My individual experience with a CAG

[Sam44]

I wrote something a bit ago and still feel that it is worth expanding.  I struggle with people who lack the compassion to deal with these amazing creatures.  I had to wean mine and she hated me for over a month.  I tried tricks and clickers and nothing worked.  I let her be and spent 10 hours a day telling her how beautiful she was.  She came around and eradicated the struggle.  I never yelled and I laughed when she did horrible things.  I race to wake up and don't freeze chop, but make everything by hand every morning. We eat together at every meal.  She doesn't know step up(she aggressively wants me to play with her and no words are necessary) , but will now not leave my side.  I let her decide on her own if I was worth loving.  This is a huge investment in time and money and I wouldn't recommend a Grey to anyone because I know how steep the hills are to make it work.  They are so very special and I wanted one for almost 30 years, but I didn't have the patience or stability to make it work.  Today she met her first Harley Davidson and another dog and carried herself like a lady.  I am so proud.  We whistle and play all day and I can't imagine anything better than loving my little girl.  Thank you all for letting me read past posts that made this all possible!!!

[Greytness]

Your compassion and dedication towards your little lady is a breath of fresh air! So many don't realize that we must conform our actions to their needs and not the other way around. 

[Sam44]

If you truly care, you will rearrange your life for them.  You have to love them unconditionally!!  If you can do that, it will translate into loving our fellow brothers and sisters and that feels good.   I said earlier today that spending 6k to get her life moving was the cheapest part of the deal.  You may have money, but do you have time and the ability to change?  Congrats to those who do because I feel like we have all gone through boot camp together.  I was in the Armed Forces as a kid and I never dealt with something so brutal, but so rewarding until now! 

[Greytness]

Relationships formed with our birds is vastly unique. I love the communication channels we develop with them. Opening ourselves up to understanding their needs rewards us in so many ways. Until you own a bird you can't truly understand this connection.

[Sam44]

You basically just paid a lot of money for a gym membership and can't cancel if you take in a CAGl.  You received tenure on day two of trying to survive! You are absolutely correct @Greytness!  Opening up and seeing rewards is difficult. Through sickness and death!  If you are tired, beat down, own an aviary and multiple cages you are not even close.  Owning an African grey is not a New Years resolution you're not held accountable for because they're too busy forgetting their own.  I took a step back and bought new brooms and an expensive vacuum cleaner and told myself, "This was the worst choice Ive made"! and it played on loop in my head.   The videos of Greys on YouTube with Alexa or slam dunking a colored ball in the right basket and the bird saying "I love you" are a very inaccurate view of reality.  It costs a lot of money to learn better life skills. If you only had one clip of Michael Jordan dunking, would you be able to understood his actions or think that looks like something I want to do?  My baby doesn't sit quietly aching to behave!!    Imagine the Mona Lisa, air or running water with anger management issues.  Or imagine Professor Snape if he was bipolar.  Do not jump into this.  I did what I should have done, but I am not sure the majority can own a Grey without feeling like you had to walk the plank in shark infested waters.  You may or may not feel fine, but your commitment is your life vest!

 

Please share this and I love that you took time out of your day to inspire others.

[Greytness]

Well said!