What to teach your african grey to say

African greys are not meant to be clowns that will make party guests laugh.  They are as smart as dolphins and chimpanzees!  Don’t just teach them gibberish.  They can actually understand what you are teaching them if you take the time to use the word/short sentence in the proper context.  I am teaching my bird these things so that we can actually communicate with one another.

Step up

Go back

Stay here

Go potty

Want out

Name the food you are giving him or her… nut (don’t be too specific they won’t be able to go into types of nuts)

Want water

Pet (allow him to get pets when he wants to…when I say ‘pet pet’ my grey puts his head down for a scratch if he wants one and only when he wants one)

See you soon!  (If I’m leaving so he knows that means that I will be coming back)

Come here!

What are you doing?  or What’s up?

I love you!

Hello!

If you teach him to say his own name it isn’t very useful because he isn’t likely to understand that you are referring to him…

Use the short phrases in the proper context and don’t dilute them with irrelevant words so that he will soon begin to understand that he is not just imitating but actually communicating with you.  If you have not heard of Dr. Irene Pepperberg from MIT she has studied Alex, a grey and proven that this can be done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KvPN_Wt8I

If you must teach him cutesy things to make people laugh…be careful not to teach him ridiculous things…obscene or obnoxious things…they will repeat them over and over…and if you end up rehoming the bird in 20 or 30 years (they live to be 80)  it could make it harder for him or her to get  a decent home.

And think about it:  If you were meant for the wild, and had a brilliant mind but the people keeping you in captivity never bothered to teach you to your full potential and you spent your life uttering gibberish just to get peanuts when all the while you had the capacity to actually communicate with your captors then it is really sad.  And then imagine that your captors only want to make you act foolish to laugh at you.

Would you do this to your best friend?  Just my two cents.

Parrot Owners Love The African Grey For A Pet

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Parrot Owners Love The African Grey For A Pet

Copyright (c) 2010 Kaye Dennan

By understanding the personality and abilities of an African Grey parrot you will also realise why so many parrot owners have them as pet parrots.

The talking abilities of the African Grey parrot.

A wonderful ability of the African Grey parrot is that it quickly learns to talk. They have an amazing ability to mimic words and sounds. It is this ability that makes them one of the best pet parrots to own. With the property circumstances and when the parrot is a healthy, happy parrot, their ability to memorize words and mimic noises is a real joy.

Not only can the African Grey talk and talk well, they can develop a large vocabulary and to the extent that you can almost have a conversation with them. Their ability also extends to stringing a number of words together to make a sentence.

Another ability they have is to vocalize the words in the manner that is used when they hear them. Depending on what they are saying, this can be a good thing or a bad thing! Just a word of warning though, is not to swear in front of him because before you know it they will be swearing at you and once a parrot learns to speak a certain word, it is quite a challenge to get him to forget it.

Mimicking sounds.

Their well developed ear allows them to also learn how to make noises that they hear around the house. It won’t be long before a happy developed will learn to mimic the ring of a telephone or the door bell and many a parrot owner recalls how they have been caught with this way.

Companionship.

It is these abilities that make the African Gray parrot the friend that it is to the parrot owner. Pet owners like to have a good interaction with their pets and the owner of an African Grey will not be disappointed.

He is a medium sized parrot of about 10 – 14 inches fully grown, which is an ideal size for a house parrot. He does not have the colors of his fellow parrots but then again, his personality still makes him one of the most popular.

It really is no surprise, is it, that the owner of an African Grey parrot is besotted by his pet. In most cases, like any pet, the more personality they have they will have more interaction with their owner. It will be a win/win situation for both owner and parrot.

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Congo and Timneh African Greys – 5 Answers to Questions About African Grey Parrots

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Congo and Timneh African Greys – 5 Answers to Questions About African Grey Parrots

While the Congo and Timney are both African Grey Parrots there are enough differences to matter to anyone who is considering adopting one of these gorgeous birds.

