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I am brand new to this site, and I want to pass along the biggest heartbreak I have ever experienced. My son, Sydney, flew away from home on 7/28/09. My husband and I adored him, and our lives revolved around him. I brought him home at 10 days old, (which is HIGHLY irregular) but, I had been wanting an African Gray Congo for 2 solid years, and did a ton of research. I went and met with a breeder in Largo-Clearwater Florida, (where we lived at the time) and she literally "grilled" me on my knowledge of Gray's, as she didn't want to send a baby home with someone that didn't know what they were doing. When she told me they had hatched on April 15th, and I was there on the 25th, and she said it would be several months before I could bring him home, I started to cry. Again, we went through the grilling process, and she allowed me to take him home that day. I had an incubator all set up, I got up every three hours for feedings, and I could not have loved this bird any more if I would have hatched him myself. We were blessed with him for 4 years. ( He turned 4 in April of 09)
I had back surgery in May, and at that time Syd was due for a wing clipping, and I always took him to the vet for that, because I couldn't bring myself to make him mad at me by doing it myself. Well, as I started to heal myself, I made an appointment for the clip on 8/3. On the 28th of July, I was taking him to his outside enclosure, (large enough for two grown men inside it, and my husband built it himself, and all of the perches...) I was walking the 5 steps from my back screen door to his cage on the deck, and my dog got my feet tangled in his chain. I had Syd on my finger, and always held on to his feet, (just in case) but I tripped, and fell. Syd got scared and flew off my finger. On that particular day, of ALL days, the wind was blowing about 30 miles an hour. He caught the updraft, and was about 30 feet in the air in seconds. He tried to come back down, and couldn't. The wind was blowing too hard. He turned around, and went with the wind, and we have not seen or heard from him since.
I have walked every square inch of a ten mile stretch in my rural community, and my husband and dog walk through the woods daily, calling, whistling.......nothing. Not even one time have we heard him scream for us. ( I KNOW he is looking for us too.)
I have posted over 100 flyers, (in sheet protectors to keep them dry), I have called every vet, shelter and pet store within 100 miles of our home, I have called radio and television stations and they have also done stories and blurbs on the radio, placed ads in the papers.......No Sydney.
Why am I telling you all of this????? Think about how you would feel if YOUR baby got out, and you didn't know if he was alive or dead, or if someone has him, or if a hawk got him, or if someone that has no idea how incredibly special he is got ahold of him, and could be mistreating him.....It is the most gut wrenching sick feeling I have ever experienced. I can't eat, I can't sleep, I cry all of the time. I have been with my husband for17 years, and I have seen him cry twice. Once when his mother died, and last week was the second time.
PLEASE..... I would not wish this absolute devastation on my worst enemy. GET YOUR CHILDRENS WINGS CLIPPED........AND KEEP THEM THAT WAY.......Whether they like it or not....whether it makes them mad or not.....JUST DO IT!!!!! I am begging all of you....Do it for your childrens sake, if not for your own. I am so sad, I can't breathe.
Patty
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I am so sorry for your loss 
Carolina
Mom of "Tequila"
a lovely African Grey
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| Thanks for the advice from your heart. I made an appointment to have "Zephyr", my baby B&G clipped tomorrow. Hearing this was the prompt I needed, rather than wait until next month. I would hate to go through your pain... Thomas B.
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I also lost my baby gold and blue macaw and am sick about it. I have two male grays, one of whom I want to give to a good home. My Paco escaped, and was found. My 86 yoa mother was devastated so we got Chico, a very handsome young man, hand fed very friendly and I keep his wings clipped. If you want him, we can make arrangements. I hate to give him up, but I care for elderly ladies, and when I bring them in for the winter, the ladies will complain all the time about the noise - though most are deaf.
I am a professional feeder of baby birds - Greys, Conures, Macaws, etc. I would like to expand into raising parrots from eggs. I have an egg incubator, turning type, and an incubator for the babies. All my inquiries have been answered by Africans - I am not prejudiced, I am a descendent from Africa, but I understand these people are scammers.
If you know of any legitimate eggs dealers, plese lwt me know - no scammers, please.
Thanks,
Tinka
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| THATS REALLY REALLY COOL TINKA, Ireally respect your intention,and hope they take you up on your vety generous offer. GOD Bless and GOOD LUCK
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