African Grey Parrot | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11715579 United States 06/13/2012 06:10 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have a 35 year old grey, red tail. He looks the same as the day I got him. He's as big as a large pigeon. As far as intelligence goes, they have a keen intellect. My bird knows the individual names of each of my five chihuahuas. He has a huge vocabulary, and remembers words that were learned years ago. As far as food goes, he eats what we eat. However, in an emergency situation, I give him seed. If you wish to have a lifetime pet, get a red tail Congo grey. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 17707716 Japan 06/13/2012 06:11 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | A Friend of me owned a maniac Parrot, horrible. When he go his Feather Change (Moulting?) it became intolerable and she needed to send him away! You can do many wrong things with Parrots so i highly recommend to think at least twice before you catching one. They get very Old, normally when you not kill them! Maybe you start with a Budgie |
MURK9 User ID: 12517067 American Samoa 06/13/2012 06:18 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Great parrot Big talker and smart! They make great pets and live a long time with good care. I knew one that would mimic the phone ring and then carry on a two party conversation with itself, it was so funny. It had a vocabulary larger than most high school graduates heck, it may have beat a college graduate these days. Only drawback I know of is that many do suffer from feather plucking if they become bored or suffer abuse. Just remember you’re their best buddy and you can’t ignore them. Give them lots of toys and keep them entertained. I have known people to leave their TV on while they were at work so their birds could watch it. LOL they can pick up the strangest words and sentences. Also, young hand fed babies will form the strongest bond with you. Birds that are older will also bond but not a well. Beware of abused older birds leave them to experienced bird handlers that can help them heal. Farewell American Samoa, the "last stop of today and just a stones throw from tomorrow"and with that said and done I stood up, standing at the end of the day and walked boldly onward into tomorrow and to the given day of rest. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 10039201 United States 06/13/2012 06:26 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Personally, house birds creep me out but...a close friend is part of an exotic bird rescue group and has a house full of them. They are beautiful, intelligent, friendly and entertaining! But they are also a lot of work. They require specialized vet care. Birds generate a ton of dander dust that many people are allergic to. Plus they will outlive you...many of them living 60-70 years! So make sure you have someone you can will the silly thing to! LOL! The rescue will set up a new owner with an African Grey, cage, toys and starter food for about $350.00. Much cheaper than a pet store. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11288337 United States 06/13/2012 09:40 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have a 35 year old grey, red tail. He looks the same as the day I got him. He's as big as a large pigeon. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 11715579 As far as intelligence goes, they have a keen intellect. My bird knows the individual names of each of my five chihuahuas. He has a huge vocabulary, and remembers words that were learned years ago. As far as food goes, he eats what we eat. However, in an emergency situation, I give him seed. If you wish to have a lifetime pet, get a red tail Congo grey. Thank you AC. I read that these guys live for several decades. Out of the two types of African Greys, I read that the Timneh is less prone to nervousness and is better with picking up speach than the Congo is. If I do decide to get one, I'm leaning towards the Timneh because I have a cat and two children around and they sound like they may be better suited to handling any stress that those kind of interactions may cause. ------ |
Debauchery User ID: 15455863 United States 06/13/2012 09:45 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | We had one for years but he had a bit of an attitude problem. He was anti-social and mean, I think the previous owners probably hurt him. He was smart though. He would whistle bridge over the river kwai constantly. We've had a few others, they make good pets, interesting little creatures. And the LORD spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin, then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it. I am an evil giraffe, and I shall eat more leaves from this tree than perhaps I should, so that other giraffes may die. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 17868317 United States 06/13/2012 09:46 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11288337 United States 06/13/2012 09:47 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | A Friend of me owned a maniac Parrot, horrible. