african grey

lawrence88 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 07:56 PM

alright so i know this is a snake and reptile website but im thinking about getting an african grey parrot... does any one on this site even have one? or know anything about them? if so how hard are they to maintain feed and what are some of the needs??? also will this have any bad effect on my boa which will be in the other room???? like sickness wise.. let me know thanks!

CuZiMoUtSiDeThEbOx · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 08:05 PM

Get me one also please!

Reptscue · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 08:28 PM

If you do not have tons (tons= ~20 hours a week) of time and care to give to one animal I wouldn't recommend getting an AG...
And even if you learn how to hand feed and hand feed it from a baby you can still get a very mean bird that hates you.
Mine hated me and I was the sole caretaker of it.

Oh and I moved this to the bird forum...

GUYANAROB · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 08:45 PM

I agree with Rept. My mom has one and it is a mean one. She spent many hours with it and it only likes her sometimes and me never. Beatiful birds though, especially the congos

Allysen · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:19 PM

I have an African Grey but I did TONS of research first and decided to get the smaller, notoriously friendlier Timneh African Grey rather than the big Congo. My Gomez is absolutely fantastic. He has his own personality, and that must be respected (he doesn't like strangers to pet his head, and for some reason people think that his opinion on this doesn't matter, lol), and he needs time devoted to him EVERY SINGLE DAY, but he doesn't need "hands-on" time all the time like a lot of other kinds of parrots. He's quite content to sit on the back of your chair and occupy his own time with toys.

The feeding and care isn't too daunting. There are lots of websites that will help you with good food-ratios. Basically you want to offer lots of greens, healthy veggies, some fruits and berries, and whole grains, usually on top of a good, well-balanced pellet diet. Gomez gets a lot of cooked oatmeal, cream of wheat, bean mixes, salads, zuccinis, bell peppers, occasional apples and bananas, lots of blueberries and blackberries, mangos, squashes, all sorts of stuff.

My grey lives in the reptile room and nobody seems to be worse for wear because of it. The boas don't notice, and Gomez is definitely unphased. He likes to peer into the boaphiles when I take him out on our way to the other room, and he coos at the snakes. OBVIOUSLY I never have him out at the same time any of the reptile cages are open.

Really think about it, and continue to research though. It is a HUGE commitment, these birds can live upwards of 60-plus years and need a dedicated friend and caretaker throughout that life. They also need to be properly socialized with strangers so that they don't become "that one mean bird" that everybody knows.

This is Gomez:

lawrence88 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 10:53 PM

thay are the most beautiful bird i think money can buy.. im really thinking about it just dont want to end up with a mean one.. but i do have my snake out from the time i get home and till the time i go to bed so i do devote a lot of time to my animals... a bird would be no exception... i think i want one that is a little aged so i dont have to do the whole hand feeding and all... i just went and looked at one that was 4 months and it seems to be very independant.. so im guessing thats around the age i would like to buy... thanks guys

Allysen · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2008, 12:09 AM

Buying a weaned bird is really the way to go. I have had a few birds that I bought before they were weaned and hand fed them myself, and it really doesn't make a difference in the bond AT ALL. Gomez was 6 months old when I bought him, and we just happened to click at the bird store.

If you don't want a mean one, the best thing you can do is just train him early and really socialize him well. There's a really great book out there for pet bird behavior:
Amazon.com: Guide to a Well-Behaved Parrot: Mattie Sue Athan: Books
It has tricks and games to play with a birds to keep them happy and social and well-behaved. It's seriously a life-saver, I'd recommend it for ANY pet bird owner, you should give it a read!

maltida · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 09:18 PM

Hi,
we just want to inquire if you have got they lovely birds you have been looking for please if not you should keep in touch with us may be we can be of help.

scsnakecatcher · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 01:22 AM

we have one and its always wanting attention if you dont give it enuff it will pick its feathers out....they are harder to take care of then other birds but not to bad they can be mean tho if you have never had a bigger size bird make sure its tame cause african greys can cause stitches and can take off a finger so be careful and get a lot of info about one before you get it

maltida · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2009, 10:21 AM

Hello,
i have just seen your post on the sit.I have a good talking parrot that im looking for given her out for adoption if you will really like to take her then it will be my pleasure she is DNA tested vet check and she is 3month old.Keeping them is not to hard all you need is to take good care of them and have a good cage.Thanks and waiting to read from you soon

SamanJaya · #11 (**permalink**) 06-03-2009, 03:37 PM

like everyone has said or should say. HUGE responsibility.

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