Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: African Grey Parrots As Pets - What to Expect and What Your Parrot Will Expect From You

The African Grey is one of the most well known
parrots, and for good reason. They are
intelligent, have the potential for a huge
vocabulary, and are exotic in their appearance.
They are truly friends for life because their
life spans rival that of humans.

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.

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A high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA)
air purifier can keep bird dust, dander and other
airborne pollutants from shortening your Grey's
life. See the air purifier for bird dust and
dander now at
http://purerair.com/bird_dust_air_purifier.html

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