The african grey--have i done my homework?????

[Dave007]

If you have come to the forum because you have decided you want a parrot, I urge you to consider the side we DON'T talk about as often - and that's the equally important downside.

 

Plenty of people have posted problems on the forum with aggression/biting/unruly behaviour etc but in your quest for information gathering, have you actually read these posts? I bet you haven't, because if you don't know too much about parrot mentality, and behaviour, you will be forgiven for thinking that person is doing something wrong and they don't have a clue what they are doing.

 

That's where you are wrong .

 

Parrots are not like other pets. Their intelligence will not allow it. Parrots are wild animals and will always stay that way whether they're in the woods or a person's home.

 

If you want a parrot, then I really hope that before you have even started looking for that cute baby bird or even an adult, that you consider the following points.

 

Do you have your own home? Living with your parents or room mates isn't an ideal situation to have a parrot in. If you are still at home, can you take the bird with you when you move out - what about when you go to college? Work? HOW many hours will you work for? How many hours will the bird be alone? If you are with a room mate, is it fair to inflict upon them the noise, the mess, the fact their air fresheners and teflon pans/hair dryers/straighteners/ George Foreman grills will have to permanantly be resigned to the bin? That no, they cannot have loud all night parties because parrots require 8-12hrs of uninterupted sleep? Oh and SO sorry you're trying to study, but maybe you'd best go out if the parrot shouting is annoying you?

 

Do you have plenty of time to spend with your bird? By this I do not mean a few hours of an evening, I mean a LOT of time.....

 

Are you financially stable?

 

Are you aware that your bird must be taken to an AVIAN vet that will charge almost double to a regular vet to do something simple like shorten nails?

 

Does EVERYONE in your household support the idea of living with a parrot and are prepared to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in with training/care? Can everyone take a blood drawing bite or two? Because it WILL happen. Additionally, some birds will always dislike some human, even in it's own family. Are you ready for this?

 

Do your personal qualities include endless patience, love and respect?

 

Can you take the time to learn parrot mentality? ---Parrot's body language?

 

Have you considered what you will do if you find yourself with a bird that is aggressive/noisy/messy? We can't pick personality and for all the good sides, each parrot has a downside that may not be able to be corrected.

 

Can you offer a stable routine? Too many different times for feeding/out of cage/bed are not good for a bird and can distress them greatly.

 

Can you offer a LIFETIME's care to this bird?

 

Life with a parrot is fantastic, rewarding and there is never a dull moment but let me do what I intended to do and break the silence on the bad parts.

 

Parrots are:

 

Messy. They don't just eat food. They throw food, mash it into furnishings, spray juice up the walls and onto the carpet. THEN they eat some food.

They can be toilet trained, but poop when they need to where they need to if something is too interesting to go back to the cage for. AND they can't be scolded for this.

 

Noisy. ALL parrots come with a certain amount of noise. Some species are louder or quieter than the next one. The dawn and dusk chorus' are VERY important to them and although you can prevent screaming, it is something you will have to work at for a long LONG time. They are not like dogs, you cannot just call through to the other room "No shouting" and expect it to work.

 

Can get really uppity and they show this via the channels of BITING. Some only in the beginning, others quite frequently - stock up on plasters.

 

Demanding. You must be able to have a parrot out of their cage for a few hours a day at least. They won't let you have any time off from this! They decide they want out? They want it YESTERDAY and they will not behave until you play ball.

 

Bossy. If you think you can curl up on the sofa with a book and your bird wants to play - forget the book. When you bring a new bird home, you cannot FORCE them to do ANYTHING. If you do, they will never trust you and therefore initially, things need to be on THEIR terms.

 

Destructive. Depending on the species and the personality of the bird, you may get one who is capable of ripping your sofa to shreds in the space of half an hour. Wallpaper, woodwork, curtains, cables....it ALL needs to be parrot proofed.

 

Specific health needs. All parrots need a good parrot/ pellet mix as a base food. These are EXPENSIVE. They need seed and nuts - human grade. There's that $ again.....They need plenty of fruit and veg which really, need to be organic - unless you want to risk the pesticide issue.

