African Greys

[New001]

I'm thinking about getting one of these. A place in the city has three little baby ones that they're accepting deposits for and I guess they'd be available in a couple more months. The man there spent a long time talking to my girlfriend and me about the different birds they have, and it seemed like the best fit was the Grey. The place and the people in charge seemed topnotch.

The other one that appealed to us was the Hahn's macaw and the big macaws, but the latter would be too big for our apartment.

I know some of you have experience with these. Help me make my decision please? Just about everything for the Grey sounds wonderful, just want to make sure I'm going to be okay with it. I've never owned a bird before, just cats.

Edit: spelling

[WildDan]

Was completely expecting a discussion on Aliens found in Africa.

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Was completely expecting a discussion on Aliens found in Africa.

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[DING-DONG YO]

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Was completely expecting a discussion on Aliens found in Africa.

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[Blarg]

I wish I could see the attraction. What can a bird do with you that's so great, that a dog can't provide, or a cat? Besides just making with the words, which sounds like it might even be tedious after a while.

I mean, you can't take them for a walk, throw them frisbees, or let them sit around with you in the yard, or take them to the beach or a park. What can they really do besides sit and squawk, fling seeds around, and bob their heads up and down?

[Mi_T_Sharp]

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I wish I could see the attraction. What can a bird do with you that's so great, that a dog can't provide, or a cat? Besides just making with the words, which sounds like it might even be tedious after a while.

I mean, you can't take them for a walk, throw them frisbees, or let them sit around with you in the yard, or take them to the beach or a park. What can they really do besides sit and squawk, fling seeds around, and bob their heads up and down?

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Well, parrots are smarter than dogs. It sounds weird, I know, but you can have a similar relationship with a parrot that you can have with a 4 year old.

[guids]

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Was completely expecting a discussion on Aliens found in Africa.

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Was expecting monty python and the holy grail.

[metsandfinsfan]

they are great birds .. they do need a lot of attention but can learn up to 2500 words and they are loving.

Macaws squawk more than greys

[Cry Me A River]

I can't offer any direct advice. A friend of mine had a parakeet name Nigel who use to shower with her every day. They can be a little messy if you have them out of the cage a lot. However, I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is that these birds are a huge commitment. Assuming you take good care of it, you may well have this parrot for the rest of your life. Lifespans are 50+ years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Grey

[KilgoreTrout]

If you keep it healthy, the bird could outlive you so don't make this decision lightly. Birds like these require a lot of attention and need to be trained. They're highly social and are prone to social dysfunction unless socialized properly, consistenly, and constantly. Research it thoroughly before committing to it.