Lurker.. (And proud Papa!)

[Guest Phunkygal]

Coming out of lurker mode to announce the arrival of our new CAG, "Gibson"!

He is our first Grey and what a fine specimen "he" is.

 

Anyway, I am a newbie parrot owner. I've had small birds before but nothing of this magnitude.

 

I know I paid too much at the nearest bird specialty shop. I kept telling the wife I wouldn't pay that much for a bird... But, every day I would go to the shop after work and watch them for a while. The wife was doing some research as well and she hemmed and hawed about price. I took the family to the shop on Saturday to show them "the kids". Turns out my wife was waiting for me to make the decision to go ahead and I was waiting for her... So, the rest is history as they say.

 

Anyway, we're all thrilled! I have already learned alot by reading this

 

a shout out to all the CAG and TAG folk out there.

[Guest javacrypto]

Congratulations, Gary!! Gibson is a great name . CAGs aren't all that much different from the smaller parrots when it comes to the basics. If he's gotten a good start in life with a quality breeder and has been well-socialized and fledged, all you really have to do is keep the ball rolling. Because greys are so empathic, they pick up quickly on our anxieties (oh, no there's a feather, he's not plucking is he? or he doesn't like so-and-so he must be becoming a one-person bird!) no matter how much we think we're hiding them. Best advice to you is just enjoy, go with the flow, and realize that most things, in the long run, don't matter all that much.

[Guest Phunkygal]

Thanks Ray. Gibson is getting along very well. He's eating and playing and preening... I just hope it keeps going that way.

[Guest Phunkygal]

Thanks Butch, congrats to you as well! I have the same situation... Gibson wants to sit on my hand while I eat my meals. He does not want to sit on his perch on top of the cage. He's a sweety! One question I have already is that he is always trying to "walk" up my arm from a perch on my fingers, apparently to get to my shoulder. I've been keeping him from doing this by changing hands. He is sitting on my shoulder (for the first time) as I type this but it makes me a bit nervous when he is done primping and starts checking me out. Am I going to "ruin" him by letting him grt up there? I realize the hazards of getting pecked in the eye, glasses, ears, etc. The other option is locking him in his cage when I'm busy as he wants to follow me, so a play perch won't do... He's just sitting there now looking around and relaxing apparently.

 

Thanks to everyone for the kind words of encouragement!

[Guest Phunkygal]

Thanks Debbie, I am sure Dusty is an incredible bird. I only hope to be as lucky, so far so good. I can't believe how smart and handleable <sp?> they are. I only hope I do everything right to keep our good thing going. I am already wondering what's going to happen a year from now when he decides to abandon "Dad" for another member of the "flock".

[Guest Phunkygal]

I just have to say... Your web site blew me away. What an incredible celebration of your fine feathered friends! They are all beauties...

[Guest CreepingTerror2]

Congrats on the new bird. If he is half the bird my Dusty is, you will have tons of fun!!

[Guest Phunkygal]

Thanks Owly, sounds like wonderful advice. So far he's (or she's) making it pretty easy... Hopefully I have 50+ years to perfect my parroting skills with Gibson.

[Guest Phunkygal]

I and the whole family are extremely thrilled! Amazing creature Gibson is.

I've always wanted a CAG, been researching and pondering over the years, wishing I could invest. He has already become a loved member of the family (excuse me, flock... : ) )...