African Grey Parrot: Species Characteristics & Care

African gray parrots are identified for his or her gray feathers and uncanny expertise for precisely mimicking tons of of phrases and phrases—they will perceive human speech with the fitting coaching, which has helped catapult them to stardom in analysis circles and the pet commerce. Although they will make nice pets, they’re high-maintenance, so there’s loads to think about earlier than getting one.

Study all in regards to the African gray parrot’s temperament, look, well being, and care wants.

Origin and Historical past

The African gray parrot is native to the equatorial areas of Africa, together with the nations of Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda. The species’ favored habitat is dense forests, however additionally it is continuously discovered on the edges of forests and in open savanna areas.

Some say that the African gray parrot was saved as a pet for 1000’s of years—there are information of those birds as family pets in biblical instances.

Temperament

African greys are essentially the most clever of the parrot species. Many develop to be extraordinarily candy and affectionate towards their homeowners, and the species is thought for being fairly sociable.

Nonetheless, an African gray that’s bored or uncared for is an sad fowl. A depressed or indignant fowl will screech its discontent. You could present the fowl with a lot of psychological stimulation.

A extremely smart fowl can also be a posh fowl. Though it is vitally social and calls for interplay, it’s not essentially a cuddly fowl. A few of these birds are inclined to grow to be “one-person” birds, even when homeowners make each effort to socialize them with all family members.  

Speech and Vocalizations

Pet African greys choose up on phrases and sounds in a short time. One African gray has even “blown the whistle” on a lady’s love affair by repeatedly calling out the opposite man’s title in entrance of her husband and utilizing the dishonest spouse’s voice.

Like toddler youngsters, African gray parrots have a repute for repeating every little thing they hear. So, it is smart to observe your language round these birds. Greys are adept at choosing up and repeating any sounds they like, together with squeaky doorways, automobile back-up chimes, fireplace alarms, microwave alert bells, and phone ringtones. House owners should be vigilant about what these birds hear—as soon as a sound is realized, it’s troublesome or not possible for the fowl to “unlearn” it. 

The African gray shouldn’t be referred to as a loud screamer. It may be appropriate for homeowners residing in residences or condos, though uncared for birds could scream their dissent for being ignored and may get noisy.

African Gray Parrot Colours and Markings

The African gray, true to its title, sports activities largely gray feathers, some with a fantastically skinny, pale edging. There are two subspecies, Congo and Timneh greys. Congos are a couple of third bigger than Timnehs. Congo African greys boast shiny black beaks and vivid pink tail feathers, whereas Tinmeh greys have horn-colored mandibles and deep maroon tailfeathers.

You’ll be able to inform men and women aside as soon as the birds attain adolescence, at the very least 18 months of age. A male African gray’s tail will stay strong pink, whereas a feminine’s pink tail feathers grow to be tipped with silver. The undersides of a male’s wings grow to be darkish, whereas a feminine’s stay gentle. Different refined intercourse variations embody: a male could have a extra slender, narrower head, whereas females are inclined to have longer necks, with bigger, rounder heads. If these variations are too refined for you, you may get a definitive reply with a surgical sexing process or a DNA check.

Caring for an African Gray Parrot

The African gray is a medium- to large-sized parrot that wants satisfactory residing area. Minimal cage dimension ought to have a 2-foot by 2-foot footprint and three toes in top. Bigger cages are preferable. 

With out loads of interplay and coaching, an African gray parrot could grow to be depressed and exhibit self-mutilating behaviors, akin to feather-plucking. 

These birds thrive after they have a lot of alternatives for taking part in with toys, interacting with their homeowners, and studying phrases and tips. Count on to spend a number of hours every day interacting with and coaching your African gray. Many house owners report that African greys get pleasure from having tv or radio enjoying when they’re left alone. 

African greys are stated to be considerably delicate and simply affected by stress and commotion. They might be extra relaxed if the cage is positioned in a quiet nook of the room slightly than within the middle. 

Widespread Well being Issues

African greys might be vulnerable to feather choosing, calcium deficiency, vitamin-A and vitamin-D deficiency, respiratory an infection, psittacosis, and psittacine beak and feather illness. 

Vitamin deficiencies might be prevented by ensuring your fowl eats a big selection of fruits, in addition to greens excessive in beta-carotene, akin to cooked candy potato, and recent kale.

Feather-picking is often the signal of a bored fowl that isn’t receiving sufficient psychological stimulation, consideration, or train. 

Weight-reduction plan and Vitamin

Within the wild, African greys eat fruits, leaves, bugs, bark, and flowers. One of the best meals for an African gray in captivity is a high-quality, formulated pellet supplemented with fruits akin to pomegranate, natural mango, and melon. Additionally, present recent greens, together with leafy greens like arugula, watercress, kale, sprouts, and wholesome seeds akin to hemp and flaxseed. You’ll be able to premake chop, a salad for birds, that may assist hold your African gray parrot wholesome and thriving.

Many greys additionally get pleasure from a wide range of treats and snacks, akin to nuts and wholesome desk meals like steamed inexperienced beans, breakfast toast, and salad.

Give you fowl a half cup of pellet-based parrot combine and a 1/4 cup of fruit and veggies every day and modify the amount in line with their urge for food. Take away and discard all uneaten recent meals by the tip of every day.

Train

Enough quantities of exercise are essential to sustaining the well being of an African gray parrot. Pet greys ought to be allowed to spend at the very least 1 to 2 hours out of their cages every day with vigorous train and ensure to offer them with loads of bird-safe chew toys to assist train their highly effective beaks.

The place to Undertake or Purchase an African Gray Parrot

Contact an area breeder and see in case you can meet with them and their pets to see first-hand how these birds work together in a house atmosphere. 

Breeders promote African greys within the vary of $2,000 to $4,000. Indicators you must keep away from the breeder embody cramped residing situations, inactive birds, and breeders who keep away from your questions or don’t appear to have a lot data on their birds. Rescues, adoption organizations, and breeders the place you will discover African gray parrots embody:

• Fantastic thing about Birds Checklist of Breeders
• Lonely Gray Rescue
• Chook Breeders

Extra Pet Chook Species and Additional Analysis

If the African gray parrot pursuits you, chances are you’ll wish to additionally think about one in all these different pet fowl species:

• Cockatoo Species Profile
• Solar Conure Species Profile
• Quaker Parrot Species Profile

In any other case, take a look at all of our different medium-sized parrot species profiles.