Posts Tagged ‘african grey parrots’

When you get an African Pet Parrot for yourself, you will have a pet for life. African Pet Parrots live for 50 to 70 years, which is almost equal to that of human beings. Just make sure you buy the right parrot cages for your pet.

The African Grey Parrot may even go on to outlive you; therefore, there is no need to shed tears anymore because your pet died. The African Parrot has been a favorite pet throughout the world since time immemorial. Rearing African Parrots is a full-fledged business in Africa, and businessmen there breed them specifically to sell these to buyers from across the world. But these parrots do require large and special parrot cages to keep them in.

Adaptable African Pet Parrots
The African Pet Parrot adapts to local conditions very quickly as it manages to fit perfectly almost anywhere in the world. Though common sense tells us that the African Parrot will not be the right choice in homes where there is too much open space or you have dogs and cats, or even children. The African Parrot is known for its friendly nature, which can be detrimental to the safety of young children.

The male Parrots tend to be larger in size with round eyes whereas females are smaller and have elliptical eyes. These parrots, however, come at a cost. You may have to pay anything in the range of 90 to 500 for the parrots. The parrot cages also need to be better, sturdier, and long lasting due to the longer life of African parrots.

African Grey Parrots
African Grey Parrots, however, are equally popular as pets though not very easy to own. Many people would suggest you to expect parrot’s behavior to be like that of dog or cat. These parrots can be very nervous when they enter your home and can develop behavior problems. They get stressed easily when they are meeting new people or other animals.

Keep Your Parrot Happy
It’s great if you can afford training from a parrot trainer, since the investment will be worth it. The African Grey Parrots are among the most intelligent, they respond very quickly when you interact with them and they can go on to become a great pet. You can keep your parrot happy and stress free with the help of toys, spacious parrot cages, and plenty of attention.

Clean Cages Regularly
You need to clean the parrot cages regularly, especially due to their irregular excretion. That’s why the cages need to be cleaned thoroughly with water so as to remove all the smell and kill bacteria from cages. African Grey Parrots have a habit of chewing almost anything. They enjoy chewing wood, clothes, curtains as well as many other things. We do not intend to discourage you, but you still need to be on the safer side while letting the parrot out of the cage.

Parrots Diet
The diet of African Grey Parrots should include calcium and vitamin A in adequate amount. Some of the examples of proper food for your parrot are fruit, seeds, peeled food, nuts, leafy greens, vegetables and cheese. If the parrot is being supplied adequate diet, you may not need supplements in that case. Make sure fresh water is always available for your parrot and the water supply needs to be changed regularly. Some people add supplements in the water also. When you are buying an African Grey Parrot, you need to keep in mind the environment it is going to live in. Your parrots should always feel safe within their living space. parrot cages for your African Grey Parrot come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Good parrot cages are expensive, but since African parrots may live for about 50 years, the investment might be worth it.

Shop and buy a small, medium, or large parrot cages for you pet African parrots and other pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages are available for your pet parrots. Please visit our site to view and buy appropriate cages for your pets – http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/

Yahoo Answers:

Question by Amazin Caucasian: How do you train a parrot to be social?
Im planning on gettin an eclectus or an amazon parrot and was wondering if anyone had any tips on a good effective way on socializing the parrot with people. I know it takes a lot of time and patience but i am up for it, does anyone have suggestions or experiences on how to socialize one of these parrots?

Best answer:

Answer by tripleateam
Keep it Positive
The key to training your parrot is to keep the interaction positive. Three concepts provide the basis for parrot training:

1. Parrot does something good –> give a reward
2. Parrot does something undesirable –> ignore it
3. Never punish your parrot

Obviously, this is a bit simplistic, but your goal is to shape your bird’s behavior into what you want by a giving a reward for good things and ignoring (no reward, no reaction) for bad things.

The reward can be a favorite food treat, but simple praise or a play session with a treasured toy can be good motivation for some birds. If your bird is doing something undesirable, you must simply ignore the bird (your bird will not respond to punishment).

A negative reaction can turn into a reward if your bird is looking for attention (negative attention is better than no attention), so you must be careful not to unintentionally cause some undesirable behaviors to increase due to your reaction. Ignoring behavior might first cause it to intensify, but eventually the undesirable behavior will most likely stop.

