African Greys and Parakeets

[Keet master]

As some of you know, I have two parakeets. I'm thinking of adding a grey to my family. I'm not concerned about how they would interact, but it would be great if someone who has experience with greys could tell me the ups and downs of each and comparisons as such. Thanks.
Robert.

[grandma]

I have a Tag, Cag, Macaw and budgee.
I wouldn't let the Greys anywhere near the budgee.

[bb100]

Hmmmm... you know what happened to Marie Antoinette right... That's what goes through my CAG's little feathery head when he see's my parrotlets outside the cage - "off with their heads!"

Joking aside I take no chances here. Little birdies next to my Godzilla CAG are always kept seperate during outside play time.

[Mammabird]

I find CAG's to be a bit anti-social when it comes to interacting with other birds, even other CAG's.

[greyburd]

As suggested, I would not allow them to interact with each other. Generally, it's not a good idea to let bird of different sizes to "play" together. You could end up with situations that you don't want to deal with. Keep them in different parts of the house if possible, if you can't do that..... definitely keep them on different sides of the room. Don't allow them out of cage time together. And always supervise out of cage time (in case on should fly over to the other's cage..... remove them right away, so they learn that they don't belong there).

Best of luck!

[Lisa B]

i think you were looking for the differnces between the species, correct?
budgies are usually friendly little happy creatures that are more then satisifed with the littlest things in life. they usualy like to interact with everyone, and are comicle.
greys are very differnt. They are probably the most human-like of the bird world, and interact with you in ways that you have to think and say "wait, thats a bird!" They are lifetime companions. Thier upkeep and medical costs can be expencive. They do tend not to like change, and can be fussy.
girls have 'tudes **lol** just kidding... they let you know what they like, and just what they dont. Dont be surprised if that $40 toy you just bought is hated by the bird, and never touched....tho...it will love the box it came in!

I love Greys. They are my favorite species spanning my 30 years of birds!

[Keet master]

Yeah, thanks lisa, thats exactly what i was looking for. I'm interested in greys because I heard they are so affectionate, and they love to be with you. And i heard a story about a grey that knew 1000 words. Tweeter might have tried to say his name at one time, but i cant be sure cuz it was very faint, but other than that, nothing.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Keet master

Yeah, thanks lisa, thats exactly what i was looking for. I'm interested in greys because I heard they are so affectionate, and they love to be with you. And i heard a story about a grey that knew 1000 words. Tweeter might have tried to say his name at one time, but i cant be sure cuz it was very faint, but other than that, nothing.

Your Welcome. Greys can be affectionate.....but alot of times, they seem to switch thier affections from the one that loved and raised them to another member in the house hold. It can be heartbreaking for the one who cared for them, but its only natural. Its been noted that something like 80% of males switch thier love, and 16% of females switch. How accurate that is, of how prooven, I cant say... As they mature in the wild, they go from loving thier parents, to loving another bird for mating purposes. Tho we have domesticated them, this will always be part of nature, and in them. I can say, my three babies so far, are very accepting of both my husband and I and have not changed since we had them. I cant tell you what will happen 10 years down the road, but we will cross that road when we come to it.
Not all greys will learn to talk. They are very capable of doing so, but some have not talked at all. I had a timneh who barely spoke a word.
If they do learn to talk, its wonderful and amazing, but I wouldnt want anyone to have high expectations, only to be let down. Thats no good for the bird or owner. however, most grey owners will tell you that once you have a grey, it doesnt matter if it ever says a word....they love them unconditionally!

The thing is...........an african grey has no clue its a bird. It wants to be with and interact with humans if given the chance. This is of course a domesticated baby. Not an imported older grey who knew the joys of freedom and life in the wild. Sometimes the wild caught greys(which are not usually in the public hands as much as they were before importation bans in 1991)will settle in and want to be part of your flock, but you have to wonder what thier memory is about how they used to be.........

I suggest you read all you can on this site, and others in regards to greys before stepping in...They are alot of work...and will continue to be throught out the different stages in thier lives.... In my opinion, they are worth every second of work I have put in to them....

I also had lots of budgies in my life....i was always amazed when I would see one that talked, but none of my guys ever did....they were too busy enjoing life, playing and singing to be bothered