A local Freecycler has offered her 4-year-old Congo African Grey Parrot, Sebastian, for adoption – he’s having dominance issues with their Macaw, and so she’s looking for a home where he could be an only bird. My husband has been interested in having a bird for years, but this obviously came as a bit of a surprise. We do have two dogs, a lab and a golden retriever, but Sebastian has been living with a lab with no difficulties, so we’re not worried about them together at this point.
Sebastian has been hand-raised from a hatchling and is apparently very social and very vocal. A bit of reading up suggests that he’s going to need a varied and carefully designed diet, lots of toys, and lots of socialization time. He’s been used to only spending time in his cage when nobody is home and at night, so the rest of the time he’d be out on his stand. Since I work at home and Whiterabbit is living at home these days, he’d have regular company during the day, so leaving him along wouldn’t have to be an issue. And there’s an excellent avian vet nearby who’s been taking care of him, so we’d have no problem with vet care.
So what do we need to know? What are the intelligent questions we should ask about him? What should we look for in his behavior that could be a sign of problems? How much time and attention would he need? He looks like a spectacular bird and this could be a fabulous opportunity to acquire a wonderful bird at the best possible price (free!), but we mostly want to make sure we know what we would be getting into.
Are you aware that African Grays have lifespans equal to human beings? 50-70 years, assuming nothing unpleasent happens to the dear. You are adopting a child.
Parrots are HUGELY social animals - much more so than human beings. They require a LOT of attention. INCREDIBLE amounts of attention. Have I mentioned they’re unbelievably social?
I’ve kept smaller varieties of parrots for years. Usually more than one, so they have company. My husband works from the home, so they also get lots of human attention. I let them ride around on my shoulders most of the time I’m home. They beg for even MORE attention.
Not that it’s bad - because of this they can be wondeful companion animals. Just be aware they’re like that. They make dogs look as aloof and independent as cats.
Birds make a lot of noise for their size. Not all the time, but you will get a concert a couple times a day. “Concert” can include shrieking and screaming.
They can be moody, especially if they are, to put it bluntly, horny. Neutering birds is impractical. If you own parrots you will simply have to accept that some days they’ll be a little irritable and cranky. They will also periodically test the rules. They have an urge to chew things and, if not given proper outlets and supervision, can become quite destructive.
On the up side - they are very affectionate and often loyal animals. They are smart, they’ll do cute things purely for your attention and approval. Because they can live so long they can be truly life-long friends and companions. I love having birds, but it’s not for everyone.
Doing research is really your best move at this point.
These will help with general care and diet, etc… These are not Grey specific, but rather parrots in general. Basic care is half the battle.
As to what you’re getting into, parrots have been assessed as having the intelligence of a 5 year old human (and Grey’s in particular are even smarter than that), but only obtaining the emotional equivalent of a 2 year old.
So even after 20+ years, you will be dealing with an individual with the emotional equivalent of a 2 year old. Complete with needing/wanting lots of attention, prone to tantrums when not getting what they want, etc…
The upside of such high intelligence is that they are interested in everything and are able/willing to learn all kinds of things. The downside is that you need to keep them stimulated.
There is a ton of stuff/advice to be obtained, but a couple of things that you always need to keep in mind:
parrots are prey animals, so a lot of behaviors are a result of this (even though they are safe in your home).
parrots are social/flock animals. You NEED to establish yourself as the “flock leader” 1) to let them know who gives the orders, and 2) if you don’t THEY will take on the role of leader (imagine a highly intelligent, stubborn 2-year old insisting they are in charge - get the picture ?)
But I don’t mean to scare you off. Having a parrot companion is a wonderful adventure. And Grey’s in particular develop somewhat special relationships with their human companions (or have an even more profound effect on their companions).
Just the tip of the iceberg, but I hope this all helps.