How you approach training can help keep training positive:

* Train only when you are relaxed. Positive training does take patience!
* Pick a time when your bird is attentive and not distracted by eating, preening, or household activity.
* Frequent, but short, training sessions are generally more effective. A few minutes at a time, several times a day, works well.
* Pick a favorite reward (but don’t overdo it if it is food).
* Once your bird catches on to something, don’t give a treat every time (switch to praise part of the time) or your bird may only do the behavior if he/she knows you have a treat handy.
* End each session on a positive note. Wait for a successful attempt or at least a good try at whatever you are training, give a treat, and move on to something else.
* Keep training sessions upbeat and fun for your bird.

I love birds and parrots are wonderful pets. Good luck in your training!

What do you think? Answer below in the comments!
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AFRICAN GREY PARROT
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African Grey Parrot Is It Right Parrot For You?

Originating from Central Africa, the African Grey Parrot is considered one of the most beautiful species of parrots and highly intelligent. The African Grey Parrot is popular because of their extraordinary speaking skills and socialization. However, African parrots can be a challenge to care for

The Congo African Grey and the Timneh African Grey parrots that make up the African Parrot species. The Congo African Grey is the most brightly colored with a red tail and is light grey on the body. A maroon tail with a darker grey color defines the Timneh African Grey. Males will grow up to 14 inches and have a larger head than the females.

It is essential to be very sure that African parrots as pets are really wanted as they can live up to 60 years. This is very important to African parrots. New parrot owners would be better suited to a different kind of parrot than the African parrots because of the behavioral needs. Boredom comes easily to African Grey parrots and they will possibly tear things up in their boredom. When upset, they tend to pull their own feathers out or to self mutilate itself with its claws.

Social interaction is a necessity for African Grey parrots to help with the boredom issue. Kissing and cuddling are forms of expression in the wild for African Grey parrots. Since they would rather be with you outside the cage, allow the African Grey to sit on your shoulder or fly about the room. If left alone for long periods, the African Grey parrot will become agitated and start shrieking, plucking its own feathers and tearing the inside of the cage up.

In spite of this, the African Grey is very easy to train as they are adept at mimicking human behavior as well as having a unique ability to speak quite well and have a large vocabulary. The intelligence of this species is actually quite spectacular to behold.

African Grey parrots are perfect for individuals who truly love a bird as a companion. The African Grey Parrot is a wonderful pet to have. This species will give you years of companionship and joy. If the parrot is cared for correctly, the parrot will be devoted to you and will want and need you on a daily basis.

The search is ongoing for a missing African Grey Parrot that flew the coop more than a month ago. KXLY4’s Tania Dall reports.
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Yahoo Answers:

Question by wombats_underpants: How much does an african grey parrot cost to start?
What will i need to start keeping an african grey parrot?
(excluding parrot) and how much?

and how much per week?

Best answer:

Answer by tawnyfern_two
Cage, about 0.00 to 0.00. Food, about .00 a week. Toys, about .00 to .00 a piece. Vet visit, about .00 to 0.00 a visit. Time spent, “Priceless”. But most of all knowledge, if you have no knowledge of this amazing bird, another smaller parrot or bird would be your best bet to start with.

Give us the benefit of your knowledge and add your own answer in the comments!
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The Different Types of African Grey Parrots

Image by Jim B L

Before you decide to purchase an African Grey parrot as a pet, it is important to know that there are 2 different types of sub-species. They are known as the Congo African Grey – with light grey feathers, deep red tails and black beaks, and the Timneh African Grey, which are smaller in size with a darker charcoal grey color, a darker maroon tail, and a colored horn beak. There is also the lesser known species known as the Ghana African Grey which is similar to the Congo but smaller in size and darker in color and then there is the rare Cameroon African Grey.

These parrots are relatively quiet birds with an average lifespan of 50 to 65 years living on a diet of fruits, nuts and vegetables. It is a good idea to socialize the birds with humans on a regular basis as they tend to be quiet if left alone and thus would only bond with their owners only. When bored, African Greys have the tendency to pluck their own feathers to amuse themselves. In cold climates, this can really affect the bird in keeping themselves warm.

The African Grey parrot is considered the most talented in the parrot family with their ability to mimic human tonality. This is the reason why they are much sought after parrots by bird enthusiasts to keep as pets and also the reason why their prices are much higher than other species of parrots. They are very challenging pets to keep as they don’t like to be petted upon, are also temperamental and may bite hard if stroked. They are lifelong buddies to their owners because of their longevity and it is not uncommon to see these parrots changing hands when their owners give up on them.

African Greys are commonly being bred by breeders for sale due to their high demand. More and more pet owners are finding the joy of keeping these parrots after watching the famous Einstein the talking African Grey parrot and of course, the late Alex as well.

Unlike cats and dogs, it is not a good idea to have African Greys around families with children as these birds bite. Their beaks and claws are sharp and can injure a child, or even older adults. Whatever species of parrot you intend to buy, remember that they require commitment and dedication to upkeep and you need lots and lots of patience nurturing them.

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Yahoo Answers:

Question by bayoubamafan: Best website for buying birds? Any suggestions?
I’m looking for a place online that I can find some sun conures and african grey parrots for sale. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Best answer:

Answer by Bob and Candi T
I would not by stuff off the internet because then are usally almost died or really sick!

Give us the benefit of your knowledge and add your own answer in the comments!

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Einstein Talking African Grey Parrot

African Grey parrots are very intelligent. It has been said that they have an intellect similar to that of dolphins and chimpanzees. African Grey parrots have the ability to mimic up to 2,000 different sounds. They can understand the use of many words they learn, and are known to be the best talking parrots.

African Grey Parrots

, is living proof of this. Einstein has been talking up a storm in a Knoxville, Tennessee zoo. Einstein’s trainer, Stephanie White, says that it is natural for African Grey parrots to enjoy mimicking sounds. Einstein, though, seems exceptionally good at mimicking. White believes Einstein can make more than 200 different sounds, many of which are English words.

“If she hears a sound that she likes, she’ll start to repeat it over and over. Then we’ll put it on cue,” says White.

Is Einstein Male or Female?

African Grey parrots of both sexes look the same, so no one knows whether Einstein is male or female. The zoo’s veterinarians could tell with a blood test, but the zoo has decided not to do it. Einstein lives happily with the name of a great male scientist, and a feminine pronoun.

Einstein – a Talking African Grey’s Bio

Einstein, the talking African Grey parrot, hatched in California in 1987. He did not live in a zoo at first. He lived with a California couple. Not for sale, the Congo African Grey was donated to the Zoo in 1992 at age 5.

When Einstein arrived at the Knoxville Zoo, she soared from unknown African Grey parrot to star status. Einstein was an immediate hit in the zoo’s new Bird Show. Visitors loved the show, which features free-flight, natural behaviors of about 14 birds and a few other animals. However, the African Grey quickly became the star.

Einstein does not stay at the zoo every day. Nor does she limit her vocabulary to words and sounds her trainers want her to learn. One day, the African Grey was riding in a car on the way to a school show-and-tell. Suddenly, she began to sing “Happy Birthday” to her shocked trainers. No one knew when and how she learned the song, but she knew it.

Einstein is not only the star of Knoxville Zoo’s Bird Show. She is also a popular “spokesbird” for the zoo and for Knoxville tourism.

Although Einstein is about 22 years old as I write this (early 2007), she will never behave or understand as a 22-year old human. African Grey parrots have the intellectual capacity of a 5-year old child. Emotionally, they are more like a 2-year old human. Those who live with African Grey parrots are constantly reminded of this.

African Grey – the Right Pet for You?

Einstein, the talking African Grey is amazing. You should be aware, however, that not all African Greys are like Einstein. The Knoxville Zoo has another African Grey parrot named Allie. Allie has learned only a handful of words. Perhaps Allie is shy of talking because Einstein is so good. Perhaps Allie is just not motivated.

Certainly many African Grey parrots do learn to talk. A privately-owned, 10-year old African Grey in Texas – also named Einstein – is credited with knowing 122 words, 94 phrases, and 21 sounds.

If you purchase an African Grey parrot, and patiently work with it, you will probably be able to teach it to talk.

By: Anna Hart

Tame and talking african grey congo ready to go to good home. only about 6 year old, excellent feather condition. talks and says hello, hello billy, goodnight and bye and speaks many other words. whistles like my home phone and door bells, car alams. laugh like humans. and if you put your lips next to the cage he will come over to you and kiss you and even comes to your hands.excellent bird to keep subscribe comment nd rate

Yahoo Answers:

Question by Amanda Jo: What are some trustworthy websites with fertile parrot eggs for sale?
I’m looking into buying a fertile parrot egg. (An egg or at least young bird so it will have no problem getting used to my family.) The parrots I’m most interested in are African Blue Macaws and African Grey Parrots. Buying from somebody in KS would make things easier. Does anyone know of truly safe sites with eggs/babies for sale? What’s the usual cost?
YES I’ve thought everything through. My boyfriend, his 15 yr old brother and I live together. I’m a homemaker; that means each and everyday I’ll have all the time in the world for he/she. We’ve got the money for it. We’ve got more than enough love and time for it. Yea I’ve thought it through. I just want the best for the bird since it would become a part of my family. And yes there is such a thing as an African Blue & Gold Macaw.

Best answer:

Answer by Art V
www.trustworthyfertileparroteggs.com (or it might be .net — I can’t remember which).

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Food For African Grey Parrots

African Grey Parrots

African Grey parrots’ food must not be only seed, however. Such an incomplete, imbalanced diet is likely to cause illness. Seeds are high in fat and carbohydrates, and your African Grey will probably pick out its favorite seeds, making the diet even less balanced.

Most parrot experts agree that an African Grey parrots food needs can only be met with a formula diet supplemented with a variety of other foods.

Organic Pellets

What is a formula diet for an African Grey? Organic pellets. I say “organic” pellets because many of the conventional pellets have unhealthy ingredients. Some have even been noted as containing potentially toxic ingredients.

African Grey parrots’ food should never contain menadione. If the pellets you are considering for your African Grey list menadione as an ingredient, read on. The FDA requires a warning on every bag of food that contains it. That warning must read, “Person who handles needs to wear protective outfit, gloves, mask, and glasses.”

Menadione may be added to give your African Grey additional vitamin K. A better option is to provide full spectrum light for your parrot. An African Grey will get vitamin K from the light, just as it would if living outdoors.

Organic pellets also let your African Grey avoid the high quantities of sugar in colored pellets. Most African Grey parrot owners care enough about the bird in which they’ve invested so much money, that they don’t want to give it a diet that is high in sugar.

African Grey parrots’ food that is based on organic pellets will be free of contaminants that might be found in other pellets. In the U.S., government regulations force companies making organic parrot food not to use pesticides or other contaminants.

In addition to a basic, formulated pellet food, African Greys need many of the same food you eat.

1. Fresh vegetables: Offer your African Grey a wide variety of vegetables, raw or cooked. Think bright, deep colors for the most nutrition. Most vegetables that offer high nutrition to you and your family will be good for your parrot as well. Cooked legumes such as beans and lentils are good. Sprouted seeds are also good. Your African Grey will love them. To avoid contaminants such as pesticides, you may want to use organic vegetables for African Grey parrots’ food.

2. Fresh fruits: In the wild, African Greys eat fruit freely. The trick is to keep your parrot from filling up on its favorite food and neglecting pellets and vegetables. As with vegetables, choose bright, rich colors in fruit for the most nutrition. Also, purchase organic if possible.

3. Other supplemental foods: African Grey parrots enjoy cooked eggs and small amounts of yogurt now and then. African Greys are more prone than some parrots to calcium deficiency, so you may leave the egg shell on the hard boiled egg, if you wish. You should not need to give your parrot calcium supplements if you are using a good organic pellet food. You may give a few seeds as a treat, but go easy on them.

No, Thank You

African Grey parrots’ food dishes should never contain avocado, chocolate, or rhubarb. They should not contain any human junk foods or processed meats either. It should go without saying, but your African Grey should never be given anything containing caffeine or alcohol.

Water, Please

Remember, when thinking of your African Grey’s dietary needs, that it should have fresh, clean water in its cage at all times.

Helpful Tip

For healthy African Greys, be sure you clean the food and water dishes every day. If your parrot decides on an impromptu bath, wait until it is done, wash the water dish, and give it a fresh supply of water.

By: Anna Hart

Yahoo Answers:

Question by UR: Does anyone know of a good website where i could buy parrot food?
Hi,
I’m looking for a good reputable website where i could buy
Higgins mayan celestial mix parrot food,

Best answer:

Answer by Big Rigger
Try Drsfostersmith.com

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Image by Terlecky Photo
My Cockatiel’s Bird Cage made out of K’NEX. He is not as mobile as he used to be and his large cage he used to live in was presenting problems for him to get to his food and water. I built him this smaller cage out of K’NEX so he has easier access to his food and water.

