First Time CAG Owner

Hello
Good luck with the Grey!
You did not say how old the bird is?
First NEVER let the cat or dog alone with Buzz ,
Not for a second.
Try to let him out for playtime about 2 hours a day,
They are not the best flyers so the mirrors are not a great concern.
Give him a varied diet with pellets to supplement.
A few peanuts, almonds and pistachio nuts as a treat,
No avacoto, coffee, or chocolate.
Check out some of the bird club sites for information.
Long island bird club, for one. My 8 yr. old grey is free flighted, but I
live alone. Don't clip wings to much, they fall pretty hard and can be
injured.
My grey loves to perch on my hand, shoulder and head.
He is a real good friend.
Hope you have half of the pleasure that I get from my bird. There is nothing
so satisfying!
Aledude.
"Captain Jake" <johnjac76[nospam]@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:SMednVTx9vwe0OKiU-KYhA@comcast.com...
>
> I am getting a CAG this next week, and as a new owner I have a lot of
> questions.
>
> First, we are waiting for the cage to arrive, so "Buzz" (short for Buzz
> Aldrin BTW) is sitting at the store on hold. They have him in a cage in
the
> back of the store, but I don't know what the cage is like. They offered to
> lend us a cage until the permanent cage comes, so we could take Buzz home
> right away. We figured that it would be too traumatic to put him into the
> borrowed cage and then put him into another cage when his permanent cage
> comes, so we are simply waiting for the permanent cage to come before we
> gring him home from the store. It is supposed to arrive this next week. We
> want Buzz's transition into our home to go as smoothly as possible. But
are
> we being too timid?
>
> Also, I want to make this apartment as parrot-safe as possible. What
things
> do I need to look out for that might not seem obvious? Are large mirrors a
> problem if his wings are clipped? My bathroom has a huge mirror over the
> sink. Do I need to cover that mirror when Buzz is out and about, or would
it
> be no problem?
>
> In addition, I am concerned about making sure the cat and dog don't cause
any
> problem. Do I need to lock the cat in
> another room while Buzz is out of his cage (never unattended of course)?
>
> Also, I have seen "shower perches" in bird catalogs. Buzz has never had an
> actual shower of any kind so I wonder if taking him into the shower might
be
> too traumatic at first? How easily do CAG's adapt to showers?
>
> Finally, I need to decide where to place the cage. I have read that CAG's
> like the cage to be against a wall so they can feel somewhat secure, but
the
> only place in the living room where the cage would have the long side
against
> against anything like a wall is in front of the balcony window/door, which
> has vertical blinds. My wife is concerned that this location could be a
bit
> cold and/or drafty in the winter. The location she prefers in on the right
> hand side of the sofa about four from the stairs. I'm concerned that such
a
> location might be a bit stressful for a young parrot since the dog rushes
> past there all excited when he knows he is going out, and the only side of
> the cage that could be against the wall there is the short side. Another
> location we have considered is th computer room, which is "bedroom". In
that
> location the cage can be longwise against the wall, but Buzz will be away
> from all the action.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> --
>
> ***Free Your Mind***
>
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

"Glenn H. VanGraafeiland" <aledude.DeleteThis@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:ewIfb.203$uz1.168@news01.roc.ny...
> Hello
> Good luck with the Grey!
> You did not say how old the bird is?
> First NEVER let the cat or dog alone with Buzz ,
> Not for a second.
> Try to let him out for playtime about 2 hours a day,
> They are not the best flyers so the mirrors are not a great concern.
> Give him a varied diet with pellets to supplement.
> A few peanuts, almonds and pistachio nuts as a treat,

Absolutely not salted though!!!
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

I stand corrected.
No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
Am I worried about her going to other people?
No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
physical condition of their friends.
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

"Steve" <stephen RemoveThis @lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2099497a.0310060209.43fd0cba@posting.google.com...
> I stand corrected.
> No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
> Am I worried about her going to other people?
> No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
> they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
> physical condition of their friends.

