I'm going to make it official now. I'm thinking of getting a Congo African Grey parrot. I found a breeder about an hour away that raises greys. Actually I don't think she breeds greys but she does breed other birds herself. The greys she gets at a young age but then raises them herself. What is nice is that she lets them fly in her home environment and doesn't clip them until the end and only if the customer wants that.
As you may have guessed, since I'm so interested in flying parrots and Kili flies already, I will not be getting a clipped bird for sure. I would appreciate to hear all information/experience available about flighted African Greys, African Grey - Senegal Parrot flock dynamics, African Grey problems and phobias etc.
I am thinking that if I keep the grey flighted, socialize it to Kili and other people early on, and train it in much the same way that I did Kili (but possibly better with all the experience at hand) that I may be able to overcome all the typical CAG problems like feather plucking, phobias, and biting. Opinions about that?
I've also been wondering what to expect between Kili and a new CAG. My hypothesis is that Kili would remain the dominant bird and if anything would bully the grey from childhood and the grey would learn to be her subordinate for life. However, what I worry about more is having two hard headed birds! That if the grey grows up and realizes that it is bigger and stands up to Kili. Kili would think she's hot stuff (not like she doesn't already) and might attack grey (and as a juvenile the grey might back down) but when its older it might stand its ground and fight back. If Kili thinks she is dominant and grey does not back down, I can only imagine a gory battle because Kili may be more fierce but an African Grey is certainly bigger.
So...
A) What are African Greys like (believe me I've been doing a lot of research but I want to hear it from you)
B) What problems should I expect from a CAG, do you think indoor freeflight solves them?
C) What is the difference between Timneh and Congo African Greys (I know all the physical differences and don't really care, I'm wondering more about personality)
D) What are flighted African Greys like?
E) How do African Greys get along with Senegal Parrots
Any other advice you may have for me? I know many of you own or have experience with greys and senegals so I'm interested what you may know. That's another reason that motivated me to take Kili to vet is in case she has any minor illness, that I would not want to be bringing a young immune deficient baby bird into that kind of household. I look forward to seeing your answers.