Would be interesting to find out how many people buy a grey just for the talking factor! I have seen adverts and been on other forums where greys get to say 2 years of age and dont talk much, people decide to get rid of them! This really annoys me and I feel sometimes this is the reason for a lot of re-homes and some of the birds get less attention than they should which could lead to behaviour problems. My Charlie only says a few words and it really wouldnt bother me if he didnt say anymore, I love him for who he is as I do with my other pets. I also dont think people realise what time is involved with looking after a grey properly and respect those people who come on here and do their homework before they purchase a grey. Just my thought for the day!
To be honest Caroline i don't think many people will put their hands up & admit it was the talking factor that attracted them to acquiring a grey, but I'm sure for some people it was the case.It does seem at times that speaking is a big issues for some owners. I for one never got my greys for their mimicking ability.They have far more to offer , speech was just an added bonus alongside their complex personalities.
Ok, hands up ! At age 13 I was intrigued w/ the breed because of the talking. After thorough research trough life I became attracted to the more reason of owning an African Grey. I feel my reason now is because of its beauty,personality and companionship.Like Tracy said, the speech is a bonus.
I had just recently lost a bird who was a GREAT talker, a gorgeous eclectus. I wanted a bird that did not look like him, so I would not expect it be like him, and I have been interested in greys for a long time. I wanted a bird who would probably do at least some talking because I had grown used to having birdie conversation, but that was not the main thing for me. I was fascinated by the obvious intelligence and sensitivity of these birds. Jenna is a baby and does not talk yet, but I love her sounds and vocalizations, so even if she never talks, I will be happy with her :-)
People who have never owned a Parrot have no idea the time and patience it takes .All I can say is the Grey is the most awesome creature on earth .I would love mine if he never spoke .The beauty of just watching them at play , is so rewarding .They can comunicate without speech . It's like my female dog , she was born naturally docked .The first vet who she saw when she was a puppy said , "oh she won't have a personality" ...I never went back .Well my dog is 8 years old and you should see her wiggle her b hind , it is so cute .So they don't have to talk to express themselves.
People really should take note to all the post about how everyone fusses over their birds .They take a lot of time, and it is aweful to get rid of one because they don't.
Mary
Human talking that parrots do is most of the time, just mimicing. The greatest achievement is when you learn what the parrot is saying all day long in it's language. My parrots don't have to talk to me in the human language cause I know everything they're saying to me all day long and it takes a certain amount of a parrot to person verbal relationship to develop but one day it does happen and human talking isn't important. Each of my birds say a different thing but apply it to the exact same thing such as going to sleep.
1 bangs his bell around. 1 starts to try and lift his water bowl up. 1 gives out a partial wolf whistle. My 2 quakers walk on the bottom of the cage squawking a special squawk that they don't do during the day.
To me, thats the best communication but I can understand that human talking would be important to others.
Dave
**Happiness is a State of Mind. Not Happy? Change your Mind**
I got a grey because on their intel and their not so clingy steriotype. I didn't want a really needy bird like a cockatoo or a loud bird like a Macaw or Amazon. I can't lie, I loved the fact that they were the best talkers in the parrot world, but I really didn't care if the grey I got would talk.
Elmo has become quite a talker, with a vocab that seems to get bigger and clearer every week. Right now Elmo's contact call it "I love you", and hearing a pet call that out pulls on every heart string.
The big intrigue for myself was the intelligence of the Grey and being able to use reasoning. Dr. Pepperbergs studies highlighted that greatly and brought it to the public eye more than any other in history.
The communication abilities of course are of great importance in demonstrating the level of understanding these creatures have.
As Dave said, paying careful attention to your Grey's actions, body language and sometimes speech as a whole, tells you precise communications at times. At other times, they are just happily singing, making noises and whistling just because they want to. :-)
Dayo now "Mocks" the Mockingbird morning song due to hearing it every morning for the last Month. I had to do a double check yesterday, to make sure one had not flown into our house. B)<br><br>Post edited by: danmcq, at: 2008/05/31 15:08
Within all of us is a varying amount of space lint and star dust, the residue from our creation. Most are too busy to notice it, and it is stronger in some than others. It is strongest in those of us who fly and is responsible for an unconscious, subtle desire to slip into some wings and try for the elusive boundaries of our origin. ~K.O. Eckland, "Footprints On Clouds"
Dayo in flight....
Not I. As a matter of fact my owning a grey was never a thought till a bird club member called me and told me Que's story.
First buyer backed out cause of her scissor beak and she was 6 months old and needed a home soon.
Even when I went to look at the bird I was still thinking no. But when Que made that cooing sound I was in love. {Love-00020118}
I have never gotten any bird expecting it to talk and would tell anyone who ask that wanting a bird for the talking is the the worst reason to get a bird and get a new human friend instead. JMO
Oh yeah, I get people in the store all the time saying they want a talking bird. I flat out tell them that not every bird will talk and that the greys won't even start to talk until they are a year old. Then I ask them why else they want a bird...most of these people have nothing to say to that. After their silence I tell them the novelty of a talking bird is short lived and that parrots live very long lives of 5o+ years. If that doesn't drive them out of the bird department then telling them the cost does. LOL, I had a woman looking at our large flight of Lady Gouldian Finches and start asking me questions about them. I start telling her all about the care and upkeep when she cuts me off by asking me...no lie..."How well do they talk?" Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! I started laughing and then I realized that she was serious. I told her, "No, they don't talk...but the male will sing." Then she turned to the finch wall and asked "Well, which one of these do?" I could not believe my ears!!! I told her that no finches will talk, just parrots. As always when I told her how much the Greys and Macaws cost she walked away. Some people not only should never have pets but should really be taken out of the gene pool too.<br><br>Post edited by: BMustee, at: 2008/06/01 05:15
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