The subject of care is a minefield with many, MANY dangers. No chocolate, no onions, no caffeine, certain veggies etc...the list is not exhaustive. Non stick pans that release deadly fumes need to be binned - stainless steel is hard to clean. Checking your heating systems do not produce PTFE (teflon fumes). No air fresheners. No heavy duty cleaning products. Only stainless steel for your bird - metal poisoning is deadly. No open windows. Only natural cleaning of the cage. No exposed mirrors or windows until your bird is settled. No cables within beak range. No, no no no NO! There are so many I couldn't list them. Is the air humid enough? Prepare for higher leccy bills if your air is dry and you need a humidifyer. Bathing them every day.........on and on and on...

 

Not like other animals. Other domestic pets are different to parrots in the extreme. You can buy a cute puppy or kitten and within a few days, they will be acting like they can't remember where they came from. Not so with a parrot. BASIC trust takes weeks to get to. Deep trust takes months. Bonding can take YEARS. This is where your endless patience needs to kick in.

 

Talking. If you want a parrot just because they talk then you really shouldn't be getting one. Only happy, healthy, settled parrots will talk and then there are some that no matter how content in life, will never attempt to imitate a single noise.

 

Time consuming. Several clean ups a day, wiping away with warm water and lemon juice/vinegar/bi carb/natural products (anything else can be poisonous) - the cage, the bars, the floors, the walls, the toys, the bowls. Providing fresh water several times a day. Cooking and preparing mini dinners. Taking the time to buy lots of different safe toys so they can be rotated. TEACHING your bird HOW to play - it's not natural, you know. Teaching him you are trustworthy. Teaching your bird manners. Keeping him entertained.

 

Consider.....

 

Cages. RESEARCH what size and shape you need. Look for opinions, advice on sizes. This is a most important point. Too small will make for a miserable bird. The bar spacing needs to be correct for safety. No caught body parts or mashed feathers. The shape is important. A climbing bird will not thank you for a dome shaped cage. Good quality cages are a MUST. No rust.

 

Knowledge. You NEED to get the correct knowledge and be confident you know how to handle your future bird before you bring them home. Too many people take a bird home and then ask questions that they shouldn't need to ask. For example: How do I get my bird out of it's cage? How do I get my parrot to like me? How can I get my parrot to cuddle me? These people did no research beforehand. Get yourself Parrots for Dummies and a species specific book - you will need them. Anticipate every problem you can before you home your bird. Remember that many decent, trustworthy books are out there. Just ask about them.

 

These are very basic needs of a parrot. This is them without the "Oh how cute, he said hello!" sugar coating.

 

Having a parrot in your home is not all roses and I'm sure everyone would admit to thinking: Just 10mins peace would be great.

 

I just hope that if you haven't bought a bird but have read this, you have seriously considered what I've said.

 

Parrot rescue centres in the USA are packed out with birds whose owners were ignorant to the downsides. The US's pet classifieds are full of birds who are "unmanagable" or "Don't have the time anymore." People who have all bought now and thought later - to the detriment of the bird. Because of people thinking having a parrot will be "cool", wild birds are STILL being caught in Africa and shipped like semi precious vases to people with more money than sense.

 

Please, make sure you are going into this with your eyes wide open to the downsides as well as the up. Make sure your new edition does not end up neglected, unhappy and wondering what it did to deserve such a scary, sad existence.

 

PS----Ths post isn't meant to scare or offend people. It doesn't apply to all people but it does apply to many people. It's meant to be read by the people who need some guidence. We all know people who need some sort of a list. In the past, time has proven that to be very, very true.

 

If you think you can provide a bird with all of these needs then go for it and I hope you and the grey will enjoy each other for years to come.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Dave007

[Mistyparrot]

Wise words Dave. Many young people may have had other pets that have short natural lives. A parrot can live many decades. It is a long term commitment . Understanding the implications is vital for all.

 

 

 

Steve n Misty

[Luvparrots]

Nicely done Dave. Thank you for making this informative thread. You have oodles of knowledge and I truly appreciate that you share it with us.

