SchroedersJen

While I do not own one due to space issues, I have worked with and cared for several and feel I can answer most of these. 1) na 2) Yes. They are more outgoing though and rather than being aggressive when they feel shy and intimidated, they are more likely to be aggressive when they want to intimidate you. 3)It depends on the individual. In general, since they come from multi species flocks in the wild, they enjoy having other birds around a great deal. The trouble is that they do not always understand or respect the fact that they are so much larger and can accidently injure the other birds they are trying to play wiith. Supervise, supervise, supervise....... 4) While they eat similar pellets, fruits, veggies, macaws meed a much larger percentage of healthy fats in their diet. A macaw diet should contain a lot of nuts (they like them in their shells, its fun to get them out). Rather than peanuts, stick to harder shelled varieties like almonds, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, filberts and walnuts.

Im in the US, not the UK...so if you are in the UK, please contact your insurance agent and see if this is true there as well Avian health insurance is offered through VPI. They cover about 80% of their listed items and it waries on others. For Schroeder, it is about 213 annually. They do take monthly payments, but there is an extra monthly fee of a few bucks. I began insuring him as a baby, so insuring an older bird may cost more. I also have Schroeder on my PAP (personal articles policy). Some home owners/renters policies have provisions to allow pets up to a certain amount to be covered unter the personal items coverage on your policy. Some do not. The advantage of having a pet on a pap policy is that if something happens (bird escapes, is lost, stolen, dies unexpectedly) the value is not subject to the deductible. This way you get a check for the full value of the pet and can go buy another. Again, Insurance companies have a lot of varied fine print and all policies are a tiny bit different. If you would like the specifics on your policy, please feel free to contact your agent. If your pet is not insured, you live in the US and would like help finding a carrier that will cover your bird, let me know and I can get you a list of companies in your state that can help you.

My grey doesnt really talk and my senegal has a potty mouth. As this is a family place, I will be reading and not posting Great idea though! Very cute thread.

Your homeowners insurance may cover the loss of your birds minus the deductible. You should contact your agent and ask. They might also help find an attorney for you. If they think it will be cheaper for them to use in house counsel to recoup the loss from GE they may pay for it too. It is worth calling to find out.

If I was a grey...I would want both!

The little stinkers are too smart for our own good. I still remember the first time Schroeder made the telephone ringing noise. I picked up andf said hello. He looked at me and laughed "Hahahahahahahaha!" What a brat. I'm sure everyone has been triched by their "bird brained" companion at least once.

Jamal, Toucans have very different dietary and emotional needs than a hard billed parrot. Do you know much about them?

VPI has a great avian insurance program. I have used it and they were very helpful. I'd suggest you take any sandy pearches or abrasive surfaces out of the cage.

Schroeder is sweet 90% of the time...the other 10% he is a twerp. They like to test limits now and then to see if you are still in charge. I dont put up with it, and it sounds like you acted in an appropriate way. I wouldn't worry about it just yet. I agree with She that a wellness check is a good idea, but I'd bet my car on the fact that Sinbad wants to see if you really rule the roost.

Schroeder chews up between 10 and 15 chinese finger traps a day. Every time he picks one up he acts surprised and excited....like he has never seen one before. It takes him about 15 seconds to greet and dismantle one. A close second favorite is our other parrot, a senegal named Buddy. Needless to say, he does not get Buddy 10-15 times a day, and in Schroeder's defense....Buddy always starts their skirmishes.

Schroeder was vaccinated by his breeder, and it makes me feel a lot better about taking him in to be groomed and just taking him out of the house. That said, african birds are much less likely to get polyoma than australian and new world birds, so it may be ok to hold off. Toss a coin?

What kinds of qualities do you want your bird to have? They are all very different birds with different personalities.

If you are going to go lettuce, you may as well make the jump to kale. It comes in a few exciting colors, has easially digestable calcium, is heartier and takes longer to wilt when hung in the xcage. I get it wet before hanging and the birds like to play in it, lick off the water and shred it to bits.

Schroeder will be 2 in June. He is more independent than he was as a baby, an a bit sassy, but not unmanagable. He has been very entertaining.

No boys allowed in the fort!

Awwwwwwwwwwwwww. I remember when Schroeder loooked like that. They grow up so fast, it's good that you are in the habit of taking pictures. i wish I had been more of a shutterbug. She is perfect!

Congrats on your baby! I bet this will be the longest 2 months of your life! I remember waiting to bring Schroeder home and feeling like a kid before Christmas. Good luck, and remember to always keep a camera near by.

You may consider going to your profile and looking in the members near you window. You could contact those people and ask where they bought their fids. Just a thought.

Here is a great article on CAG vs TAG by Jane Hallander. In my work with both species, I am inclined to say that she is correct http://www.africangreys.com/articles/greys/species.htm

I use Nalani. The toys are great. They take FOREVER to ship their product though. It usually arrives about a month after you order it.

Hello, The biggest part of your concern can be addressed easially. Price should not motivate your decision. You should get what you want, and what youcan provide time and supplies for.... There is a HUGE difference between 2 TAGs or a cag and an amazon. An amazon is a totally different bird. I'd suggest you do some research and figure out what makes sense for you. your questions: 1) It depends on the birds. Birds have individual personalities, just like humans do...they might, they might not. The best way to keep them from bonding to eachother is to house them in separate cages. 2) It depends on the birds. Birds have individual personalities, just like humans do...they might, they might not. It shouldn't matter to you anyway though. As a bird owner, Im sure that you realize the great personalities that these animals have, and that that personality more than makes up for talking/not talking. If it matters to you that much, have a baby, don't buy a bird. 3) For baby african greys it really doesnt matter. if you end up with a female, there is a slight chance that you will have egg binding issues later on, but that chance is very slight, and I'm not sure it should influence your decision. Amazons can be much more hormonal during mating season than Greys. It is my understanding that each gender has its own quirks during mating season, but I dont own an amazon. Maybe someone who does can make a comment on this item? 4) It depends on the birds. Birds have individual personalities, just like humans do...they might, they might not. My gut tells me it would be a good idea though. 5) It depends on the birds. Birds have individual personalities, just like humans do...they might, they might not. also, see #1 6) Babies are a lot of work. They are fun, sweet, inquisitive trouble makers. Im sure that some of the breeders on this site can tell you about the virtues of young birds. I got Schroeder as a baby and he got all of my attention. I am inclined to think that having 2 at once may have made me less able to give him everything he needed. They learn so much the first few years that I want to be able to enrich him as much as possible. Not having another baby around with the same needs makes it easier. This is just my experience though, and I'm sure there are a chorus of other members that can tell you about the joys of having multiple babies around. Good luck!

Schroeder got really excited watching that. He seems to think he can do a better wold whistle though. Now he wont shut up. hahahahahaha.

Busy timnehs are quiet timnehs. When I am going to spend some quality 1 on 1 time with our other bird, I hand Schroeder something challenging to do (Like a foraging foot toy)first. He is quiet when he is concentrating on something.

You might try an organic or sugar free jelly in the yogurt....

Birds have that effect on people. I brough Schroeder to the Home Depot to buy zip ties for the toys in his cage and they gave me the employee discount. I saved a whopping dollar ten