The Elegant African Grey
African Grey Care Sheet
Written By: Clarice Brough, CAS
Article Link: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/greys/AfricanGreys.htm
Nutrition and Housing section provided by: http://www.african-grey-parrot.com/
African Grey Types
There are only three distinct birds in this genus Psittacus erithacus, with the two most popular being the Congo African Grey Parrot and the Timneh African Grey. Whether or not these three birds are different species, subspecies or simply variants of the main species, Psittacus erithacus, is still an open debate.
Congo African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
The Congo African Grey is the nominate species of this genus. It is found in the west-central part of Africa mainly within 10 degrees north and south of the equator. This parrot is also known as the Red Tailed Grey, and in aviculture its name is shortened to CAG.
The African Grey Congo is dark gray with a red patch of feathers on the underside of the tail. They vary between 13 - 16" (32.5 - 40.6 cm) in length, from beak to tail, with a weight between 400 - 650 grams. Occasionally this bird can be seen with some red feathering throughout its body, and this variant is known as the Red Factor Grey.
Timneh African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus timneh
The Timneh African Grey Parrot naturally occurs in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the western most parts of the Ivory Coast. It is known as TAG in aviculture.
The African Grey Timneh is darker gray than its Congo counterpart, and with a maroon tail and it has a pink color on the upper third of the upper mandible. The Timneh also differs from the Congo in its size, being noticeably smaller. The Timneh ranges between 11 - 13" (27.5 - 32.5 cm) in length from beak to tail, with a weight between 275 - 400 grams.
Psittacus erithacus princeps
Another seldom seen African Grey Parrot, Psittacus e. princeps, can only be found on the islands of Principe and Gernando Po in the Gulf of Guinea. This bird is darker than the regular African Grey.
African Grey Mutations
As with most parrots, mutations occur naturally in the wild. Naturally occurring Grey mutations include:
- Albino (Blue Ino)- no pigment and are all white
- Incomplete Ino - with only very partial pigmentation
- Blue - white pigment in the tail
Very few of these naturally occurring Grey mutations have been bred successfully in captivity. In captivity, mutation is the result from altering the genes to adjust the melanin level, and to add other colors. Much work has been done in by breeders in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia to make mutations that are subcategories of the naturally occurring coloration.
The earliest Ino mutations date back to the 1800's. One of the more recent developments was the first all Red African Grey. It was developed by in 1998 by Von van Antwerpen from South America and his New Zealand partner, Jaco Bosman. They developed this bird from selected F2 Pied mutations.
Grey mutations include:
- Red-pied - red flight feathers
- F2 Pied - broad red band across the abdomen
- Grizzles - soft pinkish scalloping found in its feathers
- Ino (Albino) - all white except for the tail, which is red
- Incomplete Ino - mostly white, but with a small amount of melanin giving them black / gray in the wings
- Ino Blue - no pigment
- Blue - white pigment in the tail
- Parino (or Pallid, Pastel) faded coloring overall
- Lutino - yellow pigment
- Cinnamon - brown instead of gray
African Grey Behavior
African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent, inquisitive, and love to interact with people and objects. Yet they have a long life span, it can be 50 years (or more) in captivity. Many of the available pets being are only a generation or two away from their wild counterparts. They still have their wild nature intact and can be unpredictable at times. Their many qualities that make them desirable pets also require a special commitment from their keepers of regular one-on-one interaction and on-going training.
The African Grey Parrots make very loyal and devoted companions, but they are not for everyone. Being a caretaker of an African Grey is not easy. They require lots of love, time, patience and effort to build a relationship. Being somewhat shy and cautious by nature, they are reserved with new people and objects. They tend to sit back and watch before giving of themselves freely. They are also are very intuitive to emotions, so are best approached in a calm manner. Once your Grey is comfortable and trusts you, you are on your way to a lifelong friendship.
An African Grey will need frequent interaction and playtime outside of their cage. Their cage needs to be large, and they need a lot of toys that are safe as well as destructible. They have a habitual nature and develop a strong bond with their family. They become comfortable with their space and human companions; changes in environment and people, or unfamiliar objects, can cause great stress. They can become nervous and fearful
When Greys are not provided with a comfortable, known environment that is secure yet stimulating, they can become nervous and fearful. Unpleasant behavior and even health problems can develop. Such things as feather plucking and nipping are common undesirable results. Once established, these types of problems are difficult to remedy. It's much better (and easier) to address the needs of your pets right from the start.
