New Parronts and this is our story :D

[Butttaxi]

Hey All,

 

I just joined the forum and I wanted introduce ourselves.

 

My name is Theresa and I live in Nova Scotia Canada. Me and the boyfriend have purchased our CAG in August and I have to admit we had only the smallest information regarding parrots. The story of how we got him is kinda awesome and has fate written all over it.

 

I have met an CAG once before and fell in love. Now that guy wasn't ever out of his cage when I would visit but I ALWAYS went over to his cage and offered a peanut in which he replied with "here". Ever since I met him I wanted to own a CAG but never thought I would be lucky enough since I didn't have the money at the time and I didn't have a clue of where I would get one.

 

Last Summer me and the boyfriend were thinking about adding a new addition to the family, we were thinking budgies. We went to the pet shop and went online for pets for sale and cages. We found a big cage online from someone in town so we called and went to get it. The lady we got the cage from had said she had an AFrican Grey that was willed to her, this is when I started talking about how much I would love to own one. The lady told me about a breeder here in Nova Scotia. Well I got a little excited that some day I may actually be able to own a grey... of course I figured it would be a long time from now.

 

After we picked up the cage we went home and I was rambling about how awesome greys were(this is before I actually bonded with one) The boyfriend went online again to see what birds people were selling locally. As he was browsing he stumbled apon an add and yelled to me to come see... there he was, someone in our home town selling their young Grey. I wasn't going to pursue because I wasn't comfortable with spending that kind of money but the bf said he was just going to email them to get some details. It turned out that the young girl had just got him a month prior and she had to go off to collage and wasn't able to take him so she was looking for a new home asap. She wasn't just going to give him to anyone, so I guess she did what I said to be an interview. SHe brought the bird to our place ( I was at work) so David (bf) was able to meet the bird and I guess the girl wanted to scope out the place and us to make sure we would make a good home.

 

We were set, we were definitely going to get him but the girl stopped emailing. I was convinced the girl had found another home even though she told David we would probably be great parronts. She emailed a few days later asking if we were still interested she will bring him, his cage and toys. We accepted.

 

The day she brought him she told us that she had another offer and was thinking of going with them because they had parrots already and was thinking it would be best to go with a more experienced person. Luckily we prevailed and she chose us. I got to met him for the first time

 

I have to admit I was very nervous not because he bites hard (he did bite my ear the first day, VERY hard) but I was nervous that I was not going to be a great parront. I was concerned that I may not do a great job or do something wrong that would affect his health. I am no longer nervous because we have built a bond and I can see how happy he is here and he warms my heart every day... even when he is being a brat.

 

We did change his name, the girl had him for only a month and he is under 2 years so I didn't see a harm in it. We named him Rorschach, David is a comic book fan and the birds colouring reminded us of the Ink Blot tests. We knew we made the right choice on day 3, David put on a youtube video of a scene from the Watchmen movie of the character Rorschach talking and this was the first time our Rorschach made a noise since he came home.

 

The information we have about him is that he was hatched in 09 and we would be the third people to own him. This concerned me because I had read about the stress this could cause a bird. Being rehomed is stressful but being rehomed so many times in such a short time must not be fun at all. He adapted better then I expected, he was warming up to us very rapidly.

 

Another fact about our new member, he has a problem with his spine, there is a lump on his back and the vet said he will probably not be able to fly up. This was proven wrong the day he flew away... this was the worst day of my life. I was at a funeral when I got a call that Rorschach flew away. We searched for him for hours... We were very lucky, he landed in somebodies back yard and he caught him. The man had no intentions of giving him back but once he realized who our parents were he came to us and told us he our parrot.

 

Of course this started the debate with our parents to clip Rorschach's wings but me and David do not agree with clipping we think it is not natural a bird should fly despite the dangers in loosing him. He has since become a better flyer in the apartment and we have been recall training. I don't want to clip him and when the weather warms up I want him to be able to go outside but I also want him to come back to me if he does get away. I am also going to look for a harness before I take him out but with his spine problem i am not sure how that is going to go over.

