loviechick

No problem! As far as toys though, that depends on the bird. Red likes wood toys, while Zsa Zsa really likes the colorful plastic ones. Just get a variety at first and see what he/she goes for. Also not that I'm necessarily against breeders, or that I think everyone should get a rehomed bird, but its something to look into. You might pay a little less which is nice, and the bird could already be trained to step up, potty trained, etc. however along with that comes bad habits that you might have to train them out of. All of mine are rehomes, some abused, some not, and none of them have had any major behavior issues, other than being territorial, which I can work through! Just something to consider!

Well I got the sexing results back on my Rescue. I looked at the tail feathers and according to the myth she was supposed to be a girl, and sexing results came back that she was in fact a little girl!:woohoo: Week one has went well so far. I can tell she wasn't taught "step up" as she knows thats what I want, but doesn't correlate the action with what I'm telling her, so we're working on that. It's cute though when she wants up she grabs my finger with her beak, puts it her her foot then steps up! She has just been a little angel for being in such a negelected home, I think she is just so starved for attention...Anyway I got a video of her I figured I would share so that ya'll could see the progress that I've had in a week. She was pretty nippy and skiddish when I brought her home, but I suspect that was from the move and all. I just love her to pieces I tell ya! And the person I refer to in the video she's mad that I keep rescuing these wonderful CAG's and not letting her have them LOL

all I can say is LUCKY!!! Great job though I think you got your ducks in a row so to speak, and good luck on your new grey!

Sounds like if there are visible layers on the beak that it is just overgrown. All birds' beaks do that and just flake off. I know when I go to the vet, my vet smoothes it out for them and keeps it trim, which also makes the bites less painful!:woohoo:

Yeah it just sounds that he has bonded with your hubby unfortunately. This may get better when he has been with you longer, or it may never change!

All my birds are potty trained, and all my birds have been rehomes that were all at east 2 years of age, so I don't think age really matters. What I did with my Senegal is everytime I was near her and I saw her poop I would say go potty! Then I wold give her a peanut or whatever treat your bird would adore. Keep doing that daily, it took my Senegal about 2 weeks to figure it out and now she goes on command. My Sun Conure was already trained when I got her, and I'm currently working on this with my new CAG. Red my older CAG picked up on it without me even training her within 3 days she saw the other birds pooping, me saying go potty and figured it out like the smarty she is! She also gives me a sign that she needs to go and usually gives me enough time to make it to a sink or a garbage. Either way just be consistent, always keep a treat on you and reward them each time!

There's a few things about this that I figured I would comment on, hopefuly I don't get anyone miffed at me......As far as the cages go, I absolutely love them I think they look neat. However with the glass front, and the picture on the side that eliminates a lot of areas where not only they can climb around, but also a lot of areas where you can put toys. I personally think they look neat, but are more for show than for your birds, just my opinion though. I would rather spend the money on a bunch of toys and a "boring" cage than one with pictures. As far as having time, I wouldn't get a Grey if you don't think you will have the same amount of time to spend with it on a pretty much daily basis. Now I worked nights 40 hours a week, and went to school for 2 years while getting my degree and had birds. They always have a minimum of 1 hour out of their cage per day. Now that I'm done with school and work days, they all get about 3 hours out of their cage. But the minimum that I do isn't a standard by any means. Just don't get your Grey or any bird for that matter used to coming out for 3 hours a day, then a couple months later it only being out for 20 minutes and constantly switching them back and forth. In my opinion it's easier to manage behavior issues if you have them on a schedule similar to children, by that I mean if they're on a schedule and start plucking lets say, at least you can say to yourself well I know it's not a crazy schedule that is stressing them out if they come out of the cage between 6-8 everynight or whatever, like I said just my opinion and also what I've seen from others with Greys. As far as Greys being one person birds I think it depends on how well you socialize them, and also to an extent the bird's personality. I do know that they're a flock bird, so they can do good in families. Problem is, in the wild they flock with a certain "posse" so to speak and don't typically let outsiders in. Greys do better when they are introduced to a group of birds already in the household, same with humans. My friends Grey she had for years, it was bonded to her and everything. Got pregnant, had the baby, her CAG apparently didn't like the new addition, attacked mom, and tried to get off her cage and attack the baby. It wasn't the birds fault and my friend knew that, but she had to rehome her. Her vet suggested that it was flock territorialism, which is what it sounds like to me. I've noticed that my birds wil shy away from strangers, but that they will let strangers hold them, they just aren't thrilled about it LOL I live alone though so I try to socialize them as best as I can. I don't mean to go off on a tangent oops! Either way I hope you end up loving your Grey as much as I love mine, they are entertaining and just a pleasure to be around to say the least!<br><br>Post edited by: loviechick, at: 2007/08/01 20:37

Hey there fellow Salemite LOL Puzzles are a good thing, I wouldn't use a popcan though. One thing you can go that is super super easy is you can get those small paper dixie cups fill them like a pinata, and then twist the top and tie them with a piece of sisal or leather. Another good one would be doing the same thing with a coffee filter, fill it full of treats, twist and tie! Hopefully your Grey will like that!

