Do African Grey Parrots Make Good Pets? (Answered!)

No matter a person’s background or interests in life, a parrot is a fantastic animal to consider adopting.

Parrots are loveable creatures that fill their owners with a ton of happy encounters that’ll never fade.

In fact, most parrot adopters site their parrot adoption as one of the best things they’ve ever done.

Giving a home to a parrot of your own is a fantastic feeling that’s difficult to describe.

On top of the notion that parrots are fantastic creatures to adopt, there are a ton of species of parrots to choose from.

All species range in size, personality, appearance, lifespan, diet needs, and various other examples.

Determining which species of parrot is best for you might seem complicated.

Still, it’s a lot more straightforward than you might realize.

All you have to do is meet with a parrot, see if they’re right for you, and ask the person giving the parrot up for adoption how they are as a pet.

With this subject in mind, do African grey parrots make good pets?

To answer this question…yes, African grey parrots are magnificent parrots to have as pets. In fact, African grey parrots are some of the most affectionate and unique parrots a person can adopt. However, it’s important to note that African grey parrots are very high-maintenance parrots.

Being high maintenance means they require a routine schedule, a more substantial diet than most parrots, and a lot of time with their owners.

If you have enough time to properly do this for your parrot, definitely consider adopting one.

If you don’t, don’t bother wasting your time adopting one.

With the subject of African grey parrots as pets in mind, we’re going to discuss everything you’ll need to know.

We’ll go over what they are, why they’re high maintenance if they’re safe, and countless other information related to the subject.

By the end of it, you’ll be an expert on everything you’ll need to know about African grey parrots.

Considering they’re magnificent creatures, you’ll surely find a great deal of uniqueness in them.

Let’s get started!

 

What’s an African grey parrot?

For those who don’t, an African grey parrot is a species of parrot native to the rainforests of central Africa.

Their features consist of silver feathers, a white mask, and a reddish tail.

Although they’re adorable and fun parrots, they’re also the largest parrot in all of Africa.

Considering that larger parrots require more maintenance than smaller ones, it makes sense why African grey parrots require a lot of maintenance.

However, this isn’t solely because of their size, but because of their size and personality.

African grey parrots love being held and appreciated as people do.

This factor makes them one of the best parrots to adopt if you’re looking for an emotionally attached parrot.

No matter how you look at them, they’re incredible parrots that deserve your love.

Physically, African grey parrots are approximately 13 inches tall and weigh around 14 ounces.

Considering any parrot over a foot is quite large, expect to have a mighty parrot in your presence with an African grey parrot.

African grey parrots who are kept in captivity live anywhere from 40 to 60 years.

Like most parrots, they have a lengthy and impressive lifespan that’ll make them a great friend for most of your life.

 

How are African grey parrots high-maintenance pets?

As far as their overall needs and wants are concerned, we briefly mentioned that they’re high-maintenance pets.

Considering their size and personality, they tend to be needier than other parrots.

Despite this, they’re still fantastic pets and are worth looking into adopting.

First and foremost, African grey parrots are very messy parrots.

Since they require a more extensive diet than smaller parrots, they go to the bathroom more and require more meals made.

Although this can be a bit frustrating, they can’t help it.

Outside of their diet, they’re relatively noisy and can get disturbed easily.

They tend to make noise when they don’t get their way, so don’t worry too much about this aspect.

On the other hand, they’re very unpredictable and can be aggressive as a result.

However, as long as you consistently treat them right, these occurrences are less likely to happen.

Lastly, African grey parrots demand a lot of time from their owners.

They genuinely love affection and want their days to feature a significant amount of time with their owners.

With this in mind, it’s best to create a designated schedule for them.

This will help them develop a routine and get comfortable with their overall living situation.

 

Is it safe to have an African grey parrot as a pet?

As noted, African grey parrots can be fantastic pets as long as you’re prepared for their requirements.

Don’t adopt an African grey parrot unless you have enough time to properly take care of them.

Outside of the maintenance requirements we discussed, it’s important to highlight if you have a good enough living situation for them to live in.

If you live a tiny apartment, it’s not in your best interest to go out and adopt an African grey parrot.

Considering this is a somewhat tricky notion in and of itself, make sure you question if your living situation is okay for them to be in.

On the other hand, look at other areas of your living situation.

Look for space, noises, and who lives with you.

If you have ample space, a non-noisy house, and not a ton of people living with you, then it’s perfectly safe to adopt an African grey parrot.

Although these points might seem ridiculous, it’s essential to highlight why you might run into some issues with this particular parrot.

For the most part, you should be perfectly fine.

However, like anything else, it’s better to double-check and make sure everything is okay beforehand.

 

Where do I adopt an African grey parrot?

If you’re still interested in adopting an African grey parrot, look no further.

Although it’s difficult to say what’s near you for parrot adoption services, check online.

Various websites provide users with the resources necessary to find out where they can go and adopt an African grey parrot.

No matter how you look at it, it’s relatively straightforward to adopt a parrot.

Although it might seem a bit complex, it’s no different than adopting a dog or cat.

Indeed, it’s not as common for people to adopt parrots. However, you can still find the resources necessary online very quickly.

 

What are some positive features of African grey parrots?

Part of the reason people are interested in adopting a parrot has to do with parrots’ positive features.

Considering they’re incredibly loving and friendly parrots, they have a ton of incredible features worthy of discussing.

For starters, their pure essence for love and affection makes them one of the most emotionally attached parrots in the entire world.

They genuinely love to be with their owners and spend quality time together.

As far as people are concerned, any animal like this is fantastic to have in your life.

On the other hand, they’re beautiful creatures that are great to see in person.

Their characteristics, size, and appearance make them stunning parrots.

All in all, there is a lot to love about African grey parrots.

Thus, why it’s vital to understand how excellent they are.

 

Why do African grey parrots like affection so much?

Generally speaking, African grey parrots love affection the same reason many other parrots love it; it’s in their DNA.

For whatever reason, parrots tend to be extroverted animals, and African grey parrots are this even more so.

Considering they want to be always near their owner and with their family, they’re excellent parrots in that regard.

Outside of just that, there’s nothing they love more than playing and having with their human friends.

With this in mind, make sure you take the proper time necessary to treat them right.

Not doing so can significantly hinder their ability to live a happy and healthy life.

No matter how you look at it, parrots are lovely animals that everyone should consider adopting.

 

Do African grey parrots have health issues?

For the most part, African grey parrots can live a fully healthy life amongst their 40 to 60-year lifespan.

Although this is undoubtedly a great thing, they do have minor health issues worth mentioning.

For starters, they tend to be calcium deficient, vitamin-A and D deficient, susceptible to respiratory infections, and few other minor risks.

Although these are all worth mentioning, it could be a lot worse.

No matter the situation, it’s in your best interest to properly take care of your parrot.

This will lower the chance for them to get any of these health issues and lead them to have a great life in the end.

 

African grey parrots are fantastic creatures’ people should consider adopting.

As long as you have enough living space and time available for them, it’ll be one of the decisions you’ll ever make upon adopting them.


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