Advice needed whether to buy an African Grey

[ChampMan]

I am thinking of getting an African Grey parrot. However, I have never had a bird as a pet before (well, properly) and the only pet I have ever had was fish (because of my parents).

 

I do know that they're costly at first but I have been given the impression that they're relatively cheap to look after; Afterwards, that is.

 

But, the main problem, I am going to be very busy soon, so I may not be able to care for the parrot so well. To add to that, I'm may be going to university in about two years, and to add to the mix, they're hard to look after, and they last long (which is of course a good thing). However, my mother seems content on helping me to look after the parrot.

 

Oh, and I don't want the responsibilities to disrupt my studies, and my sister is rather sensitive and may be allergic to the parrot since they produce feather dust.

 

By the way I am going to have to pay for the parrot out of my own pocket, which is another thing making me stop and think.

 

I don't want a parrot that's unhappy, but I've been given the chance to keep one. So, what should I do?

 

Any advice given would be greatly appreciated.

[lovemyGreys]

Well given all the information & facts about yourself any kind of bird I'm afraid is not for you & definately not a parrot.Owning a grey is a lifetime commitment, you have to be 100% committed to providing for your greys needs throughout your lifetime, to say the least,a good quality diet, a large cage,plenty of social interaction, time spent out of the cage,stimulation, veterinary bills to name a few the list is endless.

 

Have a read through this...

 

http://www.greyforums.net/understanding-your-grey/a-parrots-bill-of-rights..html

 

I think your own sentence " Oh, and I don't want the responsibilities to disrupt my studies " gives you the answer to your own question

 

Sorry just my personal view on your situation.

[ChampMan]

Thanks for your input. I've decided to leave it for now; The time is not right. I guess I'll have to wait 'til a time where I have more time on my hands.

 

Thank you for helping me see this.

[lovemyGreys]

I think you had already really mind your decision but maybe just needed a guiding hand Owning a grey has be compared to caring for a young toddler, they really are a full time commitment .Go off to university, enjoy life perhaps when you are ready to settle down the time will be right.

[Graehstone]

See now this is the type of mature decision that a proper Grey owner would make, one that is best for the bird. In your case it's a bird that you have not met yet, but will, and things will be all the better because of your decision now.

And it really is akin to you raising a five year old human child for the rest of your natural life.

I wish you much luck and all the best in your studies.

[Tari]

I think you have made a very smart choice.

 

But I must disagree with the advice of not having any bird at all.

 

A smaller bird like a budgie would do well in your situation and help pave the way for your grey in the future.

 

However the info about parrots not being so costly when you get them is misleading. You still have to buy new cages, toys and feed them and then there is the really costly avian vet bills.

[ChampMan]

Tari wrote:

I think you have made a very smart choice.

 

But I must disagree with the advice of not having any bird at all.

 

A smaller bird like a budgie would do well in your situation and help pave the way for your grey in the future.

 

However the info about parrots not being so costly when you get them is misleading. You still have to buy new cages, toys and feed them and then there is the really costly avian vet bills.

 

How often would you have to buy a new cage?

Thanks for the hint of getting a Budgie, but I don't really want one, but thanks for that hint anywany .

 

Thanks for everyone's advice here, I want to experience a full, proper relationship with an African Grey the first time, which made me think about not getting one, well, for the time being. I have done quite a bit of research, including watching videos of tamed African Greys on youtube, and I now have a good idea of how African Greys are like.

 

It is not only me who I must consider; It is the parrot that I must consider also, since I would like to see it as an equal in terms of respect, and for the African Grey and I to be close companions, not to have a relationship of where dominance is involved, like I am the master and the Grey is the pet.

 

Anyways, thanks again everyone.

[Tari]

How often you buy a cage depends on the cage mostly.

 

My grey is almost eight years old and on cage three.

 

First one was just all wrong and hard to move around. It was a hand made one good price for a temp cage but not very user friendly.

 

Second one was nice but started to rust and I didn't like the food doors much.

 

I love this last one but well be needing to replace it soon, as it is starting to show a lot of wear on the bottom crate area.

 

There are other smaller birds you might want to think about. Parrotlets, lovebirds ect I would stay clear of the the tiels they are very dusty.<br><br>Post edited by: Tari, at: 2008/05/24 19:01

[Tycos_mom]

your best bet is either a very big powder coat or stainless steel my Cockatoo is in the same cage he's had for 20+ years and is still in pretty good shape stainless steal is the very best by one and you should never have to replase it it might run you as much as 1200.00 but worth it in the long run rather than putting out 800. to a 1000. every few years I buy my cages used because I don't have lots of money but I always make sure there in brand new condition and its quite amazing how many of them are around people buy their birds witout knowing how much work it takes to own a bird then they get rid of the bird and sell the cages for cheep the cages are mabie three months old. I got my Greys cage from Greyhaven bird rescue I only paid 100. 00 for it and the money goes to help other birds. The got rid of it because they are looking for a new facility and the cage was just to big to move around from foster home to foster home the cage does not even look like anything was ever in it. when you ready to get a bird this could be a option for you. Pat

[ChampMan]

Tari wrote:

How often you buy a cage depends on the cage mostly.