[Timbersmom]

Excellent post, thanks Dave

[BaileysPapa]

I couldn't have said it better, Dave. Though, I have said these things before. A parrot is a lifetime, not a pastime.

[Parrot Lady]

it's all true , good work

[danmcq]

GreYt post Dave! This is now a Sticky. It is too valuable to let get pushed down the threads out of members sight, especially new members thinking about getting a grey or other parrot.

Edited October 13, 2013 by danmcq

[Dave007]

GreYt post Dave! This is now a Sticky. It is too valuable to let get pushed down the threads out of members sight, especially new members thinking about getting a grey or other parrot.

 

Dan, thanks. Hope it helps.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Dave007

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Yikes... home from vacation after a week... no punishment, but house was a mess! I couldn't even unpack, until I washed floor twice, Sophie was all over me while I cleaned, dogs were smiling ear to ear that mama was home! My sister didn't undersdtand my happiness to meet my family. House was a mess, which is what she focuses on. I could only focus on my kisses from my pups, and Sophie saying " Hi rom!" Nancy

[Talon]

Dave, thank you for taking the time and effort to write this. Every potential bird owner should read this!

 

Excellent excellent excellant! Kudos to you!

[murfchck]

This needs to be on the front page also for those just finding us and not accustom to the site. The vast amount of information within this forum gets overlooked because people don't really know what or where to look! Very well written and oh so true. There are many tv commercials out right now with parrots in them and i fear people will start rushing out to get one like the chuhuahua fads that started and left so many in shelters.

[Greywings]

Yes, research before action.

[Inara]

Thank you, Mods, for making this a sticky, and thanks, Dave, for writing it all down! This is a post to keep bookmarked for sure, to email or Facebook message to friends and others who have that initial "bird lust" after meeting one of our fids or after having seen one on TV, etc.

[Muse]

It should scare people. Truly, you have to completely rethink your lifestyle. You have to make a lot of sacrifices. I remember fostering three cockatiels (from different owners) who all were given up because they were "noisy" - well duh? We need more articles like this that people can read BEFORE they bring a bird home.

[JeffNOK]

This is a very needed post. It may seem to focus on what many view as negative things, but it is all true and must be said. I started looking into getting a parrot back in 2007. As I started my research, I was confronted with numerous websites with information similar to what Dave posted. I was discouraged. It was like everything I read was a warning--almost telling me to "turn back now" or "proceed with extreme caution". Many times I said to myself, "I won't be up to this." Over time, as I learned more and did some soul searching, I began to get comfortable with the fact that in my heart, my DNA, I was destined to share life with an African Grey. I don't believe all people are destined to be a parront. Probably most would consider the responsibilities overwhelming, but if you are that sort of person, you will find that life with a parrot isn't so difficult. Research, knowledge and preparation are imperative, but once equipped with the tools, if you are meant have a parrot, it won't seem so daunting. I think it is a matter of personal disposition. If you are not a "parrot person", it will indeed be too much, but if you ARE-it will come naturally. I would just ask that anyone considering getting a parrot, that they do all the necessary research and then look deeply into their soul for the answer as to whether it is meant to be for them or not. I believe that the answer will come. If you have any doubts, I would wait, but if a peace comes, and you sense that you are that sort of person, I say to take the plunge. Yes, it can be hard at times, but it won't be beyond your resources to do it. Just know yourself. No impulse decisions. There is no shame in admitting you may not be the right person for the role. But if you know in your heart that you ARE that sort of person, don't be dissuaded. Jump in and experience the amazing things that come with living with a parrot. Just do your homework, check your motives, know your soul, and get connected with others with experience to offer support.

[shane]

Great Post! thank you!

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

Excellent post! I sure didn't know what I was getting into... but in hindsight, I wouldn't change a thing.Sophie brings me so much peace in my life, and truly has become my " exceptional child", that kids laugh about. Nancy

[Zervoid]

Thanks for posting this! Great to hear what African Grey ownership is like and having their limitations acknowledged.