To have a well-adjusted African Grey, they should to be exposed to different situations and handling by different people while they are young. They require ongoing attention by their keepers and stimulating interaction with various types of toys. This will help them cope more successfully whenever changes occur, being less fearful and timid, and more social.
Parrot Talk - Intelligence
Experts regard the African Grey Parrot as one of the most intelligent birds, and in the class with the most intelligent animal species. Their talking has been determined to be a learned skill, and not mimicry. They have been found to speak in sentences, respond appropriately to questions, and are able to physically manipulate objects with a purpose.
They have been known to have vocabularies of well over 200 words. In one case a bird named "Prudle", a male African Grey, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having a vocabulary of over 1000 words. However these parrots don't usually start talking until they are about a year in age. There are many that can start earlier, many that don't talk until about 2 years of ages or older, and some simply may not talk at all.
Research done by with captive African Grey Parrots by Dr. Irene Pepperberg of the Alex Foundation, has scientifically demonstrated these birds have the ability to associate words with objects, color, numbers, and more. She has has been studying the intelligence and reasoning abilities for almost 30 years. Her most notable subject was the African Grey Parrot Alex, who died in 1977. More recent work is being carried on with two new African Grey additions, the parrots Arthur and Griffin. These parrots are classed along with the most intelligent animal species Experts now believe these parrot perform cognitive tasks at the same level as dolphins, chimpanzees, and even a toddler.
African Grey Cage and Environment
African Grey Parrots are very sociable and require a lot of attention and interaction. Thus, it is important to make sure that their cage and environment is more than adequate for their housing needs.
The cage is a safe retreat or haven for your African Grey Parrot. This is where the bird feels safe and secure, with food to eat, water to drink and best of all toys to play with!
A suitable cage for an African Grey Parrot is at least 2 feet deep by 3 feet wide by 4 feet high (61 x 91 x 122 cm) and has a playpen top with a tray. African Grey Parrots are very active and need a lot of "out" time. It is important to make sure that there are toys both inside the cage and outside in the playpen area to keep your African Grey busy.
When selecting your cage be sure to consider the following:
- Quality of the cage
- Material of the cage
- Bars of the cage – Bars should be spaced about ¾ - 1 inch apart.
- Perches of the cage
- Trays and Grates
- Dishes – Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best
The location of the African Grey cage in your home is very important. African Grey Parrots are flock members and like to be where the action is. They need the human interaction and their curiosity to know what is going on makes the place where the cage is essential to their health and happiness. Most African Greys' cages seem to live in dining and living rooms, but remember not to expose the cage on all sides so they will still have a secure feeling when in their home.
Diet and Nutrition
As a base, a pelleted diet is the best way to go for your African Grey. Seeds are high in fat and are not considered a healthy diet for your African Grey Parrot. Do not give vitamin supplements to your African Grey without talking to your avian veterinarian. Most African Greys on a pelleted diet do not need them.
Provide an assortment of fresh, vegetables and fruit. As with any child, sometimes it can be a challenge to get them to eat their veggies so you might have to spend some time encouraging your African Grey Parrot to eat them. Some vegetables contain more nutrients needed for your bird than others.
Good vegetables choices for your African Grey:
- Fresh vegetables are an important addition to your African Greys diet.
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Yellow and Butternut squashes
- Collard greens
- Broccoli (good source of calcium)
- Kale (also a good source of calcium)
- Peppers – green, red, chili
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Peas – garden and snow
- Leaf lettuce (not head or iceberg lettuce)
- Good fruit choices for your African Grey:
Fresh fruits given daily add nutrition:
- Melons
- Kiwi
- Apples
- Mango and Papaya (with skins removed)
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Berries – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
A common deficiency found in an African Grey's diet
- Vitamin A or beta-carotene
- Calcium is also extremely important, as it is the predominant mineral in bird's bodies.