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 17707716 When he go his Feather Change (Moulting?) it became intolerable and she needed to send him away! You can do many wrong things with Parrots so i highly recommend to think at least twice before you catching one. They get very Old, normally when you not kill them! Maybe you start with a Budgie Yeah, I've read some stories about 'angry birds' and some who don't pick up speech at all. So it's sounds like a bit of a crap shot in as far as what kind of demeanor a given bird will have. If I get one, I think through a breeder with a proven pair would be the way to go, At least I could get genetics on my side? I had a couple of Budgies when I was a kid and although they were really nice birds they would never talk, and that's what really intrigues me about the African Grey. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 15152757 United States 06/13/2012 09:55 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I grew up with parrots, mom used to raise and breed them. Greys are about the most difficult parrot, but they are also one of the smartest. They need constant attention and affection otherwise they get neurotic and start feather-plucking. It's like having an autistic child, sort of. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11288337 United States 06/13/2012 09:56 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Great parrot Quoting: MURK9 Big talker and smart! They make great pets and live a long time with good care. I knew one that would mimic the phone ring and then carry on a two party conversation with itself, it was so funny. It had a vocabulary larger than most high school graduates heck, it may have beat a college graduate these days. Only drawback I know of is that many do suffer from feather plucking if they become bored or suffer abuse. Just remember you’re their best buddy and you can’t ignore them. Give them lots of toys and keep them entertained. I have known people to leave their TV on while they were at work so their birds could watch it. LOL they can pick up the strangest words and sentences. Also, young hand fed babies will form the strongest bond with you. Birds that are older will also bond but not a well. Beware of abused older birds leave them to experienced bird handlers that can help them heal. Thanks for your insight Murk9! I really like the idea with the TV. I didn't think of that! One of the reasons I may not get one is because sometimes I work long hours and go away for the weekend, so the bird would be somewhat alone for some stretches of time. But the TV idea sounds like a halfway decent solution. I'm in an apartment and from what I've read, African Greys tend to be quieter birds, especially as they mature so most people recommend them for apartment type of environments. So they don't disturb the neighbors so much. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 15152757 United States 06/13/2012 10:12 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I forgot to mention how quickly they pick up on random noises, so if you have an off-balance washing machine for example, get it fixed unless you want to hear it for the next 30-50 years. Our parrots picked up everything from crow and other birdcalls, to farts, sneezes, coughing, meowing cats, barking dogs, car alarms, you name it, they learned it. Something Greys love is to be outside, but hidden. Ours loved to hang out under the awning in front of our house, they'd watch through the cracks in the awning and wait for people to walk by so they could try out new sounds. It's interesting to watch a Grey watching people respond to noises that they can't figure out the source of. They're very intelligent. |
<Path> User ID: 774195 United States 06/13/2012 10:31 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Was installing HVAC in a house once and there was a quaker parrot(?) sitting in a cage at the top of the basement steps on a table in the hallway. We were making a lot of noise cutting holes and beating on things. Anytime we would walk near the cage, the bird would yell "Don't hurt me!" Still LOL when I think about it. The dreamer and the dream One awakens inside the other Rediscovering universal truths |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509660 United States 06/13/2012 10:32 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have a 35 year old grey, red tail. He looks the same as the day I got him. He's as big as a large pigeon. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 11715579 As far as intelligence goes, they have a keen intellect. My bird knows the individual names of each of my five chihuahuas. He has a huge vocabulary, and remembers words that were learned years ago. As far as food goes, he eats what we eat. However, in an emergency situation, I give him seed. If you wish to have a lifetime pet, get a red tail Congo grey. Thank you AC. I read that these guys live for several decades. Out of the two types of African Greys, I read that the Timneh is less prone to nervousness and is better with picking up speach than the Congo is. If I do decide to get one, I'm leaning towards the Timneh because I have a cat and two children around and they sound like they may be better suited to handling any stress that those kind of interactions may cause. ------ We had a wonderful smart as anything hand fed Timneh. He and the Yellow Nape parrot would laugh and talk to each other all day. One day the dachhound killed him. Be careful if you have other pets even if they seem to get along. