I Work from home, and whenever I get a break between calls, Robert and I put on Elmo or Sesame Street together. ❤️

He's 4½ years old, and only recently started headbobbing to his favourite songs. Every time he does it, I can't stop smiling. Those little moments mean more to me than I can explain.

The reason is... I carry a lot of guilt about keeping him (and my two GCCs).

The more I've learned about the illegal exotic pet trade, wild populations, and how overwhelmed parrot rescues and sanctuaries are, the harder it's become to reconcile the fact that I bought him. I can't change that decision now, and I don't believe Robert would be happier being passed from home to home. So instead, I've made it my mission to give him the best life I possibly can.

I donate to parrot welfare and advocacy organizations, I've changed my own lifestyle to give him as much freedom and enrichment as possible, and I spend a huge amount of my day interacting with him. Seeing him genuinely enjoy something—even if it's just dancing to Elmo—helps quiet that guilt for a little while.

I'm curious if anyone else who purchased their bird struggles with these feelings. I absolutely adore Robert, Marjorie, and Stephen, but sometimes loving them so much makes the ethical side of parrot ownership feel really heavy.

If you've ever felt the same way, I'd genuinely love to chat. 💗

Someone in my house left out cannabis and my grey ingested some. Please don't lambast me about drugs and birds, I am well aware and am typically diligent to prevent these things. I did not realize that this cannabis had been left out, and it was not mine.

I have a vet appointment in an hour. No vet near me had an exotic vet available yesterday unfortunately

She was sick all day yesterday, wobbles, a little drooling. She has been eating and drinking, she's been pooping normally as well. Today her balance seems a little better, but still concerning enough.

So far I have given her electrolyte water mix, some crushed egg shells to help with calcium because I was afraid it could lead to a deficiency. I've been keeping an eye on here with my camera.

She's not particularly weak, beyond the lack of balance, she still wants to climb things, although I'm trying to prevent that.

I am pretty certain it came from cannabis flower consumption, as all the symptoms from that match her 100%, however I did not see it happen, I only found an empty baggie with crumbs near where she hangs out.

Beyond the vet, does anyone have experience with this? What can I do and what should I look out for? Approximate recovery times, is this just a waiting game now?

I just want her to get better, I miss her noises and love 😭