abbie21187

I have a TAG on deposit and have been visiting her several times a week until she can come home. While she is not very cuddly she is very smart and friendly. She tries to mimic whatever I say to her at 7 weeks and even can say Step Up barely. I have to say, I've never handled an adult CAG or TAG, but in the babies I've encountered at the bird store the main difference seems to be that the TAG's mostly seem to develop a little faster than the CAG's. This changes from bird to bird though I'm sure. I've heard TAG's are more laid back and social, but I've heard people say otherwise as well. I would recommend visiting with both kinds and just find one in particular that you bond with whether it be TAG or CAG. Good Luck!

Currently I've been visiting her at least three times a week sometimes four for about two hours each visit. At first I figured I would go about twice a week, but I find myself wanting to spend more and more time with her and getting up early if I have to work to make the drive to visit her and still make it to work! I just can't wait until she comes home. Currently, she is progressing very well. She has mostly mastered the step up command for anyone at only 7 weeks. I only can't get her to step up out of her cage right away, but we're working on it. I had bought her some toys for her store cage, mostly shreddables, but she's shredded them all up! I'm thinking of getting her her a Jungle Talk press n' play because she's been so vocal already. My BB doesn't talk but he loves the the press n' play and presses the I love You buttons whenever I walk by the cage! I think she'll love it too. She's also eating everything I give her but especially loves dried corn and peas. I'm going to see her in the morning and will try to post some new pictures tomorrow, she really is beautiful! Always smiling to me!

These pictures are amazing! Rorschack is very handsome.

My TAG is only 7 weeks and she is very close to saying "step up" and her name "Eva" already. She also mimics my whistles almost perfectly. So I'm not surprised! Those little Timneh's catch on quick!

Awwwww.... What a cutie!

What a beautiful finch! Where are you from? Here in Jersey we get lovely Cardinals and Blue Jays but no wild Finches so vibrant and lovely as this!

I'm not sure I can probably find out Friday though....I'm curious too.

For those of you who didn't know I have been interested in adopting a TAG. The first one I put a deposit on was having developmental problems and was sent back to the breeder from the store. I asked the staff today and they said they haven't heard anything about him yet. So, I transferred my deposit to a lovely female...EVA. She seems very intelligent at 7 weeks old. Today during my visit, I started to learn how to hand feed her, it went very well. Also, while this is my third two hour visit with her....I'm not kidding.....at seven weeks she is beginning to vocalize! I can't be more proud. I've been working on the step up command with her and she's been doing well. Today she actually was attempting to repeat "step up" back to me. It wasn't quite there but very close. I was very surprised and taken off guard. She was also trying to say her name Eva...but it wasn't nearly as clear as step up. Anyway....I'm so proud and can't wait to see her Friday again! Here's her picture from today:

To Dave: Thank you again, I have been putting a lot of thought in and I think I will most likely wait until he's fully weaned. However, I do want to still go in for regular feedings because I want that bonding experience with little Eva. They are not pushing me to take the bird home any time soon, just mentioned it as a possibility if I would be willing to spend the next few weeks coming in to help with the feedings and learning. And here's Eva: I love how she always seems to be smiling! Wish me luck.

In response to Eshana, it is a huge store. In fact they advertise as being the biggest exotic bird store on the East coast. They have everything from Toucans to budgies. I began visiting regularly before I ever even got my BB just because I was so fascinated with all the different types of birds I've never seen in person. They also host a huge parrot palooza every fall which I've attended twice now, where they do lots of great seminars on avian care. They also feature Dr. Pepperberg at the Palooza every year during one of her seminars is when I began becoming interested in Greys. I love it because you really get to meet bird lovers who come from all over the country. I love this place and I only feed my bird with their small hookbill ultimate blend in which they blend pellets with other veggies, fruit, and nuts. It's expensive but worth it. I plan on giving my Grey the Grey Ultimate Blend as well. I would definitely call this place my home away from home I often take my BB too! In response to my little Timmy, they are sending him back to the breeder for a while until he gets stronger so he won't be in the store. I hope to see him when he gets back and I will keep everyone updated.

