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| African Grey Parrot - Great Birds |
Welcome to African-Grey-ParrotOnline, where you can find useful, factual information regarding aspects of african grey parrots. The web site has information on diets and breeding for african greys and also information about keeping them as a pet and housing them appropriately.
The standard size for this parrot is 330 mm, its feathers are usually a light grey color, the wings are usually a dark grey , and the tail is usually red which creates an attractive collage of colors. The African grey parrot is originally from Africa, however they have spread throughout the world due to people wanting them as pets, it is also know as one of the most intelligent birds due to its abilities to recognize objects, color and its ability to learn words and phrases.
African Greys are not the easiest pet the own, a vast amount of people believe that you can visit a pet shop which sells them, bring them home, and expect them to be similar to a dog or cat. They can be very nervous when entering a new home, or meeting new people, for example they can get stressed easily and develop behavior issues.
There are many people who specialist in training african grey parrots, if you can afford training from an expert, it is well worth the investment. As they are one of the most intelligent birds, then response quickly to interactive and can become great pets and even a friend. Below is a list of how to ensure your parrot is stress free and happy.
Toys
Attention
Big Environment
If you have or are considering purchasing one of these amazing birds, I suggest you read the Pets web page for more information.
African Grey Breeders
If you’re purchasing an African grey parrot, or in factany parrot, it is important to ensure you purchase the parrot from a reputable breeder who genuinely cares for his or her parrots and not someone who is simply doing it for the financial gain. Finding a breeder is not difficult, thanks mainly to many resources which breeders can use to advertise such as the Internet, newspapers, directories and other media sources, there are many Internet forums and clubs which will advise you on quality breeders if you are unsure. Once you meet the breeder, you can then ask him or her questions to determine their compassion for breeding and owning parrots, talking to the breeder should help make the decision of buying from that particular breeder, below a list of sample questions you should ask:
Ask the breeder how long he has been breeding? - Experience does come with time, so generally the longer the better
How long he or she has been breeding the specify your interested in? Such as an African Grey, Macaw etc - Experienced breeders typically will show enthusiasm and a vast amount of knowledge about the type of parrot, this a good sign of a passionate, caring breeder
Any parrot related questions - Obviously you will probably have many questions relating to diets, caring, exercise, current pets, living areas and so on, any self respecting breeder will be more the happy to advise using their in-depth knowledge
If you meet them are their home, or the location in which they breed parrots, this allows you form a better opinion of a breeder, for example you could check:
- If the cages are clean
- If the parrots are sociable and mostly friendly
- If the diets of the parrots are varied
Breeding African Greys
Before breeding African Grey parrots, you must consider there are two types of of sub species, these consist of: -
Timneh (Psittacus erithacus timneh), are usually smaller in size and darker in color
Congo (Psittacus erithacus erithacus), are larger than the Timneh species and grow up to 30 centimeters long, they are paler in color and and the most popular sub species out of the two.
The Conga grey is believed to be the most intelligent out of the two species, however there is no proof the back this up. The Timneh's which are from South Africa, are more difficult to bread, and are not as popular as the Congo, so bear this is mind before deciding breed African Grey Parrots. Before purchasing a parrot for breeding purposes, they should be checked by a vet or DNA tested, also information such as sexual maturity and if the breed is capable of reproducing is also revealed. Usually male parrots have bigger beaks than females, however it is better to use other, more accurate methods to determine the birds sex, rather than making an educated guess.
Getting African Greys to mate can be difficult, the best method is to put two of them of the opposite sex into a cage, eventually they will grow to know each other, and become companions. Another useful tip is to purchase a nest box, first think about how african greys breed in their natural environment, they usually select a small dense location within a tree, therefore open and light conditions are not great when trying to breed your parrots. Purchase a nest box around 24 inches high and wide, shapes such as an L shape usually work well. Add a hole, not too big to the top of the nest, also inserting some wood chipping's within the box ensures the parrots and eggs are safe and secure.
The eggs hatch within 1 month, and there are usually between two to five eggs, also you must be careful when removing baby greys, the mother can become aggressive and injure your hand, they be cautious, and never use gloves as they are not sensitive enough to handle a baby grey parrot.
Buying African Grey Parrots
The price of an african grey parrots can vary greatly, this is due to many factors such as the parrots age, and if the parrot is a baby or has aged, or if the parrot has a hatch certificate etc. Generally if you are considering purchasing your first african grey, I suggest purchasing a hand reared baby african grey, simply because parrots which have already reached adulthood can be slightly more of a handful for first time owners.
Below are the average prices within the UK for african greys, and remember african greys live for 50 years or more!
African Grey Baby - £450 - 800
Adult African Grey - £100 - 500
African Grey Parrot Diet
African grey parrots diets should include an adequate amount of calcium via supplements and also include vitamin A. Examples of foods rich in calcium and vitamin A are: -
Cheese (only small amounts due to fat content)
Vegetables
Leafy greens
Nuts
Peeled Food
Seeds (Small amounts)
Fruit
If giving your parrots supplements, ensure you are not going over their RDA, as is can use health issues with your parrot . If you feed your parrot an adequate diet, supplements will not be necessary, therefore do not use them if they are not required. Also an African Grey has just given birth, feed it soft foods to aid digestion whilst feeding.
Ensure fresh water is always available for your parrot and change the water supply daily. Supplements can be added to their water, however i usually refrain from implementing this.
African Grey Parrot Housing
One of the most important aspect when deciding to purchase an African Grey Parrot, is the environment it will live in. First you must ensure your parrot feels safe and comfortable within its living space. There are many colors, shapes and sizes of bird cages available today, Below are several helpful hints to help you decide which bird cage is suitable for both your parrot and your house.
Where will it be stored - The best place to put a cage is somewhere away from drafts and in an area which people will visit often.
Wing Span - Your African Grey parrot must be able to easily spread its wings
Shape of the cage - Generally, round/oval cages are usually the best, however custom cages can be made to suit your needs.
A good bird cage can cost a good amount of money, however considering African Grey parrots can live up to 50 years old, it is definitely a worthy investment, below is an example of the size of cage you should be looking for.
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