loviechick

So true!!!

Very informative video I will have to take that idea to the table at my other forum! I know how you mentioned about how you want a family feel, and I know on my other board we are very strict about posting there. It is blocked so we don't allow lurking, you have to be a member to read anything, which some people might not like, but it really does help with those who sign up and never post. Our rules are that you have to post at least once within the time you sign up, and at least once a week after that in order to stay an active member. This keeps the turnover pretty low in my opinion. Most everyone can take the time to post one post a week. Just a suggestion as it might be helpful. As a moderator on the other board I have to go through and check on those things, and I definitely have a family connection on the other board!

There I answered LOL

ok here goes.... 1. I am pretty hardcore about seeds as I've seen what bad they did for a bird, man I am always talking about bad stuff huh? Anyway my birds get seeds as treats. Nutriberries, avicakes etc. Other than that they don't get very much maybe a teaspoon of a seed mix, mixed in with about a cup of pellets. I use Pretty bird African blend and both my Greys go crazy for it. 2. I get almost all my bird stuff at Walmart. They do have an organic, albeit small collection there, and I do buy them there. and this is just a thought, you can also grow quiet a bit of good stuff for them. I grow all sorts of herbs for them, along with jalepenos, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers, and they're all in pots so they don't take up much room, AND I know they're organic! 3. Anything orange is some of the best stuff for greys as it has lots of calcium and vitamin D which helps with the absorption of the sun. Sweet potatoes(yams) carrots, squashes, and here's a treat they will love. Take a small mini pumpkin at halloween time, poke a bunch of holes in it, and I mean a bunch unless you wanna be cleaning for a while and pop in it the microwave for about a minute in a bowl. it will turn all squishy and my birds go nuts for it! Obviously greens are good too, broccoli be careful with though as it can cause a lot of blockage with them absorbing nutrients and can compact them from what I understand. Sugar snap peas are always good, corn and potatoes, I'm yet to meet a bird that doesn't like those. Also eggs are good too. a mix that I make for my birds that they usually eat most of it is I scramble some eggs, mix in a bit of potato, carrot slivers/chips, red, orange, and green bell peppers, with some jalepeno and oatmeal. It's kinda like a kitchen sink dinner, but they have to forage through a lot of it, and end up eating stuff that they normally wouldn't have ate! 4. I go home at lunch and put out fresh food for my birds. Mine eat super early in the morning I've noticed like before I'm even awake, then in the afternoon, and a bit in the evening. I personally in the morning give them oatmeal, something that won't go bad if it sits for a while. Then at lunch I go home and give them the fresh stuff, most of it is gone by the time I get home from work. I know most people don't live so close to their work that this is feasible, BUT I personally don't like leaving fresh stuff sitting 8 hours, so I do it in the evening, and mine all seems fine with it! 5. You can buy birdy mixes like beak appetite. It's a seed pasta oat mix kinda thing and you just boil it up with water, and it freezes great. I put them in tupperware containers pre portioned to last a week, and I just scoop and serve. The nice thing is it has a lot of good stuff in it, so if you're busy/don't have time or whatever you can just zap it in the microwave and serve. Or you can cut up some fruits and veggies and add it to there along with eggs or whatnot. This is my preference being that I live alone and work full time, however it may be different when you get married and have someone else around that can help take care of your pet! 6. I will break up eggshells when I cook eggs about every other time. A lot of people really push the calcium thing with these birds, but honestly giving them pellets and fresh stuff, they will majority of the time get what they need. If you jsut feed them seed, then obviously they're not going to get it! I feed all mine eggs about twice a week! 7. All my birds are FICKLE about their treats. My Senegal loves anythign banana, so she gets banana chips, she is also the ONLY ONE that likes banana flavored anything, :sigh:. Both my Greys love peanuts and almonds in or out of the shell. Red, my older grey LOVES avicakes, so that is her reward treat cause she goes so bonkers for them. Nutriberries are good too. I also give dried fruit to my birds, just don't forget to check and make sure it doesn't have SO2 (sulfur dioxide) in it, its a preservative thats bad for birds. 8. Peanuts in the shell have a bacteria, someone help me on the name, but is has a nitrogen fixing bacteria that grows on them that isn't really good for birds. My birds still get peanuts in the shell, but not often, maybe a few a week! 9. As far as beans, I don't serve many unless they come in the bulk mixes that I buy. chick peas are good, same with pinto beans, kidney beans. 10. I would assume the cereal is similar to the mix I described above in one of the answers. I love it! also you can give your birds baby food. yo ucan mix it in with oatmeal and the good thing is since its a runny texture they're more likely to eat it! 11. For grains I serve a lot of oatmeal and bits of organic bread. Barley, and other stuff sold in bulk is ok as long as theres no SO2. 12. I don't serve a lot of meat. All mine but my picky P.I.T.A. Conure will try most anything. tuna is a hit here, along with chicken. I've never fed much red meat. I give my birds turkey roll ups too and those are a big hit too! I take a bit of turkey and a wheat tortilla and make a tiny roll up that they can hold onto, they usually disappear as quickly as I made them! 13. None of mine go near their cuttlebones. Some people will take theirs to a grater for just a bit of that calcium and sprinkle it over the food, usually just a pinch is fine. 14. I don't feed sunflower seeds except for treats. Mine all get maybe 10 sunflower seeds a week. I would assume it would be fine to give them from your plant. And you're right they are gorgeous! 15. I only eat whole wheat bread, and mine all love it!

