Yeah, yeah I copied the idea! But I thought it would be cool to hear why you all chose your CAG or TAG?

The idea for a CAG was first put into my head by watching Einstein perform on PetStar on Animal Planet. I was amazed. I started researching a little bit, but I was a freshman in college and still living in the dorms. I had originally planned on getting a Sugar Glider when I moved into an apartment, but then...

It was an accident running into her breeder (called her about an ad in the paper for a house for rent). She happened to breed CAGs, among many others, so I decided it was fate. Ollie's much better than a Sugar Glider!

zuppy was a complete accident!

a woman i knew asked me to buy a grey from her husband.. he was like lisa B's emma... altho i fell for christy and could afford the innital costs after sitting down and going thru things i realised that i couldnt afford his vets bills no matter how much i wanted

i talked a friend of mine, who at the time had just lost her grey aged 42yrs, into going to look at christie

we found christie in a dog carrier cage with no perches with another baby grey both were covered in dried in formula and were shivering...

my friend came home with christie and i came home with the other baby (zuppy) a day later

From when I started researching the possibilty of a Parrot as a pet, I have been facsinated by African Greys. I think that it is thier intelligence, and ability to learn speech, that first drew me to them. I decided that I would own one some day- I wasn't out looking for one, but knew that when the right one came around, I'd know. I had also read a lot on the virtues of TAG's vs CAGs, and thought that I probably wanted a TAG- They seemed to have an easier going disposition, and seemed a little less prone to problems like feather plucking down the line.

We were at a bird show getting toys for the other 2 birds (Miro, the Severe Macaw, And Ms. 'Clectus, the Eclectus), and just had to go play with the baby parrots... Marlow sold herself to us- When we opened her cage door, she jumped right out onto our hand, and said 'Hello'... She was still quite young, but already doing a bit of talking. She was the SWEETEST grey that I had ever run across- and still is- She just LOVES people!

That was what got me hooked! However, from this past Christmas to February, we followed up on two CAG's. I really didn't care if it was either, just as long as they were happy! And so, we are happy!

Ohh I love all these stories!

My college professor is the first one that introduced me to birds. She had an African Grey that she loved! And she had the best and funniest stories about them. A few years ago Evan (my hubby) bought me a book on them and I finished it the same day. AGs were our dream bird! Their beauty and intelligence is what sold me.

When I was 11 years old, my next door neighbor had a parrot that could say several words and I had always thought it was impossible; that parrots could only talk in the movies. When I realized they could say English words, I was forever fascinated by parrots. I got my first book on African greys that said they had a vocabulary of up to 1000 words. I though to my self, I got to have one! The years rolled by and I hand not even bought a budgie. Not to long ago, I bought a Quaker, but I originally wanted a grey but the store clerk talked me out of it. I was Amazed at the character the Quaker had and would have been just fine with him until one day he flew away when cleaning his cage. About 2 years has passed and I said to my self, I am going to get a Grey and no one is going to stop me .

Some of you may remember my story about Libby. It's a sad story.

LIBBY (Tag) My friend was blind, his wife as well. They had had Libby for over 10 years. She was Ricks child, his reason for living. Rick would let Libby wonder around on his lani but when it was time to go back into her cage...he couldn't always find her. Rick would call me to get her back inside. When Rick got cancer. The doctor told him to immediatly get rid of the bird because of his illness. Rick was in a Hospice with no hope of returning home. He was begining the dying process...being in never-never land, not recognizing loved ones, hallusinating...His wife , Marie, and I were standing by his bedside one evening, she was trying to get some response from him. She would point to a clock and ask Rick what it was, his reply would be something like ; cluck for today. Who am I? Marie asked him; you are my home, his answer. Marie then pointed to me and asked him, who is this? He perked up and as clear as could be answered; Libby's new mom!
Rick died that evening knowing that Libby had a new, good mom.


Boca (Cag) After living with Libby, I found out what a joy Greys could be. I saw an add in the paper...someone was selling six birds, one, a Congo. I went to see her and was apalled by their living conditions. Each bird had food and water but that was all. The owner admitted that they had all been basicly ignored for almost three years. (other than feeding)
Boca came to live with me two days later.

Oh Susan your story of Libby brought tears to my eyes! I am so glad you have her now and he could die knowing she was well taken care of!

For me, it was the challenge of developing a relationship with such a complex, sensitive and intelligent species. I have two CAGS and they could not be more different personality-wise. Gabby is a shy-talker (actually is much more inclined to mimic sounds and whistles than to speak) but very outgoing with strangers (she will go to anyone) and I can lay her upside down in my hand and scratch her neck at will. Jello, on the other hand, is a fantastic talker and has a tremendous vocabulary but she is much more stand-offish. Jello likes to perch on me but she does not like to be touched -- she is not nearly as tactile as Gabby. Jello will, however, go out of her way to come looking for me on foot. She likes to always have me in her line of vision if she is not on my shoulder or arm. Each of my greys are unique and very dear to me. I love the fact that they are so different!