Parrot Cages: All I Want is a Cage Somewhere

Parrot Cages

Just as parrots come in many sizes, parrot cages vary from small to large. They come in rectangles and cylinders, plain and fancy. Parrot cages can be difficult to purchase, and the savvy buyer will do research before attempting to do so. Four of the factors to be considered are given here, but you will want to discuss your final purchase with a knowledgeable dealer.

1. Parrot Breed and Size

The breed and size of your parrot figure strongly in the consideration of available parrot cages.

Large birds need sufficient space to stretch big wings, climb around, and enjoy healthy exercise. Large parrot cages are needed for parrots in the size range of African Grey Parrots, Amazons, Cockatoos, and Macaws. Large parrot cages should be made of steel or metal, and have a bar spacing of one or more inches. Any smaller spacing in large parrot cages will permit your parrot to get caught and injure itself.

Medium parrot cages are good for medium size parrots such as Caiques, Cockatiels, Conures, and Senegals. Medium parrot cages should have steel or metal bars spaced 1/2 to 5/8 inch apart. Parrot cages with larger or smaller bar spacing may allow your bird to be injured.

If you have a small parrot such as a Budgerigar (Budgie), Lovebird, or Parrotlet, you will need to look at small parrot cages. Small parrot cages also should be of steel or metal, since all parrots love to chew. Bar spacing should be 1/2 inch or less in small parrot cages.

2. Configuration

The configuration of parrot cages is the size and shape. Since parrots like to climb and fly, parrot cages need to be tall. Even the most basic, small parrot cages should be at least 7-8 inches taller than their width and depth. Dome tops are functional as well as attractive in parrot cages. The parrot will amuse itself climbing across the dome. Wide cages are important for larger parrots, as they will need to fly back and forth. While some parrot cages are built to resemble castles or Victorian homes, complete with turrets, one must be sure the décor does not involve sharp edges or small corners where a parrot can injure feet or beak.

3. Accessories

Accessories can go a long way toward making parrot cages “loverly” in the parrot’s thinking. Stands raise parrot cages to a higher level, allowing the bird to see more, and feel more a part of the “flock” in your home. Stands also give owners better access to their parrots. For parrots that crave more attention, parrot cages on wheeled stands can be moved from room to room.

Parrot cages can also be topped with exercise areas, providing entertainment and exercise when the parrot is out for play. Swings, ladders, toys, steps, and more can be included in playgrounds.

The feeder cups in parrot cages should be easily accessible, and should be made of steel, ceramic, or reinforced plastic. Parrots will chew on the cups as part of their exercise, and can readily destroy other materials.

Parrot cages require at least three different perches, each made of a different material. Rope, hardwood, and cement are three possibilities. Proper perches are important to the health of your parrot’s feet.

Cage covers are important additions to parrot cages, allowing your bird to get the right dark and light cycle to get sufficient rest.

4. Toys

Finally, all parrot cages will need convenient places to attach toys – and entertaining toys to be attached. Like parrot cages, parrot toys come in different sizes and materials to suit the breed of parrot. Parrot toys do not have to be elaborate. Toys may entertain, and may stimulate your bird intellectually, but their main purpose is to help parrots use the actions they would use in the wild. Toys help them “hunt” food, hide in the “leaves” of a tree, and exercise their beaks to keep them strong.

Toys in parrot cages can be for their feet, giving them foot exercise that helps them maintain dexterity. Toys may be filled with food that parrots must retrieve, chewing away obstacles as they would in the wild. Small mirrors in parrot cages allow the birds to converse with “friends” in the same tree.

Learn as much as you can about your parrot breed, and ask for appropriate toys that will meet the bird’s varied needs.

Conclusion: Parrot cages are a big investment. Be sure you shop carefully.

By: Anna Hart

Learn about Avian Adventures Bird Cages, one of the featured brands offered at www.BirdExpressions.com. The Avian Adventures Cage Lineup includes both powder-coated and stainless steel bird cages. Their models cover all species from small birds to large parrots.
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Yahoo Answers:

Question by MS: Does anyone have a large parrot cage, macaw size?
I am looking for a large parrot cage preferably with a playtop to house a large macaw. Cage needs to be approx. 40-50 inches tall, at least 26 inches deep and 30-40 inches wide. Looking for a cage in the Central/Western Massachusetts or Hartford, CT area, but I will travel a bit further if need be. I will pick it up and pay you a fair price.

Best answer:

Answer by joyceeleann
Look for one on

www.craigslist.com

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