All my birds are female....its a conspiracy I believe LOL I just can't get males to come to my house at all apparently :laugh: Anyway, parrots can distinguish males and females by tones of voice, hair length, etc. Usually Greys pick one owner over the other as something that person does that it likes. Now I live alone, so my birds are stuck with me LOL. I do know that neither of my Greys like men AT ALL they lunge at any that come near the cage. My Senegal is just kinda skiddish of other people in general, and my Sun LOVES men, especially if they have facial hair:woohoo: . I'm a female, and I haven't noticed that a male or female bird prefers me over the other, it's just the birds' personality.

What a cutie, congrats!!!!

Dang now I want pancakes LOL

Yep, just let as many people hold it as you can. However you might get a Grey with a personality that just doesn't like to be held at all. It may like to ride around on shoulders or something, but only you will know that after you get it home. I would go based on its personality and if it enjoys being held by lots of people. I haven't seen this quality in Greys, like I have with Cockatoos, Macs, Conures, etc, but anything is possible!B)

Yep Judy, all my birds are rehomes. I commend you on getting a rehome boswell!B) anyhow, here is what I would suggest: 1. Check out the environment its in right now. Dogs? Cats? Kids? If its around these things, and you don't have them, you will be fine. However if it is the opposite to where you have cats/dogs/kids lots of traffic and this bird is used to a more mellow home you might want to keep the bird in a low traffic area until it gets used to its new home. 2. Make a vet appointment for the day you're going to buy it or within 24 hours. I don't know if you have other birds, but at least you can have a fecal smear and blood drawn and at least get the poop results back that day, or at least my office does this. Also in my opinion, your bird is going to be so shaken up from the move, you might as well go to the vet and get it done and over with the day you get him/her. 3. Diet. Figure out what it eats, does and doesn't like. Find out what it LOVES. Let's say its favorite thing is avicakes, makes this your reward treat, something it only gets when doing a desired action, such as stepping up for you. Only use this one thing as a reward. Obviously they will have other treats you will give them, but you need one "special" treat. Also find out if the bird is on pellets and such, what treats it eats now, people foods etc. This will only help your vet and you to figure out just how healthy/unhealthy your bird is. 4. Contract, contract, contract!!! I can't say it enough, I have had so many people reneg when I just bought a bird without writing a contract, or called me and said when are you coming to pay the other half....um excuse me WHAT OTHER HALF?! That or I actually had someone scan it and add an extra digit to the price so it looked like I owed another $100 bucks, people can be quite cheeky, so watch out. 5. Speaking of price, how much do they want for it?! I'm not trying to get anyone to brow beat but any rehome is going to have issues. My Senegal chews everything wood in sight, including window sills. that is her issue LOL My Sun conure, screams if I am not giving her attention, not a big deal, fairly common, and so on and so on. So you should not by any circumstances pay full price for this TAG. Also is the cage a proper size? Are you going to need a new cage for him/her? This should also be considered in the price. Assuming the worst, the vet bill will be around $150 if you do a full blood panel, physical, fecal gram stain, and an organ function test, at least this is how much mine was. Then if you needed a new cage you're lookin at around $250 assuming you buy new. Then let's say they charge you $500 for the bird and the cage. You're lookin at $900 for all of it, not including any new toys & food you would need, so let's just say $1,000. You need to let the current owners know that obviously since this bird isn't a brand new baby and the cage isn't new that you shouldn't pay it. However it all comes down to how good of condition the cage is in, and the condition of the bird. My CAG I rescued last month I paid $600 for, and she is for the most part pretty tame, and other than having a bacterial infection she is healthy. Which I'm glad I took her to the vet, she looks stunning, you would never have been able to tell she was sick AT ALL. Her cage was very small, and the paint was chipped off the bottom and it was rusting. I repainted it, and it looks great and I gave it to my Conure, and its the perfect size for her. 6. Go on a few dates. If it's possible and this isn't a rescue thing, or like an emergency like they have allergies and the dust is killing them go visit with the TAG. you are going to be exposing this bird to new smells, sights, sounds, people, food, etc. The more familiar things in the environment, the better. Take treats with you and when you see it, let it know that you can be trusted by giving it treats and talking to it. I know it sounds silly but this will really make a HUGE difference in the transition, especially if the bird has trust issues. 7. Lastly, find out about its routine. What time does it wake up? Go to bed? Eat its meals? Does it sleep with a cover? Does it like baths? Likes/dislikes such as colors, prefer men over women, foods etc. The more you know about this bird, you more prepared you will be. I think thats pretty much it, I know I probly missed some things and everyone else might add to this. Feel free to PM me with any other questions, I hope this helped!

