What kind of pet bird cage should I get for my African Grey Parrot?
All parrot cages come in many sizes, an African grey parrot is considered a medium-sized parrot, so when looking it will surely help eliminate some confusion. You want your cage to be big enough for your African Grey to fully spread their wings, and flap without hitting the sides of the cages. Your parrot must have room to exercise and move around freely since this is where they will be spending most of their day.
It’s essential to pick a cage that is not toxic to your African Grey, wrought iron with non-toxic powder coating, or stainless steel are both safe choices. Avoid painted cages, for they could be toxic. Most pens today have a playland on top of the cage and provides a food and water section; these are outstanding purchase selections for your bird.
In general, your cage should range from about 18 inches deep, 40 inches tall, and 3/4 inch bar spacing.
The cleaning part will come easy if you pick a cage that has a slide-out bottom.
What kind of pet birdcage accessories and pet bird toys should I get my African Grey Parrot?
You will want a cage with its stand for the pen on casters to be able to move it around freely. Cages can get quite heavy. Also, a large door is a must with a bird-proof latch (Your bird is considered a Houdini of the bird world because they can easily escape). Quality perches are a must, and you will need to purchase a minimal one, but two is ideal because your parrot will use a permanent one for its sleeping purposes.
Toys are always a must, but be careful not to clutter the cage since your African Grey will want the room to roam freely. You can buy parrot toys on pet retailers, or the web as well. African Grey Parrots play well with all sorts of parrot toys that you can hang inside the cage, and they range from something as simple as a plastic ball with a bell in the middle to complex wood toys toed with a rope. Your parrot will need some toys for entertainment because you will not be able to entertain them 24 hours a day.
What do I do with my African Grey Parrot when I go away for a while?
It is always a smart idea to plan when thinking about a vacation or having to be away from home for an extended period. Depending on how old your African Grey is you will need to have a good plan for whomever you decide is going to take care of your bird while you are gone. You should provide them in the likes of what is listed below.
Draw a diagram or layout of the cage with feeders, which food dish goes where and what times to feed and water the parrot
Make your vet aware you are leaving and give the information to the person watching the parrot in case of emergencies.
Make a list of duties that need to be done (bedtime, any special treats with time and day to give them to the parrot, playtime intervals out of the cage, medication if necessary with dosage amounts, cleaning of the cage with how much substrate to use).
You will always want to leave a phone number of where you can be reached in case they need to contact you.
It is always a smart idea to make sure you are leaving your African Grey in good hands, and what is meant by this is that somebody who is comfortable and has a piece of proper knowledge on how to care of your parrot. If you have a friend that is very familiar with the parrot or family member, this will be ideal so that your parrot does not get depressed, scared, or stressed out while you are gone. It is not recommended to put your parrot in a new home. At the same time, you are gone, as stated the African Grey previously is not very tolerant of changes and this could lead to bad behaviour, feather plucking, lack of appetite, and many other problems.
How often do I need to clean my bird’s cage and dishes?
You must routinely and be thorough whenever cleaning your parrot’s enclosure. It must be done at least once a week and if possible, even more, if applicable. Water should be replaced daily, as stated in the feeding section of this care sheet. If you are not doing this regularly, you are putting your parrot on possible health risk, so start with these new routines as soon as you can.
