African Grey Parrots
For most people, it is unrealistic to obtain and care for exotic animals such as bearcats and lemurs. It may be interesting for those who don’t work at zoos to read about raising exotic animals, but they may wonder, “are there any exotic animals I can have?” Fear not, ZooFriends! The answer is a resounding YES!
There are many different kinds of exotic pets, but today we will discuss this ZooMommy’s favorite: the African grey parrot. Parrots come from every corner of the world in every size and color under the sun. So why do I love this admittedly drab-colored parrot more than all the rest? The African grey is considered to be the smartest parrot in the world! It is suggested that the African grey possesses the intelligence of a 4 to 6-year-old child, and has the ability to learn hundreds, or even thousands of words. The grey’s high intelligence means it is a huge undertaking as a companion animal, especially considering these guys can live 40-60 years in captivity.
While parrots do live a long time, this ZooMommy’s suggestion is to bring home a young parrot. This allows for a stronger bond between human and animal from an earlier age. There are breeders who will sell baby African greys when they are still growing their feathers, but it is important to know little baby birds need to eat out of a syringe every couple of hours for several weeks. I’ve done this, and I don’t suggest it. It is too difficult for a first-time owner to know if everything is being done properly, and it can be impossible to tell if the baby is sick. My suggestion is to purchase a juvenile parrot; these guys are usually around 4-6 months old, are fully weaned, and eat regular bird food.
The diet of the African grey is varied according to each bird’s preferences, but they all enjoy seeds, nuts, and fruits. Many greys even enjoy chicken and fish! Little intricacies like this are things owners learn about their parrots as they grow older. My parrot, Gertrude, loves salmon and peppers and chicken. I let her try food off my plate (and even drink out of my cups), not only to find more things she likes, but also to bond.
African greys are monogamous animals and traditionally bond with only one member of their household. Gertrude is unique; she likes almost every person she meets. However, it is apparent she prefers me to anyone else: everything she says is in my voice!
African greys don’t usually say their first word until after they are one year old. Regardless of how much or how little a grey speaks, an owner must always keep in mind how mentally active this bird is. This means giving the parrot several hours of attention every day. African greys need regular stimulation, and while it is best to give them one-on-one attention, this is not possible to do all day long. Therefore, it is imperative to figure out which toys the bird likes best and give her new toys often. A bored bird is an unhappy bird—especially African greys.
A bird that feels neglected or under-stimulated will often chew her feathers or pluck them out. In some extreme cases, a parrot will even self-mutilate, drawing blood. As you can see from pictures of Gertrude, she has a bad habit of chewing on her feathers. This started before I even met her. On that day, she didn’t even have the grey’s signature red tail feathers! She had chewed them off, and she continues to do so to this day. Apparently, she hates the color red—all her toys are blue!
African greys are demanding companion animals, but all the time and effort are worth it. They literally respond to you in ways other animals can’t. There is nothing like having a pet ask you for a kiss on your way out the door and say, “Goodbye, have a good day! I love you so much!” I can’t imagine life without my Gertrude, and anyone with an African grey feels the same way!
Hugs and kisses,
ZooMommy
