An opportunity to buy a baby African Grey - Good idea or bad idea?

Hi,

I currently own a wonderful sweet Senegal parrot and 4 parakeets but every since I was around 10 years old I've always wished I could have an African Grey. I think having a grey would make my family complete. Well, I think the time is getting close to finally being able to have one and I've been offered an opportunity to get a baby grey in about 4-6 months. I'm just not sure if it's truly a good idea even though, I'm loving the thought.

I've been friends with a good bird breeder. I got my Senegal parrot Cassie from them and she has been so wonderful and sweet. Well, I was talking with them today and they said that their of pair greys is due to lay eggs sometime between now and Christmas. They offered to sell my one of the babies at a discount if I would like to finish the hand feeding process. They said that after the babies are removed from the next box, they would hand feed for awhile until the baby is stronger and so they can make sure there are no problems with the baby grey.

As for me handfeeding, my breeder friends said that it's easy to hand feed and they'll make sure I know how to hand feed before the baby grey comes home with me when he's ready. If I choose to hand feed the baby grey they said I can buy the baby grey at a discount for $800.00. The only thing I worry about is that there is no refund or replacement if anything happend to the baby grey.

I work from home so having time to care for the baby grey would not be a problem at all and I would so love to be able to start the bonding process early. Can anyone tell me if this idea is too risky to take or can I keep this idea in mind with a smile?

---- Kimberley (South Florida)

Many here are going to disagree but I think it is a great idea! It is a great way to bond with the baby. Our breeder likes to have people finish weaning because it typically allows the baby and the new owner to bond strongly. Many think this is an awful idea and I guess it should be a case by case basis. My breeder goes over the feeding in depth before allowing the baby to come home. It is usually when the baby is close to weaning. We did this with my daughters Linnie and is was wonderful. I guess I am thinking it works well because we took our lessons on feeding very seriously and we were very careful. I'm sure that there are those that would not be as cautious and then it is an invitation for disaster. This said however if you learn how to do this properly and watch for any signs that seem "not right" I think you should go for it! I too am thinking of getting a grey and will probably finish off the feeding.

I have also always wanted a Grey and I think you have plenty of time to learn how to handfeed properly. However, I would have 2 issues with this. One being I know alot of breeders offer babies cheaper if the person is willing to finish raising since its alot of work. But the NO replacing bird if there was an issue would make me uneasy. The other problem I have and I'm by no means an expert on this, but it is something to think about. Most birds leave their parents after weaning to find and bond with a mate. So, to me in handfeeding you become the parent and seems to me this could mess up the bonding process for you and your baby. Having said that, I do know people that have handfeed and are bonded very well with ther babies.

(re: brianlinkles) Oh, thank you! That is encouraging. Oh I sure would take learning how to feed the baby grey very serisouly. I would so love to have a strong bond with my future grey like I do with Cassie. I got Cassie at 6 months old and it took about 3 weeks for her to start bonding with me. It's now been 3 months since I've gotten her and we now have a very strong bond. Still though, I do see some setbacks from getting her at the age I got her. She hates being on the floor, and she's scared of kids and being outside. We're slowely working on that.

The other thought I had is if I did get the baby grey almost weaned perhaps that would help him/her be comfortable with young kids and many other things that will be normal for him/her to see or go places. I have a home preschool. I won't be allowing the kids to hold her but her cage will be in one of my preschool classrooms which I also use in the evenings to do computer work. I think it is going to be so neat to have the preschoolers see and talk back to a parrot that might talk to them. Oh gosh, and to think my grey baby might someday pick up preschool songs unintentionlly is a funny thought. I am aiming to get a large cage with the perch and feeder cups on top so he/she can be out during the day.

Angela19 said:

I have also always wanted a Grey and I think you have plenty of time to learn how to handfeed properly. However, I would have 2 issues with this. One being I know alot of breeders offer babies cheaper if the person is willing to finish raising since its alot of work. But the NO replacing bird if there was an issue would make me uneasy. The other problem I have and I'm by no means an expert on this, but it is something to think about. Most birds leave their parents after weaning to find and bond with a mate. So, to me in handfeeding you become the parent and seems to me this could mess up the bonding process for you and your baby. Having said that, I do know people that have handfeed and are bonded very well with ther babies.

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Yes, I've been wondering about that too. I've been seeing something interesting with my Cassie (Senegal Parrot). I'm not sure if a grey would act the same or maybe it's about their personality but Cassie is very strongly bonded with the breeders and me. For the past month, after Cassie and I bonded, I visited with my breeder friends with her and oh gosh she missed them badly. As soon as she saw them her eyes pinned and she wanted their attention badly but to my amazement she happily came back to me with her eyes pinned and wanted to be cuddled. She's so sweet. I'm so hoping my future baby grey will have a good personality too.

