Introducing The African Grey Parrot

In the case of the African Grey Parrot, what it lacks in brilliant plumage it more than makes up for with its friendly nature and astounding ability to mimic sounds and speech. So much so, in fact, that it has become one of the most popular parrot breeds of all.

The African Grey is considered to be one of the most intelligent species of bird. Astoundingly, not only can they mimic speech, but they can actually construct sentences! Beginning from the time they are one year old, they can learn to repeat music and singing patterns, they can imitate pet sounds and noises around the home like the doorbell or the telephone, and they can even imitate accents. They may even growl if they feel threatened. Since these parrots will repeat anything they hear, they do not need to be taught one word at a time the way many other parrots need to be painstakingly trained.

A bird this smart, however, doesn't like to be left alone and will get bored very quickly. When it does, this relatively quiet bird will let you know with a loud squawk or whistle. For the African Grey, plenty of toys and interaction with those around them will keep them engaged and happy. Keep in mind that they do need a lot of exercise: they should be allowed to fly around for at least an hour every day. Since this species loves to pluck themselves by way of grooming, it is a great idea to give them a bath or to mist them at least twice a week. This will help to eliminate any irritants or dust that could cause them discomfort.

African Grey parrots are usually 12 or 13 inches long from their head to their tail. Their grey feather color is what gives the bird its name. Though grey, the parrot is not considered to be less appealing. In fact, the African Grey is widely regarded as one of the most attractive species of parrot due to this wonderfully simple coloring. Different sub-species of the African Grey may have red or maroon tails. Their feathers often display a white edging. Around their eyes can be seen a beautiful area colored white or pale pink. The use their strong jaws to chew on many things, including their perch, their toys, or your furniture! Always bear in mind that if you allow your parrot to fly around the house, it is a very good idea to make sure you are there to supervise, and always be careful of any valuable items. A generally strong bird, the African Grey is vulnerable to calcium deficiency so their diet should be well thought out, especially for younger birds and chicks. You may think that calcium can be given using dairy products. However, parrots cannot digest dairy products like cheese, milk, or yogurt. Not only will these make them very ill... they may even kill them.

The African Grey is a social bird that generally behaves well with other parrots and birds. In the wild, they may be seen in flocks numbering more than a thousand birds. An unfortunate Black Market in African Grey parrots has cropped up given how popular these birds are as pets, and given the sheer size of the African Grey population in their native Africa. The birds are captured and then falsely sold as tame pets, after being housed and transported in terrible conditions. Buying from a reputable dealer will help stop these practices. If you would rather take in an older bird, there are many excellent Parrot sanctuaries and rescue centres that can help you find the perfect pet.

The African Grey parrot is a wonderful bird that can live to 50 years or more. Due to their affectionate nature and intelligence, they are known to bond warmly with their owners and those who handle them often. The African Grey is truly a wonderfully appealing parrot.




About the Author
Chris Boshoff is a parrot lover and researcher.

You can learn more about African Grey Parrots by visiting his website http://www.parrotmasters.com

Breeding African Grey Parrots In Captivity

Many African Grey parrot owners are learning the skills of parrot breeders, to breed parrots in their home for their own enjoyment. Some acquire the skills because they are in the business of putting up their parrot birds for sale. Whatever your purpose is, breeding parrots can be both fun and rewarding. With their natural habitat threatened with deforestation, breeding these parrots in captivity is the only way to ensure their lifelong existence on this planet.

Before you set up your parrot for breeding, identify the sex of the birds through DNA sexing, if you do not want any fuss. It is recommended however, that you do surgical sexing as it enables the sexual organs of the birds to be physically examined and for the detection of any potential diseases. However, you will have to accept the risk factors that are associated with a surgical procedure.

Most African Grey parrots that are domestically raised will be matured enough for breeding at the age of five years. Those in the wild usually take longer, between seven to eight years, due to the less nutritional foods found in their natural habitat. At the age of six months, you should pair up your birds and get them to socialize and be used to the company of other birds so that they will not have problems later when they are set up for breeding.

You will need a suitable breeding cage after you have identified your breeding pair. If you are a DIY person than it could be fun building your own, otherwise visit the pet store and have the owner recommend you one. The dimension of the breeding cage should be 4'(w) x 2'(d) x 5'(h). The birds breed faster in this type of dimension and many breeders agree to this phenomenon. It is big enough to allow the bird to get some exercise.

The cage will need to have a good and sturdy perch measuring 2' x 4'. During breeding cycles, the African Greys will do a lot of wood chewing from the perch. A non-pressure treated wood serves this purpose well, and you can purchase them from the pet store.

Stainless steel feeding bowls and glass water bowls that are sanitized and dishwasher safe are recommended. To prevent the spread of diseases, clean the cage daily. Also, get a nesting box for your pair of breeding birds. There are many designs available form the pet store or you can make one on your own.

The African Grey parrot is a relatively easy bird to breed and if the above tips are followed, they can be quite productive. You are now ready to start breeding your African Grey parrot and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling journey as a parrot enthusiast.



About the Author
Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html

Want to Get Your Parrots Talking?

Wouldn't you love to get your parrots talking? Whether you are a kid or a grown up, mature kid, I'm sure you love teaching your pet tricks. Those feathered speakers certainly are among the most intriguing. They can live for decades, and we can train them to talk! Try to find one other pet who can boast such a pedigree.

The parrot family is a big one. Many different species of all shapes and sizes can be found in the different parts of the world. Among them, the African grey and the Amazon parrot are probably ideals to learn imitation and speech.