 

I used to live in Ghana, West Africa, for a couple of years. But at the time didn't know that the African Grey even existed :0 and totally missed a great opportunity to see the rare Timneh in the wild and to maybe own one. Only after I left did my mother happen to tell me that one of her ex pat friends their owned an unusual parrott with a bright red tail that would talk vibrantly and how she had seen it at their house! Something she never mentioned during my time their which was unfortunate. I came very close to discovering them but sadly missed a once in a lifetime opportunity....

 

It wasn't until I was back in Australia that I found out about them through the African Grey Parrott handbook and that was when my mother shared her expeirence of seeing one.

 

Owning a Cockatiel growing up I know that bird owership can be rewarding but does have it's limitations but in other ways is also more rewarding than dog/cat ownership due to the talking ability. When I moved to Africa I had to give away my Cockatiel.

 

As African Greys are so expensive here and sell for AUD$5000.00-AUD$6000.00 if I was to purchase one I would really have to be certain about the decision and this post has helped me and I will probably wait a year or so longer before thinking about purchaisng as I don't want to rush the decision- plus I can't affford one right now

 

Despite living within their natural range I have never seen an African Grey in person so any advice about them I find extremely helpful.

[Timbersmom]

Kudos to you for doing your research, and for your decision to wait until you are more prepared to be owned by a grey! Good luck and God bless

[Mistyparrot]

Just incase you thought "Greys are to much trouble so I will adopt a Raven instead !"

 

 

 

Steve n Misty

[Timbersmom]

LOL Enjoyed it!

[Zervoid]

Haha thanks for sharing the Raven video very funny. I haven't had a good laugh like that in ages. That poor owner :0

 

Although I remember after owning a Cockatiel that Australian native parrotts are very dusty while I have heard tropical parrotts, including Greys, are not as dusty as our natives here which is a plus I guess.

 

Also I found when owning my bird that because you have to feed them healthier food you also change your eating habits and eat more fruit and salads etc which is always a good thing. Plus after owning a parrott it's de-sensetises you to mess and you soon realize it's not the end of the world if your parrott poos outside the cage etc, even though freinds and family might not think so lol.

[Mistyparrot]

……...

Although I remember after owning a Cockatiel that Australian native parrotts are very dusty while I have heard tropical parrotts, including Greys, are not as dusty as our natives here which is a plus I guess……..

 

I have never lived with a 'Too so I cannot compare but I have lived with a pair of Cockatiels. My impression is that Greys are far dustier. In fact I suspect that if, theoretically of course, a Grey were to be left in a ten meter cubed room for a year without the benefit of a regular vacuum cleaning the amount of Grey dander in that room would collapse into a small black hole under its own gravity sucking the rest of the planet into it. :eek:

 

I agree with your observations on human dietary improvement that they can bring about. I eat far more nuts now and they have widely acknowledged health benefits.

Misty will not poo inside his cage if he can possibly avoid it. I make provision for that.

 

Steve n Misty

Edited January 25, 2014 by Mistyparrot

[ibayiish]

I'm still debating on getting a grey and this is what I needed to read! I want all the info, the good, the bad and the ugly before i make my life long commitment. I will definitely pay more attention to the issues that are posted and hopefully learn something from them.

[kins2321@yahoo.com]

The good, the bad, the ugly and the blessing... We got Sophie at age two, going thru the terrible two's. Fast forward thru some extreme training involving the entire family, suffering biting, changing favoritism, every emotion you could ever suffer! I wouldn't change a thing! She will be " forever two", so safety locks etc are in my future forever. While my birds have open concept, can't go lateral, but can go up... I am on vacation and sleeping in! Sophie doesn't think I should! This morning, Sophie on my bed went thru every word she knows ( and then some!) to encourage me to GET UP! I wasn't interested! She pulled the BIG GUNS.... singing " take me out to the ballgame". I critique all the time. I got up! LOL

I suffered a serious blow after Christmas. My son Ryan, failed this semester in college. I took it hard, and Sophie knew I was very sad. When the kids werent around, I cried. Sophie was there in a heartbeat! She quickly climbed on my shoulder and snuggled me telling me " awwwww Rom" ( mom) I am sure she has no clue while I am sad, but she is there. Nancy