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 17865809 United States 06/13/2012 10:37 AM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I've been researching them and would love to hear about experiences with these birds from anyone who has/had one. Quoting: BOWMAN Thanks! ------ Other than cats and dogs, people should not own pets in my opinion. Those particular birds are way too smart to be owned by humans. They should be free. I agree. Animals are food, not companions. If you are lonely adopt a human being. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306429 United States 06/13/2012 12:12 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Personally, house birds creep me out but...a close friend is part of an exotic bird rescue group and has a house full of them. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 10039201 They are beautiful, intelligent, friendly and entertaining! But they are also a lot of work. They require specialized vet care. Birds generate a ton of dander dust that many people are allergic to. Plus they will outlive you...many of them living 60-70 years! So make sure you have someone you can will the silly thing to! LOL! The rescue will set up a new owner with an African Grey, cage, toys and starter food for about $350.00. Much cheaper than a pet store. Yeah it is! I wouldn't want to obtain one from a pet store anyways because you don't really get any of the historionics like you would with a breeder plus from what I've read it sounds like many are being illegally smuggled from their native land. The breeders prices from what I've seen so far are more reasonable than the pet store prices. I'm not sure I would do well with a rescue type of bird but I'm glad there are options like that out there for someone who might have a little more time to invest in helping an animal in that kind of situation. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509660 United States 06/13/2012 12:16 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306451 United States 06/13/2012 12:22 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | We had one for years but he had a bit of an attitude problem. Quoting: Debauchery He was anti-social and mean, I think the previous owners probably hurt him. He was smart though. He would whistle bridge over the river kwai constantly. We've had a few others, they make good pets, interesting little creatures. Hey DB! I think it would help if I started off with a young one as far as establishing a good attitude. Plus although the kitten I have is a bit on the feisty side he is only playful and very curious at this point. I've read that cats can get along with birds if they sorta bond when they are younger. ------ |
walt User ID: 17870723 South Africa 06/13/2012 12:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
curlytail2000 User ID: 1217128 United States 06/13/2012 12:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Regardless of the type of bird you get, it is always easiest on the owner to buy a hand fed baby. ALL of our hand-fed baby parakeets have talked. Free speech is never free. Well I know it wasn't you who held me down Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key - Eagles |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509660 United States 06/13/2012 12:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | We had one for years but he had a bit of an attitude problem. Quoting: Debauchery He was anti-social and mean, I think the previous owners probably hurt him. He was smart though. He would whistle bridge over the river kwai constantly. We've had a few others, they make good pets, interesting little creatures. Hey DB! I think it would help if I started off with a young one as far as establishing a good attitude. Plus although the kitten I have is a bit on the feisty side he is only playful and very curious at this point. I've read that cats can get along with birds if they sorta bond when they are younger. ------ Sometimes they bond and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they change their minds... |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306451 United States 06/13/2012 12:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I've been researching them and would love to hear about experiences with these birds from anyone who has/had one. Quoting: BOWMAN Thanks! ------ Other than cats and dogs, people should not own pets in my opinion. Those particular birds are way too smart to be owned by humans. They should be free. I can appreciate the spirit of what you're saying here. But there are some incredibly smart dogs out there too. My sister had a Rat Terrier and my father, Dr. Doolittle I calls him, actually was able to teach it a few words. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1509660 United States 06/13/2012 12:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Regardless of the type of bird you get, it is always easiest on the owner to buy a hand fed baby. ALL of our hand-fed baby parakeets have talked. Quoting: curlytail2000 Same here. The parakeet said everything, and made all the noises, that the parrots did only ten times as fast! Hand fed parakeets are amazing! