|
There are two sub-species of African Grey. There is the Congo African Grey, P. e. erithacus, and the lesser known Timneh Grey, P. e. timneh. Both species are from Africa. Congo Greys are larger, light grey and have a bright red tail. Timneh's are smaller than Congo's, are darker grey and have a maroon tail. Size Adults grow to be approximately 13 inches long and weigh about 400 grams. Newly hatched chicks weigh approximately 12-14 grams. Talking and Temperament African Greys make the best pets when acquired as young, handfed babies. They are wonderful mimics and will repeat everything!! They imitate human voice, as well as, many other sounds and whistles. African Greys bond strongly to one person. It is very important to have the baby African Grey handled by everyone in the home on a regular basis. However, they will often choose only one person for their "mate" and not have anything to do with anyone else. They are extremely intelligent and must be made an integral part of family life. They demand it!! Human touch is important to a Grey, but they are not cuddly birds. Grey's enjoy a light head, neck and face rubbing. It is important to pay attention to the mood of the bird. With time and patience, you will know when a Grey wants attention and when they want to be left alone. Q: What should I do if the bird is screaming? If a Grey is screaming, do not go and pick it up. Simply look away and firmly say "no". They thrive on making eye contact with you and if you rush to the cage, it reinforces this behavior. When the bird quiets down, reward with piece of fruit or nut. This will help reinforce good behavior. You should NEVER strike or yell at an African Grey. Q: My bird has started biting, what can I do? The best way to establish dominance as the flock leader is to teach them the "up" and "down" command. This will reinforce to the Grey that you are the boss and possibly deter the bird from biting. You should NEVER strike or yell at an African Grey. Diet African Greys do well with a diet of vegetables, fruit (apple preferred), a quality pellet supplement and some seed. Please see our diet page for more information.
This page was created by Gulf Coast Exotic Birds which reserves all worldwide rights. This page or subsequent pages may not be reproduced, in whole or part, without the express permission of the author. |
|
To contact us: |
