African Grey Parrots are one of the most popular pet birds that many people keep in their homes. They are intelligent, social, and very personable. They can build strong bonds with their owners.
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African grey parrots are relatively expensive birds, in some countries, they are more expensive, and in some countries, they are not so costly. That’s what I am going to explain in this article to find out how much they can cost you.
First things first, type of Grey Parrots?
Most of the people do not know that there are two types of Grey Parrots. One is Timneh and the other is Congo, the two parrots have slight differences in color. The Timneh is a dark, charcoal grey, while the Congo can range from dark to light grey.
The Timneh also has a pink upper beak, but the Congo has a solid black beak. The tail feathers of the Congo African gray are bright red, but the Timneh has dark maroon tail feathers. The Congo and the Timneh, both originate from Africa but in different regions.
My Mitthu (TiktokParrot) is a Congo Grey Parrot, in the below screenshot I can show you the clear difference between Timneh & Congo grey parrot;
So now you know the two types of Grey Parrots, and when you are buying one, make sure you know what you are buying. The African grey parrot is one of the most talented talking/ mimicking birds on the planet, giving it quite a reputation among bird enthusiasts. Now let’s stick to the topic, we are about to talk the price of grey parrots.
How Much Do African Grey Parrots Cost?
The average price for an African Grey Parrot ranges from $500-$4,000 in the US and Canada, depending on age and sex. This price varies only slightly depending upon which subspecies of the bird that you buy. This will either be a Timneh African Grey or a Congo African Grey, with Congo Grey being the most common option.
As I said above pricing depends on countries as well, in some countries you can buy at more lower price and in some countries the price can be extremely high. As I live in the Dubai UAE, the price for a grey parrot in Dubai UAE starts from 2000 AED (Dirhams) and can go up to 3000 AED (Dirhams). (Between 545 USD to 820 USD ).
The price of an African Grey in India can cost you between 30,000 to 70,000 Indian Rupee (370 to 950 USD).
The price of an African Grey in Pakistan starts from 40, 000 up to 95,000 Pakistani Rupee (180 to 500 USD)
The price of an African Grey in Philippines can be between 10,000 to 50,000 Philippine peso (180 to 880 USD)
An average African Grey from will cost between 800 and 2,500 Euro.
Why African Grey Parrots Prices are different in different countries:
The African Grey Parrot is one of the most popular pet birds in the world. But why are prices of African Grey Parrots different in different countries?
African Grey Parrots are usually imported from Africa and then sold to pet stores in other countries. This means that the price will vary depending on the country where they were imported. The reason for this is because importing a bird from one country to another can be very expensive.
Factors which make African Grey Parrot expensive or cheaper:
We’ve discussed the price, but the amount that you’ll pay will be based on the following factors:
- Age. Older birds cost more because they’ve been trained and socialized by their owners
- Wild Age. If the bird is from the wild and ages, then it will cost you less because it’s hard to train
- Young. If the Grey is young even from the wild, it will cost you more because it’s easy to train
- Genetics. Good-quality, sought-after genes will be more expensive
- Hereditary diseases. This reduces the price as they won’t be used by breeders
- Gender. Females lay eggs, which makes them more desirable
- Breeder. Reputable breeders command a higher price
- Sub-species. Timneh African greys are less common and cost more money
There are also long-term care costs to think about. These include:
- Food and treats
- Toys and games
- Perches
- Cages
- Cleaning agents
- Veterinary care and insurance
- Pet sitters
- A legal permit (in some states)
Owning an African grey is an expensive commitment, so think carefully about whether you can afford the annual costs before buying one. The last thing you want to do is put up your African grey for adoption once you’re bonded.
How Much Do African Grey Eggs Cost?
If you’re looking to hatch an African grey chick and care for it from birth, you can purchase African grey parrot eggs. They typically cost between $30 to $75. They’re much cheaper than fully grown birds because there’s a chance they won’t hatch, even if a seller claims it’s fertile.
However, buying African grey eggs is a controversial practice. In many countries, it’s illegal. That’s because:
- It’s unlikely the egg will hatch
- The chances of death are high
- Eggs are difficult to care for
- You need specialized equipment
- Not reflective of the long-term costs of care
Only the most experienced owners should attempt to incubate and hatch a parrot. It’s a complicated process, and the chick will require around-the-clock care.
What factors affect the price of an African Grey?
How beautiful an African Grey looks will affect the price of the bird significantly. African Greys that look healthy and do not have any blemishes or strange marks and features will be more desirable. However, unusual but pleasant looking attributes such as a unique pink or reddish African Grey color is very rare and will dramatically increase the price of your pet bird.
The quality of a African Grey’s genetics will affect its price. You can do DNA testing if you are concerned about the genetic lineage of your bird and this might be a concern if you are considering pet bird breeding yourselves.
Additionally, you can perform testing to check for diseases in the bird as well. Both of these will costs additional fees. You may also want to do genetic testing to ensure the African Grey is not a cross breed between a Timneh and a Congo. To see my Congo African Grey in action, check out the video below before reading the remaining blog:
Owning An African Grey Parrot Annually Cost ?
The annual cost of owning an African grey varies based on its health. Sick parrots with poor genetics will cost you more in veterinary care. Similarly, your insurance premiums will increase the more often your parrot needs vet assistance.
Toys are a further expense. Your parrot needs them for mental stimulation and cognitive sharpness. However, due to their beaks and claws, your African grey will likely destroy them.
