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ahh, you laugh now, but when they're done and nothing is built correctly, they're going to blame it on Alfie and his mis-measurements 🤣

I'm in the middle of some house renovations in the house (having the kitchen replaced and some other bits of work in the living room/dining room). So I've had lots of contractors coming round and measuring up. Alfie likes when they use the laser pointers to measure, as they make a little beep noise that he can mimic. He managed to confuse one contractor a couple of times because Alfie was making the beep noise before he'd pressed the button to get the measurement. 😂

I saw and responded to a thread from a new member asking about parrot ownership and just thought it might be useful to have a thread on the best parts of parrot/grey ownership as well as some of the worst. A lot of videos and social media sites always seem to promote the best things about parrots and maybe sugar coat some of the 'bad' or undesirable parts of parrot ownership. So... what would be on your good, bad and ugly lists in relation to living with parrots? Good Greys make great companions. It's a very rewarding experience. I've been learning about training the last few years and getting a successful recall or when Alfie asks to play our little colour game is very rewarding. Bad The mess from dust, dropped food and shredded toys is never ending. You can't be too house proud with a parrot around 😂 Poop. Everywhere. Ugly The occasional 'unpredictable' bite which can really hurt your feelings! And of course, some parrots WILL draw blood. (I'm very thankful Alfie is not one of them) What would you add to these lists?

I'm having a bout of stupid and cant seem to edit my previous post but since I'm not from Ohio I'll just throw my $.06 in (inflation, sorry) about their pros/cons. I consider Greys at or near the top of the heap when it comes to intelligence levels of animals. That comes with a lot of possible baggage. If they are mistreated, abused etc they will remember and may suffer consequences. Lots of FB posts about 'why is my bird plucking'. No one really knows why, some find solutions, many never do. My first Grey lives the over-pampered, meticulously cared for life and one day I went into their bird room only to see a pile of feathers on the ground and my precious Grey girl sitting there looking ragged as hell. It broke my heart as I thought, here we go, never thought it would happen to me. Thankfully she stopped after a few months and the only thing we can attribute it to was a hawk encounter. She is prone to freaking out when she is not with me. Yes they can become very co-dependent. It worries me when I see someone with only one Grey. I feel like they do need a companion for when you are not there. That's sort of how we got Huey, our #2. I think a good Grey parront is - patient (you'll need a lot of this) - hard-working (they need good servants to clean up after themselves) - a great cook (a varied diet is best) - moderately wealthy (hey, they need toys and stuffs, vet care, cages, foods etc) - always there (whatever plans you had, cancel them, Greybie wants you, Greybie needs you) They are a HUGE commitment if you treat them as they should be treated. Lots of people lock them up and throw away the key because they had absolutely no idea what they are getting into. I see tons of rescue stories where I'd like to find the culprits and beat them. When I was younger I wanted a monkey. I thank God that I was too poor to ever go through on that stupid impulse. I see videos of pet monkeys occasionally and can't fathom what it requires to care for one of those. Greys aren't anywhere near that commitment but they are a time-sink. This says it all so beautifully....

Totally agree. I'd add expensive and time consuming to feed properly. I don't think some understand how much it costs to take care of a parrot correctly. I know I didn't! Also, Avian vets are not readily available in a lot of areas, and are expensive as well. Anyone considering adopting a grey should understand that it takes substantial resources and time for food prep. I can't think of anything to add on the "good" but that's mainly because I struggle to express it. I've never been as attached to a "pet" as I am to Timber, and I've had many that I've loved. There is something different about a relationship with a grey and words fail me. Under the "ugly," you've listed the worst one, and the hurt feelings are a real thing. If you have a lot of "traffic" meaning people who don't live in the home passing through, you have to be very careful. I've had to grab someone's hand before they stuck it in strike range several times, people often don't understand that greys aren't going to just "let them pet them" like a cat or dog might. Also under ugly, there are cases where your bird may take an active and sometimes belligerent dislike to a household member. I'm probably overthinking this, but just my thoughts!

Hi AK, Welcome! I recognize you from another forum. As Neoow has said, everything you need is at your fingertips in the archives. Tremendous info that you won't find anywhere else!

Thanks Neoow! I have been reading through the archives a lot. How much time do you recommend with a CAG? I work (away from home) from 8 to 3, but I’m willing to wake up as early as it takes (5 am) and I can spend time with him/her from 3 - 8 pm. I know that they need a LOT of mental stimulation, so when I say ‘spend time,’ I mean ‘out of cage time,’ playing with toys, maybe going outside (in the cage, with me beside him/her) Basically playing. Is that okay?

Hi A.K, welcome to the forums! There is a wealth of information here so it's worth taking some time to read back through the archives. I'm afraid I can't point you in the direction of any any vets/breeders/rescues etc in your area as I'm across the pond in the UK. In terms of criteria for living with parrots and greys in particular I'd probably go with the following: - You need to have lots of time. Parrots need lots of time and attention. They aren't just going to sit in the corner looking pretty. They want to be involved in the family (their flock) as much as possible. Someone once described parrots as being like toddlers with a can opener attached to their face. I can't agree with this more! - You need to be patient. This is so important with greys. They do everything in their own time. You can't rush them. They can be extremely change adverse at times... new toys are scary! New perches will eat them! Sometimes even new hairstyles/clothes on their human's are worrisome too. You have to work at their pace, not yours. - You need to be tolerant. Parrots are not domesticated animals like dogs and cats. They are smart, intelligent beings with a lot of their wild instincts left. They will quickly learn how to push your buttons. They can be noisy, they are messy, they can be destructive. They can be trained but positive reinforcement is key. Parrots will never react well to shouting or punishments. Greys make for wonderful pets and companions. They will quickly take over your life and you'll never remember what it was like before you had one. And yes, they are a massive commitment - basically similar to having a child. But they are incredibly rewarding in their own very unique way.

Alfie does exactly the same- he'll throw or push something off his shelves and make the 'oop!' noise that I make when I drop something. 😂