I had the great fortune of having the breeder of my Grey living with me when they were hatched, so I got to apply everything I'd ever read about abundantly weaning and raising Greys to be loving, secure, and well adjusted, and not picky eaters. When the clutch were just starting to pick up food with their beaks, I used to clean out my local farmers' market and had the babies try EVERYTHING. To this day, the Grey I was given (as a surprise Christmas gift, when he became too attached to us to think about sending to a new home) will eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING he is offered. I also made sure they learned to "touch it" with items that they were slightly afraid of. Again, to this day, my Grey isn't afraid of new toys or items in the house. If he does look at all concerned, I can say "touch it," he will, and then I praise him and he knows it's nothing to fear. From day one, we handled them every single day, all over their bodies, each and every day, and we'd pass them around our family and have them interact with the babies, too. My Grey turned out to be the most social of my birds. I can literally hand him to anyone at all. He's always steady as a rock. Sure, he has a certain affinity for select people, but he will go to anyone I hand him to, and he seems to enjoy it. We did so many things with the babies, including something I just made up, bite inhibition, sort of like you train a puppy not to use its teeth on your flesh. It kind of went against what you read in books about not creating drama (because when they were testing out their new beaks, they would often press down too hard, and we'd yelp and walk away), but I will say that my Grey has never in going on ten years now bit hard enough to draw blood. I'm not so naive to think he can't and won't someday, but it really did seem to teach him that we humans with our delicate pink skin must be some kind of handicapped parrot that didn't have feathers to protect it. He's definitely careful of our skin and makes a concerted effort not to bite down too hard, even in play. Before my godfather had this clutch of Greys, I never really thought about having one. I didn't have any clue how amazing they are, how over-the-top special, even when compared to other parrots. No matter which type Grey you choose, I think you're going to be happy, but, as the others have indicated, I think HOW they are raised is MUCH more important than subspecies. Pick a good breeder that puts the up-front time into the babies and I sincerely believe you'll be happy with your bird. Good luck!
, Male Cockatiel-Lusa (aka Bub =D)
