CAG urgent!!Pls reply a.s.a.p!?

Question

Hi guys!I am Asking if i am in school for abt 7 hrs in school a day from morning..7.a.m. Am i eligible to own a Happy..Stress Free CAG? Pls tell me as i do not want a parrot to be ruined in my hands..btw i am 12 years old

Answer 1

I think your intentions are good, but I think you need to rethink this a little before you commit yourself to a relationship with a bird that may live linger than you! Greys can live 70 years or even more, so you really are talking about a lifetime commitment here!

As for the amount of time you will have to spend with the bird, I think that you would be able to go to school and still devote enough attention to the bird after you get home. But I believe you would be much better off starting with a smaller bird until you become experienced. As has been stated elsewhere, a Quaker Parrot would be ideal as long as they are legal in your area. Here are some reasons for this suggestion.

1. Quakers are a much smaller bird than a grey. This means they are much cheaper to care for. Less expensive food, smaller toys for him to destroy, and a smaller cage can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars a year!

2. Because he is smaller, it is much easier to deal with an angry Quaker. A Quaker that is mad can draw blood. A Grey who is angry could sever a finger with ease! All birds get angry, and during mating season a "Hormonal" bird can seem to go insane! So would you rather learn with a small bird or a giant one?

3. Quakers are nearly as smart as a Grey, are capable of being good talkers, and are very affectionate. If you get a Quaker and can maintain a good loving relationship with him for a few years, then you might think about getting a Grey if you still want one.

4. Initial cost! A Grey will cost you roughly $1000-$2000. A Quaker will cost you roughly $150-$250 . A *Good* cage for a Grey can easily cost another $1000, while a *Good* cage for a Quaker can usually be found for $200-$400.

The last point I would like to make is this. A Grey will have roughly the intelligence and emotions of a 4 year old human child. If you get a Grey and treat him in a loving way, as I am sure you would, he will bond to you and love you. You will have a loving companion for life. But if you find that the Grey is too much for you to handle and are forced to give him away, it will hurt the bird just as much as a human child whose parents give him away. For this reason I advise that you start with a Quaker or other much smaller and easier to handle bird. In this way you will have a much better chance of success. You can always get a Grey to add to your "Flock" later if you find that you are up to the challenge!

If you would like more information about birds ( especially Quakers, but others too ) you might want to check out the Yahoo Group called helloeberybirdie. They have extensive files about Greys and Quakers, as well as many other birds. They also have many knowledgeable bird owners who are happy to answer questions and help in any way. This group is a little unorthodox, but there is a method to their madness, and they are real experts!

Good luck to you and whichever bird you pick!

Answer 2

African Grey parrots are one of the most intelligent birds you can find. They are great companions for the people who can put the time into them, but they need alot of time and work each day.

Every pet parrot should be handled each day by its owner, but the larger birds like cockatoos, macaws and african grey parrots can start to develop some really destructive behaviours like feather plucking when they are not given the right level of interaction.

African Greys also need a tonne of mental stimulation, they should be supplied with new toys regularly, and have access to a large cage, fresh food and water, etc. This is a big responsibility and can be very costly. Its difficult enough buying enough different toys for my quaker and green cheeked conure- toys suitable for an CAG would be twice as expensive! African Greys are also a one person bird- if it bonds to you it will be difficult for anybody else to look after it for you- this is a huge responsibility for a 12 year old!

Why dont you begin with a smaller, easier to care for parrot like a Quaker- they are also very intelligent- have a great vocabulary, and are very affectionate. They are a great beginner bird for someone who is passionate about keeping parrots as companion animals. You will still need to provide a quaker with plenty of toys and things to do, but as long as you give him a few hours of play time a day he should be very happy.

Answer 3

You are 12 years old, do not buy an African Grey, get the Quaker Parrot. African Greys are for very  experienced bird owners. I know you really want one, but it's not the right thing to do to the bird.  

Answer 4

An African Grey will be fine at home while you are in school.  Tons of people that have very busy schedules with work, school, kids, and other things that keep them from being at home for many hours during the day, have Greys that are perfectly healthy and content. In fact, they are one of the birds, (the other being Amazons) that are recommended for people that have busy lives.  Just be sure his cage is very large. Greys are not one of the birds that have to have constant companionship, or a lot of one on one activities while you ARE home.  They are birds that do very well while the owner is away at work or school.  Just be sure that your bird has plenty of toys (but don't over crowd the cage with them) to play with.  Get him a few toys that are sort of like puzzles or games, you know make him use his brain.  The only time Greys seem to have problems is like if you would go away for awhile and leave him at someone elses house.  This is taking him out of the enviroment he knows and is comfortable in, PLUS not having you around .  This is a situation that can be very stressful to any bird.  You don't need to worry about him for the time you are in school.  Make sure he has fresh food and water before you leave the house.  If you have to let your grandmother watch your bird and she lives else where, not with you, you should not get a grey.  He will have to go through to many changes every day.  He would be much better off staying where you live and waiting for you to come home..Please read my profile.