The annual cost of keeping an African grey parrot could be as high as $3,200. While this is the worst-case scenario, African greys cost more than most other parrots. Here’s a breakdown of the costs:
- Pellets: $180 – $300
- Seeds: $120 – $180
- Fresh fruit and vegetables: $240 – $360
- Toys: $240 – $360
- Veterinary care: $100 – $250
- Emergency care: $300 – $1,200
- Vacation boarding: $150
- Insurance: $200 – $400
You need to look at the total cost of ownership for the lifetime of your pet. You can buy a dog for much less than it costs for a parrot; however, how long does each animal live? The average dog lives about 15 years. The average African grey parrot lives 50 or more years! The parrot will live 3-4 times longer than the average dog.
Parrots eat much less than a dog or cat. Dog and cat food costs should be considered vs. parrot food.
You do need a good cage for a parrot. This can cost almost as much as the parrot. It is a one-time expense. The vet bills and monthly food costs for a dog or cat will far outweigh the initial cost of a parrot and its cage.
Parrots make economic sense and will become an entertaining part of your family. Do the cost analysis yourself and I think you’ll come to to the same conclusion that parrots are a great value!
Is age a factor in the price of an African Grey?
You need to think about the age of your African Grey when making your purchase. A baby African Grey that is featherless and is still being hand fed will be less expensive but also requires a lot more initial care. This price increases after the African Grey has been weaned and can now consume adult food.
Once an African Grey grows out of it’s baby stage, it becomes stronger and better suited to live in a new environment, but this also makes it more expensive. After a certain age, the older an African Grey becomes, the cheaper it will be in price. There are many old African Greys from rescue shelters that can be adopted (sometimes for free) if you are willing to take on an older bird.
There is not too much of a difference between the cost of a male or a female African Grey and you can determine the differences between the sexes by looking for red tail feathers in males and silver tail feathers in females.
Things to know before Buying An African Grey Parrot:-
Before you buy an African grey parrot, have some questions in mind. Look out for any behavioral problems that could indicate that it has had a traumatic experience as these are likely to stay with the parrot for the remainder of its life. Whether you purchase an African grey from a pet store or reputable breeder, ask the following questions:
- Is the parrot healthy? Ask the seller for a health background and written declaration
- Has the seller had any problems with the parrot? This could be the reason they’re selling it for cheap
- What’s the parrot’s age? Obtain proof of age, especially if you’re payiing a premium
- Does the seller have the appropriate paperwork? If not, find an alternative seller
To prevent issues, buy from a reputable seller who has a long history of breeding African greys. Similarly, make sure they have the correct CITES Article 10 certificates. Ensure the African grey parrot has been appropriately bred and it’s not been snatched from the wild.
If this happens, you’ll never tame the parrot. While African greys are one of the most intelligent and sociable birds, it’s your responsibility to take care of them for life. They have long lifespans, so you’ll be paying out for their care for the majority of your life. To find out more, familiarize yourself with this complete African grey parrot care guide.
Grey Parrots registration, laws and licensing:-
Trading African Greys internationally is illegal and you should also not buy a bird that is caught in the wild. You should only buy an African Grey from a bird breeder with a good reputation. When choosing a breeder, check that they are a member of a reputable parrot association or organization.
It is also worth Google searching the name of the seller to see what reviews turn up about the business. Each country and state has its own set of rules and regulations which you need to follow with regards to African Greys because they are an endangered species.
If you’re buying an African Congo or Timneh grey parrot you won’t need to apply for a certificate. But you will need to see the pet seller’s certificate or be given the certificate.
If you already own a Grey, and don’t intend on selling it, you don’t need a certificate, and the regulation doesn’t affect you. However, if you ever want to sell your bird, you will need a certificate.
Warning Signs:-
Look out for these warning signs when buying your African grey:
- The seller won’t allow you to see the bird before purchase.
- The price of the African grey is outside of the normal range and is extra high or extra low (without good reason).
- A lower priced grey parrot could mean the parrot comes from a bird mill or has been captured from the wild is is an illegal trade.
- Extra high prices might indicate some sort of scam so ensure there are DNA test results is some sort of genetic claim is being made.
Why Are African Grey Parrots So Expensive?
African Grey Parrots are expensive compared to the other species of parrots because the very process of obtaining legal ownership over this rare species of parrots is costly. And then there is also the proper maintenance and upbringing cost of these parrots which tend to live a long life.
For those who like to have an intelligent and inquisitive animal as a pet, then African Grey Parrot is certainly the ideal choice for a smart feathery pet.
Closing thoughts:–
African Grey Parrots are not just any pet that can be left on their own; rather, as an owner, you need to spend a considerable amount of time with them since they seek attention, care, and love. Unlike any other parrot species.
African Grey’s make great pets because they are intelligent and energetic creatures. However, this will cost you a lot financially and but also in terms of time, energy and attention. If you can afford both the financial and non-financial costs then an African Grey might be the right choice for you but remember that they are a major commitment that should not be taken lightly.
If you’ve ever owned a dog or a cat, especially one with long hair, you know the hair gets everywhere in your home. It’s difficult to clean and can cause problems with people with allergies. If you want a pet that does not shed fur all over your home, then you should consider getting a parrot.
Adoption helps lives:-
Instead of buying, try to adopt, because when you adopt, you save a loving animal by making them part of your family and open up shelter space for another animal who might desperately need it.
You encourage others to adopt animals from shelters. When your friends ask where you got your amazing pet, you can tell them “at the shelter.” Your adoption may encourage others to do the same.
(Click Here To Check out Top 7 reasons to adopt a pet)
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Stay safe and much love !
