Many of us like to keep pets in our houses. It may be any animal or any bird. When it comes to birds, there are a lot of varieties to choose from. Even a common Parrot that belongs to the order Psittaciformes, has more than 350 species all over the world. let’s see Grey Parrot & Its Cost.
Now coming directly to the discussion. Based on the species, age, source, and gender, the cost of an African Grey can range from $500 to $4000. Even the cost of a baby African Grey can go as high as $3600 according to its condition. Moreover, just buying a pet is not everything; you have to take good care of it. So, along with the cost price, you will need approx $300 – $500 extra for its maintenance.
Things to Remember:
Before buying an African Grey parrot, there are some points that the owner should keep in mind:
- As it is an endangered species and the trade of wild-caught birds is banned now, you should ask the breeder if they have a proper legal license for selling such pets.
- Though it’s not necessary for the customers to have a license for owning, you should ask the seller about the Article 10 license.
- You may need to make some accommodation changes to keep an African Grey. For example:
- Screens on the windows so that the bird can not fly away.
- Installing a full spectrum of light bulbs and timers to control the brightness and make the bird feel like nature.
- A partner to accompany because parrots need all-time companionship.
All About African Greys:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Psittacus
Species: Psittacus erithacus
Descriptions:
- Length: 10 – 14 inches
- Average Wingspan: 49 cm
- Weight: 400 gm (approx.)
- Color: Grey (body) , Scarlet Red (tail)
- Average Lifespan: 23 years
- Diet: Herbivores
How to Identify:
African Grey Parrots are one of the oldest psittacine species kept as a pet. It is also known for its intelligence among its brother species. The African Grey parrot has an almost similar body structure to a pigeon. The body color is typically Grey but the head and wing portion are a bit darker than its body. The tail feathers are red or more specifically, scarlet in color. The eye color may differ from dark Grey to black. Female African Greys have smaller heads and narrow necks as compared to the males.
Other Characteristics:
- African Grey parrots can talk or mimic other animals as well as human beings.
- Can be found in regions like the Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda
- There are two types of them:
- Timneh African Grey (TAG)
- Congo African Grey (CAG)
- The Timneh African Grey is a little bit smaller than the Congo African Grey.
- These are highly social birds and love to have fun.
- They are diurnal in nature and feed on plant materials.
- Tends to live in groups.
- Do not like to migrate.
- Easy to get trained.
- Tends to be found in dense forests rather than on forest edges.
Diet Habits:
African Grey parrots are herbivores in nature. They mostly depend upon plant materials. While being in the forest, they mostly feed on fruits, nuts, and seeds of different types. What they most like is the fruits of the African oil palm trees.
Now, when they are in our house, we should take a little bit more care of them. Obviously one of the main reasons is that they are out of their natural habitat area. Many people let the parrot eat whatever they are eating being human. It may create a malfunction in their regular diet habits. On the other hand, a seed-only diet may also not be that healthy for them. So, it’s clear that your feathery friend needs a properly balanced diet with fruits, seeds as well as vegetables.
The Diet of an African Grey Parrot May Include:
Fruits like:
- Berries
- Oranges (remove the skin)
- Mangoes (Peeled)
- Papayas
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- Bananas
- Apples
- Pears
- Note-
- A large number of fruits can harm your African Grey as fruits contain a higher level of sugar. So make sure to give it a balanced meal.
- Some fruits like avocado are found to be toxic to any kind of bird.
- Remember to take away the seeds from the fruits as many of them contain cyanide.
Vegetables Like:
- Broccoli
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Chilies
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- Beans
- Peas
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
And many more…
- Note –
- Whatever vegetables you give them to eat, remember those should not be pale or rotten.
- Make sure to clean the vegetables properly as they will definitely contain pesticides. The same goes for fruits.
- You can give vegetables both raw and steamed. But most of the veterans prefer steamed veggies as that will be easier for them to digest.
Conclusion:
In a study, it is found that most pet lovers prefer birds instead of other animals. Definitely, the reason is birds are intelligent and easier to train. According to some, it increases the beauty of the household. But one question that many people face is “ Is it okay to keep them caged? “. Obviously, the answer depends upon the owner but we should always try to keep our beloved companion happy.
FAQ’s
- Is it right for a beginner to keep African Greys as their first pet?
Veterans generally do not recommend an African Grey as they are more demanding and delicate than the other birds.
- When can an African Grey be called an adult?
Between the age of 3 to 5 years, they become full adults to be mated.
