Inky

Thanks Shelly. I guess that given I am newly disabled it's something that I can't help think about and I think that anyone who used to walk and now can't would feel the same. I'm just really trying to make sure that a Grey is for me and I'd rather ask these questions now than when I have finalised my purchase. I have been reading some of the replies that people have received before about height and whether it affects a Grey's behaviour and found a really useful article that basically supports your advice - Grey's do not link dominance with height. Thanks for taking the time to respond. By the way I rang the pet shop to give them feed back and they absolutely did not care that I felt the birds were not being loved enough. As you say 'no attachment to the pets, just a [pound] sign.

Thnks JayD. I will try to give as varied food as possible as you suggest, but there will be some days where I may have to go with the simpler diet. But I now have enough to start the ball rolling in the right direction. I have just been reading the threads on flighted v non flighted birds. I will not buy a baby that has been clipped but I am worried that since I am in a wheelchair, at the times that my husband and our housekeeper are not around that I will not be able to keep our CAG in check. Any thoughts?

Thank you!

just need to make final decision betwn CAG and TAG.....????

This is Newbie Inky. i went to Margate (on the English coast and two /two and half hour drive from London) to visit some baby greys. I just wanted to spend some time with one before mine arrives. Anyway, I was horrified at how the pet shop was treating them and raising them. They had told me the greys were 14 weeks but I could see that they were obviously older and so they eventually admitted that the Greys were 21 weeks. They had not been trained at all to step up, they were aggressive, their feathers looked dull and their eyes were so sad. They had been taken away from the mother as eggs and they had been clipped after 7 weeks. I then realised that I would never buy a parrot from these people. They also stated that they only fed their Greys seeds and not pellets nor much fruit. I was so upset I was tempted to buy the parrot just to give it a better life. Then I remembered the advice that I have been given on this forum, that it would be better for me to get a well adjusted baby. Anyway, the reason I have posted this story here is not just to vent (thank you for letting me do so) but also because I noticed that since I was in a wheelchair the Greys were going for my head or shoulders. I could not get any of them to step up onto my hand. I therefore wonder if my CAG will try to dominate and perhaps will not listen to me because I will be lower down than my bird when I am in my wheelchair and the CAG is in his cage. Also the perches that I have seen are higher than me when sat in my wheelchair. Any advice anyone? Thanks in advance. Inky

Hi, Harrisons High Potency food pellets state that they contain all that a bird needs to eat from a nutritional perspective (although you can give other foods for variety), does anyone know if these claims are true? Thanks. Inky.

Not sure you read the article but to be honest it does make some very credible and interesting claims. Anyway I'm hoping our whole family will get on with our baby male CAG when he arrives - I can't wait! Thank you though as Jayd states your post is helpful.

Hi this is Newbie in Wheelchair. Thanks to all those who replied to my previous post, and as a result I decided that I am def going to purchase an African Grey. However, I have just been reading an interesting article: Congos and Timnehs Is There A Difference by Jane Hallander. http://www.africangreys.com/articles/greys/species.htm Anyway she surmises that perhaps Congo African Greys have more phobias and problems than Timnehs due to possible differences between their domestic habitat and their natural habitat. Does anyone have any experience or reasoned opinion on this topic? Was was going to buy a Congo because they are the most common in the UK but perhaps I should go for a Timneh - all opinions welcome. Thanks again in advance. Inky

Great Post - Thank you!

I think that I will take your advice and have a perch over looking the garden for variety. Although I think that the perch will have to go in my study because I will let him out whilst I am in rooms other than the lounge (which I am really anal about keeping tidy) everywhere else in the house is up for grabs and given that we have another 10 rooms or so this shouldn't be a problem - hopefully. Can you believe that I now have to be patient for 3 weeks for the bird to be fully weened and able to come and live with us.

No I'm actually going to buy the cage off him as well. It's more that he's happy with us and where we live and that the bird takes to us. He says that all his birds are so tame they should take to you straight away but if not then he will spend the day with us to see what the problem is and whether we can sort it out - he just seems to care a lot about the birds which is wonderful. So price is almost the same in the USA (given the exchange rates).

Butttaxi, I'm absolutely going to avoid what happened to you if I can. The breeder said that his birds are really tame so they will go off with anybody so chances are that I would not get the bird back living in London.

Thanks. I will indeed spend the £1000 (is this the same cost in the USA) and reserve mine today. I agree with the obvious it's more the less obvious - you know something really useful that I might have forgotten. Thanks I will browse around the nursery just in case there are any useful tips. I'm very excited - the breeder has warned us though that if he doesn't think the bird will be happy (he will visit our home) or doesn't take to us he will refuse to sell. I like him already - how caring!

thenabrd, I'm glad to hear that the birds can be happy to ride in the car. That would make our lives easier since we could take with us when we go out for the day. I live in London so I was thinking that I could sit my African Grey at the front of the house over looking the road. That way he can watch people going by and the traffic etc whilst we are away. The back of the house overlooks the garden but it is South Facing and right in the sun, which I understand is not very good for the birds.

