African Grey

African Greys are a very intelligent and talkative parrot that's popular around the world as a pet.

Basics: When someone tells you that they've got a pet bird, you probably think about it as a talker. You may even ask them if it talks. When they tell you they've got an African Grey, you know exactly what they're referring to. This bird is one of the most popular in the world when it comes to being kept as a pet because of its high level of intelligence as well as it's fun to be around nature. This bird can learn how to talk speak words and phrases extensively and it can even mimic the emotions of poeple in its vicinity. The African Grey has also been around forever. There are records of this bird from thousands of years ago.

Original and Native Habitat: The African Grey parrot originates from and currently lives in Africa. It's favorite places are woodlands, clearings, mangroves, and savannas.

How to Feed and Care For: African Greys are really smart birds and because of this, their minds need to be stimulated daily. You don't want these birds to get bored. Buy your bird lots of toys that they can destroy as well as toys that will challenge them mentally. Puzzle toys are great as are toys that will encourage them to forage. When it comes to feeding, it's recommended that you feed your African Grey a diet that consists of seed, grain, bird berries, and cakes. The berries are good because they're compressed seed and grain, which will keep the bird busy for a while and will challenge it. Also, it's good to feed this species of bird vegetables that are high in vitamin A and vitamin D, due to them being prone to deficiencies of these vitamins. Be sure to purchase a cage large enough for this bird to spread its wings. Also, keep one side of the cage up against a wall to ease the bird's natural higher than normal stress levels.

Personality, Behavior and Temperament: The African Grey parrot is demanding, sensitive, and very involved, so really, only folks who have experience with owning birds as pets should buy one or more of this species. If you are a beginner, you may find yourself way in over your head very quickly. Because this bird is so smart, it requires constant stimulation or bad habits may form. Some of these bad habits include feather plucking and a general sense of depression. The African Grey appreciates a strict routine. It doesn't like change at all, so try to keep things as steady as possible. Don't keep this bird where there's a lot of commotion. It prefers a more subdued atmosphere. To keep your bird happy, be sure to handle it quite a bit. Interact with it and challenge it mentally. Don't handle the bird too much because this species doesn't like that. With experience, you'll find the right balance. These birds really don't like to cuddle, so don't even attempt that.

Do They Talk? What Kids of Sounds Do They Make? African Greys like to talk a lot. They can learn how to repeat words and phrases they hear during the day and night. They'll even learn from the television. All it takes for these birds to learn is to hear a word or phrase just a few times. These birds are also rather noisy at times. They enjoy mimicking noises they hear around the house and can repeat them incessantly, much to the annoyance of the occupants of the house.

Health and Disease Awareness: These birds are primarily susceptible to feather picking as well as Vitamin A and D deficiency.

Life Expectancy: 40-60 years.

A few terms and phrases to describe the typical African Grey bird: medium sized, talkative, talented, intelligent, mimics, complex, sensitive, demanding, charming, brilliant, noisy.

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