 

We seriously have lucked out, not only about him getting away and we got him back but the fact that he is such a great bird. I have read so many stories with parrots and grays being nasty biters or stressed out and plucked. Ours have bonded with us so well... he of course picked me as his favorite and flies to me whenever he is out of the cage which is most of the day.

 

We love him so much! We feel like it was fate that we came together like he was meant to be ours and us his. He was with me during the entire writing of this entry and of course took forever because I had to stop to pick up his toy that he would fling every few minutes.

 

I will need to end this now... it's already long but more because he is on my knee destroying my pants

 

Cheers

Theresa and Rorschach

Edited February 26, 2011 by Butttaxi

[Greymatter]

Welcome to the Forum, Theresa and Rorschach!

 

What a lovely story Looking forward to more stories

[Luvparrots]

Hi Theresa, what a great introduction to you and Rorschach. Rorschach is so lucky to have found you and your BF. I look forward to hearing more about Rorschach and seeing some pictures when you get a chance! Welcome to the Grey family!

[Barbara2]

What a wonderful story! I'm glad you found each other and I'm very glad you joined this forum. Looking forward to hearing more...and pictures!!

[Butttaxi]

thank you all for the warm welcome we will get pics as soon as we can or rather as soon as we figure out how and where to upload.

[judygram]

Hello Teresa and welcome to our family, what a great story of how you came to have Rorschach. He is one lucky fella to have found you and even though you don't know a lot about greys you are willing to learn, you have come to the right place for that as we have loads of information in our many threads, read thru them and ask questions you may have and we will help you in any way we can.

Bonding can take quite a while with a rehomed grey but he is fairly young at 2 years of age but he has done well in my opinion and you will get a handle on the body language which will help you in knowing when a bite may be coming so you can avoid it.

I am so glad to hear you want to leave the wings unclipped, he will be a much more confident grey and be able to go outside on a harness and enjoy the outdoors.

Now all we need is some pictures of him to admire if you would so indulge us.

[Butttaxi]

Thanks Judygram,

 

I have been doing a lot of researching and I am glad for the information provided by other owners on this site. You can read your fill online but I don't think you will truly get all the answers, I think it is best to hear and share with others. I was going to join this forum months ago but I wasn't able to find it again until now.

 

I am seriously surprised at how well adjusted and easy to handle. We were of course patient to let him get comfortable with us and the new home. we didn't push him into loving us. He didn't seem very confident in flying for the first few months, he would the odd time if startled by something but would never fly to get to some other location in the house. He then started flying to get to me when I would leave the room, we took advantage of this and used it as a way to encourage him to fly to us and land on our hand. Now he never stops lol if he is out on is perch and I make eye contact he is on his way over.

 

As for body language, it didn't take very long to read his body language. He isn't as moody as some birds which I am over the moon about but he does have his moments. He usually only bites when he is doing something he knows he is not allowed to do. Like he will be sitting on my knee and then tries to chew the desk, when I ask him to step up on my hand he then makes his click noise and then attacks. He knows my goal is to move him and he wants nothing to do with moving from there.

 

I will get pics soon

[Butttaxi]

here are 2 pictures of Rorschach, the one he is upside down you can see red feathers through his wings. I have read about the Red Factor mutation and it seems Rorschach has it. The spot on his back is also where his spine bump is. I will need to resize some other pics before uploading.

 

Hope you like

[BenzMama]

What a handsome boy! Thank you for opening up your heart & home to him. May his personality fill your life with love & happiness for many, many years. Already sounds like y'all are on your way to that!

 

And a harness is definitely the way to go for quality outdoor time.

[Barbara2]

He's a keeper!!

[judygram]

He is a handsome fella and I agree that sometimes the best advice is from other like grey owners, first hand experience, thanks for sharing the pics with us.