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11211420 United States 06/13/2012 12:34 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I forgot to mention how quickly they pick up on random noises, so if you have an off-balance washing machine for example, get it fixed unless you want to hear it for the next 30-50 years. Quoting: !saac Our parrots picked up everything from crow and other birdcalls, to farts, sneezes, coughing, meowing cats, barking dogs, car alarms, you name it, they learned it. Something Greys love is to be outside, but hidden. Ours loved to hang out under the awning in front of our house, they'd watch through the cracks in the awning and wait for people to walk by so they could try out new sounds. It's interesting to watch a Grey watching people respond to noises that they can't figure out the source of. They're very intelligent. Thanks for the feedback !saac. I do have a little terrace that's outside and it would be perfect for that. It's on a side that never gets direct sunlight. There's usually people walking by at times so it would be real entertaining to see that kind of interaction. : ) ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306451 United States 06/13/2012 12:47 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Was installing HVAC in a house once and there was a quaker parrot(?) sitting in a cage at the top of the basement steps on a table in the hallway. Quoting: <Path> We were making a lot of noise cutting holes and beating on things. Anytime we would walk near the cage, the bird would yell "Don't hurt me!" Still LOL when I think about it. That's too funny Path because I know how noisy we can be, lol. I remember when I was like 4 my parents and I were looking to get a puppy at some pet shop and while I was saying hello to them this bird starts talking back in kind. I remember being so amazed by it because up until then I had no ideas that there were taking animals among us, lol. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306451 United States 06/13/2012 12:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have a 35 year old grey, red tail. He looks the same as the day I got him. He's as big as a large pigeon. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 11715579 As far as intelligence goes, they have a keen intellect. My bird knows the individual names of each of my five chihuahuas. He has a huge vocabulary, and remembers words that were learned years ago. As far as food goes, he eats what we eat. However, in an emergency situation, I give him seed. If you wish to have a lifetime pet, get a red tail Congo grey. Thank you AC. I read that these guys live for several decades. Out of the two types of African Greys, I read that the Timneh is less prone to nervousness and is better with picking up speach than the Congo is. If I do decide to get one, I'm leaning towards the Timneh because I have a cat and two children around and they sound like they may be better suited to handling any stress that those kind of interactions may cause. ------ We had a wonderful smart as anything hand fed Timneh. He and the Yellow Nape parrot would laugh and talk to each other all day. One day the dachhound killed him. Be careful if you have other pets even if they seem to get along. Was reading last night that feline saliva is highly toxic to AGP's. Also you need to be careful as to what kind of houseplants you keep. ------ |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 11306451 United States 06/13/2012 12:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I've been researching them and would love to hear about experiences with these birds from anyone who has/had one. Quoting: BOWMAN Thanks! ------ Other than cats and dogs, people should not own pets in my opinion. Those particular birds are way too smart to be owned by humans. They should be free. I agree. Animals are food, not companions. If you are lonely adopt a human being. Yeah, I tried that avenue. It didn't end well. ------ |
<FOCUS> User ID: 660580 United States 06/13/2012 01:17 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
SHR Forum Administrator 06/13/2012 01:25 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | They make a mess like you would not believe...all birds do really...whoever came up with that phrase "eats like a bird" never had one, cause they eat and shit all day long!...lol... Good pets, but they are a lot of work to clean up after. Greys are smart, they can talk a lot when they feel like it and they mostly never feel like it when people come over to visit so if you want a "show off" bird, they ain't it. :molybdenum: ____________________________________________________ E-mail anytime [email protected] Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmemyip.com] Ooooh, see the fire is sweepin' Our very streets today... Burns like a red coal carpet, Mad bulls lost the way... War, children, it's just a shot away...it's just a shot away.... |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 1112387 United States 06/13/2012 01:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I have a cockatiel and I didn't realize how devoted and strong bonded they are. Once you become their chosen human, you have an obligation to devote yourself to them too. Are you willing to spend your life with one? Take them on vacations with you? If not, do you have back-up to take care of them (family)? Can you give them the amount of quality time daily they need? If I leave mine alone all day, which is rare, I leave the radio on softly playing classical music. They hate silence. Silence for them means danger (think of the jungle). |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 17308554 United States 06/13/2012 01:33 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |