Pictured left:

Bernie ( English bred African Grey Parrot from English bred parents)

How many of you know the difference?

And why you should? 

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Origins and History

The African Grey Parrot, is probably the most popular species of parrot kept as a pet in the UK. 

It was also the second most heavily traded parrot in the world, during the 1980's

Its natural habitat covers a wide area of Africa and extends from: The Ivory Coast in the west of Africa, down to the Congo and Angola and all the way across to Tanzania and Kenya in the east of Africa.

However, due to massive scale trapping (and logging) there has been drastic declines of populations in some areas and the African Grey Parrot may yet unfortunately become another critically endangered species. See map for details.

Pet potential

African Greys are very popular because they generally have the ability to mimic sounds very well such as the telephone ringing, or the dog barking. Also the amazing ability to imitate human voices perfectly.They are not particularly noisy parrots - as in not being screamers.They are a good size for a family pet, at approximately 13 inches. These three factors add up to why the African Grey is probably the most popular parrot kept as a pet within the UK.

Distinguishing Features

The eyes of a young African Grey are very dark, almost black when they are very young and gradually get lighter; to eventually become a straw yellow colour when they become adults.

They are very easily recognised by their deep red tail feathers, black beak and feet.

The Timneh Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus timneh) differs in that it is smaller in size, the grey feathers are a duller grey and the tail feathers are darker, more maroon in colour than scarlet.  

Growlers

African Greys are known to 'growl'. This is not an aggressive growl, generally it is a nervous sound, the only way they have of showing us they are scared. This is most common in imported African Greys, who unfortunately still do come into this country regularly, despite the fact that there are sufficient captive bred African Greys to sustain the pet trade and the market for breeding birds, quite a few times over.

Remember, you get what you pay for.

Imported African Greys will be cheaper, as will force fed African Greys and SO CALLED HAND REARED GREYS PRODUCED FROM IMPORTED STOCK KEPT IN SUSPENDED CUBES SOLELY FOR PROFIT.

They are produced en-masse (like battery hens - only parrots). If you want a cheap bird, that is what you will end up with).

One of the major differences between these 'parrot producers' and most 'parrot lovers' is plainly and simply what you see from their advertising information.

They produce birds for profit not because they love them.

Click below to view further information on: Trapping of African Greys

Imported Pets?

Potential buyers are told that the bird will tame down with time. This simply does not happen.

These wild caught imported African Greys are usually always nervous, all their lives. Because of this nervousness, they do not make good pets.

They do not like being handled, so consequently the new owners get fed up with them, either because of the growling or the biting, and the poor bird is left to an unhappy solitary life in a cage.

Not a happy story.

Either this or they are transferred to an aviary to make a breeding bird. However again because these birds are nervous, when in an aviary they usually spend most of their time hiding in the nest box and most owners/keepers never see them.

So many people keep these birds in 3 foot square suspended cubes, with a nest box attached to the side, as they have been told, (or they themselves tell others), that the birds are happy this way and breed better.

This is total and utter rubbish, and a very poor excuse for keeping these beautiful, intelligent birds in inadequate conditions.

Large spacious flights?

Our African Greys live in quarters with both an inside and outside flight attached. Whilst it is true that they like the nest box to be dark and secluded, they do like to fly and spend time in the sunshine, as do most other parrots.Totally disproving any theory that they do not like to be social.

Breeding

African Greys can breed at maybe 5 years old upwards.

If they do lay eggs before this age, they will more than likely however not be fertile.

Our African Greys have been 7 or 8 years old before producing fertile eggs.

African Grey chick photographed below and right.

They will lay usually 3 or 4 eggs, and the incubation period is approximately 28 days, with eggs being laid at 2 or 3 day intervals.

If you are thinking of buying an African Grey as a pet, you should:-

NOT buy an imported African Grey AT ANY COST!!

DO NOT BUY A BIRD THAT NEEDS TO BE 'FINISHED OFF'

Visit the breeder prior to purchase and see the bird being hand reared.

Ask the breeder how they keep the parent birds.

Realise that African Greys are very intelligent, sensitive, generally nervous natured birds.

Be prepared to spend a lot of time with your bird.

Purchase as big a cage as you can.

Know what the diet requirements are.

Do not go for a bird because it is cheap(er) and do not buy the first you see available.

Visit and speak to as many breeders as you can prior to purchase.

As with many other parrots, remember African Greys can and should live for at least 20 years upward to maybe 50 years.

It is a life time commitment.

Visit our on-line shop for a great selection of parrot cages and toys ideal for African Grey Parrots Plus Quality Premium Parrot Food & Avian Specific Seed Diets and Calcium supplements.