ZoesDad

Hi again Ceasarsdad, Incredible pics as always! I just wanted to know how you manage to get Ceasar's whole body in sharp detail. Do you use a narrow aperture setting? I used to have a nice Minolta SLR camera (Maxxim 5000i) but it no longer works. Sadly, I can now only take pics with a very basic Kodak digital 3MP camera (purchased for $100). It takes decent pictures of lanscapes and distant objects but is very poor at portraiture. The fixed flash also turns everything bluish. Could you please let me know again what sort of camera you use and if you use a tripod?

Sorry to have missed this string of correspondence! Christina, as the song goes "...whatever will be will be". I think that when you find your bird, you will have no doubt in your mind that you found him/her. It may sound corny, but I just knew that my bird Zoe would be coming home with me one day the moment she was handed to me in a blanket and we made eye contact. Being the over-analytic, rational type (I enjoyed taking a degree in mathematics) this event came as quite the shock to me! It could very well be the case that you will experience the same thing with another bird, and perhaps, so will the person who ultimately adopts Bart!

Hi Talon, Sorry to hear about your bad experience at the previous forum. I hope you will enjoy it here.

Thank you Julia.

Gorgeous bird and pics! You got me thinking of buying a better camera.

Be sure you don't use non-stick cookware as it can kill a bird! Also, from what I've read, the kitchen isn't the best place for a bird as they are highly sensitive to smoke and fumes. I've read of a case where a bird died of smoke fume inhalation. Their respiratory systems account for a much greater proportion of their body weight than is the case in us. (That's why miners used to take canaries down the mine shafts with them.) If you wanted to move the cage, you could just line the carpet below it with a rubber or clear plastic liner. A piece of plexiglass from the Home Depot or other harware store would also work and look good. Hope this helps.

Great Picture! It looks professionally taken. Did you use a digital SLR?

I have read somewhere that moving the cage to another room or to another place within the same room can also help with territorial aggression. Step-ups can also be re-patterned through practise in unfamiliar surroundings (a room that the bird rarely visits).

The net looks good!. Please, do share your design secrets.

My pleasure.

Hi again Jimmy, Here is a link to that information I mentioned in my previous response concerning the age at which TAGs begin to speak. http://www.africangreys.com/articles/greys/species.htm It's a very interesting article

Hi Jimmy, Regarding the hot/cold feet, my TAG is now 18 weeks old and I've encountered the same thing that you describe. I've noticed that her feet tend to warm up pretty quickly after playing with me, though, so I'm guessing that this peculiarity has something to do with the circulation of her blood (improves with movement)and lack of insulation on her feet. I also regularly observe the behaviour after vigorous play that you describe, and from experience, know that it is simply a bird's way of taking a moment to relax after having some fun. (When they have one foot drawn up it's a good sign!) Regarding the age at which AGs begin to talk, I also read that they often start at some point between 12-18 months but that this age varies between birds and between Timney's and Congos. (Timney's supposedly start to talk a little before one year according to an informal poll of owners that I read.) It would be interesting to hear when TAG/CAG owners who use this forum first heard their birds speak. Regarding the vocalizations of young TAGs, have a look at my blog. Hope this helps, Gus

Hi Marir, Re. vaccination, I guess it's one of those divisive issues within the veterinary community where you would find ardent camps on either side of the fence. Hell, I bet you'd find a similar polarization of thought within the ranks of avian breeders and even the general public. I know of parents who refuse to vaccinate their children and pediatricians who refuse to accept the children of parents who refuse to vaccinate as patients! Regarding why your vet doesn't believe in the use of avian vaccines, I think you'd do best to ask him/her for the reason why---and please let us know too! While I'm not a vet or an avian infectious disease specialist, I don't see the harm in prophylactic measures such as vaccination where immunologically vulnerable young birds are concerned, particularly if they are in close physical contact with other birds (as is the case in nurseries). What's the worst that can happen? You lose a few bucks. If your so inclined, have a look at this web-site for more info authored by avian veterinary researchers: http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/polyoma.htm

I paid 1300 (Canadian) for my Timney. The price included polyomavirus vaccinations and 6 weeks worth of Zupreem.

Very well put estream! Pay attention, those of you contemplating the addition of a Grey to your lives. I don't think I've ever read or heard of anyone refer to them as vehicles of self-discovery but that's exactly what they can be!

Hi estream To put it succinctly, life with a Grey has brought out certain aspects of my character of which I was only vaguely aware! They are unlike dogs or cats and I think I can now understand why some people have compared living with these little birds to living with children.

Thanks Estream Funny to hear that Chloe is saying Zoe as I came very close to naming Zoe Chloe!

Hi SFsailor, Check out this link for all sorts of info re. toxic woods and plants. http://www.lovebirds.ca/Safey%20for%20Our%20Avian%20Companions.htm Personally, I find that my bird likes her flexible fabric perch the most, spending most of her time on it,and apple tree branches cut to fit her cage. (If you should choose to use natural branches, just be sure that the tree from which they are cut wasn't sprayed with pesticides. Also, give the branches a good scrub down with water and a brush to remove any wild bird droppings or other contaminants.) Incidentally, my bird can entertain herself for hours through stripping the bark off of her natural perches.

Hi Shaz, Beak grinding is a very normal behaviour at bedtime. My Grey does the same. (So did my conure.)

Hey Ian, Nice to see another Canuck on the site! I'm new here myself and have learned a great deal already. Gus

Thanks Monique. I guess that Zoe will be a small bird as Timney's apparently weigh in between 275-350g (according to a few websites I've visited).

Hi Dena I'm a new TAG owner myself but can tell you a bit about my bird's development over the month that I've had her with me. Hopefully, that will help you out a bit. I picked her up from her breeder at 12 weeks of age after visiting with her every weekend for 4 weeks. From about 2 months of age she had quite a strong grip but was not yet able to perch. By her 10th week, I was told that she had begun to perch. She had several falls while in her cage over the course of her first 2 weeks with me (especially at night) but has since been very good at keeping her balance. I have not heard or seen her fall for quite some time now. (She is 4 months and 3 days old.)I have found that she has a definite preference for her flexible perch and wonder if your bird has the proper perch diameter for his/her foot. (Apparently, their toes and nails should cover 3/4 of the perch circumference and natural branches are better than dowels.) As for your bird's tendency to hang upside down from the cage top, Zoe used to do the same thing but stopped soon after I filled her cage with more perches (especially the flexible rope one) and toys. Hope this helps. PS I feed Zoe Zupreem too. Why are you switching to Harrison's?

Hello everyone, I'm a new TAG owner and a new member on this site. I was wondering if anyone might have any information regarding the subject of normal weight gain for a Timney African Grey. I brought home my bird when she was 12 weeks of age and have had her for a little over 1 month now. When she arrived, she weighed in at 255g plus or minus 5g (depending on the time of weighing and mealtimes)and is now weighing in at 265g plus/minus 5g. Does this sound like a reasonable weight gain? Does anyone know at what age TAGs reach their full adult weight/size? Thanks folks