---- Kimberley

Not to burst any bubbles but Angela19 is right. Bad idea to get an unweaned baby without any garantie for replacement. Tells me that the breeder doesn't want ANY responsibility as far as you finishing up the process. And it is soooo easy to mess up and actually kill the baby, it is probably the reason WHY she has no garantie. The hand feeding has no bearing on the bonding process I can assure you. On the contrary, I do greatly believe in co-parenting and leaving the weaning to the parents. The babies become very balanced. They do bond to you regardless, don't get fooled by people saying that you will bond better if you hand feed. It is just not so.

PS : I am a breeder.

Yes, I've been wondering about that too. I've been seeing something interesting with my Cassie (Senegal Parrot). I'm not sure if a grey would act the same or maybe it's about their personality but Cassie is very strongly bonded with the breeders and me. For the past month, after Cassie and I bonded, I visited with my breeder friends with her and oh gosh she missed them badly. As soon as she saw them her eyes pinned and she wanted their attention badly but to my amazement she happily came back to me with her eyes pinned and wanted to be cuddled. She's so sweet. I'm so hoping my future baby grey will have a good personality too.

That's very sweet, I wish you the best of luck with Cassie and your new baby if you decided to get him/her. Post Pics

Please give a LOT of thought into the way you want to bring your baby Grey into your life! They are very smart and if not well adjusted, are well known to be pluckers......

I would greatly suggest you to find a weaned Grey or even an adult Grey who is showing interest in you already if you are concerned about bonding.

I do think that feeding the baby helps with bonding, not to say that you can't bond without doing it. I just think that it makes the bonding process, trust etc. quicker. What I would be concerned with (again, I am a worrier) is having a grey in a classroom situation. I may be totally wrong here, however I have been reading & reading everything I can find on Cags. I think that they are very sensitive to change and lots of noise,chaos. I think that the bird might find having lots of little kids around challenging. I have been wondering for so long if I would be successful at raising one. I have two children here, they are 11 & 14 year old girls. I think that they are old enough quiet enough, calm enough that we would do well with a grey. Maybe you have to rethink your original plan with this breed being right in the middle of things. I don't know, hopefully someone with alot more knowledge about them will jump in. I do think that having a bird in the middle of children, songs, the kids hearing the bird speak etc. is a great idea. Just not sure if a grey is the right choice. Hopefully someone will jump in with the answer.

Well it depends on the Grey. That is why often time with this breed, it is so beneficial to meet the Grey has an adult so you have an idea of his temperament and if he is a good match for the situation you live in.

My CAG is a hand fed 3 year old girl. She is a bit neurotic, shy, afraid of everything. She is bonded to me but will step up for my husband and son ONLY. She would NOT do well in any kind of crowd situation. She will talk only if no one is around, she gets mum otherwise.

I got Ida fully weaned. I wasn't able to see her until the day I went to pick her up, due to distance. She didn't love me the 1st couple days, but has bonded to me quite strongly. I personally do not think finishing weaning creates a stronger bond. In my opinion your baby will bond with you if you give it love, time, and attention. Weaned or unweaned. I say make sure the baby is fully weaned.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts! I will certainly give this a lot more thought and talk with the breeders again. I definitely want the best start for my baby grey. I also have high hopes that the baby I get will have a good personality.

--- Kimberley Smith

I have had my baby grey for about a month now. I'm not really the type to take advice from yet but I'd say try to find a weaned baby. Also try to find a hand feed baby. They are much more used to people and are easier to handle. There are people on here with loads more experience but no matter what your decision is, you can develop a bond with any grey so I wish you best of luck in your decision.

I think if the person will show you how to handfeed, you should be fine. I did the same with my eclectus. I didn't know how to handfeed until a friend came over and showed me. My eclectus is now 2 years old, and he is doing great.

Hi,

A little update. I talked with my bird breeder friends about the baby grey today. They said they would be happy to wean the baby and while the baby is being handfed, I can spend time with the baby too! Yay! The only downside is I need to save $1100 now. They want a little more for the baby if they wean the baby grey. Whew, but if it means a happy healthy baby and less worries, I'm all for it. I'm so excited now. The wait begins....

The breeders told me that they try hard not to disturb the breeding pair but they will check for eggs in October. She said that the pair is spending a lot of time in the nest box. YAY. I will keep you updated with the news of the new baby and I will take pictures of the baby the first time I get to see him/her. They won't be taking the baby away from the parents until 3 weeks old.

Thank you all for your thoughts!

--- Kimberley