LindaMary

She is a show-stopper, Pat! What a beauty - and sounds like with the personality to match. Congratulations!

Yes, Mary - watch the eaarings! I had a heart-pounding five-minutes early on when Maxi pulled a super-sly move and deftly yanked my diamond nose-pin out of my nose! (it's just a stud, not a corkscrew-style). Imagine what that would do to a parrot's innards! Initially, when I didn't find it in her beak, I was afraid she had immediately swallowed it, of course, and was panicking, but then started hunting around on the floor, and thank GOODness: she had dropped it. I kicked myself all the way back to her cage and got instantly MUCH more careful about (1)the distance between her and my face, and (2) about wearing earrings when she's on my shoulders.

I think this type of decision is like any other one which involves assessing a human being or a situation: run some "tests" and your instincts will tell you a lot. In retrospect, I could have spent a lot more time background-checking different pet stores and sources before buying my grey, but the fact is I was an innocent and I didn't. The business I bought Maxi from is a small "chain", in that it has two shops. However, I did walk into the store (which was recommended to me by another new and little-experienced grey owner) expecting them to want to size me up as a parrot owner. I started off with the assumption that their bird staff was going to consist entirely of BMustees and kitt79s, i.e. people who really know what they are doing, and care, and that they would be vetting me as an adopter. I told them from the outset that I had a lot to learn before making a decision, and would need some recommendations and advice, and that it was probably going to take weeks, and how how did they feel about me coming in often to ask questions and visit the birds before I'd even spent a dime? Then I waited to see how they would respond to this (okay, so maybe I'm a little devious...:whistle: ), and in my case I was very satisfied with the response. There were (and still are) some staff members in the store who are not very professional, but it didn't take long for me to figure out who the (closet) rock stars were in the bird department in terms of their knowledge and seriousness. Truth is, I'd have been very reluctant to buy from that store if I hadn't started to see early on that my attempts at preparation were well-received and supported. I'm not sure this pet store would only sell birds to people who do what I was doing - I rather doubt it in fact. You might be able to walk into this same store with $2,000 in your pocket and walk out an hour later with an animal and a cage and some advice, depending on who serves you. The store also does some specific things I don't like, such as clipping grey's wings WAY too short, so I just don't go to them for that service. I guess my point is it's often a mixed bag, and you have to do your testing and trust your instincts. I have felt myself that there is an often tacit negative attitude towards pet stores as a whole in the bird community, and sometimes, of course, it's deserved. It's almost embarassing to admit in this forum that I bought my grey from a pet store, you know? And of course my post here doesn't even touch Carolyn's point about perpetuating poor practices by purchasing from pet stores. Sigh. That's another whole battle, isn't it? I just really appreciate the fact that one can find responsible and dedicated people working in the pet stores sometimes - even occasionally in a chain! - they are worth their weight in gold. Sorry this got so looooongg! Hope it helps....

Not shallow at ALL, Amberly - pragmatic! Similar size to a grey - something you are used to. And the severe really looks like a little emerald to me; quite lovely. Hey one of the first reasons I liked greys when I first saw them in Africa was their subtle, elegant coloring. Sure seems like the fates are putting things out there for you, placing a macaw in your path yesterday!

I'm going to put in my vote here for a TAG, partly because I love mine so much, and partly because some things I've read lead me to believe that two greys might feel more comfortable with each other than a grey with another species. But that's just reading, mind you! Mainly I just love my easy-going little birdie {Love-000200C2} TAGs are well worth the effort to find them, I think.

Amberly - I sympathize with your dilemma, as I am struggling with the same urge to add another parrot to my flock. Actually, the economics (both of money and of time) are likely to "save" me from doing it, but in my case it's a specific bird that is drawing me in. I bought Max at a pet store with a pretty decent bird department. I go back to that pet store every few weeks to buy supplies for her and our other pets, and of course I always have to go back to the bird room and check out the residents. B) There are still three birds there who have been there since the time I first was getting to know Max. One of them is a severe macaw, who has always been pretty responsive to me, to the point that for a while I actually avoided going into the bird room because I felt like he was really getting attached to me, and it felt unfair to him. I went in yesterday, though, and he was clearly happy to see me again. By last night I found myself looking around the house trying to figure out whether we could maybe fit another big cage against that wall ... hmmmm.:whistle: Over the months, I have done some reading about severe macaws, and I know the bird would be a good match for me, but like you I really doubt Max would be too excited about having an interloper in the house. Since you mentioned macaws, though, I thought I'd share this with you - I had never heard of any of the mini-macaws until I met this one last year, and maybe you haven't heard much about them either. As I have said, I will probably not end up acting on this desire - perhaps as much because I am not sure there's "enough of me to go around" (I am a single parent, working full-time, increasingly a caretaker for my elderly (ill) mother, plus four other fids in the house, and Max is still an impressionable juvenile), but the temptation is really there, and the bird is working me over emotionally. Maybe you can come up to NH and give this guy/girl a wonderful home? He's on sale.....:whistle: Sorry, I know that last was unfair. :blush: I do understand what you're going through, though - and I wish you good luck with your decision!

