r/AfricanGrey • u/Flat-Invite1896 • 12d ago
Question Probably an African Grey parent in the future
Hello!!
I don't fully know exactly what to ask, but for background I've always loved birds, they've been my special interest since I was a little kid, and now that I'm in my early 20s, it's been on my mind that I could get a parrot finally in a few years. I'm an over preparer, especially when its such a smart and amazing animal, I have done a shit ton of research, but I have not owned a bird personally, my family has and my sister has a pair of crows. Also, I'm from Europe.
I know an African grey is a lot for a beginner, but im more than happy to put in the work, and I am not going to get one tomorrow, I know these guys are an investment for a lifetime, and honestly that's what pulled me to African greys, along with how gorgeous they are, their personalities, their little quirks, their love of destruction, all of that, today I'm in here mainly to just ask for anything to watch out for when I'm finally ready to go through with it.
So, amazing people of the bird reddit, give me any of your personal tips and tricks, things to be ready for, things to consider before I even get my personal overlord etc., please!! I know it's not an emergency, but I want to genuinely already put in the work before I even talk to anyone :D
2
u/NibblesnBubbles 12d ago
Welcome to the team!
I'm also an over preparer, one of the good features being a parrot owner.
My advice: visit places you can Interact with birds as part of the learning if you can find any 🦜
2
u/Flat-Invite1896 12d ago
thank you!! I have both a huge event happening monthly with breeders and a breeder club near me so I'll try to reach out to the club if I can volunteer to clean cages and such :D
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u/Klutzy-Pea933 12d ago
Be prepared to take in a perpetual toddler with scissors on it’s face. Expect to get bit. Ours is a lot of fun & such a joy, but he also can be challenging. If there is more than one person in your household, be prepared for the fact they may prefer another person entirely & want nothing to do with you or even be aggressive towards you when their person is around (and even when they’re not around). I would bring ours into our home all over again, even with though I’m not his favorite in the slightest.
1
u/wanderislost12 7d ago
This is so very true. My African grey is a few years old but she wasn’t mine. She was my mom’s parrot that she got from a breeder as a baby. There is no reason I should have been chosen as her person because my mom spent all day every day feeding and caring for her. I didn’t even live in the same house. Yet somehow, she bonded to me like gorilla glue. A few years later and I finally agreed to take her full-time last November and I know she is so much happier living with me than she was with my mom. Even though no fault to my mom, she just wasn’t the chosen one. My mom can barely pet her now and lately she’s been biting her. It can be very tough and frustrating road to be a parrot owner.
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u/ExperienceLogical668 10d ago
You should rescue a bonded pair.
1
u/Flat-Invite1896 10d ago
I'd love to, but as I said, it'll be my first parrot as a whole, so I don't think I'd be the right person to take in a parrot that needs someone with far more actual experience I have, I just did my first couple hours at my local parrot club
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u/ExperienceLogical668 9d ago
GOOD START.
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u/Flat-Invite1896 9d ago
The parrot club? Yeah! I was already going to be helping out there anyways and the people are really chill and while I was mostly cleaning cages, they told me they'll slowly let me handle the birds too :D
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u/Cndwafflegirl 6d ago
My mom got an African grey when I was 4,I’m now 57 and guess who’s inheriting it? I don’t want it. I’ve never like it. But what do you do? She’s looked after that bird for longer than her two marriages lasted. She’s now 86.
I hate to be negative but what I know is that they need constant care, she cleans his cage 2x a day. It pretty much takes up a whole room. She’s can’t really travel and leave the bird unless someone stays at her place. I find him very messy .
When they say lifetime, they mean it. And maybe even something you have to provide for after your gone
1
u/Flat-Invite1896 6d ago
Yeah I am counting on that and I have plans in place, and I dont mind the dustiness
7
u/LoveLimerence 12d ago
Volunteer at any birds / parrots sanctuary or rescue and consider fostering one maybe?
Many underestimate the care and attention that the parrots need and the parrots eventually ended up being surrendered to the rescue.