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Many people choose to buy African Grey parrots because of their exceptionalintelligence and superior talking ability-said by some to rival that of a 5-year-old child's. They're also quieter than many other birds, such as the Amazon parrots or cockatoos. They do have one downfall, however: African Greys tend to bond to one person exclusively. For a single person, this is no problem, but for a family, feelings sometimes get bruised. But if you choose to own one of these striking birds, a little care will reward you with a parrot that's as much a companion as a pet.
Don't be tempted to get an African Grey while it's still a baby; being with other birds of the same species will improve the bird's disposition. Instead, adopt the bird when it is around fourteen weeks of age. Remember not to have the bird's wings clipped too closely; severe trimmings deplete the parrot's confidence by making it clumsy and prone to phobias. You'll need to purchase a cage that's at least twenty by twenty inches wide and thirty inches tall, and outfit it with three food dishes, a concrete perch, and a mineral block. When the Grey reaches maturity (after about a year) you can opt for a larger cage. The African Grey's ideal diet will be one part seeds, one part parrot pellets, and one part fruits and vegetables; the bird should also be given water with vitamin and calcium supplements. Other foods such as pastas and whole-grain breads make good treats; one rule of thumb is that if a food is good for you, it will be good for your parrot.
An African Grey should be misted every morning with warm water from a plant mister to ensure that its feathers stay strong and attractive. It will also need an assortment of toys to chew and tear at to keep itself occupied; don't pile the toys in the cage all at once. Put a different one in each day so the bird will have something to look forward to each morning. It's also important to choose a good avian veterinarian and build a relationship with him or her before the bird has any medical problems.
Finally, it will take some time before your African Grey starts to speak. Like most intelligent animals, it matures slowly and rarely talks prior to its first birthday.