I do have a problem I could use some advice with but I'll bring that up later.First, I'm from South Florida (US), married, have 2 young daughters, and several pets. I don't think I have THAT many pets but some people do think I'm crazy to have them all. I've always had one pet or another my entire life. I've had birds, hamsters, a bearded dragon, iguana, dogs, sugar gliders, turtles, fish, and a ferret. Today I have 2 dogs, 2 ball pythons, 1 holland lop rabbit, 2 conures, fish, and very soon a CAG.
I started breeding and hand-rearing birds when I was in college. I had about 30 breeding pairs at one point (cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds and canaries). After a few years of that I grew tired of it and decided to sell them all and get a Congo African Grey. Since the business I sold my baby birds to trusted me, they let me take her home when she was only about 5-7 weeks old and I raised her myself.
Her name was Indiana and I had her for 11 years up until the dreadful day I made a terrible mistake out of ignorance and left an egg boiling unattended in a teflon pot on the stove. It burned and Indiana's fate was sealed. She was already getting treatments for aspergillosis so she didn't have a chance. That happened after sundown. The next morning I awoke to the sounds of horrific screams coming from her cage. I bolted out of bed and ran to her. I knew something was really very wrong because she sounded frantic. I found her at the bottom of the cage screaming and gasping for air. She died in my hands less than a minute after that. It was devastating. I had a necropsy done and found out it was the teflon. I felt horrible because I should have known about the dangers of teflon but I didn't. That happened 10 years ago and I still morn her today.
I decided that I was unfit to care for a parrot and haven't been able to bring myself to get another one. No other parrot interests me but African Greys, and I wasn't going to subject another African Grey to my carelessness. And so I deprived myself of the company of a bird for a very long time. Years passed and I realized how much I missed them when about 18 months ago I found myself visiting pet stores just so I could snuggle up to a parrot for a while, get my fill, and then go home.
One year ago this month, I adopted my sister's Dusky Cheek Conure because she couldn't care for it anymore. A couple months after that I got a Sun Conure because I felt Khalo needed a friend. Sunny & Khalo have been a lot of fun, but I still always felt I needed something more. I still can't look at an African Grey without feeling forlorn. Indiana was so special to me.
So finally I decided 2 weeks ago to just do it. I went to the same place we got Sunny from which hand raises birds and to pick out a CAG (I was so nervous!). The first little guy they brought out for me to see was it. He's the cutest thing ever and I feel somewhat repaired of that sadness although nothing could replace Indiana. Now I'm waiting for my baby CAG to be weaned so I can bring him home. S/he is about 8 weeks old now and I'm incredibly excited about it!
The first thing on my plate has been to read up on toxicosis and other dangers. I didn't know about avocados until this week. I also love seeing there's a niche of people out there who don't believe in clipping birds' wings. I never clip wings. It always seemed dangerous and cruel to see a bird struggling and flopping around unable to fend for itself. I think outdoor free flying is amazing and will be looking into that and harness training my new CAG. S/he's got no name yet. Tough job, finding the right name!
Ciao!
i don't recommend freeflight to anyone since i've heard to many sad stories and i probably won't do it again but if you feel you and your birds are able to i wish you good luck.
