Darwinsmom

I am sooooo happy you got your boy back!! We had something similar happen with my previous grey. My exhusband was watching the kids while I was out had taken Garth out on the porch, he spooked and took off. He was gone for 5 days and was found sitting in a bush near an office building 2 blocks away. Thank dog they called animal control who then in turn called me. I broke every speed record known to man driving over there to see if it was my bird. I know exactly how you felt and exactly how you must feel having him home again... I'm crying happy tears for you, so very happy he's home.

Having a bird get sick and caring for it is NOT the same as MAKING a bird sick just to suit you perverted and unnatural personal agenda. If you're going to attempt to make an argument to support your point, I suggest you think about it logically before posting.

Ah, a "new" supporter who suddenly appears and agrees with everything the neophyte says. Not at all a troll or 2nd account, no....lol

I dont believe you for a second, there are not that many forums out there and dont think we're not members on others ones as well, the internet may be large but the bird world is very small indeed. What you perceive as single mindedness is simply a single purpose, to prevent damage to a living creature. The members here have ton of experience with birds. I got my 1st Grey more than 20 years ago. All of us know far, far more than you do. The only thing immature here is your unwillingness or inability to see what you are suggesting is unnatural and cruel. Dave's post was tongue in cheek to illustrate what a remarkably thoughtless and cruel thing it is that you are considering. You asked for help, VERY experienced, knowledgeable people gave you advice, you choose to ignore it...pretty much sticking your fingers in your ears and stomping your feet and acting like a 2 year old child and putting your wants first. THAT is the very definition of immature! You will end up with a plucked, miserable, screaming, biting bird. I can promise you that. And then, after you cannot live with it any more you'll dump it on some poor person who has to undo the damage you did because you're selfish and immature and thoughtless. That's IF the bird doesnt become sick and die first. And by the way, if you'd bothered to read, you"d be hard pressed to find any of us who keep our birds caged except for sleep. Most of the members have entire bird rooms, and aviaries where they can get SUNLIGHT and spend their days flying. Their homes, like mine, are covered in perches and swings and play gyms in every room with toys and boings hanging all over...because they are NOT caged. Why not? Because WE put the birds first and WE adapt to their needs and WE were mature and stable enough to know what we were getting into before we brought our birds home and accepted the very serious responsibility and commitment of owning and caring for a wild animal. The very fact that you are putting your own personal wants ahead of everything else speaks volumes about your maturity level. That you lie and try to justify something that you know is wrong also shows what kind of person you really are. Karma is a powerful thing, never forget that.

No, nobody here gives a sh*t about anything but the BIRDS. Opinions, egos and misinformation that cause an innocent creature harm will be met with honest, though not always pretty or polite, reaction. What you are proposing is cruel and inhumane and extremely upsetting for those of us who know a lot more than you do and can see the damage that this idea would do to an innocent creature, all because you want to put YOUR wants above the rights and life of another living being. THAT is what is vulgar, immature and reprehensible. And btw, you wont find a single bird site whose members agree with what you're proposing. Why? Because it should never, ever be done. Think about that before you damage or destroy a living creature.

Dave, I thought the bit he pasted may have come from an email from the "breeder" (and I use that term loosely) who told him it was ok to turn a non-nocturnal animal into a night creature. The way it was worded towards the end sounded like someone saying "oh you can try it but it may not work" and appeared personal to me and looked like they had quoted scientific articles to help their point. Thus my comment.. That said, I agree with you 100% and I wish more people had any idea the damage they do when they purchase a parrot. There are scores of plucked, crazy, damaged birds out there in rescues, sitting locked in cages, mutilating themselves all because some stupid, dimwit of a human being thought they'd be a cool pet. These birds are NOT cool pets, they are wild animals that we've taken to breeding for their company. They do not belong locked in a cage, they belong with people who will adapt to them (though I do believe they need rules and boundries, we are keepers, not slaves of these creatures). The human needs to adapt to the birds schedule, recognize their special dietary needs, know that they can be destructive because it is their nature, and the human needs to give them creative, safe outlets to "be birds". They scream, they make huge messes, they chew and destroy, they BITE, they have temper tantrums.... and I for one miss all of that terribly and cannot wait to get my new baby home because I also know they are amazing creatures but ONLY in the right home, not in the hands of someone who wants to get a bird and deny the poor thing it's natural routine, deny it sunshine and fresh air (that UV light will NEVER been a good substitute, they are meant as a help with vitamin D production only, not a replacement for the sun!). The idea that this person will take a helpless baby and try and do something unnatural to it just to satisfy their own personal wants make me want to scream. It makes me sad and angry and I wont even tell you things I wish on people like this. I'm shaking I am so enraged. THIS IS NOT A TOY. IT IS A LIVING, BREATHING CREATURE AND NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO SOMETHING THIS UNNATURAL AND CRUEL And shame on the so called breeder who would ever let this happen to one of their birds. It makes me want to vomit.