Greys are not just pretty birds, they are intelligent as well. Here are 5 answers to frequently asked questions about the Congo and Timneh African Grey Parrot.

What is the difference between the Congo (CAG) and the Timneh (TAG)? The Congo is slightly larger and can be easily identified because of its brilliant red tail, dark gray beak, and overall powder gray feathers.

The Timneh sports a sleeker body build, has a maroon tail, gray feathers that are a darker charcoal color, and has a two-tone beak with the upper mandible being bone in color and the bottom one gray. Greys have a life span that can be as great as 50 years if taken care of properly.

Is there a difference is cost? The Congo seems to be more in demand among bird lovers because of their size and their powder gray color. There are more bird lovers who choose the Congo. Breeders meet this demand by raising more of this type because they bring more money in the market place.

African Greys can be quite expensive, but if you have your heart set on a Grey, the Timneh makes a great choice. They are just as intelligent but cost a lot less.

How does their care differ? There is no difference in the care needed. They both need a high quality pellet base diet supplemented with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, a continuous supply of fresh water, toys, a large cage with perches at various levels, a lot of attention, socialization, and training.

This will keep you Grey physically healthy, and emotionally happy which goes a long way toward preventing behavioral issues such as biting, screaming, feather plucking, and self mutilation.

Is there a significant difference in their personalities? There are some who believe that the Congo tends to be more excitable and prone to feather plucking than its smaller cousin. Others believe that any difference between the birds is due more to their individual personalities than a generalization about the subspecies.

What can be done about the dust they create? The dust they create is a natural phenomenon and is nature’s way of helping their wings develop normally. In the wild this dust would dissipate rather than build up as it does in captivity.

This dust is not good for the birds because it clogs their air passages which can lead to respiratory infections. It also serves as a carrier for airborne bacteria and viruses that can cause disease and infection in your bird.

In addition, it is also not good for people, particularly those who suffer from allergy or asthma. Filtering your bird’s air with a HEPA or high efficiency particle arresting air purifier is the only way to keep the air clean for you and your bird.

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The African Grey Parrot Makes A Wonderful Pet

The African Grey Parrot Makes A Wonderful Pet

Copyright (c) 2010 Kaye Dennan

The African Grey parrot has many endearing qualities and parrot lovers looking for a pet parrot will find that an African Grey Parrot is one of the easiest parrots to keep as a companion. They are very popular with parrot owners and with good reason. Their exceptional talking and cognitive abilities means that they interact well with their owners and are a joy to have as a favorite pet.

Given the time, these parrots will develop a large vocabulary and it has been reported that they communicate well with their owners if given the incentive.

The appearance of the African Grey?

The African Grey would fall into the medium sized category for parrots as he is about 10 to 14 inches fully grown and which makes him an ideal size for a pet. Not surprisingly, the male is larger than the female, but not by much.

Although very similar in appearance, there are two different types of African Grey. One is the Congo African Grey which has a light grey body color, very light grey to white on the side of the head and with a brilliant red tail. The other African Grey parrot, the Timneh, has darker greay feathers on top, a light grey chest with a maroon colored tail. The general body build of both of these parrots is much the same with both sexes, but the female does tend to have a slightly narrower head and a more slender neck than the male.

The African Grey, like many parrots does have a long life span so to take on the care of an African Grey the owner must give a long committment. Many live up to 60 years of age, which is quite a long time for a family pet.

Keep the African Grey parrot happy and healthy.

This parrot is a very intelligent parrot and if he is not kept amused he will become bored and then could suffer from health problems. A bored parrot will develop some bad habits and quite quickly too, which could be hard to reverse. Keep a look out for any of these signs if you think he is bored:

- Feather picking

- Grumpy and unfriendly

- Biting

- Self-mutilating

From the pet parrot’s point of view, one of the habits that will cause him harm is that of feather picking. If you ever notice your parrot pulling out feathers get on to this problem straight away because it is not good for him to have bare patches where he has plucked out his feathers.

