Hi Folks

[Raindog]

I'm currently in the process of looking for and researching an african grey.

 

All of this started a couple years ago when traveling down a backroad I noticed a baby squirrel in the middle of the road. I pulled off the side, wrapped the little bugger in a towel and took him home. For the next several months I nursed him back to health and slowly acclimated him back to the wild.

 

 

 

 

 

After releasing him I was left with a large parrot cage that he'd been kept in. Originally I was just going to sell it but my mom said that she had always wanted a bird so I took it over to her house and it has sat dormant since that time.

 

Well, mom's retiring the first of next year so we've decided to start looking. At first she wanted a cockatoo because the cuddly way they draw you in at the pet store but I have some experience with them and knowing her, well I just don't think they would gel.

 

One day while visiting a pet store to pick up treats for crusher, my mini bull terrier, she happened upon a grey and took a liking to it. We set about researching the greys and it looks like it would be a good fit.

 

Now, here's my question. Currently I work first shift and mom works second, I drop crusher off in the morning around six-thirty and she watches him until she goes off to work at two. I pick him up again at five-thirty, this works for us and crushy has to spend very little time alone in his kennel. I wonder if a grey could adjust to this schedule or would the changes of scenery send him over the edge?

 

I'm quite sure that crusher would take to the bird quite well, he's curious but has never been aggressive even with small animals.

 

We've been in contact with a breeder who is now hand feeding a baby and says that he will likely be ready to go sometime in November but I want to be sure that this will work out.

 

Thanks,

Mike

 

Ps; here's a few of crusher....

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2010 by Raindog

[Luvparrots]

Hi Mike, welcome to the GreyForum. I believe that a young grey will adapt to any reasonable schedule without a problem. Many of our members have jobs and their greys are left alone for 8 hours or more. If you have the proper facilities, foraging toys, food and water available and give the grey quality out of cage time all will be fine. With both you and your Mom coordinating time for the grey I believe things will work wonderfully. There are oodles of informative threads here at the forum that will answer a lot of your questions, and if you need, just ask! Crusher is a cutie. My pug just ignores my birds so Crusher and your Mom's grey should be able to come to an understanding as well.

[Raindog]

Thanks LP,

 

This is a fantastic forum, I've spent quite a bit of time on the prospective thread and links in particular. I'll keep reading and ask a question or two here and there. We are supposed to meet the breeder in Cherokee this weekend so I'll have a million questions for her as well probably.

 

Cheers,

Mike

[judygram]

Hello Mike and welcome to our family, it is great to hear you are researching to make sure a grey is the best fit for your household.

What an adorable little squirrel that you took in and cared for until it was old enough to take care of itself, you must be very proud, you saved its life for sure.

Lots of members here have other pets besides just their bird or birds and they can coexist in the same home if you take the precautions to make sure everyone is safe, supervision is what it takes just like with small children.

A grey can adapt to whatever schedule you have as long as he/she has plenty of out of cage time each day and attention from you and/or your family, a lot of us including me work full time but we make time for our fids just as we would for our human children.

I look forward to hearing more about this baby grey and when you get the chance to get some pictures please consider sharing them with us as we love baby pics.

[rawleyd]

Crusher is awesome, I love those dogs. can't remember the breed though.

I agree that your schedule and love for animals would have no trouble with a Grey in the house.

 

and welcome

[Tweedle]

Squeeeeee! Crusher is beautiful!!

 

I met an adorable min bullie on a clicker training course in the UK - she's quite a star!

 

http://www.oniondog.com/meet-the-onion.html

[Pauline]

i always leave either a radio or tv for my baby if i'm out of the house for a long time xx