Unweaned baby?

[weareoceansaway]

We've been talking about a grey for a while now, even before I wanted a conure. But we weren't sure about it, and still aren't. Now we're just talking to breeders and other owners as well as you guys, and reading up as much as we can to be sure we can take care of such smart little birdies.

Well here's our current dilema in our quest of discovery:

We found a breeder whos willing to wait about a year or two until we can make up our minds and research and do all the right stuff for a Timneh baby. The only thing is, the breeder says its better if we wean the baby ourselves because they bond better. Now I'm not sure if its something different with greys, but I know most birds need to be weaned by professionals; I'm far from it. She says she'll show us how to do it and it's not that bad, but I would like to hear all of your opinions.

Thanks in advance!

[milkevi]

walk...no..run as fast as possible from this breeder...srsly...if that is their mentality they do not care about their babies welfare...sorry but that breeder is highly irresponsible. Greys do not only bond with their handfeeders...that is one of the oldest myths around and goes for any species not just greys.

[ThreeX]

That's the biggest crock this month. Studies have shown that the more/longer time greys spend with their parents, the more psychologically stable they become.
I'd never (well i might *now* since i can provide "foster parents") buy a grey chick that doesn't eat, perch and fly all by its own!

[weareoceansaway]

See I didn't think it was any different with greys, despite them being smarter and all. I just wanted to run it through you guys and research it more. The breeder said (I called her back and asked her why other than bonding) that she'll hand feed them until they are ten weeks, then give the baby to us to finish it up. I'm trying to look for when to wean a baby Timneh off the formula, but I can't find it. She said about sixteen weeks...

[Jag]

SERIOUSLY... I wouldn't even entertain the thought. Flush or burn that breeder's number, and try one that is more reputable. A properly bred and raised grey will come running to you... fully weaned!! It's dangerous for someone who doesn't know how to hand feed to 'finish up' what the breeder should be doing!

[xafsmom]

Some of my Greys wean at 9 weeks, some at 16. The majority wean around 12 weeks old. Boys usually wean faster but take longer to fledge. Hens are very picky and take longer but fledge faster.

Greys are unlike most every other species out there in regards to upbringing. They retain every little bit of information as chicks and that forms the nucleus of their adult personality. You could use a baby Conure as a basketball and it will forget and be fine as an adult. You frighten a baby Grey once and you just might have a phobia built in for eternity.

Bad breeders want you to wean the baby yourselves. Why? Because it's cheaper for them, and if it dies for whatever reason, they're not responsible! They parrot (no pun intended) the old "Weaning it yourself creates a bond"... well, if that's so, why do all my baby birds bond with others? NONE of them bond with me! I wean them all, shouldn't they all be 'my' bonded birds? Nope nope nopers nope. It's a scam. It's laziness.


Find another breeder.

[weareoceansaway]

What's really funny is she is reputable! I got her name from our aviary vet with high regards. It floored me when she kept saying unweaned baby. She says every other bird she breeds will only be sold completely weaned; she only believes the greys to be sold unweaned after showing the new owners how its done. I told her I wasn't comfortable with it at all. She finally agreed that, when we finally do want a baby grey, to wean ours prior as long as we come and see the baby every day. Which was fine, since she only lives a few miles from us.
I guess because she only said her greys were unweaned (and she breeds a great many different species of birds) that I thought it was different. I'm going to take your guy's advice and find a new breeder, it was just strange. Trying to find a Timneh is a little harder than a Congo thats for sure!

[Jag]

Just out of curiousity, why do you want an Timneh and not a Congo?

[weareoceansaway]

Timneh's, as far as I've researched, are known for being more gentle and better at accepting change. I know that it also depends on how they are raised, but Congo's have a cockier personality and generally tend to 'choose' one person. Plus, I was chased into a bathtub by a Congo when I tried to hug my neighbors little girl (whom he had bonded to and was standing next to on the floor) goodbye...XD. I guess he thought I was going to eat her or something.
Another plus is that the Timneh is a little smaller than the Congo, which makes me a little less intimidated. I know that's pretty much the end of the differences....but I guess I'm pulled toward the Timneh's.

[Troubles dad]

My mom TAG Charlie is only her bird, and Sydney her CAG is everyones. I think it really depends on the bird. Infact Charlie will try to take my finger off if I try to pet him unless I'm giving him his seed then I'm his best friend.