well its my daughters actually. She wanted another puppy but after the trouble with the last one and having to rehome him I said no more dogs. So yesterday she bought an African grey parrot who is 14 weeks old and sooooo sweet. She has called him charlie and I am not allowed to talk to him incase he bonds with me and not her. But she is going into hospital tomorrow and will be away for a week so I might get a bit of sneaky bonding in.

I'm sorry, but why buy a parrot, or any animal, when you know that you are going into hospital for a while? Why couldn't she wait? Or leave it with the breeder until she came home? After all, if she only bought it yesterday she wouldn't have to wait long.

I knew someone who had one of those he was really, really possessive of his owner, he would squawk like a lunatic when her boyfriend came over. :-D and he used to peck him if out of the cage, the minute she spoke on the phone he was nighmare, it was all me, me, me. :-D

He did learn to talk really fast though. Oh, give me a puppy anytime, the one I knew was darn hard work. :-P

Grey parrots are great great entertainment!!! :D :D

We have 2 Cockatiels but hope to get a Macaw one day, a Blue and Yellow one!

i do love parrots, they are a big commitment and greys do tend to bond to one person, and usally the opisit sex.  Also because of they are such long lived, you quite often see older ones in the paper, onces the novilty has worn off jobs, children and change of circumstances means they no longer have the time.  They can also become quite nosy and demanding.  Don't get me wrong i'm not saying this will happen, i would recommed getting a book on training parrots espically if you start off now whilst young, like a dog it will be easier, knogs are also good for parrots like with dogs you can hid treats in there.   

Our African Grey (Timneh) certainly only bonded with one person and that was my Mum.  He tolerated my dad and me but hated my brother with a passion (a surprisingly good judge of character ;) ) but if mum was around we didn't get a look in.  He was an excellent talker and could do a convincing imitation of every one of us.  He  also used to drive the dog insane by calling her in impersonation one of us :D He picked up on every little noise....squeaked every time the fridge door opened even long after the fridge was replaced for one with a squeak-free door and every time the kettle was clicked on, he would ask 'do you want a cup of tea?' (frightened the life out of more than one tradesman working at the house:D :D).  Also frightened the life out of me one night when I was staying over several years after I'd moved out of home and had crept in to get a drink of water.  I heard my Mum's  voice say 'what are you doing?' and it took me so by surprise that I dropped the glass!!  His impressions were THAT good!

I often think I would like a parrot again (i used to have an orange-winged Amazon myself) but then I remember the noise and the destruction and think better of it!!  You only think a dog can be destructive until you see the damage a beak can do.  My Mum's house still bears many scars from the parrot years

Grey parrots are great great entertainment

hmmm sorry but a parrot is as much of a comitment as a dog.....more so in terms of specialist care often required. And why would anyone buy one as they are about to go into hospital??? sorry but whole thinng souds highly iresponsible to me!

Good grief...the girls only going in to hospital for a week! Some of you make it sound like a crime
Im sure the
op is perfectly capable of parrot sitting. 

I have 2 cockatiels which are just missing the parrot family and know how demanding they can be!

I also have a dog, they all get on well, although I would never let them out with Mitz around!

I would bond with him too or he might bite you when he is bigger :D ouch!!

I got a new baby at the weekend too, a baby tortoise called Fluffy!! :D He is sweet too :)

she lives at home with me and my other two sons so I cant see what the problem is with her going into hospital as the parrot would be in the same enviroument whether she is here or not.
I have had a grey before so know how to look after them and the novelty will not wear off. My grey was bonded to me and would not go to anyone else that is why she wants to do everything for it so it will bond with her. My grey was a female but she was hand reared by a woman so maybe that is why she bonded with me as opposed to a man. She actually hated men and would bite them for no reason. She also didnt like children much and would hang on the door handle for a crafty bite if one walked past. The dogs and cats were all frightened of her as well.

