Ian

Hmmmm Interesting!!! George was DNA`d (supposedly) as a chick and i was informed that he was male. The vent feathers are indeed tipped with silver!!! I shall investigate further........! :ohmy:

Hi Christina, My CAG took several months to really settle, but a noticable difference occured when i moved his cage into a corner. Apparently they feel more secure with two or more walls adjacent to there cage where they can see what is going on wothout any suprises. Of course it must be an area where they can still interact with you on a continual basis. I am glad to hear you have a TAG and will be intersted to here how he progresses.

Hi Everybody, I have just finished constructing an external aviary complete with internal flight and nest box in the hope of my two bonded TAG`s breeding. Both birds have displayed all the visual signs of being bonded to include regurgitation, mutual preening, courtship display and the male that is insistent on feeding the female every morsal of food. The male of the pair seems to have been a domestic bred bird owing to his fearless nature of human contact whilst the female (who sports a split ring) audibly growls within close proximity of a human. The TAGS are being given lots of privacy and are only disturbed at feeding intervals. However they are both stubbornly refusing to enter the internal flight where the nest box is positioned despite the inclusion of a natural `daylight` spectrum bulb illuminating the internal flight for a few hours at dusk. My questions are; are there any other members that have sussesfully bred TAG`s and if so what worked for them. There is a distinct lack of information regarding TAG`s on the net and i have had to rely on information supplied on CAG`s for building the `L` shaped breeding chamber etc. Has anybody had more success breeding CAG`s or TAG`s with an externally sited nest box or would they concur with an internally sited box?. Also would anybody recommend the addition of a `secondary` nest box positioned in the outside flight in order that they may hav a choice? I would be very gratefull of anybody who could offer knowledgable insights into the successfull breeding of TAG`s. Thankyou Ian

Hi Guys, I personally own a Congo and two TAG`s, the CAG was the first companion acquired and since then i have experienced both sub species at first hand (hence my decision to acquire two TAG`s for breeding). In my opinion (and i stress my opinion as others may disagree) TAG`s are a lot less manipulative and are noticably more sub servient. They are also far more gentle than many CAG`s i have encountered. I would say it is analagous to choosing between a king charles spaniel or a terrier in canine terms. Both will make fantastic companions given the correct environment, but each of us are unique and have distinct characterstics which may be better suited to one species or the other. Some may prefer the seemingly more challenging aspects of a CAG, however i have not witnessed any noticeable differences in `grey matter` and i have witnessed both talking and imitating with no discernable difference in vocal quality. My decision to recently purchase a bonded pair of TAG`s was largely based on bringing this sub species to the forefront of public awareness as it has always been undeservably thought of as the lesser grey. By opting to breed TAG`s i hope to increase the domestic gene pool of captive bred TAG`s in the UK and possibly play a hand in there increasing popularity. Physically i would not say that either is `better looking` than the other as both have unique characteritics and the soft velvet like feel and maroon sheen of the TAG more than compensates for that `bright red tail` in the CAG.

Thanks, It sounds like you guys are like me, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and quality parrot foods. George`s personal favourites are broad beans and pomegranite with banana coming in at third favourite. I have recently acquired two bonded TAG`s for which i have constructed an aviary for with the intention of breeding them. They too love there fruit and vegetables and dont refuse much in the way of healthy offerings (although they detest cheese). Shopping for my greys has become a regular routine and i try to purchase a variety of different fruits each time from Sharon fruits to blueberries in order to ensure a diverse range of vitamins and no deficiencies.

Hi Everybody Being new to this site and blessed with an insatiable thirst for knowledge i have been browsing various entries in order to increase my already capacious knowledge of African Greys. Having read numerous on-line articles regarding avian nutrition in general and deciding to strictly adhere to a natural and nutritious dietry regime. I have noticed several owners who like to offer there greys various `treat` foods. My own grey enjoys a small peice of cheese of which he can subtract protein and some dietry calcium from. I would be interested in any input regarding regular offerings of other such foods and possible long term implications that may have been noticed or diagnosed by a veterinary practioner. In short, how many of you guys offer regular `junk` foods to your parrot and what is the nature of the food offered. Many Thanks Ian

Hi Dan, My CAG will tolerate other family members and will allow them to feed him and be in close proximity but disallows them to handle him. However he will allow other adult male relatives to handle and stroke him. Perhaps he views closer family members as a threat to the bond he has formed with myself? Thanks Ian

Hi, My CAG is approx 12 months of age and has a vocabulary of about 7-10 words. He initiated human vocalisation at around 4 months with the word `hello`. On learning a new word he will repeat it incessantly for numerous weeks unitl he grows tired of reproducing it and moves on to a newer `different` sound. He is currently reciting `Good Boy` over and over with unprecedented clarity but within a singular one phrase context. I would like to ask if other CAG or TAG owners who acquired there avian companions from an early age and progressed with them through there vocal learning curve, when there birds started to use multiple words in combination for vocal expression. Thanks (from rainy England).

Hi Everybody, I have read various articles recently that state upwards of 60% of Male Congo African Greys switch preference with regard to there primary bonded human to an alternative family member at the onset of sexual maturity (approx 18mnths of age). This behaviour has been linked to the `genetically programmed` response of chasing off family members in there native environment in order to protect gene pool diversity and discourage in breeding. Contrary to this in another study conducted with Timneh owners 0% reported rejection of there primary bonded (preferred) human. Avian behavioral studies allege a reduced infancy term in TAG`s (approx 6 months) as the primary reason for the absence of this behavioural mechanism in the particular sub species. I would be gratefull of any input regarding personal experience of TAG and CAG ownership (post weaning age..i.e first owner) with regard to this apparent phenomenon. Regards Ian