Understanding the Costs of Owning an African Grey Parrot

How Much Does an African Grey Parrot Cost?

African grey parrots are popular pets worldwide for their high intelligence and lengthy lifespans. These parrots have distinctive grey plumage and red tail feathers, an average size of 10 to 14 inches tall. In the wild, they are found in Equatorial Africa, specifically Congo, Kenya, and Angola. The price of an African grey parrot will vary depending on their type, size, age, and overall health. However, most African grey parrots cost between 500 and 4,000. African greys are much more expensive than smaller bird species, such as finches and budgies. This is probably due to their larger size, longer lifespans, and species specialty.

Factors Influencing Price

The price of African grey parrots can range from around 500 to 4,000 or more. With that in mind, the exact cost can vary depending on several factors, including breed variation, who the breeder is, local market rates, and more. Also, the expenses will continue in purchasing your parrot. Ive kept Greys for years, so I thought you should ...

Subspecies

Two subspecies of African grey parrots are the Timneh and Congo African grey. The Timneh African grey is smaller, less popular, and more expensive. You can expect to spend about 1,500 to 4,000 for a Timneh African grey parrot from a breeder or pet store. The Congo African grey parrot is widely distributed in the pet trade and the larger subspecies. These parrots are priced between 500 and 2,800, depending on where you purchase them.

Age and Size

The age and size of an African grey parrot could influence their price. Juvenile African greys are usually slightly cheaper than the young adults who are fully grown. Older African greys around the 20-to-50-year mark will be more affordable than healthy young adult African grey parrots. This is mainly because there is no guarantee that an older African grey parrot will be free from any age-related health issues or live much longer.

Health

A healthy African grey parrot will naturally cost more than an unhealthy one. African grey parrots can suffer from common health problems like feather plucking and psittacosis. A sick African grey parrot can rack up expensive veterinary bills every month, which not everyone is ready for immediately. Checking at local animal shelters and rescue organizations that take in African grey parrots is a great first step if you want to give an animal a second chance at life before buying one.

Source

Adopting an African grey parrot from a rescue organization or shelter could be possible, depending on where you live. Adopting an African grey parrot will likely cost less than purchasing them from a breeder. You will only pay the adoption fee, usually about 50 to 500. Most adoption fees cover the cost of caring for the animal at the shelter or rescue, such as food, medical, and housing.

Ongoing Costs

Caring for an African grey parrot properly costs money, and they are not the most budget-friendly pets compared to other birds. You can expect to spend a few hundred to a thousand dollars for an African grey parrot without supplies or housing. Their cage and accessories costs will be about 150 to 800, with the bulk of the expenses being one-offs. Monthly or ongoing costs for African grey parrots, such as toys and food, will be between 20 to 60. You will also need to keep money aside for a possible emergency veterinary bill that could cost a few thousand dollars.

Cage

An African grey parrot cage can vary in price depending on its size, quality, and whether it was purchased new or second-hand. However, most large cages that comfortably house an African grey parrot can be pricey, sometimes a few hundred dollars. You generally want a cage above the recommended minimum of 3 feet by 4 feet. A larger cage is always better for these parrots;

Toys

You generally want to avoid keeping your African grey parrot in a boring and plain cage. It is a good idea to look at accessories like purchases and climbing ropes that can liven up their cage. An empty cage can be boring for African greys. However, one that is too cluttered can be overwhelming and unnecessarily take up space. African grey parrots can benefit from having toys in their cage. You do not need to choose the most lavish toys for them, as budget-friendly options are available. Most large chew toys marketed towards large parrots are suitable for African greys; They typically only cost a few dollars. Remember that the toys must be replaced when dirty or worn. This could make the toys a monthly cost.

Food

Your African grey parrot will need a quality food and water bowl to eat and drink from. The bowls should be large enough to accommodate your African grey parrots size and be made from a durable material. African grey parrots may chew through their food and water bowls, so it must be chew-proof and safe. Stainless steel bowls are recommended for African grey parrots and are relatively easy to keep clean. If their cage is particularly large, you might need to invest in three or four bowls. This is so they can access water at various levels of their cage.

Veterinary Care

Like most pets, African grey parrots should be taken to a veterinarian when sick, injured, or needing a health evaluation. The costs of taking your African grey parrot to the veterinarian can vary depending on what needs to be done. If you only took your African grey parrot for a routine health check-up, you can expect to pay about 30 to 120. If your African grey parrot is sick or injured and needs costly surgeries, the costs could be up to 3,000. This excludes the costs of any medications your African grey parrot might need afterward.

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