Macaw or CAG?

[Matt]

I have been trying to acquire an African Grey. I have called 6 breeders now, none have had a CAG. 2 of them have had baby Macaws available for deposit. I haven't read as much on Macaws as I have CAG. My house is big enough for either bird. I have a room I am planning on converting into the birds room. My question is how different is caring for a macaw? I have read PETCO.Coms care guide for a macaw. It seemed very similar to what I have been expecting from CAG?

 

[QuackQuack]

I feel like they are very different birds and definitely different as far as size and sound are concerned. I would warn against getting a macaw because that is what is available. Find a breeder you like and put a deposit on the species that is right for you. Waiting isn't fun I know. If you really aren't sure what kind of bird you want, then it might be a good idea to hold off for a bit all together.

 

[cdog]

Macaws are extremely loud. Go to youtube type in screaming macaw and turn your volume all the way up, that is only a fraction of how loud they actually are. Not to mention they have huge beaks that can snap your finger off. I suggest you think long and hard about getting a macaw, unless you are talking about a hahns or noble macaw.

 

[Rio Mom]

You could look into getting a Grey from a rescue. That's where my Pepper Ann came from.

 

[Matt]

Thank you for the replies... I will continue my search for a CAG...Everything I've read CAG sounds great for me... the lady at the breeder told me they are very similar but I didn't trust her because she was very pushy to get me to agree to a deposit

 

[QuackQuack]

Thank you for the replies... I will continue my search for a CAG...Everything I've read CAG sounds great for me... the lady at the breeder told me they are very similar but I didn't trust her because she was very pushy to get me to agree to a deposit

She definitely just wanted to sell you a bird!

 

[Matt]

Thanks Quack! That's what I felt like and why I asked on forum

 

[Matt]

The breeder I was originally referred to was the most pleasant I've talked to. She only had conures and parrotlets though.

 

[RescueMe]

Lots of great birds are in rescues. Many CAG are in rescue and personalities are already known. Some of them do have behavioral problems, but many are just the result of poor timing and changes of the situations with families. What is your experience with birds? I hope that whatever decision you make is a great one!

 

[Matt]

My parents had a Quaker when I was growingup. When I had roommate he had a GCC. So I have some but not a lot of experience. I understand the commitment owning/caring for a bird is. I did talk to one Person that has a 20 year old grey they are looking to get rid of, I just tthink a bird that old would be difficult to care for?

 

[Mare Miller]

I think that all birds, no matter the age, will take a commitment to care for them. I came on to my umbrella cockatoo without ever being involved with a bird before. Let me tell you... what a journey it's been! I'm thinking older might be better because you don't have to go through the beginning hormonal stage. It will already be a solid part of this birds personality.

 

[Matt]

I think that all birds, no matter the age, will take a commitment to care for them. I came on to my umbrella cockatoo without ever being involved with a bird before. Let me tell you... what a journey it's been! I'm thinking older might be better because you don't have to go through the beginning hormonal stage. It will already be a solid part of this birds personality.

Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, i did not mean for it to sound like i was saying "a young bird will be easy to care for"...what can i expect from a 20 year old bird? are there any serious problems i need to look out for?

 

[Mare Miller]

I think that all birds, no matter the age, will take a commitment to care for them. I came on to my umbrella cockatoo without ever being involved with a bird before. Let me tell you... what a journey it's been! I'm thinking older might be better because you don't have to go through the beginning hormonal stage. It will already be a solid part of this birds personality.

Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, i did not mean for it to sound like i was saying "a young bird will be easy to care for"...what can i expect from a 20 year old bird? are there any serious problems i need to look out for?

Sorry, I can't help you out with that one, Amigo's only about 13yrs. now. Considering how long they live, he will definitely outlive me. So, now I have to think about who will give him a good home when I'm gone! My kids run away, screaming when I even mention it!

