Life is Greyt

So sorry you and Anya are having to go through all this. I'll keep her in my thoughts that she pulls through. Your post has definitely made me realize that I do need to get a scale and weigh my girl at home, especially to determine her "normal" weight. I hope for the best for you little girl.

Congratulations!! Now the fun really begins!

Oliver is really cute. I would be the worst one to give you name advice because it took me until right before my Chickie came home to name her.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new additions to your family!

Congrats on Buddy moving the relationship forward!!

Welcome to the forum Jake. . Any ideas on what you will name your little one?

Woo Hoo!! Almost time!!

One step closer

It so is like French kissing...lol! Sometimes Chickie will get a little too friendly with her kisses and I have to tell her to stop being so fresh!! Lol!!

Too cute!!

Yay!! Congrats to you and her! It was meant to be :-D

She's gorgeous!! Congrats on your new family member!

My Chickie gets along just fine with all 3 of out dogs and our cat. They are all scared of her, so they generally give her her space. I think as long as they're supervised that birds get along good with other animals.

Let us know what happens

He's a cutie!!

What a good idea. Thanks for sharing it.

Awww...she LUVS you!!!

I agree with Nancy and luvparrots-the amazement is just beginning

Congrats!! He looks like a happy guy!!

The initial cost is a lot, unfortunately. Usually the babies are anywhere from 800-1300, depending on the breeder. Then you have to find the right cage-I have heard many people on here say that you should buy the largest cage that is within your budget, and I think that's pretty good advice. There's also deciding what kind, if any, playstand(s) or tree to get, etc. It all adds up pretty fast at first. That being said, the maintenance cost is relatively low, I think. She will go to the vet once a year for a wellness checkup, and besides that now all we have to buy is her Roudybush pellets, veggies (etc) for her to snack on, and toys to rotate into her collection. Like any animal, it can get pricey if they get sick, but I have spent a small fortune trying to keep my 13 y.o. Greyhound going, so I don't see it as being much different. We started slowly buying Chickie's things as soon as we placed our down payment. We got her cage off Craigslist and her tree from Ebay, and both were a pretty good deal. All that being said, she is now my priceless girl and I couldn't imagine my life without her. As far as responsibilty goes, I found that most of Chickie's needs are met right along with the other furry kids in the house. In the am and pm when the dogs and cat are fed, I also check her food level and water in her cage and on her tree and clean/refresh them as needed. She really isn't any more work, in my opinion, than I already perform daily for the other animals. If I notice that she has dirtied her water throughout the day I will of course clean and fill it then too. I clean her cage and tree papers when I clean the litter box. When we eat dinner she usually eats with us, and whenever we walk by her tree and have food we usually offer some of it to her-in an attempt to try to keep her always "trying new things." Whenever I go grocery shopping I just try and grab a new fruit or veggie, baby food, etc for her to have as a snack and that seems to work pretty well. I think a lot of the "responsibilty" of having a grey lies in being sure that you are an informed owner. I am new to greys, so I am still constantly reading everything I can so that I can be a good mommy to her. It sounds like you've really done your homework though, and that's the best kind of mom a bird can ask for.

AmyJ, I felt the same way you do before I finally found the right breeder and put down a deposit. My BF and I have been together for 4 years. We own a home together, and, between us, have 3 dogs, a cat, and an Alligator Gar in the fishtank. I did all the research I could upfront, just like you're doing, and it made all the difference in the world. We both work, he works 12s and I work 2 jobs, so I wanted to be sure that we would be able to care for a Grey appropriately. Long story short, we have had our baby, Chickie, home since December and she is the light of my life. I find that I treat her much like a child. Most of my misplaced maternal instinct that I have-as that lovely "biological clock" ticks away-is lavished on Chickie. I love to bathe her every other day and play with her, etc. I take her from room to room with me and she stays on her perch while I clean, etc. Whether or not we have kids down the line, I know that all our animals will stay with us because they are already like furry children to us. It sounds like to me that you and your husband are the same way, and you're already taking the right steps to ensure that a grey will fit into your family's lifestyle. As Dave007 said, the right breeder makes all the difference in the world between getting a happy, healthy, socialized baby and one that's not. So, I wish you the best of luck on the right baby finding you, since they do pick us, and welcome to the forum!!!

Omar says, "I don't need no stinkin' books!!" LOL!!

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on bringing Mozart home! You're definitely in the right place for all the info and knowledge you could ever want about greys.

Everyone has given great advice and I'm sure you'll do just fine with your new baby.

Yay for Barnaby...he's gonna be a happy AND healthy boy by the time you've worked all your magic.