The Congo and the Timneh are the two main subspecies of the African Gray Parrot.
The Congo is a larger bird with a lighter color with a dark bill and a red tail. On average, they weigh about 400 to 650 grams and are 12 to 14 inches long from tail to bill.
Timneh are smaller, darker-colored birds with a horn-colored upper bill and a maroon tail. They weigh between 275 and 400 grams and measure about 9 to 11 inches from tail to bill.
Since either species has a potential lifespan of over 50 years, this is a lifelong commitment and should never be taken lightly. In general, anyone can live between 25 and 50 years. Rumor has it that the Timneh is not as high-strung as the Congo, however they both share some of the same characteristics.
African Grays are extremely intelligent and make very demanding pets. You must be prepared to give them a good dose of mental and social stimulation. Sometimes this can be a challenge as a gray generally has the emotional needs of a two year old and the intelligence of a five year old.
By their very nature, Grays are terribly nervous birds that can show up when exposed to something new or strange. Continuous socialization is what they need. Grays are generally a one person bird. However, this can be overcome when all members of your family take the time to develop a successful family bird.
So that the bird gets used to strangers and the change begins while it is young. This will also help eliminate a reputation for biting that is a product of a lack of socialization. There is no need to pressure the bird, take the time to learn its body language and when to back off. Speak to the bird softly and in a calm, relaxed tone. He will answer you soon. Be aware that these birds have extremely powerful beaks and when shaken they can cause a painful bite.
Diet:
The African Gray requires a healthy and nutritious diet. This is vital to your pet’s overall happiness and well-being. Problems such as biting, hyperactivity, continuous shedding and plucking are symptoms of a poor diet.
One of the most common problems is calcium deficiency. This can be prevented quite easily by offering the bird foods rich in calcium and vitamins such as:
– Dark green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, kale, and spinach.
– Beneficial fats such as almonds and palm nuts.
– Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential on a daily basis.
– Quality seeds or pellets are needed every day and a mixture of both can be made.
It is very important that your gray has a varied and good quality diet. Typically, Gray will require 40 percent seeds and 60 percent fruits and vegetables. You can find a more detailed diet list by visiting our website.
Accommodation:
The issue of choosing any type of cage is personal, although there are money and space restrictions. As long as the space between the bars is no more than an inch, the bigger the cage, the better.
Some things to consider before buying a bird cage:
Round cages do not turn out positively. It can lead the bird to suffer from psychological orientation problems. You want a cage that is made primarily of horizontal bars. Your gray will enjoy climbing in its cage. However, the vertical bars restrict the birds’ ability to do this. We recommend that Gray be 36x24x60 or 92x61x153 in size.
When space is a negative issue, you can purchase a cage with a play top for those times when the bird is out of its cage. Place the cage in a room in the house that is lively so that he can enjoy spending time with the family and interacting with them. Don’t place his cage in windows that are too bright or in drafts.
You can keep your bird interested and stimulated by adding various types of toys to its cage and then moving them around from time to time. They love to chew and when they are done chewing they chew some more!
You can keep your bird healthy and happy by providing various types of perches of different materials and dimensions, such as natural wood and rope. A sand or cement hanger will help keep your nails trimmed. When you provide various thicknesses of perches, you can help keep birds’ feet exercised.
African Grays are extremely affectionate and loyal after gaining their trust. This bird will love you for the rest of its life. They are great at imitating and are great conversationalists. Some owners say they are the best talkers in the world. They typically develop a vocabulary of more than 2,000 words and can imitate things like barking dogs, ringing the doorbell, and ringing the telephone. African Grays have the emotional needs of a 2-year-old and the intelligence of a 4-year-old, proving that they can be demanding pets.
They do exceptionally well at stringing together words. However, African Grays are not for everyone. When you buy a baby from a breeder, you need to make sure that he was raised in a family situation similar to yours.
Grays are wonderful as long as you meet their needs and show them respect. With proper treatment and care, you will find that you have a beautiful feathered member of your family for all the years to come.