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This is Simon on March 2, 2011, the day we met and fell in love.

I met my baby last night! I got to pick him from five little boys. I took someone's advice from somewhere on this forum - I can't remember exactly where I read it, but someone suggested letting the baby pick you. So I kneeled down and started talking to them, and they all hung back except for one little boy who toddled right over to me. I picked him up and he snuggled right in. He was so warm and soft and affectionate. He gently explored my nose and chin and fingers with his beak and tongue, and he really seemed to like my voice. We were both smitten. (I was so happy about that, because I usually have trouble making decisions.) I can't wait to bring him home. Four more weeks. I still haven't decided on a name, but I'm leaning towards Simon.

I love that last picture, with the colourful little pile of mixed babies.

Thanks Judy and Dave, for taking the time to reply. That's reassuring that my little lovebird probably isn't carrying some secret hidden plague. I had heard this information on the Eclectus forum a few months ago, when I was still trying to decide between an Eclectus and a Grey. I'm toying with the names Simon, Wilbur, Finn, Flynn or Avery for my baby Grey.

Hi. I live with a giant orange pussycat named Duncan, a 7-month old lovebird named Oboe, and a 13-year-old Double Yellow Headed Amazon named Kazoo. We recently put a deposit down on a baby African Grey Congo who will be coming home in early April. I got Duncan at the Humane Society several years ago. I raised Oboe and his siblings from the age of two weeks. I adopted Kazoo three months ago from his original family. I love them all a lot, and they all seem pretty fond of me too. I can't wait for the new baby to arrive. I've done a lot of reading, but I have two questions I hope someone here can help me with. 1) I understand his name should be something easy for him to pronounce. Can you give me some general guidelines about what makes a word easy to pronounce? Should I avoid certain letters? Only use one or two syllables? 2) In terms of health and quarantining. Is quarantining to protect the new bird, the existing birds, or both? The baby is coming from a very reputable breeder. I doubt that he will pose any risk to my other birds. The Amazon lived in a one-bird family his whole life until I got him a few months ago. He seems very healthy. The lovebird has been exposed to other lovebirds - his parents and siblings from two clutches. He and his parents all seem to be perfectly healthy. But I understand lovebirds can carry (but not show symptoms) of diseases that could be very harmful to Greys. I don't have a huge amount of money for vets, but I want to take any essential precautions. Should I take the lovebird to the vet and have him tested for these diseases? Thanks for any light you can shine on these questions.