Yeah I belong to a bird club too, and I take my birds with me there, as I trust the people that attend the meetings. And if they all had something airborne, it can get into clothes and hair etc, and we would take it home to the birds anyway. I think that birds should be exposed as just like kids you keep them locked up and their body will go into shock when exposed to anything bad, I have just heard horror stories about the latest stuff with Petsmart and what not. Yeah we can agree to disagree, I've just personally seen more bad come from others taking birds out than good, call me a pessimist:woohoo: I think it takes a certain person to be a parrot owner, not just Greys but in general, I just think some people who see birds fall in love and don't realize what they're getting themselves into, until its much too late. I'm not implying that about anyone on here, my friend however loves my birds plays with them, and wants one too, but doesn't want to have to handle it as much as I do mine. She wants it just to talk and look pretty, and it's those people that really bother me, IMO parrots are companions, not for posterity. Dang all this talk about you getting one, I just want you to get one already LOL:laugh:

My Greys both dance in different ways its' very cute. As for taking your bird to petsmart etc I have a friend that works there and they recently had to euthanize all of their birds due to PBFD. They come from Kaytee breeders program which is basically a bird mill so to speak. I won't take my birds to pet store for this reason. And to be honest I've noticed that when I did take my birds to events like this, it's very hard to convince people to go get a rehomed bird when you have a nice sweet hand tamed baby bird. Then everyone else wants to go out and get a bird just like yours, and then when the terrible twos come around, and its summer time aka breeding season I've noticed thats when they get dumped! My friend who works at a private pet store, not like petsmart etc has had 17 birds just since April come in her doors to be brought back due to hormones, 6 of them were CAGs. I know I'm going on a bit of a tangent here, something just struck a chord I suppose. I will take Red who has a bald spot on her chest from plucking herself from boredom, and I show her to people NOT to encourage people to get birds, NOT to encourage them to get rehomes, but to show them just how sensitive these creatures are, and how someone actions or lack thereof can literally do permanent physical and emotional damage. Naturally you can do what you want, I suppose I just have a perspective of the opposite end of the spectrum.

DNA is the only 99.9% like said above, however I have looked at the vent feathers of both my greys, and they're both sexed girls, and the theories have been correct, but this is only for CAG's, not for timnehs. There will be gray tips on the vent feathers underneath, males are all white so the myth goes...