- Water is a very important part of your African Grey's care. Make sure they have fresh water in a clean bowl on a daily basis. Never give Distilled water.
There are only three distinct birds in this genus Psittacus erithacus, with the two most popular being the Congo African Grey Parrot and the Timneh African Grey. Whether or not these three birds are different species, subspecies or simply variants of the main species, Psittacus erithacus, is still an open debate.
Congo African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus
The Congo African Grey is the nominate species of this genus. It is found in the west-central part of Africa mainly within 10 degrees north and south of the equator. This parrot is also known as the Red Tailed Grey, and in aviculture its name is shortened to CAG.
The African Grey Congo is dark gray with a red patch of feathers on the underside of the tail. They vary between 13 - 16" (32.5 - 40.6 cm) in length, from beak to tail, with a weight between 400 - 650 grams. Occasionally this bird can be seen with some red feathering throughout its body, and this variant is known as the Red Factor Grey.
Timneh African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus timneh
The Timneh African Grey Parrot naturally occurs in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the western most parts of the Ivory Coast. It is known as TAG in aviculture.
The African Grey Timneh is darker gray than its Congo counterpart, and with a maroon tail and it has a pink color on the upper third of the upper mandible. The Timneh also differs from the Congo in its size, being noticeably smaller. The Timneh ranges between 11 - 13" (27.5 - 32.5 cm) in length from beak to tail, with a weight between 275 - 400 grams.
Psittacus erithacus princeps
Another seldom seen African Grey Parrot, Psittacus e. princeps, can only be found on the islands of Principe and Gernando Po in the Gulf of Guinea. This bird is darker than the regular African Grey.
African Grey Mutations
As with most parrots, mutations occur naturally in the wild. Naturally occurring Grey mutations include:
- Albino (Blue Ino)- no pigment and are all white
- Incomplete Ino - with only very partial pigmentation
- Blue - white pigment in the tail
Very few of these naturally occurring Grey mutations have been bred successfully in captivity. In captivity, mutation is the result from altering the genes to adjust the melanin level, and to add other colors. Much work has been done in by breeders in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia to make mutations that are subcategories of the naturally occurring coloration.
The earliest Ino mutations date back to the 1800's. One of the more recent developments was the first all Red African Grey. It was developed by in 1998 by Von van Antwerpen from South America and his New Zealand partner, Jaco Bosman. They developed this bird from selected F2 Pied mutations.
Grey mutations include:
- Red-pied - red flight feathers
- F2 Pied - broad red band across the abdomen
- Grizzles - soft pinkish scalloping found in its feathers
- Ino (Albino) - all white except for the tail, which is red
- Incomplete Ino - mostly white, but with a small amount of melanin giving them black / gray in the wings
- Ino Blue - no pigment
- Blue - white pigment in the tail
- Parino (or Pallid, Pastel) faded coloring overall
- Lutino - yellow pigment
- Cinnamon - brown instead of gray
African Grey Behavior
African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent, inquisitive, and love to interact with people and objects. Yet they have a long life span, it can be 50 years (or more) in captivity. Many of the available pets being are only a generation or two away from their wild counterparts. They still have their wild nature intact and can be unpredictable at times. Their many qualities that make them desirable pets also require a special commitment from their keepers of regular one-on-one interaction and on-going training.
The African Grey Parrots make very loyal and devoted companions, but they are not for everyone. Being a caretaker of an African Grey is not easy. They require lots of love, time, patience and effort to build a relationship. Being somewhat shy and cautious by nature, they are reserved with new people and objects. They tend to sit back and watch before giving of themselves freely. They are also are very intuitive to emotions, so are best approached in a calm manner. Once your Grey is comfortable and trusts you, you are on your way to a lifelong friendship.
An African Grey will need frequent interaction and playtime outside of their cage. Their cage needs to be large, and they need a lot of toys that are safe as well as destructible. They have a habitual nature and develop a strong bond with their family. They become comfortable with their space and human companions; changes in environment and people, or unfamiliar objects, can cause great stress. They can become nervous and fearful
When Greys are not provided with a comfortable, known environment that is secure yet stimulating, they can become nervous and fearful. Unpleasant behavior and even health problems can develop. Such things as feather plucking and nipping are common undesirable results. Once established, these types of problems are difficult to remedy. It's much better (and easier) to address the needs of your pets right from the start.
