AshleyKay

B) Thanks guys, I love looking at pics as well as sharing them...thanks for looking! Oh, and no I dont have any other birds, Ace is the one and only - I think he likes it that way

Thanks Im glad you can see the pics on your end..to me they look so small, they look like they are 1"x1" ! He has let me hold him like that since I got him when he was little, and I just kept always doing it, so he's use to it

oh shoot, im trying to get them bigger...

Just thought Id share a few recent pics of Ace, and me It's been awhile... He turned 1 in March, but he's still the biggest baby <3 <br><br>Post edited by: AshleyKay, at: 2009/06/17 21:30

My TAG was 308g last time I weighed him. I dont weight him often though, he's a little older now though (a year old this month) he probably weighs more... now that Im thinking about it, I'll weigh him again today

Ace drops his wings for me often. He drops this really, really low to where his sides are exposed, makes me nervous that he will lose his balance sometimes (he never has yet) He only does it for me though, so I always thought it was an affection or submissive type behavior.

I dont know what to tell you other than getting an older african grey will be a lot harder and take more time and patience than a baby. Not trying to discourage you , but I would hate to see the bird having to be rehomed again because you find you arent cut out for the job. Yes, all birds take time, but a rescue, even more so. As for all birds getting behavioral problems.. SO NOT TRUE! Birds will be birds yes, but their problems are learned. I know my bird is still young, going on a year, but I dont have any problems whatso ever, and Im confident with all the resarch I have done on birds, and their behavior BEFORE I got Ace, that we will avoid a lot of "problems" I wish more people did so. Good Luck!

My grey eats whatever we eat. Most of the time I eat Kashi, which is healthy anyway. I get Fiber One sometimes. I usually get the kids Quaker oat squares..or whatever the name of it is. Occasionally I will get the kids their favorite cerel, Lucky Charms or Fruitloops. I'll let him have a peice of that too, but we only occasionally buy it, so I know he isant getting a lot of it.

My male is not aggresive, but he is still young. I dont think it would matter if it is male or female, as long as you get it from a baby and have him/her socialized and what not I personally wanted a male, just because I already had my boy name picked out, and loved it

This is going to be a little long, but only because as a first time Grey owner myself, I want to fill you in on what I have learned about keeping a grey As for cost of food, It all depends on what you buy for your bird. I buy Ace a bag of zupreem pellets, Im not sure on the weight of it, but its about 15 dollars a bag, I think. I dont know my husband buys it half the time, and with two dogs and three cats, I get confused when I think about what I spent on what. But anyhow, I probably go thru a bag a month. Ace is very wasteful, as a lot of birds are! Then there are seeds. I think I paid almost 30 dollars for a bag of mixed seeds and nuts with dried fruit, but that bag lasts Ace a long time, as I dont feed him very much of it. Ace eats a lot of table/fresh food. So, he eats what I eat throughout the day, as well as other people in the house. Oatmeal, fruit, maybe some toast in the morning. PB&J sandwich, egg, cheese mid day, and chicken, veggies, pasta etc., at dinner. His diet varies greatly, as should any bird IMO. I really dont think it costs too much to feed them. Toys add up though. Thats what will cost you on a regular basis. 20 bucks, give or take for a toy, (and they need several) that they can shred in a matter of a couple days, or even hours You can make your toys too, but I find it hard because I get confused on what I can use, and then Im not very creative either. And then there is vet bills. Oh, and also something to consider, birds chew- and you can spend a bit of money replacing things. I almost had to replace my blackberry curve. That would have been a few hundred bucks. I put my phone down, and Ace thought it looked like fun, and thankfully my daughter saw him with it, and I got it just as he was prying the side of it off. It looks a bit, um, beatup now, but thankfully still works He has also chewed on part of my dining room chair. I am just going to put some stain on it, and hope no one notices, because I dont want to replace it with another 250 dollar chair! He has gotten to my blinds too Something else to consider- They are messy! I have come to realize the thing I dislike most about having Ace, is bird poop! As for working, I dont work, but I do leave my house. I have four kids, so I am active with them. I think Ace would be fine if I ever went to work. Just be sure you give them plenty of toys, and spent a lot of time with them in the evenings and weekends when you are home. There really is, A LOT of "essentials" you should know before getting a grey, or any bird, or animal, IMO. I would research, and talk to a lot of people for at least a few months, just to give you time to learn, and to make sure the idea, or feeling of wanting an African Grey doesnt wear off. The bird will live a long time,and he will be your responsibility, so I think its only fair to any animal, you give it a few months to think long and hard before committing. This forum is an excellent place to start

I think you have a typical grey Ace is the same way. He is out of his cage most of the day, so he will help himself by coming to where we are to eat what we are eating. From the start I have always invited Ace to the table to eat with us..he often will be onthe table and walk around checking out everyones plate If by chance he is in his cage, he lets us know he wants out to come eat too! I know what you mean by him wanting to only eat healthy stuff, id try by just changing what you eat too We eat healthy for the most part. Everyonce in a while we'll have fast food, or the kids will have candy..and we share with him too, but its not an everyday thing, just a tiny bite here and there. Ace pretty much eats whatever we eat

