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I'm going to start putting money away tomorrow!


Eshana

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I've decided that before I reserve a CAG (I'm hoping to do so in November/December) I'm going to be slowly putting money away to make sure I can afford everything when the time comes. I've basically broken it down like this:

 

1. CAG: 1400 dollars

 

2. cage: I'm still not sure about this but I'm thinking around 500?

 

3. toys/supplies: 300

 

Please tell me if any of this is inaccurate. I will keep you updated on my savings progress!

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Oh My....I think I've spend more on toys than I did the bird!! I'd start a toy savings account if I were you. You'll shop for some and won't be able to decide so you'll get more than you intended to, then you'll try to make some, then go back to buying them......oh and don't forget an account for buttons and new shirts for yourself!! Ehh nevermind, who cares if there are holes in your shirt or a missing button or three......Go buy new toys!!!

One thing is for sure, if you can handle a three year old in your life forever, you'll never regret it. Young or old, they etch themselves into your heart with their antics..... My Rebel is the devil in disguise.....ehh who am I kidding, she doesn't even diguise it!!!

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I didn't account for food/vet bills because I have an account already for vet bills that I will obviously be adding more money to, and I figured the food expense would be adding some money to what I spend on fruit/veggies, plus around 40 dollars a month on pellets/treats/etc

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I lucked out, I got an used cage, and play stand all in pretty good condition for $100.00. A cage for that much seems a little high to me. I go my macaws cages for $300 each, and they are huge and made very well. If you shop around you should be able to get a grey at least some what cheaper. Good luck

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Well I also estimated high. I always estimate high when I'm saving for something.

 

However, I will be searching ebay/craigslist closer to the time to find a cheaper one. Where did you get your cage and stand?

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CAGs can be very picky- I'd make sure you budgeted for food. I wouldn't count on $40 for pellets- your bird might hate them and you'll have to try several brands and keep rotating. Same with fruit and vegetables- you will buy a lot, they will decide what they want to eat but you'll have to keep up the variety. And nuts.

 

Cleaning suppiles! I know you already have pets, but CAGs have a lot of dander- need a good vaccum.

 

Humidifer (cheap, $30)

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I lucked out, I got an used cage, and play stand all in pretty good condition for $100.00. A cage for that much seems a little high to me. I go my macaws cages for $300 each, and they are huge and made very well. If you shop around you should be able to get a grey at least some what cheaper. Good luck

 

I lucked out too, since we re-homed Rorschach we got him and the cage for $800 included with toys (since destroyed and replaced several times over) He had just recently been to the vet prior to coming to us, he had a little bell caught in his beak (he is not allowed to have those anymore) Other then the Scoliosis he is a healthy little monster.

 

Eshana I am glad you are deciding to get a CAG, I have read your story about not being able to have children and I will say that a CAG may help fill that void. I am not sure if I can have babies, I have never tried but do to my bf's personal issues (baby momma drama) I don't see children in our future. Rorschach has helped me with filling that void.

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I don't mean completely fill the void but it seriously helps, I can compare raising Rorschach to raising a child. A lot of my friends have toddlers and they are always talking about the funny things they do and I will tell stories about Rorschach and they are very similar to especially the terrible twos lol Of course there are up sides to fids .. you can go out for a few hours and not have to worry about a babysitter, when they are bad beyond your control you can put them in their cage, you don't have to hear whining screaming in a store "Mommy I want it!" and have other people look at you like you are a horrible person...ect. It is also funny when your fid does something that your friends toddler has learned... Rorschach learned to say "up" maybe a month after we had him and one day my friend was all excited about her little daughter finally saying "up" and I was like "oh yay that's great, my bird learned to say that months ago" lol don't get me wrong I wasn't trying to be mean to my friend or anything I was just trying to be funny and she did laugh after telling me to shut up lol

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Well, one can hope no one is putting toddlers in cages! ;)

 

My current pets already get spoiled to the pont where my mother complains about them being my children.

 

I've posted about this before, but could you guys link me to good African Grey cages online? Specific links to ones people on here have bought and loved, that is.

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buttaxi, have you thought about bells shaped like this one? they're too narrow for a grey to get their beak into. i have a couple of these (not stainless steel though) for kallie and she battles her bells several times daily. she loves them and expends alot of energy trying to kill the bell, plus she's hilarious to watch while she's doing battle!

 

http://www.naturechest.com/stainlessbell.html

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buttaxi, have you thought about bells shaped like this one? they're too narrow for a grey to get their beak into. i have a couple of these (not stainless steel though) for kallie and she battles her bells several times daily. she loves them and expends alot of energy trying to kill the bell, plus she's hilarious to watch while she's doing battle!

 

http://www.naturechest.com/stainlessbell.html

 

oh wow I have never seen those before. I can use normal bells it's just thoes little ball bells you see in cat toys and around Christmas. If we buy the little cat toys we cut out the bell and if he plays with anything that has these bells we supervise.

 

these are the bells he cannot have: http://www.kitkraft.biz/files/images/bells/jingle-bells-010.jpg

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That sounds like enough money for the first day LOL! Toys (large hanging ones, foot toys, foraging toys, etc) are a big ongoing expense, and I'll agree with the whole "buying too many, then trying to make yourself, then go back to buying" cycle. I started off buying a TON of toy supplies intending to make my own but time didn't allow me to do this often, so I've spent a fortune on toys from the store too. Not to mention things like boings, perches, swings, a jolly ball, a climbing net, 3 stands (you'll definitely need to add stands to your initial budget, and combined they cost me more than the cage).

 

Then you'll get to experience the joy of him being terrified of and/or not using the things you just spent $xxx on. :) Sometimes they will come around to it, sometimes they won't or it will take months/a year to do so. So plan extra money for that.

 

Then there are pellets, veggies, fruits, nuts, treats, beans, special cook-able birdie mixes.... Pet carriers for the vet, travel, walking around town. ;) Harness... Good Bird Inc DVDs :D Cleaning supplies. A new vacuum. A carpet cleaner. A new $300 Rabbit Air purifier. Vet bills. Other ongoing things you just don't imagine until it comes up, like $10 for aloe vera juice for his baths. Mats, towels, and such for the floors around the cage, stands, your computer chair or wherever he hangs out. (Though I've started to forgo these things in favor of just using the carpet cleaner every week) Anything you might need to bird-proof the house as well.

 

This is not a complete list at all. Good luck! ;)

 

For what its worth, I got my cage at http://www.cagesunder500dollars.com and was very happy with it and the price was the best i could find for the model i wanted. I have model CFDS-1303.

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