out

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Bob
" To Protect And Serve"

Bobby kindergarden is for human kids

Our birds will be going to "Birdie Versity"

Where they will learn the "Birdie Bet"

And learn how to use "Birdie Wipes"

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SB, Yes, He has cut back to 2 feedings (formula) per day, but is munching very well at veggies and Roudybush pellets all through the day.

He's still a very sweet little guy, he's just too busy these days to take time out of his day to cuddle with Mom, unless of course he's sleepy!

Is there anything else I should be feeding him to keep his energy up (not that he seems to need it) or to keep him in good health while he's exploring?

Lisa do yourself a big favour........
Keep giving Maui, formula from a syringe each and every morning, even when he is fully weaned. My vet agrees with me for the following reasons.
Continuing with it has great benefits..... A continual bonding process takes place each day............ There is so much goodness in the formula, less stress is he getting enough vitamins, proteins etc................If Maui ever need to be given medication, he would be used to the syringe
I feed Mishka 2x 2ml each morning, and she loves it

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Have you tried baked sweet potato? There are things that can mix in the potato also that are good for your sweet baby like cinnamon. Cooked pasta is sometimes liked by birds young and old. A nice warm bit of oatmeal is good too any time of day and good to carry them over until the next morning. You are doing fine and I know having fun too. Antionette is very correct in continuing the baby food. To this day Rosie eats her hand feeding baby food in the morning.

Maui has had Sweet Potatoe and pasta both cooked and raw and loved it. I haven't tried oatmeal, however, sounds like a nice yummy for him. He's munching on a little canteloupe at the moment.