 

My grey is almost eight years old and on cage three.

 

First one was just all wrong and hard to move around. It was a hand made one good price for a temp cage but not very user friendly.

 

Second one was nice but started to rust and I didn't like the food doors much.

 

I love this last one but well be needing to replace it soon, as it is starting to show a lot of wear on the bottom crate area.

 

There are other smaller birds you might want to think about. Parrotlets, lovebirds ect I would stay clear of the the tiels they are very dusty.<br><br>Post edited by: Tari, at: 2008/05/24 19:01

 

Well, do you know of any birds that aren't so demanding as the African Grey and are not noisy? If so, could you post here please.

 

I wouldn't mind an African Grey being so noisy, as, er well, I've always wanted one largely due to their intelligence. But if I were to go with a toned down substitute, I believe I would be less tolerant and forgiving.

 

Second-hand cages is a darn good idea, I shall do that when I get a parrot or a bird.

[siobha9]

I think that if you really want a Grey then you should wait until the time is right and then get one. Any parrot has reasonably long life expectancy, so they are going to be around for many many years. Also parrots need interaction every day, not all NEED as much as a grey, but they all WANT as much.

 

And really all birds are noisy, there is no such thing as a quiet bird. Greys are actually quieter than most, as they tend to talk rather than scream.

 

If I were you I would wait... I waited years for the time to be right for my grey, and I am so glad I did!

[lovemyGreys]

Siobha9 wrote " I waited years for the time to be right for my grey, and I am so glad I did! "

 

I think that is so true for many of us siobhan.I waited for years until the time in my life was right & i knew i was able to commit 100% to owning them.

[kitt79]

All birds are noisy... all birds are messy... all birds may require vet bills and other unexpected costs... all birds will require some attention from you.

 

I'd wait til you are done with school if you don't think you can give it enough attention/money.

[Acappella]

I agree that it sounds like you'd made your rational decision before you posted and just needed some back-up to deal with the irrational voice screaming "but I want NOW!!!" Grey's give a lot, but they also require a lot. Just read through forums here and you'll see people saying they don't go out as much, take shorter vacations, only travel where their bird can go, and otherwise change their schedules to accomodate their little grey soul. Make owning a grey a long-term goal, along with finishing your education. If you need a reminder of your intent, save up a bit of money, even it it's only spare change, to put towards your parrot fund (also because they are definately not cheap to own) Then when time feels like it's really dragging you'll have a reminder that it's really going to happen. By making the mature decision now you have a great chance for a rewarding relationship with your bird when it's time for it to come into your life. Good for you!

[ChampMan]

Acappella wrote:

I agree that it sounds like you'd made your rational decision before you posted and just needed some back-up to deal with the irrational voice screaming "but I want NOW!!!" Grey's give a lot, but they also require a lot. Just read through forums here and you'll see people saying they don't go out as much, take shorter vacations, only travel where their bird can go, and otherwise change their schedules to accomodate their little grey soul. Make owning a grey a long-term goal, along with finishing your education. If you need a reminder of your intent, save up a bit of money, even it it's only spare change, to put towards your parrot fund (also because they are definately not cheap to own) Then when time feels like it's really dragging you'll have a reminder that it's really going to happen. By making the mature decision now you have a great chance for a rewarding relationship with your bird when it's time for it to come into your life. Good for you!

 

Yeah, I do think I already made my mind up before posting here, it's just I didn't want to accept it, since I've always wanted an African Grey as far as I can remember and for me to rejected my first chance was quite hard to take on board (sounds stupid, but it's true). BUT. But. I want to do this properly, and take care, which largely made me deciding to not have it. I guess I wanted you guys to tell me I'm wrong and that I should buy one, but you didn't, which I am grateful for, as I wouldn't've been able to look after it properly, and my education comes first.

 

Anyways, what a great idea, the parrot fund. I think I may do that, so when I do get an African Grey, I won't need to think about financial costs at the beginning so much! And, like you said, it tells me that I will get one, one day. Thanks a lot :cheer: !<br><br>Post edited by: ChampMan, at: 2008/05/26 19:02