But if there were viruses around which could not be seen and *would* cause
the death of your children and for which there was no cure, no innoculation,
would you *still* have allowed your kids to mix with potential carriers?
Imagine A.I.D.S with no need for body fluids to be exchanged, but a simple
contact by brushing against them or being in the home of someone who is a
carrier and where the virus is on every surface. Would you let your kids
play with or visit then? This is what PDD and PBFD is like.For someone like
me who has lots of birds the threat of these 2 in particular, makes my blood
run cold. For one lapse, might mean that I watch as one by one, my birds
die, with no chance of saving them. I would not be able to visit my bird
keeping friends, nor would they be able to visit me, until every one of my
birds died, or was put to sleep and my home treated with a fungicide, then
wait for 6 months and get perhaps another bird and watch it in fear in case
the virus is still here.God it is too horrible to even think about.
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

"oldmolly" <oldmolly1 DeleteThis @ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:<vWcgb.7936$QH3.4907@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...
> "Steve" <stephen DeleteThis @lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:2099497a.0310060209.43fd0cba@posting.google.com...
> > I stand corrected.
> > No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
> > Am I worried about her going to other people?
> > No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
> > they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
> > physical condition of their friends.
>
> But if there were viruses around which could not be seen and *would* cause
> the death of your children and for which there was no cure, no innoculation,
> would you *still* have allowed your kids to mix with potential carriers?
> Imagine A.I.D.S with no need for body fluids to be exchanged, but a simple
> contact by brushing against them or being in the home of someone who is a
> carrier and where the virus is on every surface. Would you let your kids
> play with or visit then? This is what PDD and PBFD is like.For someone like
> me who has lots of birds the threat of these 2 in particular, makes my blood
> run cold. For one lapse, might mean that I watch as one by one, my birds
> die, with no chance of saving them. I would not be able to visit my bird
> keeping friends, nor would they be able to visit me, until every one of my
> birds died, or was put to sleep and my home treated with a fungicide, then
> wait for 6 months and get perhaps another bird and watch it in fear in case
> the virus is still here.God it is too horrible to even think about.


No offence intended but should I put her in a glass case?
She can't go walkies on the floor in case she gets some carpet fibres
in her stomach.
She can't fly around in case she bangs into windows.
She can't have her wings clipped in case she falls off her cage.
She can't meet people in case they have held a bird with a virus.
She can't go to the vets in case there is another parrot in the
waiting room.
She can't fly outside in case she picks up a mite
Not much of a life for my pal is it?
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

In article <2099497a.0310070614.677fe5d4.RemoveThis@posting.google.com>
stephen.RemoveThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk (Steve) wrote:
>
> "oldmolly" <oldmolly1.RemoveThis@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:<vWcgb.7936$QH3.4907@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...
> > "Steve" <stephen.RemoveThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:2099497a.0310060209.43fd0cba@posting.google.com...
> > > I stand corrected.
> > > No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
> > > Am I worried about her going to other people?
> > > No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
> > > they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
> > > physical condition of their friends.
> >
> > But if there were viruses around which could not be seen and *would* cause
> > the death of your children and for which there was no cure, no innoculation,
> > would you *still* have allowed your kids to mix with potential carriers?
> > Imagine A.I.D.S with no need for body fluids to be exchanged, but a simple
> > contact by brushing against them or being in the home of someone who is a
> > carrier and where the virus is on every surface. Would you let your kids
> > play with or visit then? This is what PDD and PBFD is like.For someone like
> > me who has lots of birds the threat of these 2 in particular, makes my blood
> > run cold. For one lapse, might mean that I watch as one by one, my birds
> > die, with no chance of saving them. I would not be able to visit my bird
> > keeping friends, nor would they be able to visit me, until every one of my
> > birds died, or was put to sleep and my home treated with a fungicide, then
> > wait for 6 months and get perhaps another bird and watch it in fear in case
> > the virus is still here.God it is too horrible to even think about.
>
>
> No offence intended but should I put her in a glass case?
> She can't go walkies on the floor in case she gets some carpet fibres
> in her stomach.
> She can't fly around in case she bangs into windows.
> She can't have her wings clipped in case she falls off her cage.
> She can't meet people in case they have held a bird with a virus.
> She can't go to the vets in case there is another parrot in the
> waiting room.
> She can't fly outside in case she picks up a mite
> Not much of a life for my pal is it?

You're kind of a smarty pants aren't you? I do believe you owe
oldmolly an apology.
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

