would an african gray parrot make a good pet?

Question

like how much do they generally cost and what kind of food do they eat and stuff like that? and how smart are they i just think they're really pretty and have always wanted one....

Answer 1

Just think about it like this, an african gray, is just like a having a small child. They repeat almost everything you say, they need hours of love and attention, they are quite expensive, and they are a huge responsibility. But I would keep researching.

Answer 2

An African Grey would make an excellent pet. They a minimal on noise level and can be adjusted to stay a majority in the cage if it is large enough (of course they do need some outside the cage playtime). Their are birdseeds you can by for parrots or breed specific in a range of prices of course and they need fresh fruit and vegetables daily. The Grey is known for being exceptionally talented talker--but of course not all parrots will talk. This is a breed that needs a lot of work and attention to be affectionate. And be aware that these magnificent creatures can live 60+ years so they will be with you a long time. I would suggest checking out other birds like the Eclectus and Amazons (especially the Double Yellow headed Amazon)--before you decide. I own an African Grey and Eclectus that you can visit @ Julzandjeri on myspace or their profiles (and some great info) at Birdchannel.com---good luck to you!

Answer 3

African grays can easily cost anywhere from $600 to $1000. You should do a lot of research before considering buying one. African grays should be fed a good quality pellet diet for parrots, along with mineral supplements and lots of vegetables and fruit. They're very intelligent birds, and they are excellent at imitating words and sounds. But beware -- they can be very noisy, and may pick up words that you don't want repeated. They are active and energetic like any parrot, and need a lot of company to be happy. They should have a large, sturdy cage with lots of toys, and should be let out of the cage to fly free and be with you at least once or twice a day.

African gray parrots aren't really a recommended parrot for a first-time parrot owner unless you really put a lot of dedicated research into it. They can have a tendency to be aggressive and possessive unless you know how to "train" them out of this. For a first time parrot owner, I might suggest some other kind of parrot, like a Senegal parrot.

Answer 4

Don't get an African Grey if this is your first bird! They're not for beginners, most people just want them because they can talk(not all will). My grey is a feather plucker because she was abused before I got her.... kept in a tiny cage and ignored. They need a minimum of 4 hours direct human contact a day too. Mine is very sweet but doesn't like to be cuddled like my blue fronted Amazon does. Her mood changes in an instant and she bit me so hard once I thought she broke my finger. I would advise you to get a nice hand fed baby parakeet, cockatiel, or even a conure(they scream though) for your first bird not any of the larger parrots. Too many parrots go from home to home because owners give them up because of screaming or other behavioral problems they won't deal with. Remember, parrots are also called FIDS- Feathered Kids. It's like a two year olds mentality permanently stuck in a parrots body.

Answer 5

African gray parrots make good pets and they are the best talkers of any of the parrots. However, they are fairly large and very expensive. If you have never handled parrots or parakeets before, you probably can not justify the expense of an African gray parrot. Parakeets and cockatiels are both less expensive and less intimidating. Until you have been bitten by a parakeet or cockatiel, you do not realize how tricky they can be to handle.

Answer 6

A grey or any other large bird is ONLY a good pet for those experienced with birds. A grey because of high intelligence and high maintenance make a very poor first time pet. It is like having a 2 year old in your home for the next 60 years. They throw tantrums and get very nasty if not handled properly.

A great first time bird that does talk is a parakeet or cockatiel they are much less demanding and much more controlable birds. They can give you endless pleasure when you give them time.

Answer 7

I can only speak for my Grey. She is adorable, bright, inquisitive, funny, and a total chatter box! She has a healty appetite but is not nearly as messy as my Macaw. Though there is no such thing as a non-messy bird.

They will repeat almost anything they hear regularly. That includes the timer on the microwave to the four letter words the teenagers say.

Birds do go through a terrible two's stage, just like children. Bear in mind that the bigger the bird, the harder the bite. (except in the case of love birds.... those little stinkers grab skin and twist!!).

There are numerous brands of bird feed. It will be up to you to reseach and then discover what works best for your bird. There are certain foods that are deadly to birds, so make sure you read up on their feeding needs. No chocolate, or avacado. Stay away from raw potatoes as well.

