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| Range map for (Psittacus erithacus) African Grey Parrot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
There are 2 species of African Grey parrot of interest to breeders. The Timneh Parrot which is small and somewhat dark in colour and the Congo African Parrot, which is bigger than the Timneh and lighter in colour.
Breeding African grey parrots can prove to be a daunting task, especially if you are not familiar with the entire procedure. You will need to gradually introduce your African grey parrot in a cage with another of the opposite sex, so as to give them enough time to get to know each other.
African grey parrots need to become companions slowly, so do not try to force things as it will only lead to frustration. In the wild, the African greys choose a small area on a tree so as to breed; this means that you do not need to provide them with a large and open space in order to breed them successfully. They do however some privacy in order to breed, so a well hidden next box is essential.
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| Congo African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus) at a bird park in Singapore. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
You should buy a nest box which is large enough. They might not require an open space so as to breed, but they definitely need to be comfortable enough. A nestbox which is at least twenty-five inches high and wide is ideal. Boxes shaped as a capital L can work really well for them and is highly recommended for breeding. A bedding of wood shavings should be provided in the box, so as to keep both the bird and the eggs as safe as possible.
While breeding African grey parrots is not difficult with the right breeding stock and good husbandry, the Congo parrots are generally considered the easiest. The Timneh, on the other hand, is a little more difficult to breed and since they are less popular and less common as pets are best left to experienced breeders.
If you decide to buy an African parrot for breeding, it is strongly recommended that you check accredited African grey breeders first. The birds should be medically tested by a vet - even a DNA test can be done - so as to determine the reproductive ability and maturity of the particular bird. Potential African grey breeders are also advised to use some scientifically proven methods so as to determine the sex of the bird, rather than base their assumption on morphological characteristics, such as the size of beaks.
While breeding African grey parrots you will see that the eggs need hatching for a month; in most cases, the birds lay a clutch of two to five eggs. African grey breeders should be very careful when removing the chicks, because the African grey can become very aggressive and attacking so as to protect the newborns, and can give a nasty bite with their sharp and powerful beaks.
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