Some people are drawn to traditional pets and don't hesitate to welcome a dog or cat to build a loyal and lasting friendship together. But you, your love is directed towards exotic pets and more specifically to the African Grey, a magnificent, chatty, and very sociable parrot! To help you take the step of adoption, Zoomalia tells you everything you need to know about this fascinating bird!
Summary:
As its name suggests, the African Grey is an animal originally from Africa. It belongs to the species of African Greys, which includes two birds: the Congo Grey and the Timneh Grey, a smaller parrot with a darker plumage. It is an endangered and protected species, thus prohibited from importation.
The African Grey, considered the most talkative parrot, is also the most popular in France as a pet thanks to its expressive ability, great intelligence, and curiosity.
Regarding its acquisition, the parrot should be over 4 months old and purchased from a breeder or pet store. The bird must necessarily wear a ring on its leg indicating details about its identity: year of birth, breeder's ID... Finally, papers indicating its origin, along with proof of purchase, must be provided to you. As previously mentioned, it is a protected species, so the regulations regarding the traceability of each individual are strict.
Note that this parrot has a lifespan comparable to that of a human! Birds aged 50 years or even 60 years are therefore not rare! Just like any animal adoption, it should be a well-considered decision, especially when considering this exceptional longevity.
It is a highly sociable and fascinating parrot. Take the time to train it daily, interact with it, and it will return the favor by impressing you more and more each day!
It indeed has an extraordinary ability to learn words and sounds. Repetition is even more encouraging to help it memorize a sound! Don't be surprised if an African Grey perfectly mimics a phone ring, a dog bark, or even knows how to whistle "La Marseillaise"! The term "intelligence" is used to characterize it, not just "imitation" or "repetition". The peculiarity of this bird is that it knows how to place sounds, words in their precise context, and not just by imitation. Thus, its intelligence is recognized as similar to that of a 5-year-old child.
Very affectionate towards its owner, the African Grey doesn't handle loneliness well. It requires a lot of care and attention, particularly regarding its socialization and training. A stimulating environment and daily interactions are essential. Very sensitive, ensure it has a stable and calm environment and be cautious of stress sources. In your absence, you can certainly leave the radio or television on to assure a presence.
First of all, the essential accessory and vital for the parrot is the cage. Given the size of the bird, you must definitely provide a large cage, the bigger, the better! At the very least, the parrot must be able to stretch its wings. Note that this species is quite restless and needs to move around freely in its "home".
Opt for a cage with strong bars and a secure locking system, as the African Grey is a clever little creature with a formidable beak! Also, the cage should at least offer one side with horizontal bars allowing the bird to climb.
Ideally, the cage should be placed in a room where the bird can enjoy a lot of social contact, but without too much commotion. The African Grey needs about 10 hours of sleep at night plus some daytime naps! So forget about very secluded rooms like bedrooms, which might depress it due to lack of interaction, or the kitchen because of the smoke. This bird has fragile lungs, so no smoking nearby either! In conclusion, the perfect spot for your new companion seems to be the living room, a place where the whole family comes together and shares moments of conviviality. In the room, the cage can be placed near a window to offer your Grey a view of the outside hustle and bustle, but be careful, it should never be in direct sunlight. Also, it should be sheltered from drafts and not directly near a heat source.
Regarding the cage setup, provide a wooden or rope perch with a diameter suitable for the bird’s size.
Also, your Grey needs to chew natural wood to wear down its beak. A branch of hazel, oak, or willow are good choices.
As for feeders, prefer solid materials like stainless steel and earthenware to attach to the bars or place directly on the cage floor, but be careful not under the perches.
Plastic utensils won't last long against your bird’s beak!
Water is offered in a drinker fixed to the edges of the cage, with a size selected according to the bird, thus determining its daily water needs.
Finally, ensure perfect hygiene of the cage by cleaning it regularly, and on a daily basis regarding water and food containers.
The African Grey needs constant entertainment, so it must absolutely have the possibility to amuse itself whenever it wants, notably through .
For this, it is advisable to offer many toys inside its cage: beads, fibers, bell, or even mirror. To avoid boredom, we advise you to regularly renew the toys or set up a rotation system with the different references you have to prevent routine and monotony!
Also, periods of freedom outside the cage must also be planned, the African Grey needs exercise! Arrange perches all around the room to invite it to settle near you.
Finally, for perfect hygiene, your bird needs a bath to eliminate dust and impurities lodged in the plumage! To be done one to two times a week, simply fill a sink or bathtub with a few centimeters of water and moisten the bird using a shower head or spray bottle. The flow of water should be very gentle.
The African Grey has a strong beak and a large tongue, allowing it to skillfully peel and grind solid food.
Offer your animal a varied and balanced diet to renew daily. The ideal diet consists of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and pellets. Many brands offer complete and healthy mixes to give to your animal. You can certainly offer small treats, but be careful, make sure to research beforehand because some foods are toxic.
If the food isn't to its liking, it will let you know by dropping the undesired food to the ground!
Finally, to ensure its calcium needs, offer it cuttlebone.
In conclusion, you will have understood, the African Grey is an amazing and fascinating animal with whom it is extremely enriching to share as many connections as possible. If your decision regarding adoption is finally made, don't hesitate, you will not regret it!
Marine D.
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