Another problem is that they can become very grumpy if they are bored and this will make him an unpleasant friend. He will most likely start biting and be quite nasty to those around him. If really distressed, he will even self-mutilate.

Just like any intelligent animal a pet parrot needs interaction with its owner on a regular basis and needs stimulation to keep it happy. This does not mean that you need to be playing with it for hours a day, but your pet does like to have a certain amount of freedom and play with its owner.

The African Grey do train beautifully so enjoy the process and teach him some tricks that he will love doing and people will love doing with him. Also hang some toys in his cage so that he can play with them when he is on his own.

Be ‘one of the flock’ to your parrot.

In his own environment, the African Grey would fly in a flock of parrots so it is their natural instinct to treat their owner as one of the flock. Because of this the parrot will often enjoy having the side of his head rubbed and a bit of a scratch there too, but he will not enjoy his body being handled. You will often notice with a group of parrots that they tend to smooch around each other’s head. It is a habit of parrots.

If you are going to let your pet parrot ‘kiss’ you, do take care not to let it be around your mouth as human bacteria can be extremely harmful to a parrot.

If being kept by a family, children need to understand the personality of a parrot because if they do get bitten, it does hurt as the parrot’s beak is very hard and sharp and is designed for cracking seeds and nuts. If a child aggravates a parrot they could get bitten, even by a placid parrot.

African Grey parrots will entertain for hours, but only if they are carefully looked after with the right diet, social needs and housing. Enjoy teaching the African Grey to talk, because he is good at and also to perform tricks as they really are natural ‘show offs’.

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How Long Does it Take to Train a Parrot to Talk? Train Your Parrot to Talk

Every parrot owner who wishes to see their bird talking the next morning asks the same question: how long does it take to train a parrot to talk? This inquiry can be answered easily if you know the factors that affect the ability of a bird to mimic sounds or talk.

To get a parrot talking, it’s highly preferable to buy young and hand-raised feathered specie ranging from three to six months. It’s essential to keep in mind that older birds do not learn as effortless and as fast that the young ones since they have already predetermined sounds in their minds. If the bird you are planning to train is an adult already, you need to have a lot of staying power, patience, and persistence to get it talking.
Although parrots are known as talking birds, the aptitude of your bird to imitate the spoken words of human hugely depends on the parrot species that you have, the attitude of your pet, the strategies and techniques you’re going to utilize and how you particularly tame your pet. The training should start by taming your parrot and building its trust in you as his trainer before you can be successful in asking it to talk. You will notice if your pet is ready to be taught how to utter words if it’s relaxed and confident in your presence.

One of the most efficient talking birds is known as the African Grey parrots. They are easy to teach and very proficient in their actions. The different types of parrots and their various tonal pronunciation and qualities are some of the factors to recognize how long does it take to train a parrot to talk.

As you broaden the vocabulary of your pet parrot as well as its tonal quality, it will grant you the companionship and joy you will never experience with non-talking birds. Note that parrots can retain information of more words and phrases because of their strong memory than other flying species.
Begin the training session each morning prior to taking its cage cover off. It’s vital that you reiterate a phrase or words several times like making it a ritual. Birds will contemplate more sounds in the dark and will attempt to act in response to what you say by repeating what it hears. Perform this process several times in a day, particularly right after you feed it or when you grant it a tidbit.

When your parrot gets accustomed to the sound that you use to make it responds, it will speak the same phrase to call your attention if you are not anywhere near it or when it needs attention or it is very hungry. Once you hear it, you should answer back with similar sound as an affirmation, but don’t go near the cage.
Knowing how long does it take to train a parrot to talk is highly influenced by your perseverance in teaching your pet. If you work during weekdays, you can use a recording to train your pet to mimic sounds and talk.

Will All Jungle Parrots Become Extinct One Day?

