Decisions, decisions
If you want one of these lovely birds, here are a few things to consider!
Maintenance:
An African Grey can be a pretty high maintenance pet. (Perhaps less than children but more than goldfish.) They are very social and will suffer if they do not spend adequate time with their flock (namely, you). Your bird will need at least 3 hours of out of cage time, more will be better. Your bird will need part of that time as one-on-one, undivided attention from you.
Parrots are by nature, very messy. In the wild they throw and drop a lot of food, which is excellent for growth of new plants in the rain forest. You will need to plan time for cleaning, which will include the floor, the cage, the walls (yes, you will most likely find mashed banana there if the bird is anywhere near a wall), and the bird will need baths at least several times a week as well. Parrots poop a lot too, so you will need to plan to have extra clean clothes available at all times. Oh, and plan on an emergency hair clean up too. (One of Cupid's favorite locations is the top of my head.)
You will need to spend some degree of time preparing food. Parrots need a variety of fresh foods, along with nutritious soft foods and pellets. Parrots will suffer from nutritional deficiencies if fed seed alone. You will need to spend time preparing produce, birdie bread, and cooked grains. Your bird will depend on you to be there at least twice a day for meals and water changes (more often for that if your bird likes to make pellet soup.)
Your bird, as long as you care for him properly, can live to be 60 years old or more. Most likely he will outlive you. You need to make plans for someone you trust to care for him in the event that you die first.
Costs:
First, there will be the cost of the bird itself. The price of a Timneh Grey can range from $500 to $1,000 depending on where you get your bird. Often, you will get what you pay for. What might seem like a "bargain" in the beginning, can often wind up costing you many hundreds of dollars in vet bills and many heartaches to follow. PLEASE make sure your baby is weaned! This will often add to the cost of the bird but it is worth the time, and money too.
Second, you have to buy supplies. You will need a cage that is appropriately sized for your bird. This will depend on how much time he will have out of the cage. A cage for a Timneh can range anywhere from around $200 for an inexpensive model to $1,000 plus for a stainless steel cage. You will need to buy toys, some for destroying (did I mention they chew?) and some that are not so easily destroyed. Greys are very intelligent and they will need a variety of toys that should be rotated every few weeks. Enough toys will also help decrease the amount of chewing that could be done to your home and personal belongings. (Supervision is still the best way to prevent that.) You will also need to purchase a good quality pellet. I would like to recommend Harrisons, Zupreem, or Hagen. Pellet companies will often send out samples so you can see which one your bird likes the best. You will also need to purchase a scale. Birds under one year old need to be weighed daily, and birds who are molting should also be weighed daily. Adult birds who are not molting should be weighed once a week. Weight loss is often the first symptom of a problem. (Click here to learn more about weighing your bird!)
Third, you will need to provide annual vet care for your bird. Ideally you should bring your bird to a vet who specializes in birds. The care that birds need is very different from a dog or cat, you wouldn't expect your family doc to perform brain surgery on you, would you? Your bird's annual exam and lab work can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 and up. This doesn't include other vet care during the year if your bird gets sick.
If you are ready to purchase a Timneh of your own, please consider the following:
Please, do not fall for the myth that a baby bird will not bond with you if you do not finish up the handfeeding. This is a load of horse doo doo that breeders feed to people when they want to avoid the most labor-intensive part of raising baby parrots. It is very stressful for a baby bird to change handfeeders as they get closer to being weaned. Many physical problems can result when birds are weaning. Many emotional problems and food issues can result as well. Please spend your money on a quality breeder or pet store who will do all they can to make sure your bird is healthy, weaned, and well-socialized when you bring him home. It is also important that during this time, your bird learns how to fly. Fledging properly helps their confidence and coordination.
Please, please do your homework. So many people buy one of these precious birds on impulse without taking the time to learn more about what is involved with their care. Not caring for them properly can and will result in physical problems, such as infection or plucking out their feathers... and emotional problems such as screaming, biting, or phobias.
Please don't buy a parrot for someone as a gift. Please don't buy one for your teenager unless you understand that you will be responsible for the care of this bird both now and after your child goes off to college. Please consider what will happen if you decide to add children to your family, if you decide to travel to a foreign country, if you decide to move, if you decide to go back to school. These birds are so sensitive and intelligent, you must consider these situations and more.
Click here to read more about buying a bird from a quality breeder/pet store.
