do African Grey Parrots make good pets?

Question

can they talk?
how long can they live for?
where could i get one??

how much do they cost?

Answer 1

Please please please do thorough research and consideration before getting an African Grey. People love the fact that they can talk, but they often don't consider that these birds are VERY high maintenance. Plan on having a preschooler for the next 50 years, because that's pretty much what having a Grey is like. These are highly social and intelligent creatures that need very high amounts of interaction and mental stimulation on a daily basis. Greys can become very neurotic and begin picking their feathers out or even self-mutilating. They should not be purchased on impulse. They need a very large cage, high quality foods (including fresh fruits/veggies), and safe toys rotated weekly to prevent boredom. Greys are one of the most abandoned birds, because people don't really realize what they are getting themselves into when they get an African Grey. YES, they can make awesome pets, but they are NOT for everyone. Please research as much as you can before making your final decision.

Answer 2

Hello, I am the owner of an african grey parrot named Burt here is what I can tell you... Yes they can talk, whistle and coppy almost any noise you can think of. My bird makes alot noise, thats for sure! They start talking at about 1 1/2 but different from bird to bird. They can live up to 70years but usualy around 50years. I got mine at a pet store but I would recomend buying from a breeder so you can pick from a batch of them. They are also very smart birds but require lots of love, training and attention and someone who can tolorate alot of noise (=. Good luck!

Answer 3

Theyre wonderful pets! Lots of fun. But make sure youre prepared before you purchase one of these birds. They can live for over 50 years and they need A LOT of attention if you want them to be well behaved. Theyre more than a life time commitment. I know in many cases the owner dies before the bird and gets passed on to family members.
You'll be rewarded with this pet if you have the time and energy to invest!

Answer 4

they are great pets. very well tempered. always buy from a breeder that hand feeds. should be close banded. just remember that these birds will most likely out live you, so you should make arrangements for them. greys usually talk but not all do. don't buy a bird just because it will amuse you. they require lots of attention as they are very social. 1 down side is they tend to crap on their owners. just a fact of bird life. if you have the home time these are great pets.

Answer 5

1) Yes they can talk, and make lots of noise and if you don't give it enough attention, they can be VERY loude.
2) 50-80 years
3) Research, also check pet adoption

Remember your taking on a 4 year old child for the next 50-80 years.
Also budget for 50-100$ a month in wooden toys, as they will chew up there stuff quickly.
I'd avoid this if it's going to be your first bird, and they take a lot of time every day to take care of, and need lots of attention for Proper care.

Answer 6

African Grays are great pets. They are the best mimicers of the bird family. They can live for about sixty to eighty years. Any petstore should have them- I'd aim for a handfed one. African Grays cost alot, though, and are very social.

Answer 7

They are the best talkers in the parrot family. Search for a local bird breeder or go to a pet store.

Answer 8

They are great pets. Expensive, but worth it. Ours says about 50 different things and makes all kinds of noises. He makes us laugh every day. Even when I come in in a bad mood, Woody always greets me with a "Hiya, cutie" and then my mood is better.

Answer 9

The African Grey Parrot comes from a broad area of Central Africa. P.e. Erithacus being the nominate race, the Congo African Grey. P.e. Timneh more commonly called Timneh African Grey. Given the appropriate nutritional requirements in a nurturing home, African Grey's can have a lifespan of 50-70 years.

The Congo African Grey Parrot is a medium grey bird with shades of light grey on the body. The feathers on the head have brushed white edging. The eye area is of bare white skin. A solid black beak and bright red tail are the finishing touches to this magnificent parrot. Young CAG's have dark grey tips on their tail feathers. They are also known as the "Red Tailed Grey". They vary in from 12-14" from beak to tail, also can vary in weight between 400-650 grams depending on the frame of the individual bird.

Greys from Nigeria usually have dark grey wings. CAG's from the Congo region are, on average, larger in size. On occasion you might see a Grey with red feathering throughout the body - they are known as "Red Factor Greys".

The Timneh African Grey Parrot is a dark grey bird with shades of light grey on the body. The eye area is of bare white skin. They have a "bone" colored upper mandible and a dark maroon tail. The Timneh is smaller in size ranging from 9-11 inches beak to tail. Also TAG's can vary in weight from 275-400 grams.

The CAG and TAG as a baby parrots will have dark grey to black eyes up until they are roughly 6 months of age when their eye color starts to lighten. By the time they reach a year, their eyes become a pale grey color. At about 1.5 to 2 yrs their eyes will turn a pale straw color. And lastly at about 3-4 years of age, they will have a light yellow iris. This is one way to be able to determine an estimate of how old a baby is when visiting bird stores. Grey's usually reach maturity at about 4-5 years of age.

Note: When speaking in context of African Grey's; I am referring to both the Congo and the Timneh species. The only difference between the two species is their physical appearance.

The most common phrase I have heard regarding African Grey's is "the perfect mix of brains and beauty". I often hear people say African Grey's are not as "colorful" as most parrots. They apparently have not seen the true personality of an African Grey Parrot. They have a remarkable, noble beauty that takes your breath away!

African Grey's have the most extraordinary flair for speech. But do not think that they are limited to speech only! They can mimic almost any sound in your home. Although most greys do not start talking until a year in age, there are many cases where they will speak earlier. Some greys do not start speaking until 2 years, so never give up hope! They have the capacity to have a vocabulary of over 2000 words. I would like to add this "food for thought"... there is no guarantee that a Grey will speak. This should never be the sole reason for buying a grey. (Please see our Talking Article.) There is so much more to an african grey than just speech. a They are more human than some will admit. They feel our emotions and act accordingly. They do not mimic, they learn from us. Speaking in sentences, responding appropriately to questions, the physical motions to comfort us when we are sad, the list goes on and on.

African Grey's have the intellectual capacity of a 5 year old child with the emotions of a 2 year old. Because of this higher intelligence, they can be demanding pets and rightly so. They require constant attention along with a stimulating environment that includes various types of toys, a large cage, a play-stand.

Generally speaking, Greys are cautious birds. They have a tendency to sit back and watch you before giving themselves up freely. They tend to not be very outgoing towards strangers. Then are very intuitive to your feelings and it is always best to approach them with a calm demeanor. Once you win the trust of an African Grey, he/she will be your best friend for life. They are very dedicated and loyal birds.

My greys are very outgoing and playful in our home environment. Our home is their "safe place". They realize nothing will harm them here. My birds love to boisterously and acrobatically attack their toys. You have never seen a parrot play until you have first handedly seen a Grey scream bloody murder at their toys! The infamous Grey scream, it is an experience you will not forget.

In sum... although African Greys are the most popular pet parrot, they are not for everyone. They stand apart from the rest. It is not easy being a caretaker of an African Grey or any parrot for that matter. Lots of love, time, patience and effort goes into the relationship we have with our avian companions. They give us so much more than we can ever return.... Are you ready to take the African Grey challenge?
you get one from a breeder in your area or from a good pet store, starting at about $ 600.00 for a baby to almost $ 1000.00 or more for one that already says a few words, check out this web site: http://www.itsagreysworld.com/articles/about.htm good luck