Whoever gave you that advice is a fool. This is not a domesticated animal we are talking about. Clearly you've enver spent time around an African grey who did not get his/her 12 hours of sleep. the adverse affects like stated of inosmnia, lack of nutrition, fatigue, and disorientation can occour That is only the beginning!!!!! But ya, go ahead and take a poor defenseless animal, risk traumatizing it, causing untold behaviour problems, and physical issues, and then when you get sick of it, pass it off to someone else to deal with. There are no words for what I am thinking right now, actually, there are but they are unpostable!!!

Congrats on the new kid, he's very handsome.

I think it must depend on the bird and how much stimulation they get. My baby is not even 3 1/2 months yet and is talking and has been for a couple of weeks. He's still at the store (home the week after next) and constantly has people talking to him and other birds beside him who speak.

I dont think I'll ever wish him to be quiet. My previous CAG barely spoke but was a great mimic of sounds. I cannot tell you how much I have missed those sounds and activity over the last 7+ years. I was never bothered by Garth's noise, even though other people noticed it all the time, to me the squeaks, beeps, cat calls and whistles were ambient noise. I have 4 dogs and 14 cats and a few teenagers here...I dont see Zulu making any more noise than the crew that already lives here! lol

I know a year is average but its not uncommon for young birds to speak. We went to visit yesterday and he's muttering and working on what sounds like "pretty bird'. Less than 2 weeks from now he'll be home. YAY!! My last grey spoke very little and rarely, so this will be a new twist. I'm looking forward to getting Zulu home ;-) He's at the pet store where my daughter works. I know the breeder he came from and the health testing that has been done, and the girls that have had fed him for the last 10 week are amazing. I think all that socialization and exposure to many different people and other birds has help his learning curve. Our previous Grey came from a breeder, it was a quiet home and they had tons of other babies to look after. Garth was quiet and shy and hated anything new or different. I am hoping that going in the other direction with Zulu will be a benefit. He learned to say HI from the Goffin next to him.

Loved your videos! How did Sondhi learn to sing opera?

Call your credit card company and have the charge reversed.

That old cage is just awful. So glad he has a new, wonderful life with you!

I'm a MAJOR foodie and I cook like mad, on a professional level most say, I cater parties for friends and family (not for a living, jut for fun) and I love, love, love my Kitchenaid stainless cookware. Even heating, great weight to it. Cuisinart would be my 2nd choice.

I think you're right. I'm 99% sure we are keeping Zulu as his name...and I'll save the other for a maybe bird down the road some day.

*Ahem* Who said you could post this news and not include pictures?????? lol. We have10-14 days to go.

...and not really into that one feed either. They are going to give him 7-10 days to be sure he doesnt lose weight while eating on his own without any extra feedings and then he can come home!! So hopefully the week after next we will have the funky chicken home with us!

My pots and pans are stainless steel with copper cores. Teflon is terrible stuff, but I knew back when I had Garth that teflon was a no no. I do have a bread maker I'll have to get rid of though.

Oh!!! Chickens...well maybe he didnt know? I think a lot of parrot owners realize this is dangerous.

WTH??????? Why on earth was someone who (I assume) is breeding birds even have teflon in the house???? Those poor babies.

Thanks for the input. We will likely stick with Zulu, its cute, has meaning, and I've become used to it over the last 8 weeks.... and I will keep the other in the back of my head, for maybe, some day...

LOL, thats what my fiance suggested, that we give him a middle name.... I think he's worried I'm going to come home with more birds! lol In fairness, we do have 4 dogs and too many cats to mention *cough*

No, but I am sure they exist. I did a search and no one here has had a Grey named Darwin either. I just think its such a cute name for a Grey. Ugh, so torn, I really like them both. I was half serious about using the name for a 2nd bird down the road, I've been looking at Amazons but the stories about breeding season and nasty aggressive behavior scare me. I also worry about the trauma of bringing a new bird into the house and upsetting the CAG. Wont the 1st bird be jealous or upset that there is someone else in his house? What if they hate each other, thats so unfair to the baby who was here first. How do those of you with multiple birds do it? Have you had experiences where the original bird had a change on temperament or personality because you brought in a 2nd bird?

Sending good vibes your way!