I hope that your daughter is ok kizzistaff and that you enjoy your parrot :) And please take no notice of those who say its irresponsible. Frankly their arguments are pathetic. Your daughter has made perfectly adequate arrangements for pet care, and they cant possible reasonably argue against that.

thank you pinklilies. the other posters may have thought he was going to be left alone for a week I should maybe have been clearer. My daughter is going to be in the brompton so I wont be able to visit as its too far and I dont drive. I would like to stay down there for a few days but cant leave the animals so will just have to make do with ringing the hospital. She is having surgery today so will be anxious all day untill I know she is ok.

Anyway, if they really live that long, what's a week matter in a lifetime??? Hope your family enjoy their new member, it sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

just seen the tortoise post. Baby tortoises are so sweet and their shell looks so new and beautifully marked. I have a very old tortoise, about 35 years old and he is still sweet although his shell is a bit dull looking now.

>I have a very old tortoise, about 35 years old

According to this site among others, tortoises have a similar lifespan to humans, although some have been known to live well over 100 years. So your tortoise is in his prime!

They reckon if you can't get them to sixty you have done something wrong, since I'll be over 100 by then my younger daughter has been told she will be left him in my will :D

My mums tortoise (toddles) was left to her from her mum he is now over 90!
he is a great charactor and also ran away from home once! he was missing for 2 weeks! he was found 2 streets away........
my mum is leaving him with me when she finally pops off!!!

I believe the oldest (a galapagos giant) celebrated its 275th birthday either this year or last, and she's still going strong as far as I know.

We have an African Grey...
One thing I would "advise" you on is that the baby should be handled by as many people as possible!!
This way he should not over bond with just one person. It will make everybodys life easier.
Our parrot Poppy is more bonded with me than my partner but will let most people touch and handle her.
It is not mentally good for anybody(parrot included) for him to be too bonded on one person.
If you daughter wants a link to a excellent friendly parrot forum PM me and I can give it to you!
Good luck with your new baby, they really can be so much fun!! But also need training and quite firm upbringing to avoid problems later!

Our baby:
<a class='url' href='http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/nooraloo/'>http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/nooraloo/</a>

And it is actually "old wifes tale" that parrot will bond with opposite sex to themselves:rolleyes:

Oh Noora, impressed with the flying outdoors!  how wonderful.  I personally am terrified of all birds, maybe I should meet someone with a 'friendly' bird who could maybe just maybe help me overcome my irrational fear. 

I don't know Lesley, I'm terrified of them as well and I still hate it when my daughters budgie flutters in its cage after 3 years, if it is flying round the room , I'm not there! :D

noora have sent you a pm

Aaaaaaaaaw I love african grey parrots- there is a 6 month old in our paper for sale- doesn't say anymore then that...

I do have 2 budgies and a cockatiel in a parrot cage right now- in the future I would love to have a grey :) the reason for the parrot cage lol

Enjoy ur knew lil bundle- I too think it would be good for the parrot as well as everyone else if everybody played with him/her

Great pictures Noora, you'e obviously spent a great deal of time with your grey - she's lovely. What is that she's wearing outdoors? Great to see her flying and coming when called  :) Her playstation is very elaborate, lucky parrot :D

Fabulous living quarters and is she flown with jesses like a hawk attached to that line anchored in the ground.  Great that you give her some real flying exercise, looks like she has an interesting and fulfilling life with you.

I too wondered what she was wearing outdoors. Is it one of those harnesses for parrots and if so how do you get them used to wearing it. I have registered on the parrot site but as yet have not received my confirmation e mail so cant post. How did you train your grey and where did you get information was it from a book or video or mainly from the parrot forums.

Thank you for your nice comments.
I am a great believer in offering and animal as good life as possible or not having the animal at the first place.

Poppy is wearing a parrot harness. What a great invention as this way she can get out of the house and be safe and under control, go for walks (we go for coffee in the city centre) or to the park to have a fly. Keeps her mentally happy and busy to go to places instead of being stuck in the house like so many parrots are.
I have to say I found forums a great help in anything I need to know (doggy questions CD or Parroty forums for my parrot questions :) )
Kizzistaff I will PM you a name of a really good book about greys...

Can I be yourparrot next time pleeeeeeease?