TheGreyMiester

I forgot to mention that I gave my breeder my down payment, and I have untill May to find a cage.

My final decision was to get my TAG baby. I first learned of the CAG back in the 80's. My next door neighbor had a Mexican yellow head that spoke words, and as a kid, I was totally blown away. I bought a book that was all about parrots and I saw the Grey had a capacity of around 1000 words. 27 years later, I still want a grey. If I passed another opportunity to get a TAG, I knew I would never get one and I would live the rest of my life regretting not getting one. I had a Quaker a few years ago and I was very disappointed loosing him. With the Quaker I learned a lot about what it takes to care for a parrot. It was quite a bit of care but the rewards were well worth it. Of all house hold pets one could have, the bird is my all time favorite. I was successful with the Quaker, and I know I can do just as good with a TAG. If you can do it, so can I. :woohoo:<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/25 19:57

I need help finding a cage that has the following features under $400. - Swing out feeders that have locking stainless bowls with backing shield preferred. - Min 3 feed bowls - Play Top - top and bottom seed trays I have found many cages that have most of these features but the description on most of them do not tell you if the stainless bowls are no-tip lockable or not. It's important that I find a cage that has no-tip bowls. I found this one but it does not say if the bowls are lockable: Thanks in advance.<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/25 15:43

Thats an awsome photo. Its good enough to go in a magazine.

My bad, I misunderstood some details. I just don't want to see anyone get ripped, thats all.

Testing another photo I found. It's not my bird but it is a nice picture: <br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/25 03:34

FairY wrote: I will definitely post my report on the first day home with some photos also. Testing photo: <br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/25 03:27

If it were me I would try to work with him a little longer. You got this far, I think more of what you have been doing would help. Perhaps you can try leaving the cage open and try to encurage him to come out under his own will.

I have read between 50 to 60 years but I'm sure a lot depends on diet and care, just like us humans.

MrSpock wrote: or to much bleach was used cleaning his cage. :laugh: J/K<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/25 03:15

I have read that a 10% bleach to water mixture is non toxic to birds. You could use this as a disinfectant.

kyparamedic, I am suspicious of your vet. It sounds like he is milking you for your money. He ordered all these test and has concluded it's lack of attention? Also, He now wants more test? I would seriously get a second opinion.

By the way congrats of the new family member.

Got to this link and watch this video of a toy some made using a tin can.

Me and my Quaker were buds and we "hug out" with each other. I loved it when he would walk all over me or nibble on my ear. It was kind of like a back rub that my wife refuses to give me. I think I'm ready for a Grey beause although my Quaker was a blast, he fell a tad short of the personality I was looking for in a parrot. I got the Quaker hoping it was going to be like a grey for the fraction of the price but it just did not quite deliver. Quakers on the otherhand, are one of the best parrots on the market. You get a lot personality for around $250. Thanks Monique, you helped my out a lot.<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/24 02:39

Recently I posted that I bought a TAG baby but I actually have not handed over any money yet. My problem is that I now have cold feet. I'm supposed to give my down payment to my breeder tomorrow while I'm there for my weekly visit to allow the baby to get used to me, so the home transition is a little easier. I once had a Quaker that was a blast, but one day it flew out of the house when I was cleaning his cage. With that bird I would come home from work and take him out of his cage and we would play for an hour or so, then I would walk around the house with him on my shoulder for a while and eventually he would end up perching on the cage in the same room I was in. My concern is: is this enough for a TAG? I keep hearing people talk about how it's like having a child, well I have two kids and I really would not want to have a third if they are truly like having another child. If they are anything like a Quaker, then it will be a walk in the park for me since I already have experience with a Quaker. The biggest problem is not being able to "test drive" a TAG. I can only rely on another person's first hand experience which is different from person to person. Also animal care books tend to go to the extreme when it comes to care in my opinion. For example; I never scrubbed my Quaker's cage with bleach on a daily basis. Every 3 days, or as needed, and the cage scrubbed inside and out weekly. I have wanted a Grey since I was 11 and I'm now 38 but I will go back to a Quaker if TAGs are truly labor intensive ultra sensitive birds like a lot of people claim.

micah wrote: Agree, I mean after all, these birds will live to be 50 or 60 years old. So the occasional coffee dip means that it will live 50 happy years verses 60 long restricted years. I say don't worry so much about health and let the bird be happy, because it's going to out live most owners anyway. And for cats and dogs? all it requires is common sense and responsibility. Kick the cat out side when the bird is out and you did tech your dog to learn what no means... Right?<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/24 01:37

I have read about stick training where you get your grey to stand on a stick to take him out of the cage. The key to this training is that you keep cutting small pieces of the stick over time, to make it shorter and shorter so that your hand is gradually getting closer. Eventually you will have the stick so short, that you can have him step up to your hand. I would take it slow, perhaps 1" per week. It's something to try anyway.

I saw a video where a lady took a tin can and put a penut inside it, then closed it back up with the lid which was a metal press fit type of lid. The bird was able to pry the lid off and get to the penut, but it was a nice puzzle.

May seems like a year and a day away.:pinch: But when the day does come, I'll be like :woohoo:Then I'll give it a kiss :whistle: {Feel-good-000200BB}

Tricker, What are your hours? 6:00am to 2:30pm? This should be fine. This means you have from 2:30 till 10:00 with the bird, thats 7.5 hours play time a day... plenty! B)

Thanks very much for the advice. I saw my baby Timneh this past Sunday and it was very nice! It was very tame, it kept beaking my wedding ring and trying to climb up to my shoulder. The nails were razor sharp also! I will be able to bring it home in May, and my breeder is going to start calling it by the name I have chosen. We are going to call it Oliver and Ollie for short. The Tumbnail image under my name is the actual photo of the baby I bought.

I hope to buy my TAG today. This will be my first Grey but I did have a Quaker at one time for a year. That bird flew out of the house when I was cleaning the cage, so lesson learned, keep wings clipped. Since I don't have any real experience with a Grey, I can't say to much, however, for someone to say that you can only have a bird in the home; where you are there 24/7 is hard to believe. That would mean you have to quit your job and become a stay at home Aviest? I don't think so. Someone with very long and unpredictable hours, or even travels, then yes it would be hard for the bird.

I sense a force of nature here. Nothing will ever change untill you earn his/her trust. You need to be calm and cool, and just talk to it just a few minutes a day. Baby steps.... Baby steps...<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/18 16:37

Sorry for the double post, my browser did not refresh.<br><br>Post edited by: TheGreyMiester, at: 2007/03/18 16:30