So here's an update: I went back to Bird Paradise today and had a long talk with the in owner. In short he decided the best thing to do was for me to get another TAG and he would transfer the deposit. I first mentioned Timmy being a little wobbly this past Monday, and he said he has been personally monitoring him as well as has instructed his staff to do so also. Even though he's has his own cage now he said there seems to be little improvement. He said this does happen from time to time and he's going to send him back to the breeder to get stronger and fully weaned because they don't feel comfortable selling the bird at this point. Hopefully, if all goes well, Timmy will be back when he's stronger and he will find a good home. I am at the store often so I'm sure I'll see him again. I was very sad saying good bye to him, but I think when he spends some personal time with the breeder he'll get stronger and I'll see him back at the store again, unless the breeder finds him a home. So I picked a lovely female TAG who is six weeks old. She is so beautiful, curious, and mischievous for her age. She was in a cage with some other very young CAGS and she seemed to be chasing them and bossing them around. What a 180! I will be going in next week to assist in the feeding as much as possible. They told me she is already picking at solid foods and if I feel comfortable when she gets down to one or two feedings a day I can take her home if I do well with the in store feedings for the next few weeks. What does everyone think of this? And P.S. I gotta run to work so I'll post her pictures later she gorgeous and always seems to be smiling .

I feel much better now thanks. And my little Timmy does like to be held close to me when I have him out, and after giving it much thought I'm sure he just needs some time to build his confidence. They are clumsy birds after all. I guess I just got ahead of my self with the T stand because I saw the other Grey owners visiting their birds of the same age with theirs on the T stands and thought that's what I should be doing with my little guy. But I'll revert now back to holding him now on my hand close to me until he's ready. I'll keep everyone posted thanks for the help.

Also, it should be said, time is not an object, I live fairly close by to the store and it is quite a joy for me to visit my bird several times a week. I was already told middle to end of July is the EARLIEST I could have him, maybe not until the end of August. So I guess we'll see how things pan out. I hope he's just lacking a little confidence right now and is not "special needs"

Thanks again Dave for all of your help. Again I think your right on me sitting down with the seller an discussing the situation involving whether or not I should put a deposit on another bird. The reason I would want to would be only because if my boy was sick, and I could not take him home, I would not want to miss the opportunity of getting a grey. However, maybe I was rash and should think a little more about it. I am fully committed to the TAG I have currently. I really love his temperament and have become really attached to him. I figured if a had another bird on deposit, if my current TAG wasn't able to be sold, I would still have a Timmy I could eventually take home. But then my dilemma is if I can take mine home, I'll feel bad for the other if he's attached to me as well. In summation, I want to keep a deposit on my current and put a deposit on another just in case things don't improve. What do you think?

Thanks I feel a little better now, but my question is now, how should I be interacting with him on my visits then, should I just leave him on my hand where he feels comfortable? When should I attempt to put on on the T stand again? Do you think I should put a deposit on another bird just in case things don't improve? I'm definitely going to go back in tomorrow morning and have a talk with them to see what they think I should do next, but I would greatly appreciate any other thoughts any one might have. For instance, has any one here had a similar experience with a young Grey who later turned out fine?