Will do thanks for the tip. Have you ever tried to use a flight lead (so bird can fly around on the lead but return to you as you pull the lead in)?

Don't worry, one bird is all I can manage at this stage. I have found a breeder and he seems to really care about the birds (which for me is a good indicator) and offers free after care advice when needed. He also brings the birds up with his family so they are used to young children and having different people around. He has one bird left at 15 weeks old. However, he does not have his bird's sexed - do you think this is a problem? I was told that males are more likely to bond with girls (does that include gay men as well)? Having read all the info, I'm more convinced than ever that an African Grey would make a great addition to the household so I'm now trying to ensure that I buy everything that the parrot needs (there should be some sort of parrot starter kit!). Inky

Thanks, on this basis I shall stick with the African Grey. Do you manage to take your bird outside?

Hi Judigram, Thanks for your welcome. I've been told that I should only get 1 bird rather than a pair because there is no guarantee that they will get along. Did you get all your birds at the same time? I'm struggling to find hand-reared grey's in London but shall keep searching. I now can't wait to get my bird because I'm now convinced that it will improve my mood since I'm still getting used to being disabled.

Eshana, Thanks for your email. I've heard that pets can become quite in tune with their owner's needs and health and I'm glad this works for you. Does your cockatiel talk? Natasha

Thank you, dave, this is really appreciated. Now trying to find a breeder near me. Inky

Dave, thank you so much for such a comprehensive response. You have helped considerably and I shall share this response with husbands and friends. If you have time, just a couple of supp. questions: 1---greys can be ok with 2 to 3 hrs out of the cage. Of course, the more, the better but many people here go to work full time and the bird is left in a cage during the whole day. SO PEOPLE GO TO WORK ALL DAY AND LEAVE AG ON THEIR OWN WITH NO PROBLEMS? 2---Many people put the radio or Tv on when the bird is alone but if it's done as a regular routine everyday, the grey will slowly dismiss it and not pay as much attention to it but using a TV with cartoons is a good idea. CARTOONS ARE A GREAT IDEA - THANKS! 3---No, baby parrots can only be potty trained in the home as the bird gets older and it does take quite a bit of work to do that especially if the owner is a novice at owning a grey. Even potty trained birds will defecate in other places. You would need good mobility to catch the bird doing that and putting him in an area where you want him to go. In your situation, letting the bird go in the cage is the best thing. Easy to clean up that way. THIS IS PROBABLY MY HESITATION POINT: IF I LET THE BIRD DEFECATE IN ITS CAGE WON'T I STILL NEED TO POTTY TRAIN IT TO GO IN A SPECIFIC PART OF THE CAGE? DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO GO FOR AN OLDER BIRD THAT HAS BEEN POTTY TRAINED (PERHAPS AT MY REQUEST BY THE BREEDER (I WILL ONLY BUY FROM A CARING BREEDER)? 4---That's a hard question to answer for a few reasons. Many people think it's a bit cruel to clip a bird's wings because they were meant to fly. Other people clip wings but I have to tell you that a proper wing clip won't prevent the bird from flying. A wing clipping won't allow a bird to fly vertically, only horozontly AND the wing clipping needs to be properly done to lessen injuries. If a clipped bird escapes, it can fly straight ahead, not upward and that alone can cause the bird injuries. SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S CRUEL TO CLIP THEN - WHAT DO YOU THINK? 5---As often as you can. As time goes on, a grey becomes very sedate and likes to perch alot--even on people ( you/hubby). It's not a constant flyer as when it was when young. That happens aroung 4 to 5 yrs old. Constant verbal contact is necessary as well as physical contact. WOULD IT BE ENOUGH TO GIVE SUCH CONTACT SAY EVERY EVENING AFTER WORK? THANKS! PS-------There are other handicapped people on this board who have greys and have had success but it's important to keep in contact with experienced grey owners like who's on this bioard to help you deal with unknown situations and believe me, there's gonna be situations. THANK YOU - WILL DO. LOVING THIS FORUM!

Hi, I am NEW but could really do with some ADVICE and HELP. I live in London, England in a house together with my Husband, friend and housekeeper. I can walk a little on crutches but mostly I am in a wheelchair. Both myself and my husband work from home but we also go into the office a few days a week. Our housekeeper is around mostly - unless she is out shopping for food etc. I have been reading extensively about African Grey's since I would like to buy a baby that has been weened but I have a few questions: 1. How many hours a day (on average) would I need to devote to talking and playing? 2. Will the parrot be happy with the radio or tv on for company during the days no one is around? 3. Can you buy baby parrots that have been toilet trained? 4. Does it matter that I am not very mobile, would it still be possible to let the bird fly? 5. How often should you (on average) take the bird out of it's cage? 6. Will the bird be able to bond with all members of household - even if we add a baby? 7. Can we give the AG to a friend when we go on holiday? I know that each bird is different but I'm just trying to ensure that buying a Grey is a sensible thing for me to do since I don't want to be cruel and get one if it's not going to be good for the parrot. I thought that all parrots belonged out of a cage but the forum has convinced me that AG's can be happy in captivity. Look forward to receiving your responses. Thanks again in advance. Inky