Contents
Meet the African Grey Parrot
Where to Get an African Grey
Gear for Your African Grey
How to Feed Your African Grey
How to Groom Your African Grey
How to Train Your African Grey
How to Fix African Grey Problem Behaviors
African Grey Healthcare
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- The best places to find and adopt an African grey
- The gear you need to make sure that your grey settles in at home
- Feeding, grooming, and training tips to keep him healthy and happy
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Meet the African Grey Parrot
The first thing most people notice about the African grey parrot is his appearance—the beautiful feathers, watchful eyes, and colorful tail. But there’s much more to this bird than his looks—the African grey parrot is a favorite among expert and novice bird keepers alike for his intelligence, loyalty, and affectionate nature. A properly cared for grey makes an excellent and long-lived companion who is likely to develop a powerful bond with his owner.
Appearance
There are two distinct subspecies of the African grey parrot: the Congo African grey and the Timneh African grey. The Congo is native to southeastern Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Tanzania. The Timneh is found in a smaller region along the western edge of the Ivory Coast and through southern Guinea.
- Congo grey: The Congo grey is the more commonly kept of the two subspecies. The Congo is about 13" (33 cm) in length, with a light-grey color, red tail band, and black bill. His feathers are more prominently scalloped than a Timneh grey’s. The Congo grey’s tail reaches full coloring at maturity.
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Timneh grey: The Timneh grey is about 11" (28 cm) long, with a dark-gray body and horn-colored beak. His tail ranges in color from maroon to dark gray or black.
Choosing a Healthy African Grey
A healthy grey appears
energetic, attentive, and has a good attitude. He has bright eyes, clear nares (nostrils), and a clean vent (rectal opening). His feathers are free of debris, tight and shiny, and cover the entire bird with no patches of skin showing—except around the face, where there is a whitish patch of bare skin. His feet are clean and intact, and he has a healthy appetite. When he sleeps, he does so on a perch, usually sitting on one leg. Choose an African grey who has all these qualities.
Temperament
Most African greys make affectionate companions when properly socialized, treated with kindness and respect, and given the proper housing, diet, and healthcare. Some greys may go through a nipping phase or become
aggressive and territorial, but most learn how to behave through an owner’s actions and reactions. They pick up behaviors very quickly, so you can easily teach your grey good ones—and unintentionally reinforce bad ones.
Companionability
Greys are highly social animals who appreciate one another’s company in the wild or human company in captivity. (The Congo tends to be slightly more aloof than the Timneh, but both types make equally good pets.) Your grey needs plenty of companionship, so make sure that you have lots of time to spend with this sensitive bird before you purchase one. Lonely greys will languish and may begin plucking, vocalizing excessively, or even biting in reaction to their loneliness.
However, although greys are social, they aren’t always inclined to cuddle with their owners. Greys enjoy head-scratching and petting, but in general don’t appreciate intense physical contact.
African greys show affection for humans by performing a number of seemingly strange behaviors: yours may try to kiss you on the mouth, for example, but this is not recommended because the human mouth contains bacteria that can be dangerous to your bird. Regurgitation is also a sign of deep affection in a grey.
Intelligence
The African grey is said to have intelligence equal to that of a four-year-old human child and is one of the top talkers among parrots. A grey can not only develop an outstanding vocabulary, but he also may come to understand what he is saying and use some words in the proper context. (Not all greys will learn to talk, however.)
Sensitivity
African greys are very sensitive birds. This sensitivity is part of their charm, but it also can lead to common behavioral problems. Even a small change in daily routine or in the bird’s surroundings can lead to self-mutilation and crankiness.
The Wild African Grey
Much of the behavior that African greys exhibit
is rooted in survival
instincts from the wild.
Vocalizations, for example, are an important part of the way that families and flocks of greys stay
together and alert one another to things of
interest or importance. Because of this need for communication in the wild, pet greys are very vocal birds.
Also, the wild parrot does not exist as an
individual but as part of a social group—the flock. When you take an African grey into your home, you and your family become that bird’s “flock,” and he will respond to you much as he would respond to a flock of other wild greys.
Life Span
A well-cared-for African grey can live to be more than 50 years old.
Is Your Home Right for a Grey?
As with any companion animal, the African grey requires a suitable environment to live a long, happy life. Take the following into consideration before adding an African grey to your household.
African Greys and Children
African greys use their beaks to explore the world, and because their beaks are strong and hard, greys may not be the best pets for children. If you have children, they must understand that your grey is an individual with likes and dislikes of his own, and he may not always want to play when the children want to. Timneh greys are a little hardier and more able to accept changes in their environment than Congos, so a family with children may be better off with a Timneh African grey.
African Greys and Other Pets
African greys have a tendency not to get along with other pets. They can pose a danger to other birds in the home if allowed to mingle and can be seen as prey by a pet dog or cat. Even ferrets or pet rats may try to hunt an African grey. A fish tank or bowl poses a drowning threat if your grey is allowed to roam free in your house without supervision. If you have other birds, make sure that they get along well with other birds before allowing your grey to mingle.
Commitment
Before you take on an African grey as a pet, think ahead to whether you will be able to care for this bird properly for the next 50 years. Make sure that you’ll be able to clean his cage regularly, provide a healthy diet, keep him safe, give him plenty of playtime and attention, and provide medical treatment when necessary. A lonely or mistreated grey can develop illness and self-mutilating behaviors, which can be deadly. Ensure that you can make a solid commitment to care for your bird for the duration of his life—and even make arrangements for him should he outlive you.
| Text & Photos Copyright © 2007 TFH Publications, Inc. | Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
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