 

[Rio Mom]

I adopted Pepper in January, she is about eleven years old (don't know her exact age) She is such a joy to have been added to my flock.

 

[QuackQuack]

There isn't anything specific to look for except perhaps some diet related diseases a bird who was on bad food could get. I recently met an amazon who has an import band from 1960. He was also imported as an adult and he needs nothing extra. He is healthy and wwell groomed. I had a hard time believing his age honestly.

 

[oled]

My parents had a Quaker when I was growingup. When I had roommate he had a GCC. So I have some but not a lot of experience. I understand the commitment owning/caring for a bird is. I did talk to one Person that has a 20 year old grey they are looking to get rid of, I just tthink a bird that old would be difficult to care for?

If possible you should visit this 20 year old CAG meny time and se if he likes you. If, then test to take him home för some days and se how he react. Do this several time and see the reaction and sucessly adapt him to you and the inviroment.

This way is better than just take him directly to a new home but sometimes it is not possible

 

[Tarkus]

There isn't anything specific to look for except perhaps some diet related diseases a bird who was on bad food could get. I recently met an amazon who has an import band from 1960. He was also imported as an adult and he needs nothing extra. He is healthy and wwell groomed. I had a hard time believing his age honestly.

Yeah 52 is a very long lived Zon.
That being said I've run across a few amazons in their 40s so anything is possible. I also have found that even though diet etc was not very good back in the day wild caught birds seem to be longer lived. Just a personal observation.

There is no hard and fast rules about older birds. I've had a few greys come thru over the years that were in there 20s. Most had defined personalities and the new owners had a pretty good idea of what they were getting into.

Greys tend to be "what you see is what you get" parrots so hidden agendas are normaly not a problem. If they are going to pluck for instance the odds are that baring a very traumatic experience they are already plucking by 20.

The biggest issue would be if the bird is bonded to his "person". Not all are.

Be Big,
Alan

 

[Matt]

Thank you everyone for your replies. It is about a 70 minute drive from my house to the city the bird is in. The bird is at an aviary, i didn't really ask a lot of questions when i originally called. I think i will call them back tomorrow and set up a meeting for this weekend, Maybe he will work out for me.

 

[RescueMe]

I fostered 2 amazns that were in their late 40's over the winter. they were both very healthy and active for amazons. A grey in its 20's is not "old" by most standards. Care for adult birds of any age are pretty much the same assuming good health. When a bird is very aged sometimes evidence of arthritis can need special perches and attention to dietary needs. Good luck, a rescue can be a wonderful experience as long as you gointo it with both eyes open.

 

[Brenna_]

Hi Matt,

Cag's are amazing parrots! I had an amazing grey, I was misdiagnosed by my Doctor to be allergic to the Dust from my Grey. I had to very sadly rehome him and find out 2 weeks later , the rental house we were in to be covered in MOLD!

My CAG was so Awesome, He clucked like a Chicken and and called himself the Funky Chicken, We used to Dance and he would sing with me and what just a awesome friend! JB ( short for Jelly Belly ) was very spolied, I only housed him when I had to leave which was only a maybe a few hours a day, and or course at night. My kids would let him out when they woke up and he would climb down from the cage and walk down the hall , and come in my room looking for me!

He only talked and mimiced sounds, but he was still very quite. JB would scream for like 10 seconds once a week, which he was normally insid ehis cage hanging upside down. I shared my food with him every day, He loved to be cuddled and loved on and to just be with me!

Here is a Video of JB.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=223449771000647&set=vb.100000068763492&type=2&theater

I met a man named Brian from Mirco Brood Aviary (chicago area) at a Bird fair . This guy is very knowledgeable about birds, All of if birds were super tame and some would lay on thier backs. I really like a breeder who really puts alot of handling and socializing into thier babys/ birds. If you google " Micro Brood Aviary " there is nothing but great things people have to say about him and they birds they have gotten from him, which says alot!

I would like to get my next bird from him