Hello, my name is Pepper.  I'm a Timneh African Grey.  I was hatched on June 14th of 2004.  I was adopted by the Harvey's on September 9th, 2004.  They first saw me 2 days earlier at the store in Greensburg PA.  Because I wasn't fully weaned, the Harvey's had to feed me at the store 3 times (store policy) before I could go home with them.  They did a great job with my feedings!  I am the 4th member to join the Harvey's avian flock!

My new family didn't know it when they purchased me, but I was very sick when they took me home.  I did a really good job of hiding my illness.  It is a good thing that they had already scheduled a vet appointment.  I overheard the vet tell Dad that I was a pretty sick birdie.  I had to take 2 different medications for 10 days....... yuck!  I've been to the vet twice already and still need to go back at least one more time.  But, I'm all better now and feeling great.  When the Harvey's found out that there were other sick birds at the store, they weren't very happy.  The folks at must be stand-up comics.  They told my Dad that he could bring me back and they would treat me until I was better....... Dad just laughed....... Dad said something like....... you must be joking!

Since I was sick, it was important for my family to continue the hand feedings twice a day.  My illness delayed my weaning a bit.  Four weeks later, I am now down to 1 hand feeding in the evening.  I have plenty of other foods available in my bowls to eat anytime I want..... but I enjoy having Mom, Dad, & Melissa feed me in the evening before I go night-night!

I have heard that I'm smaller than the Congo African Greys, but who cares!  I have also heard that I'm supposed to be more active and somewhat more behaviorally stolid that the Congos.  In addition, we Timnehs have a tendency to begin talking earlier and are more inclined to talk in the presence of strangers.  When comparing a Congo and a Timneh, there are also some differences in our feather and tail colors, but as you can see, I'm a beautiful bird!

This is my new home.  It was built by Avian Adventures®.  It is very comfortable and full of entertainment to keep me busy.  For awhile, I was kept in a separate room for quarantine purposes, but now I can see Peaches, Cookie, & Cracker across the room.  Although my wings are clipped, I can navigate pretty good when I decide to leave my perch.  I usually land just where I intended....... but I always end up back on my perch or in my cage....... immediately!

During one of my vet visits, I had DNA testing done.
The results are in ....... I'm a Male!!!

Geez, I finally got a chance to use this computer.  The other birds keep hogging the darn thing.  I wanted to get on here to update all of you techno geeks about my little piece of paradise.

I'm now 13 months old.  My wing feathers have been clipped a bit more than they were when I first arrived here.  Everyone keeps trying to teach me to stay on my cage play area, but what fun is that?  I even have a ladder that I can climb up and down to get on and off the cage.  For some reason, they want me to climb and not to fly.

I have really been having fun training my human servants how to talk.  I have taught them how to say:

Hello, Step-up, Pepper, Peachie, Cracker, April, Gentle, Stop, Four, Give me four, Good bird, Pepper good bird, Want out, Go poop, and Good boy.  I find it pretty amazing that I don't have any vocal cords and at 9 months I was already teaching others how to talk.  Why is it that humans with a bigger brain and vocal cords usually don't talk at 9 months old?

My servants are trying to paper train me.  When I get out of the cage and when I'm spending time with them, they will make certain that I'm above the newspaper and they will ask me to "go poop".  So, I usually humor them and let it rip.  They seem to get so excited.  I just don't see what the big fuss is about watching a bird poop!

I enjoy taking a shower with mom or dad.  We shower together once or twice a week.  If I decide that is has been too long since my last shower, I go to my water bowl and start splashing the water everywhere!  My servants get the message!

I really like dad, but I'm no fool.  I will spend time with anyone…. heck, you never know what kind of food, treat, or scratching I might get.  I like to eat and try new foods more than the other birds in our family.  Scrambled eggs are my new favorite.  My weight has been holding steady at about 285 grams.
 

I have added many words to my vocabulary!  I also say: Give me four, Four, What cha doin, Mom's right here, Where's dad?, Go night go night, We'll be back, Go work, You dance?, What, Huh, Come on, Come here, Pepper good boy.........