difference between TAG & CAG

[jessica313]

aw those are some cute and funny stories!
makes me want one NOW lol

[greyburd]

Greys are like potatoe chips, you can't just have one!!! Well, at least I can't!!!!

You will be in for the ride of your life if/when you decide to bring one home. They are such wonderful, smart, funny, stunningly beautiful, stubborn and ornery creatures. No, they're not creatures......... they're little people wrapped in gray feathers!!

Spencer (my Timneh), is very playful. He loves to play, and he loves to play rough. His toys take a beating... but they always come back for more!! He's a bit of a clown (or bat bird)... he loves to hang upside down when he's playing. I think he plays more upside down than he does right side up. I never have a problem introducing new toys to him. I can put a new toy on his playstand or in his cage, and he'll go right for it...... usually hanging from it while attacking it. Of the 2, he's more likely to let someone (other than myself) get close enough to rub his head. He's also more likely to be vocal in front of strangers. He enjoys attention from me, but he's not extremely cuddly. IF HE'S IN THE MOOD, he'll tolerate me rubbing his head, or under his wings. If he's not in the mood, he definitely lets me know. He's very independant.....he has no problem playing by himself for long periods of time. Spencer is a very good, well mannered little man. He listens very well (for the most part). When it's time for bed, and I have to get him from the top of his playstand, he will just sit and stare into space when I ask him to step up. He won't look at me, he just freezes. I don't know if he thinks that if he doesn't move I can't see him. So, I "play" along and ask.... "where's Spencer?" Then, I "spot" him and get him to step up. And he goes "night, night" for me with no problems.

Tristan (my Congo), is a daddy's girl. Where ever I am, she has to be right there with me. She really loves her foot toys. She has lots that she will happily play with, then happily drop on the floor so I will go get it. When I put the toy back in her bucket, she drops her head for some scritches. Tristan is my cuddlebug. She could sit with me on the sofa for hours while I rubbed her head (that is if I let her sit with me that long). But, she will not allow anyone else close enough to do it. She's growls at my friend when she comes to take are of them if I have to go away. And if she's with me, she won't allow me to take her over to anyone else. She's not as quick to play with a new toy. If I hold a new toy up to her, she'll usually scream at it. But, if I put it in her cage, or on her playstand..... she's more likely to investigate. It may take her a day or 2, but she comes around. She doesn't play too rough outside of her cage. But I have witnessed her let the devil loose on some of her toys inside of her cage. When visitors come by, she watches them very closely without making a single sound (unless you get too close to her). I used to (be able to) say "it's night night time"...."Tristan go night night" and I could have her step up and I'd put her in her cage for the night. Well, I can't say that anymore......if I (accidentally) do or if she figures out what's going on before I get over to her, she will run to the back of her cage (on top, in the very middle).... where I can't reach her because of the FS light fixture that's on the top of the cage. And that's where she'll sit....completely out of my reach. I have to bribe her with kisses and birdie nuggets (thank God for the birdie nuggets.... they've come in handy several times).Sometimes (at night night time), she will also jump from my hand to my shoulder and run back and forth behind my head. That's always fun!!! I often wonder what people passing my house must be thinking if they look in my window!!!

All in all..... I wouldn't part with either one of them. They are so much fun to have around. Tristan is just approaching 8 months old, and is starting to find her speaking voice. She has a much louder voice than Spencer. He has such a cute, mouse-like voice.Spencer is just approaching a year and a half.

They are both very smart... sometimes, too smart..... but that's why I love them. You can't go wrong with either subspecies. Nancy (The Outlaw) and I both agree that the Timneh are one of the most underrated parrots. They are just as wonderful as their bigger, "flashier" cousins.

I hope that helped some. I don't usually like talking about my babies (can you tell?)

[jessica313]

that helped me A LOT! thanks for the stories they were great!

...makes me sad that i cant really get another bird till im done with college... (financialy could never happen)
but i think at this point i am leaning slighty towards a Timneh..

i know there arent a lot of Boston folks on here, but does anyone know of any good breeders in the boston area?
ive tried google but cant seem to come up with anything
i would prefer not to buy anymore birds from Petco (not that there is anything wrong with them , they actually are one of the really good petcos around) but i would just prefer to go straight through a breeder this time

(plus... no pet stores around here sell greys)

[Doyle'sMommy]

Thanks for the info, I am leaning towards a TAG also. How big of a cage do they require?

[greyburd]

This is the cage I have each of my Greys in. I wouldn't go any bigger than this, however, for a Grey!!!


http://hqcages.com/32x23-dome-cage-p-38.html

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by greyburd

I hope that helped some. I don't usually like talking about my babies (can you tell?)

That's the funniest thing that I've read today

All I can say that as an observer of greys, I'd have a HECK of a time choosing between a Timneh or a Congo. They are both beautiful birds

-e-

[greyburd]

Originally Posted by ejw829

That's the funniest thing that I've read today

All I can say that as an observer of greys, I'd have a HECK of a time choosing between a Timneh or a Congo. They are both beautiful birds

-e-

Why do you think I have one of each!!?! I couldn't decide which one I wanted more!!!

[kp_in_scott]

I've ended up with one of each also. They are very special birds and smart enough to be scary at times. Angel(CAG) will do the fart sound on command. Hubby holds her on his hand and looks her in the eye. He says, "Have you got gas, bird?". Then he flips her upside down with her hanging on to his finger, tail pointed straight up, and she "farts" every time. Some times he will shake her up and down, then turn her over and she does it every time. This is the only "trick" that any of my birds will do on demand and Hubby demonstrates it to EVERYONE who comes over.

Angel will also call the dog to her, and drop a nice little birdy bomb on him when he gets under her play stand.

I really did try to raise her like a lady, but it just didn't take.

[Doyle'sMommy]

Angel sounds like alot of fun! Why do I think my husband would be teaching her the same thing? Tiffany

[adamtron]

When I decided to buy an African Grey, I had the same question myself. My family and friends kept saying get the Congo because it was lighter color or had a brighter tail. But when I went to the Bird store, I was lucky because they had both birds side by side and I was able to compare them. The Timneh, to my surprise was only a slight shade darker and looked much better in person then in the books. I handled both birds and I fell in love with the Timneh because he looked like a cute little gray eagle. When I left the Timneh to go handle the Congo, the Timneh started talking little baby talk like he wanted me to come back and so at that point I new he was the right choice. It turned out to be great because I live in an apartment and he is a good size, easy to handle and he's a good talker. And now the people that wanted to see the bright red tail of the Congo say, "I like that great maroon color tail he has". So I guess what I'm saying is that both birds are great, so you will probably have to handle both in person, (if that's possible) and if one takes a liking to you or has a personality that stands out, that may help your decision.

Take care,

-Adamtron