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Red-Raven
Just hatched
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Location: OKLA! Native America! |
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Hello all---First time on this forum and just realized there's species specific categories! I'd like your opinions please.
I've always wanted an African Gray and my thoughts leaned towards a Congo. Now I have a chance to buy an unsexed Timneh, 3-5 yrs. old, 300 word vocabulary, friendly but seldom out of the cage, held or played with. The current owner has only had him for about 3-4 months and needs the cash. I'm told he's not agressive and they pet him through the cage bars! All my birds are played with, cuddled and out of their cages every day. Would this be a risky purchase? Would the poor guy come around in time? I want to be able to hold and cuddle. Or should I keep looking? BTW---Asking price for parrot and large cage is $550. I'd have about a 3 hr. drive to see him but am willing if there's a chance he'll become the pet I'm hoping for. |
Thursday September 8, 2005 7:35 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
Hi Red-Raven,well in my experiance: words,handling,cage doesn't matter when, all you need to see is if the bird is young enough to start with  .I have given away Cockatiels near adult stage at 8 months old and now are tame and friendly as ever  .All comes to how much time you spend with your bird, the more the merrier so to speak.  It will make it easier to train and handle.Speaking well ,each bird doesn't matter what species it is depends on the time you spend with it and that the cage is suitable to live in while you aren't there,for most parrot owners like me cannot be with our loved one's 24/7.You need to work out how much time you have spare to begin with and then keep that routine for they have good memories,then remember you are the trainer and if the word trainer scare's you, imagine the parrot so to speak.Go forward and remember the new parrot needs your ladder to climb for if you stop climbing, the parrot will too  |
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Sunday September 11, 2005 12:33 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7405
Location: Canada, Toronto |
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I agree with Greg, I believe he will eventually come around if you have the time, patience, and desire to work with him. But you have to keep in mind that it will take African Greys a much longer time to warm up to a new companion than it would any other bird because of their shy and sensitive nature. The fact that he lets people pet him through the cage bars doesn't necessarily mean that he's friendly. My grey likes to entice my friend to pet him through the cage bars, only to bite him. There's also an African Grey at my local petstore, and he seems very friendly, he's vocal and energetic, and he also allows people to pet him through the bars, but if you try to take him out of the cage, or even put your hands in there to change his water and food, he'll bite your fingers off. He is extremely aggressive outside of his cage.
This poor bird sounds like he's already been passed around from home to home  so he probably has an even harder time trusting people. Who knows, he could've even been abused, I mean if a person is willing to give up their pet just because they need the cash  who knows what else they're capable of.
As far as holding and cuddling, I should tell you that African Greys aren't cuddly birds, they don't really like to be held much. They enjoy head scratches and preening sessions and kisses, and love being with their human companion, but they're not cuddly birds like cockatoos for example. An older bird who hasn't had a stable home will probably be even less likely to be cuddly.
My advice to you is, get this bird only if you can provide him with a permenant home, and only if you've done all your research and understand the unique nature of African Greys. I was talking to a lady just yesterday who has an adoped African Grey. He was aggressive and a plucker when she got him. It's taken him 3 years to finally come around. Are you willing to wait that long before you can have a "friendly" bird? |
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Sunday September 11, 2005 1:49 pm |
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Tia
Fledgeling
Joined: 13 May 2005
Posts: 319
Location: Illinois |
I agree with Shirin
It is going to take a long time to break thru the wall. If you are willing to take the time and patience then i would advise you on yes, take the bird but if not then maybe someone else can take him and give him the time needed to bond and trust. |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 3:11 am |
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Red-Raven
Just hatched
Joined: 08 Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Location: OKLA! Native America! |
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TAG UPDATE
3.5 weeks ago I brought Taz home. She got a clean bill of health at the vet, had her wings and nails trimmed and I sent off chest feathers for the DNA sexing. After the first week she stepped up, after the second week allowed me to scratch her head and shortly after starting biting!  We've nipped that in the bud, so to speak, and now she realizes I'm in charge (or at least I've bluffed her into thinking I'm no longer afraid of her!) She's adjusting to sights, sounds, etc. and being out of her cage. Each morning she has the run of the kitchen counter while I do dishes. She's learning that the paper towels and a moving wash rag are not a threat! Loves to chew on the cereal bar and pop tart boxes and shred the napkins.  She dislikes going outside and when I put her on the grass she hops up on the porch and heads for the door. I've made her a PVC carseat/perch and will soon have her going on outings. For now we're just taking it slow and letting her set the pace. I'm so thrilled I took the chance on her and I truly believe she's going to be a wonderful companion.
http://img5.ranchoweb.com/images/jjg/mvc-033s.jpg
http://img5.ranchoweb.com/imag.....747345.jpg
http://img5.ranchoweb.com/imag.....763964.jpg |
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Tuesday October 4, 2005 8:50 pm |
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Cheeta
Moderator
Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 7972
Location: Australia |
Hi RR,
Taz is looking very settled there tearing up boxes and paper towels!! She's so adorable!! |
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Wednesday October 5, 2005 6:08 am |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
HA!! You can see the devil in her eye in her last pic! That's so funny! I think she's really enjoying herself/himself ripping things appart. Devilish critters. Sometimes it's the simpler things that make them happy like tearing up boxes and paper towels.  |
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Wednesday October 5, 2005 12:32 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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Taz looks so cute shredding..
Sorry for nagging, but would you mind to post links instead of photos? (This board has been slow, and we're looking if it'll improve by posting links instead of photos)
Photos are welcome in the diary/homepage!
Thanks!
Sue |
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Friday October 7, 2005 9:29 am |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
Hey Sue, call me a dork  but, how the heck do you post a link  ?? I'm not real smart when it comes to computers.
GET THIS! I had my puter for like 5 years and I had no virus protection and a bug got into it, anyway, I did a factory restore on it and it was all messed up when I got done. So I figured I got some good years out of it and just got a new one a week ago and gave my 15 and 11 year old sons the old one. My oldest son fixed the stupid thing I purchased a video card for it a while back and that is where the virus went and my son took it out and now it's fine. I'm such a dork! Oh well, hubby got me a new puter out of the whole ordeal. he he I'm a little spoiled  |
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Friday October 7, 2005 2:06 pm |
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Sue
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 10102
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Ha ha ha, no I won't call you a dork!
A link is posted just by typing: www.fluffies.org for example.
I used to know NOTHING about computer. Even the word 'downloading' was abacadabra to me! |
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Friday October 7, 2005 3:31 pm |
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