There are many different types of species of parrots and many of them live in the jungle, these are known as jungle parrots. Some particular species of jungle parrots include, Amazon parrots, African grey parrots and Quaker parrots and are commonly kept as household pets in today’s modern society. There is however a concern that many parrots are being taken from their natural habitat and sold on the black market for vast sums of money to hungry customers in the Western world. The jungle parrot population in African jungles, especially in the Congo is dropping at an alarming rate and many species are on the brink of extinction. Something needs to be done to stop this from occurring.

What Are Some Prevention Methods?

Several countries are realizing this important fact and are actually doing things to prevent poachers and hunters from capturing jungle parrots and taking them out of their natural habitats. There are organizations within certain governments who’s sole task is to stop hunters and poachers from capturing native parrots. They have only been going on for a few years now but are already beginning to show results. Population numbers are rising among certain parrot species, however there are still many parrots being captured all around the world. The sad thing is that only a certain percentage of parrots actually survive the trauma they are put through after being incarcerated for extended amounts of time.

When these jungle parrots are sent overseas to be sold on the blackmarket, they are squeezed into a thin cylindrical tube about the width of a tennis ball and sent off for usually a two or three day journey before they are released. Most don’t make it.

What About Education?

There is of course light at the end of the tunnel. Many reserves are being created that are tightly secured to stop poachers from getting in and capturing many of the jungle parrots that call these habitats home. Because of these newly created reserves, the parrot numbers have begun to climb and are finally showing results. Breeding centers are also helping to increase parrot numbers by introducing new parrots in to the wild that have been bred in captivity.

Probably the most important scheme taking place is the education of children in schools throughout Africa and South America. These schools are designed to teach children to care for the wildlife and to show them how important it is that parrots in the jungles are kept alive and in the wild. Our children will of course be the driving force in the next generation and if they have a sense of pride and respect for the wildlife, then we can say that all the jungle parrots have a fighting chance at a future.

How To Teach Your Parrot Bird To Stop Biting

Learning how to teach your parrot bird not to bite is one of the most important skills for a pet parrot owner. However it takes a lot of time and commitment. Given the right circumstances, parrots can learn a lot of things because they are intelligent birds. Repetition will teach your bird to stop biting and your friends and family will enjoy its presence. Where there are children, it is really necessary that your parrot adapts to the surroundings and not bite anyone because the beak can really hurt little fingers.

One of the main reasons why parrots behave this way may be that they are being left alone by themselves for far too long. This causes them to become withdrawn and would retaliate when approached. Socialize your parrot by introducing it to your family members, friends and even to your other pets to build confidence of being in the company of others. It is natural instincts for a parrot to cause hurt when it feels that its territory is being threatened by strangers. With adequate time, your bird will settle down and feel at home.

As an alternative, give your parrot a toy to nibble at. There are plenty of toys available specifically for parrots to bite. Ask a pet shop owner for recommendations. If the bird refuses to let go of your fingers, give it a blow on its face as a sign that you disapproves of the bird biting you. Do this over and over again each time this happens and your pet bird will get the message.

Verbally tell your parrot ‘no’ and place the bird back in its cage as a form of punishment. Cover the cage and leave it alone for some time. The parrot, being an intelligent bird, will sense that it is being disciplined.

Observe your bird’s behaviour. African Grey parrots, especially, are temperamental and if you find that your parrot is moody, leave it alone. Just like humans, there are times when it needs to be by itself and not be forced to learn new tricks. Be sensitive to your bird and the biting can be stopped.

Take your parrot to new surroundings for a change, such as different rooms in the house, the balcony or outside on the lawn. Imagine being at the same location all the time, your parrot will lose it sense of balance. Let it enjoy new company and breathe new air. It is also a good idea to take your parrot for a drive. In adapting to different environments, your parrot will become less defensive and unlikely to protect itself by hurting others.

Lookout for mood changes, frustrations and irritations in your bird and avoid coming close to it when this happens. Let the bird overcome this behaviour with time. When your parrot hurts you on the finger, try not to show any reaction because it may do that again just to see the same reaction from you. Gently remove yourself from the situation. Do not retaliate by shaking the bird.

