Michellec

I'm so thankful I listened to my heart, my family, and bird owners who ive met in person and online re: their advice about the macaw that we had been visiting and considering not being the right bird for us.

Wow. Thank you for sharing that. The events leading up to and encompassing today have convinced me that this CAG on her way home with my son and husband was to be ours. A little sooner than the timeline I had thought.....but I've lived long enough on this earth to know when things happen in coincidental manners, it is often more than a mere coincidence. I tried to upload a pic from my iPhone that my son sent me from their drive home but it looks like I need a URL link? I don't have my pics anywhere but on my photos on my phone, iPad, and saved on a flash drive on my dell pc. How do I do this? They should be home soon......

luvparrots, Her eyes are starting to lighten, not black or very dark, but more of a grey about he shade of her darker feathers....as far as i can tell from the few photos that have been sent me while they drive home. When they get home, I can look at her certificate to see her hatch date but it was this past April. (2013)

I wouldn't call it an impulse buy. This is not my first bird and I've been talking to and visiting parrots as well as reading a very great deal. I came here for additional input beyond the in-person learning I've acquired and all the reading and communication via phone and email with two different bird shops. I think an impulse buy is someone who has a tax return in hand and thinks a parrot s simply "cool" without understand the level of and lifetime commitment. That "ruffled my feathers" a bit, to be honest.....knowing the amount of time and research I've done thus far.

They were going to surprise me with the TAG baby there.......but then the CAG just decided that we were the family for her, I guess. My husband said when they realized this, the shop owner and son and husband realized it had to be the CAG. Ok....I'm going to meet her in a few hours. Wish I didn't have to work tomorrow! I'm sure we all will be racing home as soon as school is over to see our new girl.

Apparently while at the shop a CAG female born in April 2013 attached herself to my son and even warmed up quickly to my husband.....the guy who USE TO say he was indifferent to birds.....they are on their way home with her! I really think this bird was meant to be. Strange circumstances today leading them to the bird store which was closed but the owner happened to decide to go in today and saw them and let them in........I'm so excited! So, I guess the question between TAG and CAG was solved with this female CAG choosing my son. They sent a few pics of her on the drive home.....she is really laid back, already talking and adores my son. The owner of the shop gave her home phone, cell phone etc.....so we will have her support and guidance. We are so fortunate!! I can hardly believe how this as fallen together.

Thanks. I just got a call from husband and son who are out of town on a day trip and stopped in the bird shop (which husband really likes) and they have both CAG and TAG babies that husband and son are with right now! I'm so jealous that I stayed home to do homework. It was not part of today's plan but when my sons flying lessons were cancelled, they decided to go into the city and to the bird shop. They told me they love the African grays and I got a pics of them on my cell phone. Even my husband who didnt think he was a bird person. lol Wish I was there!!

Thanks loveparrots. I will continue to read and research. Thus far, it seems like the TAG is more suitable. At least I ave it narrowed down to the gray.

Thanks. So it would depend on the bird? I'm ok with not taking it to school as long as it would be ok at home alone with ample activities and my teachers hours. I suppose after I had the bird for a while and if he/she has shown that he likes people, I could take him/her during the summer when it is calmer. If not, that's ok. Would taking the bird with us on day trips be ok if he is harness trained and we have a portable cage? By day trip, I mean along for a day at the tiny rural airport where my son flies gliders and where I skydive, or on a picnic. Or am I totally unrealistic and would a bird be happier at home with the tv on? While we are home every evening and a lot during the summer, we are active people.....but hardly ever go overnight anywhere.

Dave, thanks for the info. That's unfortunate....I had planned on having a cage and/or stand in my classroom where the bird would be during at least one day a week. I teach special ed, so I'm in a small room that I'm in and out of and small groups of students also come to me for extra help. So,if the bird is use to that from early on, it still would not work? How do I go about taking the bird with me when I am out and about over the course of life? I had envisioned the bird going with me to help cut down on time left at home. I appreciate the advice...I honestly thought I'd be able to take the bird with me. This s why i am asking questions beyond just the owner at the bird shop.....I want more than her input. Thanks again for taking the time.

Thanks. Do you think there is a difference between the two as far as going into schools? My thoughts are no......and the school thing s more about the bird trusting me and being socialized from the beginning? Please correct my assumptions if I'm off.

Thank you. That mirrors what I read somewhere. What about male or female?

Hello all! Please feel free to move this intro if it needs to be elsewhere due to my questions.....I am not sure of the best forum. I'm new to the site. I've been waiting most of my adult life to be in a place where I could provide a good home for a parrot. African gray has been the type that has been on the top of my list, as well as macaws. I stumbled recently upon a bird shop in a town near ours. I went in and really liked a macaw they had who recently came in as a surrendered bird.....it was purchased at the store and came back when the owner was unable to care for him. After the initial visit, I've been reading continually about parrots and specific species to understand what is required as far as care and attention. The African gray seemed to be a good fit. I visited him again with my family and while there in the shop talking to bird owners and spending time with the macaw, I came to the conclusion that the macaw is just too big, too loud, and overall too much for me.....especially one that is 1.5 yrs and has issues. My confidence and experience is not a good match. Also the family did not think a macaw was a good fit for us. The shop did not have any grays. However the owner does/can obtain them. She has two breeders she works with. I am going to ask for info on the breeders. She obtains them as babies, hand feeds them until the bird is ready to wean (they follow the birds lead from what I understand), and then the bird goes home with its new family. During those first months, the family comes to the shop to spend time with their bird. I have talked to another bird shop owner in a neighboring state and she said the shop owner I have been dealing with is very good. So......which gray is the best fit? Here is my life in a nutshell: I am a teacher. Special education at a small school in wyoming. My husband is a school principal. Our children are mostly grown. We have a son with Down syndrome who is almost 19 still at home and a 14 yr old son (who is a natural with birds) also at home. We have a big poodle, a little schnauzer, and our daughters Siamese cat. Daughter is in college. We are gone for work from about 7:30 to 4:30. Home most weekends......sometimes, if there are activities, one or all of us may be gone on one of the weekend days. (Like for school activity, going to larger town to get supplies....we live very rural etc) When I was a child and teenager, I had two birds (but not at the same time), a budgie and a cherry headed conure. I want a bird that can go to school with me. I have permission to do so. We'd prob take the bird with us around our small town in warm weather. I would like to harness train my bird. My 14 yr old would prob work with the bird a lot also, so we are hoping for a bird that will accept more than one person. We do want one that is known for talking and capacity to learn. I'm getting my masters degree in early education, so the mental needs of a young child is something I know a lot about.....isn't a gray like a 2-5 year old child? What are your thoughts regarding which type of African gray based on what I have shared? The bird shop owner can get either CAG or TAG. It may not happen until spring because she says the birds are more readily available then. Male or female? I would not get to meet several babies and choose since the breeders that the store owner uses are located in Texas and...I think.....Louisiana. I'm going to speak at length with the shop owner for her advice, however I want more than just one persons input. Thanks for reading this lengthy post.