In article <2099497a.0310070614.677fe5d4.DeleteThis@posting.google.com>
stephen.DeleteThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk (Steve) wrote:
>
> "oldmolly" <oldmolly1.DeleteThis@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:<vWcgb.7936$QH3.4907@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...
> > "Steve" <stephen.DeleteThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> > news:2099497a.0310060209.43fd0cba@posting.google.com...
> > > I stand corrected.
> > > No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
> > > Am I worried about her going to other people?
> > > No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
> > > they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
> > > physical condition of their friends.
> >
> > But if there were viruses around which could not be seen and *would* cause
> > the death of your children and for which there was no cure, no innoculation,
> > would you *still* have allowed your kids to mix with potential carriers?
> > Imagine A.I.D.S with no need for body fluids to be exchanged, but a simple
> > contact by brushing against them or being in the home of someone who is a
> > carrier and where the virus is on every surface. Would you let your kids
> > play with or visit then? This is what PDD and PBFD is like.For someone like
> > me who has lots of birds the threat of these 2 in particular, makes my blood
> > run cold. For one lapse, might mean that I watch as one by one, my birds
> > die, with no chance of saving them. I would not be able to visit my bird
> > keeping friends, nor would they be able to visit me, until every one of my
> > birds died, or was put to sleep and my home treated with a fungicide, then
> > wait for 6 months and get perhaps another bird and watch it in fear in case
> > the virus is still here.God it is too horrible to even think about.
>
>
> No offence intended but should I put her in a glass case?
> She can't go walkies on the floor in case she gets some carpet fibres
> in her stomach.
> She can't fly around in case she bangs into windows.
> She can't have her wings clipped in case she falls off her cage.
> She can't meet people in case they have held a bird with a virus.
> She can't go to the vets in case there is another parrot in the
> waiting room.
> She can't fly outside in case she picks up a mite
> Not much of a life for my pal is it?

You're kind of a smarty pants aren't you? I do believe you owe
oldmolly an apology.
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

"PMD" <Anonymous-Remailer.RemoveThis@See.Comment.Header> wrote in message
news:8E3CXD2Z37901.7026736111@bogg.dynu.com...
> In article <2099497a.0310070614.677fe5d4.RemoveThis@posting.google.com>
> stephen.RemoveThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk (Steve) wrote:
> >
> > "oldmolly" <oldmolly1.RemoveThis@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:<vWcgb.7936$QH3.4907@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net>...
> > > "Steve" <stephen.RemoveThis@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
> > > news:2099497a.0310060209.43fd0cba@posting.google.com...
> > > > I stand corrected.
> > > > No more coffee for Geordie but apple juice sounds like a good idea.
> > > > Am I worried about her going to other people?
> > > > No, My kids (grown now) were more valuable to me than a parrot but
> > > > they went to school, swimming etc and I didn't worry about the
> > > > physical condition of their friends.
> > >
> > > But if there were viruses around which could not be seen and *would*
cause
> > > the death of your children and for which there was no cure, no
innoculation,
> > > would you *still* have allowed your kids to mix with potential
carriers?
> > > Imagine A.I.D.S with no need for body fluids to be exchanged, but a
simple
> > > contact by brushing against them or being in the home of someone who
is a
> > > carrier and where the virus is on every surface. Would you let your
kids
> > > play with or visit then? This is what PDD and PBFD is like.For someone
like
> > > me who has lots of birds the threat of these 2 in particular, makes my
blood
> > > run cold. For one lapse, might mean that I watch as one by one, my
birds
> > > die, with no chance of saving them. I would not be able to visit my
bird
> > > keeping friends, nor would they be able to visit me, until every one
of my
> > > birds died, or was put to sleep and my home treated with a fungicide,
then
> > > wait for 6 months and get perhaps another bird and watch it in fear in
case
> > > the virus is still here.God it is too horrible to even think about.
> >
> >
> > No offence intended but should I put her in a glass case?
> > She can't go walkies on the floor in case she gets some carpet fibres
> > in her stomach.
> > She can't fly around in case she bangs into windows.
> > She can't have her wings clipped in case she falls off her cage.
> > She can't meet people in case they have held a bird with a virus.
> > She can't go to the vets in case there is another parrot in the
> > waiting room.
> > She can't fly outside in case she picks up a mite
> > Not much of a life for my pal is it?
>
> You're kind of a smarty pants aren't you? I do believe you owe
> oldmolly an apology.
>
Ignore that Steve, t'wasn't me, the idiot's back.

PMD
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner 

"Steve" <stephen.TakeThisOut@lifeofriley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2099497a.0310070614.677fe5d4@posting.google.com...
> No offence intended but should I put her in a glass case?
> She can't go walkies on the floor in case she gets some carpet fibres
> in her stomach.
> She can't fly around in case she bangs into windows.
> She can't have her wings clipped in case she falls off her cage.
> She can't meet people in case they have held a bird with a virus.
> She can't go to the vets in case there is another parrot in the
> waiting room.
> She can't fly outside in case she picks up a mite
> Not much of a life for my pal is it?
(sigh)

I think that you underestimate the devastating result of pdd and pbfd. I
think you also underestimate the risks.
Of course, if you are happy to expose your parrot to the (very real) risks,
that's up to you. I know I do everything possible to protect my parrots from
those particular risks.
 >> Stay informed about: First Time CAG Owner