Congo African Grey Parrot - General Information

Most people that know the minimum about parrots upon learning that someone owns a parrot will ask, “is it a green parrot or a grey parrot”. They are referring to either an amazon parrot or an african grey parrot due to their popularity.

The African Grey parrot is a well known and sought after companion parrot. This is due to their ability to talk and mimic sounds that they hear. It is amazing when you own an african grey you learn that your house makes sounds that you never knew existed. You will hear everything from that dripping faucet to the squeaky entrance door.

This species of parrot is captive-bred on a regular basis and is easily obtained. Hand reared babies are the best fit for a new parrot enthusiast, provided that the baby has been properly raised and socialized from a very young age. The African Grey baby needs to be exposed to many different items and people to ensure that the bird will not end up with phobic behaviors as it matures.

The African Grey is a highly intelligent species. They will easily pick up on your mood and any conflicts that may be happening in your home. They seem to have that knack of picking up when things are not right in YOUR world. This can lead to destructive behaviors such as self-mutilation and feather picking.

When sharing your life with an African Grey one must keep plenty of toys and rotate them often to keep the parrot from getting bored. Foraging toys are a must for the African Grey.

This species of parrots has a high preference for high fat foods. This is due to the fact that in the wild they tend to eat fruits of the African Oil Palm in large quantities. In the wild, the African Grey requires that diet described above because they expend much energy to survive. In captivity however, they lead a much more sedentary life and are prone to obesity if not fed properly. It is important to feed your African Grey parrot a healthy diet.

The African Grey Parrot is a medium-sized parrot about 12 inches/30cm long and are native to Africa. As the name implies, the African Grey parrot is mostly grey, with accents of white and a red or maroon tail depending on the subspecies. African Grey parrots, like all parrots, are zygodactyl, having 4 toes on each foot—two front and two back. If properly cared for, the African Grey parrot has a life expectancy of 40-60 years.

The African Grey requires a cage that is at least 32”x23” in size. This size allows for plenty of room for toys and activities to keep your parrot busy while you are away. All parrot species should get at least three hours a day outside of their cage. The more you interact with your parrot, the stronger the bond and the more enjoyment you will receive from sharing your life with one of these incredible creatures.