TAG vs CAG?

[weareoceansaway]

Alright I've been doing tons of research and killing books, practically eating them in my quest of knowledge. Now it's time for the real life information.
For the owners of Timnehs and Congos, what differences do you see in personality? For those with just Timnehs, how do you view their personalities in relation to your family (such as one person only, or just favors a person but responds to the whole family)? For Congos, the same as above?
Thank you. Trying to go into this with a full head; I would like to have this birdie in our lives for the rest of his/hers. So please, any information either positive or negative is greatly greatly appreciated.

[Jag]

I've only had my Congo a couple months. She was badly neglected at the least for the first six years of her life. She's a plucker, and was then taken in by someone who STILL knew nothing about parrots in general... then was out the door a couple months later.

I expected her to be a real challange. I expected her to take years to even tolerate me. I wasn't sure AT ALL if I was going to keep her or send her to a SAINT of a lady on this board who runs a rescue in NM and works with some really damaged birds with great success. However, I made a few phone calls to her for some help... and Ziva ended up being exactly how she predicted.

She was great with me right off... and has never deviated from that. She also loves my teens. My wife she took longer to warm up to... but that's because my wife was WAY more intimidated by her beak than I was. (I have issues with bigger beaks...) She is a clown! She is almost constantly talking or making really funny noises. She's not a one person bird. She's not as big as I expected... I had only recently seen greys 'up close and personal' and I'd thought they were much larger! She's a little weary of things... but she's far from neurotic. She doesn't go to a corner in shock if I put something new in her cage.

She isn't really 'touchy feely' but it's still early, and she had a bad start to life. She has the possibility of becoming more of a 'hands on' bird, because she acts almost like she 'wants' to be touched, but is afraid. However, she will step up, and has invited me to give her scritches (and everyone else here has been invited as well). The only comparison I have is a person I worked with years ago got a TAG, and she ended up having to have the bird sedated with ativan because it had a 'nervous breakdown' I guess about molting... I used to tease her that pets are like their owners, and she was kinda neurotic...

[weareoceansaway]

Originally Posted by Jag

The only comparison I have is a person I worked with years ago got a TAG, and she ended up having to have the bird sedated with ativan because it had a 'nervous breakdown' I guess about molting... I used to tease her that pets are like their owners, and she was kinda neurotic...

Maybe I should take a couple of you guys with me to whichever breeder I find... Any of you live in Florida?

Do greys generally tend to like children being in the room? My conure is having a problem with that (other thread) but will a running, sometimes screaming toddler cause some problems with a grey? I was hoping getting the grey as a baby would perhaps get them used to the enviroment.

[Jag]

My only honest suggestion is that you either 1-apply to get a baby from Xafsmom where you can get one that is well bred and well socialized (she ships) or at least give her the name of the breeder you're looking at and let her 'check them out' for you. You'll have this friend for your whole life (barring the unforseen) and I think you'd do well to have a baby with the best start possible. I had been infatuated with greys for awhile, but had planned on getting a baby in like a year... the best laid plans... I don't regret it, though!

[mommaof3]

We too are doing our research, and have young ones, 4,3, and 1. And weren't worried about how the bird would do but how the kids would do so we are holding off a couple more years. Which is nerve racking to say the least.

[weareoceansaway]

I know, my little one is only seventeen months so we're holding off a year or two until she thoroughly understands that the birds are off limits. We were lucky that Phoenix's cage is high enough off the ground, and she listens pretty well now, but she still has the baby ADD, lol.

Jag, thank you for that information. I'll be sending xafsmom a PM soon. ^-^

[Greycloud]

I have a rehomed 12 yo CAG. Dexter is the easiest parrot I have ever owned. He is bonded to me only. I am his primary caregiver. He sometimes will let my husband touch his head. But that is rare. We have had him for about 4 yrs, I guess. He eats everything offered. Loves all foot toys as he spends the majority of his time on his cage bottom. He will full with chew toys, but is not destructive in the least. He has an open door policy, always, unless we are not home. The youngest child he has been around was when he first came my step-daughter was 10 yo. He likes her high voice and talks alot like her. Now that she is older, he still enjoys when she talks to him, but she can't touch.

[jdlilfan]

I'm definitely biased towards Timnehs!

I have never owned a CAG, but overall, I find the the TAGs to be a lot less nervous and a lot more laid back than the CAGs.

Gizzy definitely has her favorite people. Unfortunately Ryan isn't one of them! She's OK with my Dad, but she won't cuddle with him. She only cuddles with my mom and I. And she'll only cuddle with my mom when I'm not in the house. She's funny about that. I find she much prefers women to men. She won't do her "chicken talk" to women...the clucking sounds she makes when she's unhappy.

She's only been around 1 child, my cousin's 9 year old daughter. She's always been very mature for her age and understands birds aren't playthings so she can hold Gizzy and Gizzy does just fine with her. No problems at all.

Before I got The Giz I always focused my research only on the Congos...didn't pay much attention to the Timnehs. I always thought they looked like a big grey seagull. But, they're just as smart and capable of talking as their cousins. I love my TAG! She's such a great bird.

[Congobongo]

I have Congos and I can say that they are delightful birds. They are not extremely 'needy' but they will show affection.

The things mine will say just entertains me to no end. And they are SO smart. My Radar will say 'good morning' in the morning, good bye when I leave for work and good night when I turn off the TV and lights for bed. Now, how does he know the time of day?

Also, I can repeat a few sayings several times in a couple days and the next thing you know...they are saying them too. I easily taught them to whistle a tune.

I have no criteria to compare them against a TAG but I sure love my CAG's.

[Tobysmom]

i have a timneh and a congo,,,,the timneh i have had since he was weaned and he will go to anyone once he knows u even my 3 kids...the congo hes 4 now got him almost a year ago and he will go to me and my brother my kids are afraid of him as he is quite large for a grey.