That's so sad Christina! Wonder what happened...I've head that a lot of the Kaytee breeding programs birds that get sent to petco and petsmart usually have some sickness, its sad really...

Nope nothin you could do to make me join sooner, I only lurked for about 15 minutes before I joined!

I'm still awaiting the sexing results of my new Grey....She has the thin eye lining and the grey tips under the tail, so I'm still leaning towards female!

Tari I was sort of like you too! I had no desire for a Grey. I thought they were gorgeous, but I heard that they had such tempermental personalities that it mgiht not work at my house. Well one of my best friends called me and told me about her mother in laws friend that had a grey that was plucking, in a really small cage, and was cage bound in a house with 7 Maine Coon cats. YIKES So the ransom was a price I could afford and still get her a much larger cage, and I fell in love with Ted(now Red after finding out she's a female) and I've been hooked ever since!

I just recently acquired a second CAG through a rescue, and she is currently under quarantine, but I have noticed an increase in vocalization of both of them. They have both picked up a couple of eachother's phrases. They are both seperately caged, and will be that way. I don't want to house anyone together, especially since I can't be home all day to "supervise". Oh and Sun Conures ARE screamers, or at least mine is sometimes. She was an only bird at her prior home so she got to go everywhere with her owner. Now that I'm dividing my time up she has had to adjust to that and isn't always the happiest bird.

I've always liked the abnormal, the different, taking a walk or a chance on something other than the typical. I don't think I will ever own a dog or a cat as they're just too common for me, not as much of a challenge to me. I have always had a thing for parrots since I was a kid. I've always been mesmorized by the intelligence of parrots, and how quickly they can pick up on things. At first when I started bringing home birds, my mom did think I was a bit crazy, but now that she is around them and sees how smart and funny they can be, she is just as in love with them as I am. Although I do find that some people look at me crazy when I tell them that I have several parrots. Then again most everyone looks at anyone funny that goes against the grain, or strays from the mainstream!

Man I would love one of those I seriously need a nest bad!

All my fids love nutriberries!

Talon, From what I've read, the eye test is only accurate for CAG's, not TAGs. As far as I know there aren't any indicators for TAGs visually speaking!

See these are the birds I like...I love babies, but there is something so refreshing about knowing you're showing a Grey that people aren't such a bad thing, and give them a second chance. I sure hope that poor baby ends up in the right hands! Wish I lived in TX and had the room!

I know some people are against this and others just don't for the safety of their eyes and ears, but all my birds are allowed on my shoulder, with the exception of my new CAG, as I don't know her personality yet. I don't tend to walk around with Red on my shoulder just cause if I lose my footing she goes with me, it's mainly just to get her from point A) Cage to point B) Manazanita tree. She will also hang out on my shoulder while I'm on the computer, tuck one foot up and take a nap. I think that every bird is different, so I go based on their personality, and what I know they're capable of.

I don't "regularly" give my birds and "junk" food. They get frsh fruit and veggies, and I won't give them any fast food unless I am almost positive I know what is in it. Like today for lunch I had taco bell and each one got a tiny bit of tortilla so they can eat with mom. I've heard some people only feeding pellets, and others who only feed fresh foods. I'm all about moderation, and my vet recommends any fresh foods that are full of vitamins, so I go with that!

I personally have always wanted a TAG, but there are never any being rehomed in this area, and I don't really like buying breeders when I know theres a bird out there that NEEDS me, not the other way around. I have 2 CAGs and love them both, I'm sure one day I will get a TAG though!

I'm always leery of getting 2 birds of the same clutch let alone species cause I'm afraid they will bond to eachother, which it sounds they have. I think it wouldn't be as hard to keep up if you had them seperately caged. So I guess it depends if you plan on housing them together or seperately. If seperately, heck why not if you can afford it, if you plan on housing them together I'd personally lean towards no, just my opinion!

Thats a good weight for Gracie! I think that she will be fine! Welcome!

Yeah a quad is a 4 wheeler, thats what we call em around here! Oregon is gorgeous, it rains a bit but I love it anyway, definitely worth visintg we have a bit of everything here! Thanks for the warm welcome ya'll!

OMG I have the best song for this!!! Jack Johnson, "Better when we're together" It's a great song and I think it would be perfect for this!!! Just listen to it! Heres a song with the lyrics for it on youtube, I think ya'll will like it!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=YhB_nvYOK4k