Also, you can throw away your teflon pans. The gas they put out is very deadly to birds.

They are very much like children. How you raise them will determine their temprament. Keep in mind that there has to be someone you trust to care for them when you are out of town or on vacation. They are not like cats. You can't just leave a huge bowl of water and food.

Their cages have to be cleaned regularly, their bowls have to be cleaned daily. They need attention and stimulation. If they are not taken care of properly, they will pluck and mutilate themselves.

But, I wouldn't trade her for the world. All of my birds are unique individuals, with their own personalities.

I think African Greys make wonderful pets. But they are a serious commitment. As others have mentioned here, they live for a really long time. Kids move out when they grow up. Big birds do not. They are a life time commitment.

Answer 8

It takes a lot of studying and emotional stability to own an African Grey. You can own two types - one being the Congo African Grey, larger and a lighter colour, or you can get a Timneh, smaller and darker. You'll want to consider the life span because this bird will more than likely outlive you, having the capability to live up to 80+ years in captivity.

Regardless of size and the area they're from, they thrive on eating African fruits in the wild. In captivity, you're best off feeding 80% a high grade pellet, preferably organic (Totally Organic Pellets and Harrison's are great for organic pellets, and equally good but non-organic are Roudybush and Zupreem), 15% fresh foods such as fruits, veggies (preferably organically grown, otherwise very well washed), pastas, and grains, and 5% seed. A parrot will, I can almost guarantee, be around $1,000. Food can be costly as well, because they are larger, they eat more food and larger food. If you're giving an African Grey a good diet, I wouldn't doubt you'd hit a budget of $100 per six months or more.

They're brilliant birds. However, they're very emotionally sensitive and can pick up on human emotions. If you're feeling the slightest bit down or stressed, an African Grey will pick up on that and mirror as well as magnify it on their own emotions. You have to be very careful about what you say around them because they pick up on vocabulary and general mimicking very quickly and easily.

If you are to get a parrot, I suggest going to a rescue such as http://www.mickaboo.com Some people think it's better to start with a baby, but I really have to disagree. An adult parrot will learn to transfer its bond to you and you don't have the trouble of the "terrible twos" (and the word 'terrible' is truly an understatement) and sexual maturity, which is beyond hell to deal with. They become nippy, territorial, and their personality of a cuddly, sweet baby then becomes a hormonal, mean hole-punching biting machine. Getting an adult keeps you away from that heartbreaking transition and rescues work very hard and well with birds to get their disposition and temperament set for their next owners, and foster parents of animals do a fantastic job of training friendliness and discouraging bad behaviours, such as squawking for attention and biting. With babies, all of these responsibilities are on you, as well as finding the toys your bird enjoys best (because buying bajillions of toys just to experiment is costly, especially for large parrots). A rescue will tell you what the bird likes and will more than likely already have it on a good diet.

I would definitely research more if I were you. The information I gave you was the tip of the iceberg, there's a TON more to be learned. You can look into rescues, such as the one I linked, for more species-specific and even bird-specific information.

Oh, and their caging requirements are really huge. African Greys are big birds and need equally big cages (I recommend twice the size of the bird with its wings fully spanned out) for flying space, exercise, and toys and perches. Toys are a definite need as well, or they can get bored and grow into bad habits such as destructiveness, screaming, or self mutilation. They're far too smart to just sit and look pretty. Large perches of varying lengths, textures, and widths are important because Greys use their feet a lot, and they can't use feet that are stricken with pain and arthritis. Different perches help avoid that. :)

Answer 9

No, they are very sensitive (emotional) and YES most talk, but it isn't going to talk like the ones on TV who have animal behaviorist training them.

They would need a strong base of veggies, fruit, and pellets...too much seed will give them liver disease..lots of toys, a sleep cage in a separate (quiet room) and a main cage (for daytime). They need 12 hours of sleep a night. Expect to spend $2,000 for everything (vet visits ect.)--not including the bird.

Answer 10

i would spend a lot more time researching them first. They go from $700 to over $1000. They are very intelligent and need activity. you can't just leave them in a cage and expect them to be happy. you also have to watch your language around them including TV because otherwise they will pick up words you may not want repeated.