potential Grey owner has questions

[brilliantfeathers]

I think you sound like a wonderful home for a grey!! I too think an amazon could be a good bird for you, however amazons are different than any other parrot, IMHO. They need even more work and time into them to remain sweet(at least with the ones I have been around). But keep us posted on your choice!! Greys are wonderful!

[Amie]

Originally Posted by lisark

I must confess, though, that one of the things that makes me the most cautious about getting a grey the video of Alex that I saw on Youtube. It showed him answering some basic questions about "what matter" and "how many green blocks." At first it just showed him pretty much from the head up, and then later when the camera pulled back it showed that he was slightly plucked. I thought to myself, with all that mental and physical stimulation that Alex got, with all that social interaction, STILL he plucked. That does scare me a bit. Does anyone know whether Alex was a hand-fed baby or if he was a rescue or what?

Be prepared for a plucked bird no matter what happens. I have a friend who had a wonderfully healthy and BEAUTIFUL U2 who was just the sweetest thing. When her dog had to be put down after 15 years of living together (the puppy had come about a year after the Too) the U2 got so depressed she began plucking, and she still does, to this day, regardless of what happens.

My ekkie started plucking when our CAG died 7 years ago, and although she'll let us get her better for about a month at a time, one day she wakes up calling him in their special language, and when I get home from work that evening, she's back to having barbered feathers and a naked neck and left leg. We're hoping to get her another friend to love and cherish (she tries to be best friends with every Grey she meets now, so we're thinking she still really misses Quasi) but if she remains a naked chicken for ever, it really doesn't bother me. I want her to get better and be her beautiful self, but her looks won't change who she is.

[jmfleish]

I'm not sure that Alex was indeed an import but I might be able to find out for you. I think that his plucking issues were more associated with Irene's traveling, at least that's what I remember hearing. I do think that if you decide to take in a bird that you may possibly be looking at feather picking issues although some birds seem to be more prone to it than others. Greys, Eclectus, and 'toos seem to be more of the pickers than other species but that's not to say that any species might not start. There are so many different reasons that go into plucking as well and who knows what may start it. It could be as simple as diet or as complex as many behavioral issues going on within the home. You do learn to love them whether they pluck or not though. I have two greys who are fully feathered, two Ekkies who are siblings and one is feathered and the other picks a bit. And my 'too has been picking a lot over the last year due to zinc poisoning but I still love them all just as much as when they first came home.

I'm still a firm believer in most birds, especially babies, can adapt to any household and that there are plenty of greys who do very well in high energy homes if that's what they're used to. Eclectus can be the same way. Some do very well in high energy homes while others do not do well at all in high energy homes. It tends to be what they're most used to and how they were raised.

[Tom Lawless]

Hi Lisa,

I also have a Hahns (Davey) and am thinking of getting a grey. I've got the exact opposite problem than you. Mine is a reasonably quiet life and for me the challenge is making sure the bird is socialized with other birds because it would be too easy for him to become attached only to me. The bigger dilemma is trying to decide what type of Grey I will get. I will be interested to hear where your decision making leads you.

[lisark]

Well we have by no means totally decided what we are going to do but I am thinking that we will decide by this fall whether or not to put a deposit on a Grey for the springtime of 2009.

If we go ahead with this you guys will be so sick of me talking about my bird!!! I guarantee it! I will keep you posted.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by lisark

If we go ahead with this you guys will be so sick of me talking about my bird!!! I guarantee it! I will keep you posted.

Not possible. We love hearing about other beebs. Gives us a chance to brag about our own