YIKES! That's REAAALLLLLYYYY annoying!{Feel-bad-0002007F} Maxi doesn't make that loud buzzsaw sound (thank goodness - and I don't plan to play it for her again so she can learn it:silly: ) but the low grumbling you could hear in between some of the buzzsaws on that tape - THAT's the sound I'm talking about. Thanks for the post, Dan!

{Feel-good-0002006E} What a perfect picture you painted! {Feel-good-0002006E}

I am curious to know what our members have devised as backup plans for our long-lived feathered dependents, in the event we should get to the rainbow bridge before they do. I am almost 54 and healthy, but would not have felt I could adopt a young grey unless my (now 13-year-old) daughter had expressed an interest in sharing the responsibility with me, and assuming it once I am gone. Realistically, though, I know that if I should get hit by a truck tomorrow, there really need to be several levels of backup plans in place. I have discussed it with my brother, who is my daughter's guardian should the worst happen, and he is willing to take Max on, but his resources there (especially time) are more limited, too. I am also aware that as my daughter continues to mature and pursue her own interests, her 12-year-old promise may not be totally secure.:whistle: I am thinking of exploring a few other options I have (curious friends who are known to be good with animals but have never had a parrot, for example...) - and trying to start to expand my parronting "village", so to speak - similar to teh way I realized I had to establish a "village" when I was facing the prospect of single parenthood. What have the rest of you planned? I really don't mean to be dismal in this topic, just looking for pragmatic, creative ideas! All input welcome!

Thanks for your response, Tracy (am I remembering your name right?:blush:) There's a flowering quince bush growing next to an abandoned church where I park my car at work - loaded with fruit which will soon be ripe. (Winter's coming on quick here...) I know nobody in the world cares a hoot about it, and it just occurred to me I might see if Maxi likes 'em. I will wait to see if you or someone else knows for sure that they're safe before I harvest any!

Wow, that's exciting, Ryann! Congratulations!

What a doll!{Love-000200D8}

I'm assuming Liefie is a CAG. So (by my count) that brings us to : CAG : 35 TAG : 23

Hey, Pat I feel like you are making the right decision. Thank you for sharing your thought process with us! Tyco (like all your birds) is very lucky to have a parront who gives such deep consideration to their emotional welfare. Your description of her waking up and saying "Mom" just tugged at my heartstrings. I'm sure you're right that the move to a new room is going to be enough of an adjustment for her for the time being! Karma to you for your wisdom....

Does anyone know whether quinces are okay for greys to eat?

Yvette: is the top mandible of Liefie's beak all black, or is it horn-colored? I can't quite tell from the photos. If it's black, he's a CAG.

Have you alerted the mail carriers in the radius you are searching? Landscaping companies? Land surveyors? All folks who are routinely out-of-doors - they may see something. How about schools, with kids who may be walking home? I really wish you the best of luck. I have you and your bird in my prayers!

So we are up to: CAG : 31 TAG : 22

Thanks for teh update, Bryan! I take it from her final name (and your pronouns) that she DNA-ed as a female - and what a pretty girl! She sounds like she's a real character in the making. Don't worry about your "novel":laugh: - that's what we're here for! Where else can we find an audience for our gushing about our baby fids? We'll always be glad to hear more!

There's a reason they call it "nesting behavior" when people are fixing up the baby's room, isn't there? Have fun inserting Tab A into Slot B!:lol:

Are there any other TAG owners out there whose birds only grumble softly?

One TAG here, so: CAG : 24 TAG: 18 And I'm sure there are lots more since this thread was last updated! New folks....update us!

Welcome, Brittany! I can identify with the excitement! I had to pay for my birdie over 5 weeks, too - it's great that some breeders/people will let you do that. Will you be visiting your baby while you're waiting? That worked out really well for us - we went in several times a week to see Maxi, and by the time we actually brought her home, she was totally convinced Mary and I were her new mama and sister. B)

Are you wearing any new rings, or bracelets, or fingernail polish? Perfume?

Welcome to the family, Sanggay! I'm still enjoying the cute naughty kid phase in my 19-month-old TAG. I think you'll like it here - lots of friendly, funny people with LOADS of great experience!