Well first of all here's some pics of the my TAG I took while visiting today, he's almost 13 weeks. Ok, now I need some help/ advice. My TAG is on deposit and again is almost 13 weeks. However, he seems to be developing slower than the other Grey's at the store who are the same age or even younger. He has a very sweet temperament and loves to perch on my hand, however he is still very clumsy and seems to be lacking dexterity. During my times visiting him I have tried to work with him on a T stand at the store. He struggles immensely perching on it and keeps losing his balance and starts to fall unless I help him. He was in a large cage with several other Grey's when he was young, and was quite smaller than the Congo's with him and he seemed to always be huddling in a corner by himself. The woman at store assured me he just feels a little bullied by the larger birds and when they move him to his own cage he will come out of his shell a little more. Well, he and many of the Grey's his age each have their own cage since Monday, and I bought him some toys for his cage. On Monday he was doing terribly with the t stand and I gave up for the day. Today, we tried again for over an hour and towards the end he finally seemed comfortable on the stand and was standing on one foot there, preening himself and stretching, still a little clumsily. And, while I see the other Grey's his age perching all over the cage and climbing around, he still just sits on the bottom of his cage preening himself. So, in conclusion, the women at the store told me they have been watching him, and are aware that he is developing a little slower than the others. She told me now that he's had his own cage for a few days away from the other birds, he might start doing better and become more confident. She did say she saw him climbing on the cage bars yesterday morning, very clumsily. She said some birds are just "special" and have developmental problems. and those they keep as in store pets and I wouldn't be expected to take him home. By the way, this is Bird Paradise in Burlington NJ. They have always been very knowledgeable and helpful, Dr. Irene Pepperberg is actually a guest speaker there every year at their Parrot Palooza. I'm thinking of going in tomorrow and putting a deposit on another young TAG that is just in and not sold. I hope my baby starts doing better, but if not I don't want to be left with out a bird after all the preparation and money I've spent on supplies to bring this little guy home. Keep him in your prayers, I hope he starts doing better, or maybe I'm just overly concerned. Any thoughts or experiences like this?

I read the entire article and really did find it to be quite interesting. Thanks so much for posting it. Before deciding to get a TAG I read many articles and did a lot if research into which sub species I should get including other articles also by Jane Hallander. I really did enjoy this and it definitely has inspired me to be more patient in bringing my TAG home.

Thanks for the insight. I think I'll definitely get the same cage but I'll let you know if I need any help!

Sorry your first TAG did not make it that must have been heartbreaking. I also have a TAG on deposit and he should be coming home between the middle to end of July. I've been planning on ordering the same exact cage for him that you have from amazon.com. It's such a steal but I saw a few reviews that said some people were having trouble assembling it or that the pieces didn't quite fit as they should. Did you have any of these problems?

This was very informative, I did not know about mushrooms or uncooked beans. How about plain hummus, no garlic of course, or red pepper hummus? I eat it with carrots all the time, my grey is not home yet, but I share it with my BB as well, he seems to love it. Also, regarding caffeine, I am an avid coffee drinker, and again my BB is obsessed, I know its bad so I try to keep it from him, but once in awhile he manages to sneak a couple sips. Maybe I should not drink coffee with the birds out? any thoughts?

I love it! He's super cute! I hope on Monday I can stop in and feed my little guy! When do you think he can come home?

Number 1: I currently have clicker trained my BB and it has worked wonders. Does any one have any experience with clicker training Greys? Also, will my birds get confused if I'm clicking the other in the same vicinity? Number 2: How much time do you all spend with your greys daily? I work full time, but nights from 4 10 or 11 usually. The only exception is Sundays, I work 10 - 4, and Saturdays where I work 10 - 10. I am nervous about not having enough time to spend on Saturdays except for a couple of morning hours. However, I live in a house with my boy friend, his two brothers, and two other room mates. They all help me with care and attention for my BB when I'm out. They are not confident with handling birds, but will take my BB out and put him on his playstand for some time on Saturdays, I'm sure they will do the same with the grey. Any thoughts?

I went today to put a deposit on a TAG. The one I picked is a male and very sweet. He loved to be scratched in the store and I swear he was trying to say "baby bird"! His hatch date was February 26th. They told me he should be fully weaned and ready to come home by the middle to end of July. I can't wait to visit again and will have more pics to come.

Hi all! I'm new to these forums, but I am planning on bringing a TAG home in the next few weeks. I have been doing a lot of research and your website has been very useful to me. I have owned smaller birds my whole life and currently have a Canary Wing BB named "BB Chu". He is the sweetest most cuddliest bird there is, but I'm excited to see how him and the TAG get on. They will be in separate cages in the same room. I will be getting my TAG from Bird Paradise in Burlington NJ where I also got BB as a baby. Thanks I will welcome any advice! Abbie;)