Caspersmum

Hey all, Thanks for all the wishes - if wishes were grades, I'd get a distinction{Feel-good-000200A2} As you can see I haven't given up on the site completely - yet! Julia

Hey Headhunt - where are you from? Just looked on your porfile, and have no idea! It really helps when giving advice Julia

I think Casper must be a runt! I've just got some electronic scales, and he seems to be consistently 425g - I wouldn't like to see him in a fight with some of your big boys! Julia

Hi Headhunt, Beccy's been giving you superb advice, and there's not really anything I can add on the food front. If you're having trouble with water dishes, you can get plastic ones that screw firmly onto the side of the cage - I can't remember what the make is, but I found mine on-line. My grey paddles in his, but at least he can't remove the whole thing from the side of his cage! Julia

Hey all, As my exams are less than 4 weeks away, I'm trying to ween myself off the site {Feel-bad-00020063}- I've cancelled the thing that sends me e-mail updates. I'll try to check up regularly, but I'm sorry if I miss something! And if anyone is missing me desperately, feel free to PM me;) (Afterall, a girl needs SOME breaks!) Julia

Casper's a CAG, but that was really just by chance, as I was looking for a pre-owned bird to rescue. When I got my first CAG though, I'd been told that TAGs could be MORE parnoid than CAGs. A friend of mine had a TAG and he was a bit grumpy, but as people have said on the site in the past, I think it comes down to your individual bird, as they all have their own very definite personalities. Julia

Hey Brandi, I think Beccy's right. But also remember, whatever you decide to do, we'll be there to help you every step of the way - you just need to ask! Julia

...first the vasa, next a flock of macaws....

I've not had a problem with drying - but then Dundee's so cold in the winter that I have to have the central heating on! I don't know about Max, but Casper never gets completely soaking - just a bit soggy, and so long as he baths in the morning, he's never wet by bed-time. The other option is you could always use a hairdryer - so long as the filament is bird-safe - my parakeet used to love being dried like this! Julia

Cool - they look really loke the golf balls I got, so I'll give it a go. If you're looking for a play stand, I made a cargo net for Casper - I put the 'recipe' on the site under another thread a few weeks ago if you're interested. Julia

I like the idea of the thread, but what's a whiffle ball?! Sorry - I'm a stupid limey! I got cheap plastic practice golf balls - they're light-weight plastic balls with holes in them. I also got some foam practice golf balls, which Casper loves to chew up - and the bits make the dust in my vacuum cleaner look very pretty! Julia

Hi Brandi, It sounds like you've done a lot of research. As others have said, Grey's aren't the easiest birds to have as a first bird, but that's not necessarily a reason not to get one. That said, if I was in your shoes, I think I'd go for a baby rather than a pre-owned parrot. That way you can prevent them from developing bad habbits. If you're thinking about other birds, I had a ring-necked parakeet. He was really friendly, spoke loads, and was happy to go to anyone - while CAGS are often more inclined to like just one person. When I was first bird-hunting I borrowed a book from a friend which had a bit about lots of different species - explaining what the pros and cons are if you have one as a pet. I can't remember what it was called, but its useful, because you can think about why you want your bird, and whether a particular type will fit in with your lifestyle. Julia

Hi Karla, Someone was talking about poo just the other day, but I can't for the life of me remember the thread. Casper's is usually olivey green to olivey brown coloured, with a bit of white. How watery it is depends on how much he's been drinking and how much fruit he's eaten. That's the unscientific explanation - I'm sure someone else will do much better, but there IS a fair amount of normal variation. I wouldn't worry unless it turns magenta or maybe royal blue! Julia

Hey Spectre, that's amazing - isn't it incredible how clever these wee things are. I know people say they don't have emotions, but I just don't believe it! Julia

Hi James, I'm really glad to hear your good news - I bet you'll sleep well tonight! Stay in touch, and let us know how Houdini's getting on! Julia

Hi James, I really feel for you - but you've got some really good advice here. I just thought I'd share with you that my ring-knecked parakeet escaped from my (ex)boyfriend's house while he was parrot-sitting for me. He got out through an open window, flew around for a couple of hours, but then came back when the sun started to go down. I hope this happens with your CAG too - he may want to come back home to roost, Julia

I have to point out this isn't me Julia! I'm not nearly that knowledgeable! Julia

I have a real problem with short sleeves - casper really doesn't like sitting on bare flesh - he can't get a proper grip on my arms when I'm carrying him around, so feels the need to sink his beak into my flesh! It can get really hot in summer! Julia

I'm a newspaper girl too - for the same reasons as the others - it's cheap, easy to clear up, and you can see what's down there! I have heard that coloured print isn't good for them, but that could just be one of those over-cautious things, and someone else might have something else to say about it. I've still got Casper's grid in the bottom of his cage, so he can't really get at it, but then some people say that's not good for them either. Sometimes you just can't win, and you just have to do what you feel is best! I've also heard of people using cat litter and clean wood shavings, though I don't really know anything about them (again, some people say cat litter's bad for them...). Hope I've not added to the confusion! Julia

Hi Miltie, The others are so right! You'll be completely hooked by the time you get Guido home. Keep us updated on your progress, and let us know if you have any questions - there's usually someone who knows the answer! Julia

Hey Talon, Casper wasn't keen on the shower at first, but he's kind of resigned to it now - and dosn't seem at all distressed. He still hates being misted - and yet even with regular showers, he still goes paddling in his water dish! By the way, he's moulting at the moment, and his new feathers seem to be troubling him - he's really grumpy, but also clingy. I was wondering about using vera to soothe his skin, but don't know how much to use, how often, and how to apply it since he hates the mister so much. I'd be grateful if anyone has any suggestions! Julia

Hey Tari, Casper's not as old as Que, but he too has been shy to talk in front of me. But recently, he's started talking with me in the room. I repeat what he's said, and I've found that the more I speak to him the more he speaks back - and his speech is getting clearer too. Also, don't know if you've heard of the Alex studies - if not, google it. Alex is a thirty-something parrot that's been trained by a psychologist called Dr Pepperberg - and he's still learning lots of new stuff at his great age! Julia

Thanks Tari for explaining this to us. As CD said, and as you seem to agree, it's poeple who kill needlessly, and for 'fun' who we don't approve of. I eat meat, and enjoy game, including venison, but personally I don't think I could go hunting - I know this makes me a hypocrite, but I certainly don't think it's wrong to hunt in that way, so long as its done humanely, as you obviously do. I've worked in the contryside, and know that without natural predators (we don't have any wolves left in the UK), that deer populations get easily out of control, and need to be culled to keep their populations healthy. Julia

Hi Tari, I'd be really interested to hear what you say - from what you were saying, you hunt for food rather than just for the kill. I'd really like to understand more - and I honestly don't mean that in an antagonistic way. In my earlier post I gave the example of the young Muslim - I'm anti terrorist, but not anti muslim, and I strongly believe that listening to others beliefs makes us more rounded people. If you'd rather PM me than have it out in the open, I'll understand, Julia

Hey Judy, Funnily enough, that's one of Casper's favourites too! Julia