What better than to see and hear parrots talking in videos? I've seen a lot of good ones on video sites such as Dailymotion. Better than that though, I've discovered a full blown community of parrot fanatics.

Take a serious look at joining us in the Elite Parrots Club. I've seen quite a few parrot forums and this is the best.

If you want to give yourself the best odds of success to get parrots talking, buy them at a very young age. Older birds will be more difficult to train than the young ones. The older birds already have been exposed to lots of different sounds and it would require much patience to train them to talk.

Remember than all types of parrots are very social animals. They work as a flock in the wild wherein the birds must learn and use the language of their group in order to survive.

Have your pet bird's cage or swing in a room where they are more likely to hear human voices or sounds, for example the music room or kitchen. From the conversations that the birds frequently hear, the parrots are probably going to pick up some words and try to mimic those sounds as their own way of interacting with the environment.

It's also useful to get close to your bird as feasible when teaching specific words or phrases to the pet. This technique will permit the bird to see how each sound or word is made and help to make it count among the sorts of parrots that would talk.

There are some things that shouldn't be done in training pet parrots to speak. One is overtraining. The birds shouldn't be trained for more than 15 minutes per per day. any types of parrots for longer periods will become uninteresting for the birds, and eventually frustrating for the coach. For shorter training periods, each session could be limited only to showing and telling the pets about their food or toys. Pet parrots talking are not also fostered by immediate whistle coaching. The birds should be trained to talk, as parrots find it more hard to form words when they already have a whistling ability.




About the Author
Do you need more tips to have your parrots talking and a FREE e-course on parrot care? Come visit my friend Eva Aubin's http://www.parrotcare-tips.com website. Like you and me she loves parrots. She'll be glad to help you and your feathered friend..

Looking After Your Pet Parrot

Parrots are endearing and colorful pets, but they do require much attention from you; if you think of them as perpetual five-year-old children, that will give you some idea of the complexity of their needs.

The decision to introduce a parrot into a home is a major one. You must provide the food, care and attention that the bird needs, not regard it as an occasional amusement.

If your reason for keeping a parrot is to have a talking bird, an African Grey or an Amazon parrot is a good choice. Other parrots could be regarded as better companions such as Macaws and Cockatoos. On the other hand, a budgerigar is smaller, easier to amuse and a lot less messy. What is more, a pet budgerigar in a smaller cage may easily be handed over to a bird-sitter when you go away!

Whichever species you choose, you will need to feed your Parrot the correct diet. While budgies eat smaller seed, softer fruit such as apple or pear and soft salad items in preference to harder items, Macaws will eat pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds,hazelnut, brazil, almond and walnut kernels, cereals and dried fruit too.

Cages for sedentary birds should be adequate for changes of position and height; no cage is large enough for the Macaw! All Parrots need time out of their cages to fly and walk around; if this is permitted at frequent intervals they will be happier when caged.

Parrots need company; they like to investigate and interact with people. They need toys to play with too; try to provide safe items such as cardboard tubes, hemp ropes, plastic tubs and fabric pockets to explore, unravel or investigate for small food rewards, just as they would forage in the wild. If you must leave your Parrot on his own for a while, a radio playing music in the background is better than being alone in silence.

For the complete guide to the care, feeding, training and welfare of your pet parrot, visit Ultimate Parrot Care Guide

The Ultimate Parrot Care Guide covers parrot behavior, with information which includes selecting, feeding, and taming a parrot. Provide your Parrot with the right care for a rewarding lifetime experience!



About the Author
Movie buff, gardener and more...

Parrot Care Basics

Parrots are a lifetime investment and the care of these magnificent birds is very essential to their health and happiness. Since some birds in the parrot family can live up to 50 years, an investment in parrots and how to care for them is often compared to caring for children. If this is something that does not interest you, then you may not want to own a bird.

There are an estimated 11 million pet birds in the United States alone with the majority owning a Parrot. The birds in the parrot family will include birds as small as parakeets and love birds to cockatoos and Macaws, the Macaw being the largest bird in the parrot family.

There are many different species of parrots. An African grey parrot grows to be about 13 inches, and he's one of the birds who has a longer life. He is also known for his capabilities to mimic all sorts of sounds, in addition to developing and parroting speech patterns.

The parakeet are among the best known of the parrot species. Another species is the Australian "budgie." This nickname is given to the budgerigar, a brilliant green and yellow variety of parrot. They are gentle and friendly.

An Amazon parrot has 27 subspecies. This parrot has short wings but is every bit as smart as a dolphin or a monkey. He is also an expert at imitating a wide range of sounds.

These are only some of the many species of parrots. Owning a parrot is an excellent alternative over other pets for those individuals who do not prefer the traditional dogs or cats, reptiles or others.

So what sort of cage should you buy for your new parrot? Regardless of whether you're expecting to adopt a smaller bird or a larger of the parrot species, my suggestion is to buy the largest, practical cage that your budget can afford. The bigger the cage, the more freedom he will experience and the more comfortable he will be.

In relation to your parrot's health, his appearance is telling. His plumage should look healthy, meaning the coloring should be bright and smooth. Additionally, he should be clean. That is, there should be no dirt hanging for his feet or his beak.

Before you purchase a parrot, you should get a clear understanding of the types of routine parrot care that is needed, medical care for parrots, understand parrot types and their personalities and which size parrot would best fit your wants and needs.

Become well educated in the ownership and care of these wonderful birds and you will be enjoying your new parrot in no time.




About the Author
Jason Hutton is a parrot care expert. For more great information on parrot care visit http://www.caringforparrots.com.