We have an African Grey, and I will second everything that Broomstick and cormac262 said…excellent posts. One thing I would like to add is that they learn to imitate noises very easily, and it can be very difficult, to the point of impossible, to “untrain” them. Our carbon monoxide detector’s battery failed one day when we weren’t home, and when we came home it was giving its warning beep. The bird, 5 years later, is still making that noise on a daily basis. It is loud and very shrill. I’m not saying this as a deterrent to taking the bird, but just as a warning to learn from our mistake! (We put that CO detector in there for the safety of the bird, and this is how he pays us back! Mean bird! )
I do have some concern over how long the bird will live…he is somewhere around 30 or 35 now, and it looks from their lifespan that we will have him practically for the rest of our lives. Definitely something to think about (we inherited our bird, and many parrots do pass down from one generation to the next due to their long lifespan).
If you do adopt the bird…enjoy! They are a lot of fun.
I know someone that has an African Grey. I started calling the dog into the room and attacking it. The first reaction is that’s so funny. The second reaction is I hope the dog didn’t get killed. The dog stopped coming when called. Luckly it worked out and the dog and bird stay in different rooms. The couple don’t come running when their name is called, without verification.
In terms of safety, bad: overheated teflon, scented candles, air freshener things, oven cleaner, etc: all this airborne chemically stuff will snuff a bird fast. Get rid of your teflon, and clean the oven the old fashioned way. Also bad: avocado (possibly poisonous for African birds), random houseplants like philodendron, zinc (including the grey residue on, like, chickenwire and galvanized thingies-- this means you have to be careful what kind of metal they’re chewing on). We have a big list that we found on the interweb of poisonous stuff that we keep posted on the fridge.
If you ever want to, say, go over the Canadian border or some other foreign country with him, there’s a whole extra level of paperwork that will take some time and documentation.
The bird will destroy woodwork if he gets a chance. That’s their job. He will eat your doorframe. He will eat your pine furniture. (well, not EAT,but chew to nothingness) He will reduce your unfinished CD rack to smithereens, if he gets a chance. (our smaller African parrot does, anyway-- I assume the grays are the same. . .)
But they’re a hoot. Like the coolest little dinosaurs, little alien creatures. They’re so weird and almost reptilian and scary smart. It’s fun to watch them think about how to lie to you.
In a new place, greys tend to spend a month or six watching you with great suspicion, expecting you to suddenly snap and eat them. Once they get confident, radically odd personalities can emerge. They are perfectly happy to learn to poop on command. Greys often act like the are nervous wrecks who can only relate to one person, but they really are happier if they learn to “step up” for strangers. Most of them love being sung to, but may prefer different kinds of music ( Do not sing country music to Steve bird at my place). Greys can act very shy and reserved, but many really do enjoy cuddling . Greys are smart enough that they can make friends with different humans on their own terms and will interact accordingly. For instance, my Steve bird will sweet-talk me and hassle my husband. Zazu bird is a terrible bully around people who fear him, but is a cuddly goof to anyone who does not fear, or has a remote control.
I knew about the teflon thing, but I didn’t know this - my budgie (parrot family, so I assume this applies) has several shop-bought toys consisting of beads threaded on bright zinc galvanised wire, and he loves to nibble at the wire.
Onan is sitting on my chest as I type this. He is drinking my saliva. The little guy sleeps in bed next to me. I think he is starting to trust me. In any case, as was said they like human companionship. How much? All you got.
Still I love the beast. He makes happy noises and gives me someone to clean up after.
Expect a bit of time, a month or more of him getting used to you. After that, he will grow very close to you.
They are wonderful pets, much superior to the flashier macaws, as they are quieter. On the other hand, this one may have picked up macaw vocalizations.
Parsley can also be toxic, and eggplant. Hummous is fine, but makes them into garlicbreath monsters. They can elaborately shape their and your behavior. Just because they can speak, does not mean they will, but they understand more then they want you to know. Greys feel that eating is a social thing, and like to eat what everyone else is eating. They can have very bad judgement about flying indoors, so it is safest to have the wings clipped. Do not cut as close as you would for a cockatiel or a conure, greys are clumsy and often fall. They need enough feather to slow the landing.