"I do have a few quick questions. What is the best and least stressful way to bring a bird home if allowing it to make short visitation periods to the house is not possible? (ex. if bought from a re-home place like where I went today) After you bring home a Grey should you start trying to get it accustomed to you immediately or leave it alone to adjust its first night? Also if you bring a bird home and it is stressed out and starts plucking, besides providing attention and toys what else is a good way to help prevent this action?" I'm saying this strictly from the view of buyin a rehome bird, in the event that you do so. I have done it both ways, and have seen results of both. When I was in the process of rescuing Red, I didn't have much money to bring her home, and although it killed me, I went and visited her at least once a week, and she was an hour away! Before I even got her to my home, she was stepping up for me, and not trying to bite me as much. The honeymoon lasted about 3 weeks, then she rebelled for a bit and became super nippy, and once she nailed me hard and realized that it didn't phase me, she hasn't tried to bite since and has just been sweet as can be. With Zsa, I went and met her once, she started regurgitating for me the first time I met her I was, and still am, in LOVE! However I met her once, and then brought her home a week later. She is already sorta getting fiesty with me and startin to rebel, my fingers on my right hand look wonderful at the moment!:pinch: If you are getting a rehome I would suggest visiting the bird several times, because this whole birds' world is about to change, new sounds, sights, smells, cage, toys, etc. Having SOMETHING that it is familiar to will really help out with the transition. This goes for babies birds too I believe, the sooner you can start that bond the better. I have noticed though that if I leave Zsa Zsa alone and stop trying to cuddle with her every minute of the day she is much nicer to me. As much as I hate it, I just have to keep the cuddling to a minimum, at least until she really starts to trust me. I know my other Grey just doesn't like to hang out for long periods of time, which is fine, she's perfectly content hanging out on her tree!

yeah she's definitely a flirt thats for sure!

ok here's a couple pics of Red's pink feathers she wasn't thrilled with the camera to say the least! She has 2 on her shoulder but I was only able to get a pic of one of them! hope ya like!

$300 for food is more than enough! You should be fine. Also check out theperchstore.net they have AWESOME sales on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and then at the beginning of every month they do free shipping. They are easy to work with and have great prices I highly recommend them!:woohoo:

Awww thanks, yeah I like the name too, it really seems to fit her better than Joker did.

She just said it's another one of those things that they're born with! I will definitely take a few close up pics when I get home...heck maybe even for my luinch break I can run home and do it!

I just caught up with everything else that was posted on this page..... On the one rope bungie you have I wouldn't get the 3/8, Greys need at least an inch wide rope for their feet. The only other thing would be the big shower perch. I would hold off on that until you figure out if your CAG likes water or not. Some love baths and some don't. I would wait until you've had it a couple months. Granted it's nice to kind of have everything you need there and ready, but just like having a baby, you will never be 100% prepared anyway. I would also add a Cholla perch or some manzanita perches also to your list B)

1.As far as your cage questions I have my greys in identical cages that are dome tops, about 5.5 feet tall, 3.5 feet wide and 2 feet deep, this is MORE than ample room for toys and such. I can take pictures of my cage if you like. I also got my cage for $100 bucks, granted that is a steal, but it needed hardware that I had to go buy, still I paid 5 bucks for hardware and got at least a $300 cage out of it, I'd say a bargain! 2. My CAG's both crawl around on the bars. They both have a huge manzanita ladders in their cages that I got for around 45 bucks from advanced avian designs, gret company to work with by the way. 3. I had a really cool swing for Red and she didn't go near it. I gave it to Zsa and she goes all over it. I currently have 3 different perches in each, a sandy perch, a cholla perch, and a calcium perch. Neither of mine really care for the calcium ones that I have noticed. 4. Both mine love their chairs, or the couch. And my couch is scotch guarded:woohoo: I did find in craigslist a HUGE manzanita perch that would easily fit both of my greys for $75, I would start searching there instead of trying to spend money finding everything brand new. There's nothing wrong with getting something used! 5. Red my older Grey has her own sort of roost on top of her manzanita ladder in the corner of her cage by a toy of hers that she loves. I would give them a dark roosting area, as they can get more territorial and also have nesting behaviors, and you don't want this! 6. I personally don't think theres a way to desensitize a bird to a harness. The best thing you can do to get your Grey used to any new item is hang it to the outside of the cage or have it near the cage. However just because it "sees" the harness doesn't mean that its going to "wear" the harness. I'm not a huge fan of them, as if I'm going on a walk they just go on my shoulders, and my CAG's know if they're goin for a long ride they have to stay on my wrist/hand where I can hold them better. 7. There are these great little foraging toys called jolly balls and they sell them at petco/petsmart whereever. BUT these ones are ones you hang from the side of the cage and put toys/treats in them. I go to the dog toy section, and they're the exact same size shape and brand, but they don't have a metal chain hanging from them, they just roll around on the bottom of the cage. They have one shaped like a football and a round one. I have one of each and mine love grabbin peanuts out of them! I think it cost me like $15 for both of them. 8. I have heard of this, and honestly I just think leaving them unclipped is a bad idea in general. Just because they love and trust you, doesn't mean they can go outside with you and not get spooked and fly off. Most of my birds fly great even with a wing clip which still scares me to death! Honestly though I would go and meet the bird that was looking to be rehomed. The worst habit I had with Red, my 13yo CAG was she only ate sunflower seeds and millet. That and she wasn't thrilled about being held all the time, then again some Greys are like this in general. She now eats pellets, and will at least try any fresh foods I give her. Zsa Zsa my newest her only bad habit is that she doesn't know the command step up, she's already doing better by the day! I'm not saying that a rehome/rescue bird is for everyone. In my opinion I think it takes a lot more work and understanding as you have to realize that sometimes these birds DO NOT trust you or anyone else for that matter. I find it more gratifying that I'm helping a bird in need rather than a bird that already trusts and loves anyone that will give it attention. I think if this is your first larger parrot that a bird that needs to TLC might not be a good idea, but I welcomed the challenge as the biggest bird I ever owned was a Senegal before I rescued Red, and it has been by far THE MOST rewarding thing I've ever done!

