Thinking of buying a grey,...but

[imported_Jason]

I have never really seen a "tame" grey. All of them I have ever seen are cage-bound. Are greys generally biters? Just wondering. As far as pets, I want birds that I can handle. I am not afraid of being bitten, but I don't want to traumatize a bird that does not want to be held. I like to hold and cuddle with my birds, and I would want to do the same if I get a grey.

Jason

[nursenurse48]

I have a 2 year old gray. I have had him sense he was a little baby and he 2 now. He is as cuddly now as he was when he was a baby. all birds have different personality and maybe some do bite but the y are not normally bitters
linda

[fancycleo]

hi, I have had or handled baby grays, Congo's. I purchased for resale at my pet center. I was told that they were hand fed. When I got them they seemed sooo scared of me or ever a person. It took a long time for me to handle them, and almost 1 yr to find them great homes. Really do your shopping on these guys. Birds pick the owners owners do not pick the bird, or there can be future problems.
I am now handfeeding baby congos, I got them at 4 weeks old (sooooo cute), I have had them for two weeks, they are the greatest things, I don't want to put them down (I have to though cause they get cold real easy). I handle and handle them so I hope they turn out to be great cuddlers. I will let you all know how they turn out.
I also have been told that the timiths or how ever you spell it are the smaller of the grays, but they are the friendlier of the grays. I do not know this to be true, because I have not been around them only the congos, or also known as Cameroon's.
Personally I think the congos are the better looking. Make sure you do your homework on these guys. The can train you lol, but true. lab people are even teaching them how to read, and that is no lie.
this is no pet, it is a pal, best friend, child that will live 60 to 80 years.
Warning: If you do get one or have one already, If you keep it's wings clipped. Make sure and I mean make sure they don't jump to fly from a high place, or even 2 foot high. They are hard landers, and they will break a neck or breast bone and will kill them instant! :'( I have heard of this alot, and it is such a shame.

[loiseliese]

I ahve a Cag that is 6yrs... when he wants to cuddle, He cuddles,,,,,, You do it on his terms not yours.....He is wonderful........ and so intelligent... not as beautiful as my M.M. but he still beautiful to me....Go get you one... don't keep him cage bound......

Jason,
I have 4 african grey and they all have diferent personality.
Gizmo is 14 years old and still very much momma 's baby and she will tell you so :) She love to cudlle and kiss and she is the brain !
Camilla 9 years old, he is the " Boss" ;).He will tell you to go to bed , to be very quite cause you are too loud, and order his dinner and what color his apple will be that day ..lol...
Then we have Ruby , she is the instigator ....
Stony is trouble ( as gizmo named him ) ;D
here is a pic of Gizmo kissing momma

[sarasflock]

I have 3 CAGs now, all of whom have different personalities. Jack is my baby at just under 2 years old...he is my only hand trained CAG. Dusty is 15, not hand friendly at all, but an incredible talker. He and his mate Cheddar (13 years old) are from an abusive home and I have been working with them since late April when they came to my forever nest. Dusty no longer shreiks when he sees you, and Cheddar only cries at you when you get too close, versus anytime she saw you when she first came home. It takes a lot if time, patience, and tough skin (literally!) to work with these gorgeous beings.
Dusty speaks his mind, and if he doesn't like that the cockatiels are singing too loudly, he tells them to shut up (all his phrases were learned before he came to us!!!) and tells us to stop it if we take his food dish out for a refill or wash when he is not done with it. He also calms Cheddar when she gets scared (we had a huge thunder storm yesterday and she was so scared she was crying out, and he just soothes her with an "Its all right Cheddar!" and she calms right down). They are hilarious to watch when they are playing and they are not cage bound, but they only come out on their terms... and they stay out until they decide they want to go back in. It is the least traumatic thing for them as I believe they were battered in their previous home.

Cheddar is so sweet to watch playing, but if she realizes you are watching, she goes and hides until she thinks you are gone. It is great to find a place that she can't really tell you are watching and just watch her for the longest time exploring toys, running around the top of the cage, and chowing down on her fresh veggies (a new experience for them, as the last home fed them stale pellets and nothing else)

Jack is my little brainiac... he picks up on everything, and loves to ask to come out of his cage when he is bored... he does a little dance in front of his door and says "I wanna come out, I wanna come out!!!" and when he is sleepy he makes a yawning sound and sniffles just like daddy does right before he goes to his sleeping area.

They are wonderful companions, not merely pets, so make sure you are ready to make the commitment!!! We have a 20 year old Amazon (Chester) who is Jack's new best friend---they used to dislike each other, but now they play together on their jungle gym and in each others' cages.

Aside from being a heartwarming story, your birds are fortunate to have found a home with you. I especially like Dusty telling Cheddar "it's all right, Cheddar."

Michael

[Gean Valjean]

Originally Posted by sarabellacooks

Jack is my little brainiac... he picks up on everything, and loves to ask to come out of his cage when he is bored... he does a little dance in front of his door and says "I wanna come out, I wanna come out!!!" and when he is sleepy he makes a yawning sound and sniffles just like daddy does right before he goes to his sleeping area.

Wow, thats so cute!! How exactly does one train a bird to A, not only say that, but B, associate it with actually wanting to come out??

[Gean Valjean]

Phenomenal!!
I know ive looked at the pictures of you and bandit with you holding him in he palm of your hand...on his back!!!
Thats so funny to see! How did you do that? I imagine that is a rare thing for parrots. . . or is it? I've seen some macaws do hat as well.

[BudgieMama]

[quote=Gean Valjean ]

Originally Posted by sarabellacooks

Wow, thats so cute!! How exactly does one train a bird to A, not only say that, but B, associate it with actually wanting to come out??

The great thing about grey's is they start to accociate things really quickly, If when you say "Want out" every time you take your AG out of it's cage, it's gonna start learning what "Want out" Means... Sinbad (My old grey) did a little headbanging dance. It's just repitition, Sinbad would Say, "Ready? Set? GOooooooo!" when he wanted out, cuz I would open the door and say that, and he would ride on the door. Somedays when he thought no one was watching him, he would swing his door open and closed just repeating "Ready? Set? Goooooooo!"