Wow, an interesting assortment of advice! We’d already considered the long lifespan thing, and the fact that a grey needs lots of attention/stimulation. I really appreciate the long list of no-nos, though!
As for our dogs, they’re both nearly 7 years old. Sebastian’s current owner said they adopted their lab two years ago when he was 6, and he since the bird’s perch is well above him, it was easy to teach the dog not to stick his nose up in the parrot’s business. I have no doubt our lab can also learn that as quickly; our golden retriever is a bit more enthusiastic, but also a giant wuss, so I expect him to behave himself after possibly one confrontation.
In any case, we’re going to start by meeting the bird this weekend. They live quite nearby, so we can do this gradually if we decide to do it at all. Then I figure if all works out, we could do a month or two trial at our house to make sure it would all work out well. Since there are two people home all the time, it should make it an easier transition for all of us.
I’ll go back to reading up and see what else I need to know. As for picking up noises, that can definitely be funny – and obnoxious; a mockingbird that lived next to the outdoor deck where my hubby and his coworkers would take their breaks, and which was the only place they could get a cell phone signal in their building, learned to imitate every cell phone ring, to the aggravation of everyone. Personally, I thought it was great! Of course, I haven’t lived with a CO2 detector low battery alarm for five years, either.
Yeah, it can get a little annoying. It sounds so much like an electronic beep that guests ask us if our smoke detector is busted. He hasn’t learned other sounds like the telephone ringing, but one thing that is cool is that he responds to them. If the phone rings, or if you put the receiver up to him, he says, “hello, hello,” and if you put your coat on, he says “goodbye, goodbye!” It’s very cute.
Other folks have mentioned that they get attached to individuals, and in my experience, this is true. Our bird loves my husband (I think my mother-in-law got the bird when my husband was about 8 or 10 years old, so they have known each other quite a while). We have been married almost 8 years, and I think the bird is just starting to get used to me! So, it may take a while for birdy to adjust to your household.
Read as much as you can get your hands on about psittacines in general, and Greys in particular, but keep in mind that much of what you read will be inaccurate, outdated, or just plain wrong.
Make sure that you can establish a relationship with a veterinarian locally. If that is not possible, realize the potential problems you might have.
Nutrition. Nutrition. Nutrition. Most of the dead/dying parrots I see are on poor diets. A good pelleted diet is best; look for Harrison’s, Lafebers, or other quality lines. Do not feed seed, or if you do feed only a small amount each day.
I know nothing about birds, but I recommend a book called “Enslaved by Ducks” by Bob Tarte. The author recounts his experiences with his adopted menagerie of ducks, rabbits, parrots, turkeys, geese, and then some. The thing that stayed with me was how the author was having to go eat lunch out in some corner of his yard not visible from any window because his parrots would scream so mercilessly about him not sharing. I’m not sure the man had a peacable meal in years, although the major point of the book was how he and his wife never had any idea of what they were getting into with any of the animals they adopted.
Fortunately, there’s a practice that has several excellent avian vets just a few minutes from us. We’re in an area with lots of excellent vet care for all varieties of critters, so that should be no problem.
Is there any truth to the contention that parrots, and particularly Grays, don’t like men? My wife’s Gray will viciously attack anything with a penis that makes the mistake of sticking his hand in her cage. My sister says this is normal behavior and that there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve done everything I can to be her buddy, but she still hates my guts. Am I really going to have to put up with this for the rest of my life?
A friend of mine who has an African Gray told me that her bird has now decided her SO (a man), not her, is the best person in the entire world, and loves him to death. Doesn’t like her so much anymore.
I also have friends with a Cockatoo that was hers before they got together. The bird hated him (along with everyone else) for a couple years at least, and now looooooooooves him. Still hates everyone else.
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