To have a well-adjusted African Grey, they should to be exposed to different situations and handling by different people while they are young. They require ongoing attention by their keepers and stimulating interaction with various types of toys. This will help them cope more successfully whenever changes occur, being less fearful and timid, and more social.
Parrot Talk - Intelligence
Experts regard the African Grey Parrot as one of the most intelligent birds, and in the class with the most intelligent animal species. Their talking has been determined to be a learned skill, and not mimicry. They have been found to speak in sentences, respond appropriately to questions, and are able to physically manipulate objects with a purpose.
They have been known to have vocabularies of well over 200 words. In one case a bird named "Prudle", a male African Grey, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having a vocabulary of over 1000 words. However these parrots don't usually start talking until they are about a year in age. There are many that can start earlier, many that don't talk until about 2 years of ages or older, and some simply may not talk at all.
Research done by with captive African Grey Parrots by Dr. Irene Pepperberg of the Alex Foundation, has scientifically demonstrated these birds have the ability to associate words with objects, color, numbers, and more. She has has been studying the intelligence and reasoning abilities for almost 30 years. Her most notable subject was the African Grey Parrot Alex, who died in 1977. More recent work is being carried on with two new African Grey additions, the parrots Arthur and Griffin. These parrots are classed along with the most intelligent animal species Experts now believe these parrot perform cognitive tasks at the same level as dolphins, chimpanzees, and even a toddler.
African Grey Cage and Environment
African Grey Parrots are very sociable and require a lot of attention and interaction. Thus, it is important to make sure that their cage and environment is more than adequate for their housing needs.
The cage is a safe retreat or haven for your African Grey Parrot. This is where the bird feels safe and secure, with food to eat, water to drink and best of all toys to play with!
A suitable cage for an African Grey Parrot is at least 2 feet deep by 3 feet wide by 4 feet high (61 x 91 x 122 cm) and has a playpen top with a tray. African Grey Parrots are very active and need a lot of "out" time. It is important to make sure that there are toys both inside the cage and outside in the playpen area to keep your African Grey busy.
When selecting your cage be sure to consider the following:
- Quality of the cage
- Material of the cage
- Bars of the cage – Bars should be spaced about ¾ - 1 inch apart.
- Perches of the cage
- Trays and Grates
- Dishes – Stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best
The location of the African Grey cage in your home is very important. African Grey Parrots are flock members and like to be where the action is. They need the human interaction and their curiosity to know what is going on makes the place where the cage is essential to their health and happiness. Most African Greys' cages seem to live in dining and living rooms, but remember not to expose the cage on all sides so they will still have a secure feeling when in their home.
Diet and Nutrition
As a base, a pelleted diet is the best way to go for your African Grey. Seeds are high in fat and are not considered a healthy diet for your African Grey Parrot. Do not give vitamin supplements to your African Grey without talking to your avian veterinarian. Most African Greys on a pelleted diet do not need them.
Provide an assortment of fresh, vegetables and fruit. As with any child, sometimes it can be a challenge to get them to eat their veggies so you might have to spend some time encouraging your African Grey Parrot to eat them. Some vegetables contain more nutrients needed for your bird than others.
Good vegetables choices for your African Grey:
- Fresh vegetables are an important addition to your African Greys diet.
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Yellow and Butternut squashes
- Collard greens
- Broccoli (good source of calcium)
- Kale (also a good source of calcium)
- Peppers – green, red, chili
- Celery
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Peas – garden and snow
- Leaf lettuce (not head or iceberg lettuce)
- Good fruit choices for your African Grey:
Fresh fruits given daily add nutrition:
- Melons
- Kiwi
- Apples
- Mango and Papaya (with skins removed)
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Berries – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
A common deficiency found in an African Grey's diet
- Vitamin A or beta-carotene
- Calcium is also extremely important, as it is the predominant mineral in bird's bodies.
- Water is a very important part of your African Grey's care. Make sure they have fresh water in a clean bowl on a daily basis. Never give Distilled water.