Ollie is a very cuddly little girl at almost 22 months. After all the reading I've done from books and other's personal experiences, greys tend to become less cuddly and sweet as they mature. I'm just wondering how true this is based on your experience. For those of you with adult female cags, have you had them since they were young? Did you witness a noticeable behavior change with maturity? If so, at about what age should I expect this?

Camille, I have a male Cag who is 6. I have had him for less than a year. His previous owner said he was very mean and could not be handled. The first day I got him home he was stepping up and cuddling with me. Keep doing what you are doing. I have owned birds since I was four and it appears to me that you already know as much or more than I do. You must be doing something right.

Jessie is my TAG and is approaching around 25 years old, from what I know. I did not have her from a baby; in fact, she had several homes before finding her forever home with me. I was told she was vicious. The best analogy I can use to describe her personality would be if you took a goffin cockatoo and painted it grey with a maroon tail - she's that cuddly! All she needed was a little bit of love!

That's a very encouraging story, Kathie. Like Camille, I've been wondering how much my greys' personality will change when they become sexually mature. My first CAG -- Gabby -- will turn 3 later this year. I got her when she was only 13 weeks old. I can lay Gabby on her back in my hand and rub her belly for long spells at a time. She will lay her head back all the way and close her eyes in what I think appears to be total bliss!! I have always understood that greys are fairly stand-offish and not very open to being "handled". Gabby has, so far, defied that stereotype. My other CAG -- Jello -- is not nearly as "touchy-feely" as Gabby. She likes to stand on my arm and chatter away, but she is not fond of being petted or touched. Jello is about 6 months younger than Gabby. So I will be curious to hear about others' experiences with more mature greys.

Emma Lynn is 4, and so is Sydney.
They are both cuddle bugs and I havent noticed an ounce of change in either of them yet.
Sydney I have had since a baby, of about 9 weeks old. Emma was nearly 9 months old when I got her.

All if this is so good to hear! I sure hope Ollie doesn't change a bit- that would just be heartbreaking.

Mercy hated me but loved my mom... if she could have been surgically attached to her she would have been happy. That bird lived for her headscritches and snuggles each night. She loved nothing more then to be scooped up and loved on!
I really, really believe its on how the bird is raised. If the bird is raised with the expectation of they are going to turn older and not want to be touched- then why give them all the attention when they are younger if it will just 'go to waste' so to speak. But raise a baby that is used to being handled and enjoys it- voila, you have an Ollie, LOL.