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Congo African Grey
It is no secret that buying an African Grey is a major commitment. Such a purchase should never be taken lightly as it is as much work as caring for a dog or any high maintenance animal. With that being said, there are some guidelines that can help an owner select a healthy African Grey as well as knowing what costs might be incurred when buying a bird of this type.
Before a price can be determined, it is important the owner decide upon the type of species (Timneh or Congo) and the reason the African Grey is to be purchased. An owner has the option of buying a hand fed bird, a re-homed bird, or a bird that will be used for breeding.
Deciding on Why a Pet African Grey is being Purchased
Deciding how and why an African Grey is wanted for a pet is crucial. This is a question to be asked before the bird is ever purchased. It is important to emphasis that this type of purchase should never be taken lightly because each and every bird has its own personality quirks and characteristics and needs a lot of human interaction. An owner must be able to fit this “bonding” time into their daily schedule in order to effectively interact with their bird and understand its demands, needs, and wants. Many times a pet African Grey will be purchased for one family member but the bird will decide to bond to another family member. This is a common scenario and often it is the African Grey who pays and is re-homed because it did not meet its owner’s expectations. Are you prepared to enjoy the parrot at a distance if this should happen? After all, most African Greys reach well into their 30s and 50s.
Hand fed African Greys
If you’re looking for a parrot that can sit upon your shoulder, gives a great deal of affection, or one that is a wonderful companion, then you might consider purchasing a hand fed African Grey. These are young parrots that have been taken from their mothers and hand fed by a breeder to ensure they are tame. This helps to alleviate any stress of taming and the parrot is ready to be molded by their human companion.
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It is important to note that just because these parrot are hand fed, this does not mean they will be a good pets. The owner must spend a lot of time teaching the bird to live within their household and this can sometimes take a long time.
Hand fed African Grey parrots can run as much as $1600; however, the average cost seems to be about $1200 in a pet store. If a new parrot owner is looking to purchase an African Grey at a lower price, then the best place would be to search for a local breeder online or wait for an annual bird show.
Re-homed African Greys
Re-homed African Grey parrots also make wonderful pets. These birds are usually, but not always, better admired at a distance rather than being handled. Unfortunately, many of these birds are usually re-homed due to behavioral issues. If an owner is willing to put a great deal of time in taming, bonding, and handling, then this type of parrot would be a wonderful purchase.
When a re-homed African Grey is purchased, it is important to note there is no guarantee the bird can be changed or the bird will be what you expected. These birds are usually set in their ways and have their own routines. Also, they are usually older birds and have an imprint as to how they will interact in the world, the people around them, or just life in general. For this reason, it is always recommended that a re-homed African Grey be placed with bird owners who have experience and can understand parrots at a totally different level.
Most re-homed African Grey parrots can be purchased at a reasonable price. These birds usually come with a cage, toys, and plenty of food. It is important the person purchasing this bird always ask about the history and any vet records. An average re-homed African Grey usually costs between $800 dollars and $1,000 dollars and this usually includes cage and parrot accessories.
Breeders
The final type of African Grey that can be purchased is for breeding. Many of these parrots have been wild caught or have been bred in an aviary. These birds are usually deemed more “ornamental” because they cannot be handled or touched during the breeding season. In fact, these birds need a great deal of privacy to breed successfully. Many owners will place them in quiet rooms or install surveillance cameras to monitor their parrots so that they are not disturbed and can go about their business of breeding.
When selecting breeders it is important the feathers be in good condition and the bird be taken to a vet to rule out any genetic diseases that may cause problems down the road. It is important to note that extremely tamed African Greys do not make great breeders and some never breed successfully if they have been around humans for too long. Some may take as long as 10 to 15 years before they successfully breed.
Pricing for breeders may vary drastically and this is due to many factors. Some factors might include pairing and bonding, breeding success, and the age of the birds. Keep in mind that the more fruitful the pair, the more pricey. A good breeding pair can range between $2500 dollars and $3000 dollars. Though it may be a financial commitment, African Greys are one of the more popular parrots and always seem to be in demand.
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