African Greys As Pets–What To Expect And What Your Grey Is Depending On From You

The African Grey is a large parrot renown for its intelligence and ability to imitate and, some believe, understand the human language. If you choose a Grey as a pet you will be following in royal footsteps as King Henry VIII of England owned one, but you will also be making a lifetime commitment as most have life spans that range between 50 and 65 years.

Considering the following information as you make your choice will help you decide if this is the bird for you, and if so, will result in a happier relationship between you and your Grey.

Social Needs–This is a bird that needs a fair amount of social interaction to stay healthy emotionally and mentally. It should be placed in an active part of your home so that it can observe all that goes on.

It also needs to be allowed out of the cage for at least an hour each day and given one on one human interaction. Introducing a variety of people will keep them from being wary of strangers and will allow them to bond with those other than the main caregiver.

Toys and Housing–Because they are so intelligent, they need to be in a stimulating environment that includes a variety of toys that are rotated frequently, toys that they can tear apart without injury, and toys that contain food or treats that they must work to remove.

They need a large cage that is at least 4 feet long by 3 feet deep and 3 feet high with a solid back, or that is placed against a wall to provide a feeling of security. They should also have perches in the room that they can use when they are out of the cage. Allowing your parrot to spend time out of the cage insures a happier and healthier bird-both physically and mentally.

Growth and Development–Greys take a fairly long time to “grow up”. They are not considered adults until they are about 10 years old. It is important that during these first 10 years obedience training is a regular part of your daily routine. This will help your Grey get along well with both humans and other pets when it reaches adulthood.

Food–Diet should consist of pellets, a minimum of seeds, and daily offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables (organic is best). Avoid chocolate, avocado, garlic and onions, rhubarb, caffeine, alcohol as they are toxic to your bird.

Birds are lactose intolerant, so since they are unable to digest dairy products they have no nutritional value and should be avoided. If you have questions about your Grey’s diet, consult an avian veterinarian before giving any food that you are unsure about.

Maintenance–African Greys are considered a dusty bird because they produce a fine white powder that goes airborne when they shake or ruffle their feathers. This will require bathing your bird more often, and cleaning the cage more often that a less dusty bird. Using an air purifier near the cage will greatly eliminate this dust that can carry potentially life threatening bacteria and viruses for your parrot.

African Pet Parrots need special Parrot Cages

When you get an African Pet Parrot for yourself, you will have a pet for life. African Pet Parrots live for 50 to 70 years, which is almost equal to that of human beings. Just make sure you buy the right parrot cages for your pet.

The African Grey Parrot may even go on to outlive you; therefore, there is no need to shed tears anymore because your pet died. The African Parrot has been a favorite pet throughout the world since time immemorial. Rearing African Parrots is a full-fledged business in Africa, and businessmen there breed them specifically to sell these to buyers from across the world. But these parrots do require large and special parrot cages to keep them in.

Adaptable African Pet Parrots
The African Pet Parrot adapts to local conditions very quickly as it manages to fit perfectly almost anywhere in the world. Though common sense tells us that the African Parrot will not be the right choice in homes where there is too much open space or you have dogs and cats, or even children. The African Parrot is known for its friendly nature, which can be detrimental to the safety of young children.

The male Parrots tend to be larger in size with round eyes whereas females are smaller and have elliptical eyes. These parrots, however, come at a cost. You may have to pay anything in the range of $500 to $1000 for the parrots. The parrot cages also need to be better, sturdier, and long lasting due to the longer life of African parrots.

African Grey Parrots
African Grey Parrots, however, are equally popular as pets though not very easy to own. Many people would suggest you to expect parrot’s behavior to be like that of dog or cat. These parrots can be very nervous when they enter your home and can develop behavior problems. They get stressed easily when they are meeting new people or other animals.

Keep Your Parrot Happy
It’s great if you can afford training from a parrot trainer, since the investment will be worth it. The African Grey Parrots are among the most intelligent, they respond very quickly when you interact with them and they can go on to become a great pet. You can keep your parrot happy and stress free with the help of toys, spacious parrot cages, and plenty of attention.

Clean Cages Regularly
You need to clean the parrot cages regularly, especially due to their irregular excretion. That’s why the cages need to be cleaned thoroughly with water so as to remove all the smell and kill bacteria from cages. African Grey Parrots have a habit of chewing almost anything. They enjoy chewing wood, clothes, curtains as well as many other things. We do not intend to discourage you, but you still need to be on the safer side while letting the parrot out of the cage.

Parrots Diet
The diet of African Grey Parrots should include calcium and vitamin A in adequate amount. Some of the examples of proper food for your parrot are fruit, seeds, peeled food, nuts, leafy greens, vegetables and cheese. If the parrot is being supplied adequate diet, you may not need supplements in that case. Make sure fresh water is always available for your parrot and the water supply needs to be changed regularly. Some people add supplements in the water also. When you are buying an African Grey Parrot, you need to keep in mind the environment it is going to live in. Your parrots should always feel safe within their living space. parrot cages for your African Grey Parrot come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Good parrot cages are expensive, but since African parrots may live for about 50 years, the investment might be worth it.

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Taking Care Of An African Gray Parrot

To most breeders and pet lovers out there, the African Gray parrot has got to be one of the most charming parrots out there. Known for its wonderful character, the African Gray parrot is also one of the most preferred species for possessing an admirable combination of high intelligence and extraordinary charm.

If you are one of those who were instantly drawn to the beauty of African Gray parrot, it is a must that you supply yourself with enough information about these wonderful birds.

According to taxonomy, there are basically two subspecies or types of African gray parrot that can be found in today’s pet trade: the Congo African gray and the Timneh African gray. The former type is characterized for being slightly larger than latter with bright, red tail feathers. The Timneh, on the other hand, is overall darker than the Congo African.

When it comes to temperament, there are significant differences between the two. Timnehs are believed to be more laid back and less prone to feather picking and other neurotic behaviors compared to the Congo African gray.

Generally, African Gray parrots live from 25 to 50 years depending on the history of the bird, lifestyle, stress factors, diseases, and other aspect that may affect its lifespan. When it comes to intelligence, this parrot specie is considered as an extremely intelligent bird because of its ability to talk or mimic different sounds and noises and for having a unique capacity for putting their words and sounds into the right context.

Despite its admirable traits, there are some behavior issues you have to deal with when you possess an African Gray parrot. Because of their intelligence, this bird is quite demanding because you need to spend a lot of time in giving social contact and for mental stimulation. A lot of patience and attention should be given to these birds. These birds are also known for biting and feather picking when they get bored or depressed.

Here are some dos and don’ts in taking care of your African Gray parrot:

1. Make sure that you know the specie of your parrot because having a good knowledge the will provide you better guidelines in taking care of it.

2. Make sure that you provide you African Gray with the basics it needs like large and safe cage, good and healthy diet, a wide range of toys, a dependable T-stand, as well as a gym or play stand, scale, and a commercial carrier.

3. If possible, take time off to talk to the breeder and pet shop assistants who have dealt with your parrot. Talking to them will give you an idea how the bird has been treated in the past.

4. Make sure that you objectively assess if the African Grey Parrot is compatible to your living space and lifestyle. Since these birds are quite demanding pets, attention and clean environment will keep them healthy and happy.

5. Because of its quite demanding nature, an African Grey parrot is not suitable for everyone. Make sure that you think a thousand times before purchasing it and have a written guarantee of its age if possible.

6. Never, ever buy an African Gray parrot on impulse because it can be quite stressful.

7. Don’t keep questions to yourself if you want to know something about the bird.

8. Don’t forget to make a list before you go to the breeder so you won’t miss out on important information you need to know in taking care of your pet.

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