When I allow Ace on my shoulder, he also likes to *try* and argue with me when its time to get him off. I'll try slowly the first time, by just putting my hand up to him and saying step up, and he will always use his pissed off squawk and beak me (he never bites, he just usues his beak to push my finger away)as he backs up onto my back. So, I will bring my hand back, let him reposition himself onto my shoulder again, then I will bring my hand back up to have him step up, but the second time I say step up, I am much quicker with my hand, and I dont stop my hand at his feet, I just press into him quickly and firmly forcing him up. He squaks at me like What the hell Mom, but it always works. Then I give him praise and lost of love and tell him good boy. I usually always make sure I hold him for a little bit, giving him affection and talk to him before putting him back on his cage, so he doesnt connect getting off my shoulder with being put on his cage and away from me.

casper wrote: Wow, Casper, that is so nice! Did you make that? How did you do it? Id love details, if you could give them

I will have to get a few pictures of Toby and Ace checking each other. And about the puppy coming in December, we've actually been planning on getting that dog for a few months now, this pup was just a spur of the moment thing. He's a great pup though. He wants to play with Charlie a lot, our cocker, who is going on 5. Charlie will play some, but he doesnt really keep up much with Toby. I am thinking it will be great to have the two pups together so they can play and wear each other out. We have enough people in our house who help take care of the pets, and we're on 4 acres, so there is plenty of room... I think it will be fun

Aww you guys are too sweet I am thinking that framing it would be a great idea. Ace doesnt really seem to care either way about Toby being around. He will get on the floor , and they will touch noses, but then they go about their own business.

Puppy!! Well, we got him almost 2 weeks ago, but Im just now getting around to showing him off I named him Toby. He soon will have a puppy pal, which we are getting in about 5 weeks. This is a mini schnauzer. We are getting a giant schnauzer in November. He's just the sweetest little thing. Thought I'd share a pic of him and I . <br><br>Post edited by: AshleyKay, at: 2008/10/26 06:32

I'm Ashley

Thanks guys I feel good about it.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the insight. I love having Ace so much in my life that I was thinking how wonderful it would be to take in one more. But after much thought I am going to pass. We have a good thing with Ace. He is just, perfect. I have just enough space for him and Im afraid I'll be pushing it with adding another cage and the expenses for more toys etc., We are getting a Giant Schnauzer in early December so Im going to need space for his kennel and things as well...and Im afraid of going over my limit. I also don't want any problems to arise with Ace and the new bird. As for the breeding comment, I respect everyones opinion.. but I will say that I got Ace from a breeder. I had him picked out from an egg I chose this route for a few reasons. I feel I am not epereinced enough to take on a rescue with "baggage" I am afraid I wouldnt have the extra time, or patience, or expereince to do this. I also have a busy household, with 4 kids, 2 dogs and 3 cats. I think putting a bird in a busy home like that, especially one with a lot of unknown history would just stress the bird out more. These are also reasons I am deciding to not even take in this bird. Anyhow I could go on and on. Im very thankful I had such a responsible, loving breeder who had Ace for me, and did such a wonderful job hand raising him, and handfeeding him, and socializing him until I was able to bring him home. I am prepared for all the normal "bird" behaviors that will come as he grows older. He is still young, under a year, but at least I am learning with him, and I feel like I can better handle situations as they come, instead of just having them all thrown at me at once, with a bird with "bagage".

I was browsing craigslist today for a crate for my dog, and I came across someone needing to rehome her CAG due to divorce. She said he is friendly, and not a screamer. I did inquire about the bird, but I was wondering, would adding a second AG be a bad idea? What are the pros and cons of having two? She calls the bird a "he", so Im not sure if it's really a male, if so I'd have two males. Would Ace become more attached to the other bird than me? Do these birds seem to enjoy the company of another bird? Is it possible to house them together, to save on space? I need opinions! Thanks guys

Thanks Yes, he is going on 6 months. His hatchday is March 27th I figure he is this way all the time because he is still a baby...but Im enjoying every minute of it! Kaedyn wrote: <br><br>Post edited by: AshleyKay, at: 2008/09/16 23:02

Im so sorry for your loss.. You will never forget him, but time will heal (((hugs))) I lost my white bellied caique a couple years ago, from my own stupid mistake, and I still miss him and love him to this day, but it will get better with time, although I know right now it doesnt feel possible. Im so sorry:(

Ace is such a sweet guy...I got a video of him trying to give me food He always drops his wings and gets really lovey with me.. he is such a sweet heart, I hope he always keeps a soft side to him! I am standing right next to me, but you can tell he still wants to fly onto my shoulder. I call him my wannabe cockatoo..is my velcro bird, always wanting to be on me getting love. ENjoy! http://www.veoh.com/videos/v15911653pZFEJyFw?rank=0&

Ace is 4 months and he is using his voice, a lot. My daughter swears he has said pretty bird. I can hear how he is trying to mimic but he hasnt said anything really well yet, that I have heard anyway. Im trying not to get too excited about him talking because I know some never will, and I didnt expect him to when I got him, but Im starting to get a little excited thinking he may He is always making different noises and it seems like he is trying to talk and mimic.

Ace doesn't seem to care for water either. I take him into the shower with me where he seems to enjoy the steam though. When Im done showering, I will have him step up on my hand and but him by the water and have my hands cupped with the water flowing into my palms and i'll slowly but him under the water. He doesnt seem to hate it, but doesnt seem to enjoy it either. He will let me soak him without putting up a fight, im not sure if yours well let you try this or not.