This is an interesting topic, and I will have to post pictures of my bird Red. This is why I named her so. she has these Red feathers all over under her wings, she has one on each shoulder, and my favorite of all, she has a red one right over her heart it is just so damn cute. I couldn't help but fall in love with her the day I met her! When I took her to the vet for her first check up when I rescued her, she said that it is just a chromosomal anomoly that causes this, and not a "disorder". I did learn though that according to African folklore these African Greys that had the Red on them were considered Regal, Prestigious, and to be all around good luck to be around. I can't say that I disagree with them. She also has a keyhole eye where her pupil is slightly different in one eye and shaped oddly, which supposedly means they're even tempered who knows! I will take some close up pics when I get home and post them for ya'll to see!

Take him to the vet, I would have been on my way! Especially with those living conditions!

Yeah when I got her its name was Joker, which I liked, but I could tell she was a girl, and that wasn't a girly name to me.....So I changed it to Zsa Zsa

Yes Congos are slightly more expensive depends on where exactly you live. I live in Oregon, and around here they cost about $100 more for a Congo. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a Timneh, but I can't find them anywhere, and a breeder is a last resort for me if I think a bird out there NEEDS help ya know? I've heard Timnehs are more laid back and less easily spooked, that and I just love the slate gray coloring on them! Just research breeders in your area, typically they are cheaper, depends on the supply and demand though!

hmm let's see my life probly won't be as exciting but here goes.. Born and raised in Salem Oregon, still living here. I was dropped down a flight of stairs as a kid and fractured my skull. That should answer some questions for you all LOL I have 7 tattoos and my lip is pierced, but I won't wear it around the birds, I'm smarter than that! Never been married I love vegas, I've only been twice, planning my trip for next year. I love playing poker and would love to make it to the world poker tour one day! I never had any pets as a kid. I travel every other year on my odd birthday to Canada as a tradition. I've been 4 times, and planning my trip for my birthday next May to have the rest of my tattoo on my left foot done. I have a degree in Psychology. I turned down a full ride art scholarship to OSU because I didn't want to major in art, Biology and Psych are where my heart is. I have seen and heard more weird things from working in a hospital than I think I will ever see again. I've been to Hawaii twice and I'm going back for Thanksgiving, my sister lives in Kaneohe Bay which is a Marine Corps base. Can't wait to go back, nice weather + men in their dress blues = one happy girl LOL. I currently have my 4 birds, my dream bird is a Black Palm. My semi realistic dream bird is a hyacinth, and my dream bird that I WILL have is a Blue & Gold. I would also love a Goffin's and a Caique. I love cars, and anything fast. I wanted to go into F1 racing when I was a kid, still do! I'm the oldest of 3, I have 2 younger brothers, might explain why I'm a tomboy LOL I've been snowboarding for 13 years. Hmmmm thats all I can think of for now, definitely not as exciting as others on here, but I'm young, hopefully I will get a life soon LOL:laugh: