Animal Description:

Though the Timneh African Grey may not be as well known as the nominate form, commonly known as the Congo African Grey, the Timneh should not be overlooked.

These birds, like other parrots, require plenty of your time and attention, and can get quite cranky if they are not paid the attention and care they require. Both Congo and Timneh African Greys are shy, cautious birds and can be temperamental. Timnehs are known for their good temperaments and are often said to be less cranky than their cousins. But with lots of attention, plenty of toys, and a proper cage, they can be welcomed additions to any parrot lover's household. Don't get a Timneh, though, if your only requirement is speech. Some of these birds never speak. (And birds do not imitate some people's voices.) Whistling and making the sounds of appliances (think Microwave oven), squeaking doors, doorbell chimes, telephone rings, and computer game sound effects are not beyond the reach of a Timneh. They can mimic just about any sound they hear. They have even been known to make a noise and respond to it; i.e., ring the phone and then say, "Hello," or even continue an entire one-sided conversation. They are, obviously, very bright pets with the intelligence of a 5 year old. But beware. They also have the emotions of a 2 year old. And, if you think elephants have good long-term memories, they are total pikers compared to this bird. They are very loyal and will bond for life, which in their case can be up to 70 years. An African Grey Timneh will expect to be included in all activities, and will especially enjoy joining you for your evening meal, helping himself to bites off anyone's plate. Maybe even fighting you for his favorites. Didn't we say they are demanding! But don't let this pet eat from your mouth! Humans have an extraordinary amount of bacteria in their mouths. A Timneh should be given a wide variety of food, ranging from pellets and seed mixes to fresh fruits, vegetables, and table food. Your bird will certainly let you know his preferences, but you must take control. A Timneh will gorge on Sunflower seeds to the neglect of more nutritious offerings. Sunflower seeds are high in fat and should be limited. However, they do need extra calcium, as they are unable to store it in their bones. Oranges, collard and/or mustard greens, and cooked broccoli are excellent dietary supplements. Some toxic foods that should be avoided are avocados and chocolate. Also avoid salty foods and dairy products, as they are difficult for the bird to digest.

A Timneh African Grey is a smaller version of the Congo African Grey (nine to eleven inches from beak to tail). Their feathers are also darker and they sport a maroon tail, as opposed to the Congo's bright red tail. Their eyes start out being dark grey or black and lighten, as they age, to their final color of light yellow. Another distinguishing feature of the Timneh is its lighter beak color on the top. The Congo has an entirely black beak.

Timneh African Greys come from Central Africa, along with the Congo African Grey.

Specific Care Information:

Relative Care Ease:   Average

Timneh African Greys, (along with all African Greys) are notorious feather pluckers. Reasons vary so widely for this behavior that it is impossible to say why a particular bird does it, but it's always a good idea to have a veterinarian rule out any health problems first.

There are many dangers to Timnehs in the average house, including poisonous plants, cleaning products, aerosols, and Teflon pans. (Don't heat a non-stick pan with nothing in it, as it gives off toxic fumes that could kill your bird.)

If your bird has a bleeding blood feather, the feather needs to be removed immediately by pulling it out with a pair of needle-nosed pliers and applying pressure until the bleeding stops.

The cage should be cleaned daily. Fresh water and food should be provided up to 3 times a day.

Never shower or spritz your bird in the evening, as going to sleep with wet feathers can bring on illness.

Clipping wings is debatable. If you decide this is for your bird, consult an avian veterinarian on instructions.

As with any parrot, a good balanced diet is a must.

Breeding and Propagation:

Relative Breeding Ease:   Relatively Easy

Animal Description:

The African Grey Congo is a beautiful, intelligent parrot that would make a wonderful addition to your family, as long as you understand their capabilities and have the patience to give them all that they need. Owning a parrot is something that takes lots of love and time, in order to have a good relationship with them. They have definite needs, and if fulfilled, you will have a lifelong friend.

There are many attributes to sharing your world with an Congo African Grey. They have the intelligence level of a five-year-old, yet the emotional level of a two-year-old. It is quite like having a perpetual toddler in your home. If unattended they have enough abilities to get themselves in trouble, so it is always important to keep an eye on them. Nevertheless, they love to interact with their family, and will like to be everywhere you are, whether at the kitchen table, or taking a shower. In the wild, the African Grey is a flock bird, so you and your family are their flock in their eyes. They want to be with you as much as possible. They do not necessarily have to be on you to interact but like to be included in the family activities whether it be watching TV or cleaning the house, as long as they are involved some way, they are happy. The African Grey is known for its talking ability. They usually begin talking anywhere from 3 months to 1 year of age. They are excellent mimics, and have the ability to not only repeat words and sentences but also just about any sound that is a regular in your household. Telephones, microwave beeps, coffeepots are easy for them to imitate. They can have in their repertoire as much as 2000 words. Not only do they speak just as if the person they are imitating is standing right there, they also can feel what we are feeling and are capable of reacting to our emotions. They do not always just repeat, they can understand some of what they say, by knowing the right response when it is spoken to them. The Congo African Grey is without a doubt, very talented, but they are also very skittish. They are cautious of strangers, they have to be eased into new toys and new situations, but if you approach them quietly and calmly winning their trust, they can adapt and be very happy with their human family members. Once they trust you, they are so loyal, and love to have the back of their heads scratched. They will even snuggle under your chin, which is more likely to happen at the end of the day, when they are almost ready for sleep and relaxed.

The Congo African Grey is a medium size bird. They can range in size from 12-14" from their beak to their tail. The normal range for weight is between 400 and 650 grams. The baby parrot will have dark grey, even black eyes until they reach six months of age. After that, their eyes start to lighten, which is a good way to determine if a parrot is less than six months of age. From then until about two years, the eyes will be pale grey in color. When they reach adulthood, at approximately three years of age, they will have a light yellow coloring to their iris. Their beaks are solid black, and after about six to eight weeks of age, their tail feathers turn a beautiful bright red. Another way to determine a young Grey, is if they have they have dark grey tips to their feathers. Around their eyes, they are smooth and white. Most of their plumage is light grey, though some can be a bit darker. Their feet are a dark grey. If given the proper love and nutrition, these birds can live as long as 50-70 years.

The Congo African Grey originates from Central Africa, from the southeast portion of the Ivory Coast extending to western Kenya, down to Tanzania and Angola. Greys from Congo can be somewhat larger, and those from Nigeria can be darker in their wing coverts.

Specific Care Information:

Relative Care Ease:   Average

Like any parrot, a healthy diet is important for the Congo African Grey. In addition to a good pelleted diet, fresh fruits and vegetables are needed to give them good nutrition, though they cannot eat certain seeds such as avocado and fruit pits. Some good fruits and vegetables include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green & black-eyed peas, banana, and cantaloupe. They should also be allowed nuts such as almonds, rice, pasta, unsweetened cereal and eggs.

The African Grey is a highly intelligent parrot that requires constant stimulation and attention. If they do not receive enough of both they will usually develop behavior problems.

A highly problematic behavior problem seen in African Greys is feather plucking. This is a form of self-mutilation, which can range from moderate to serve. In moderate cases the bird will pluck some feathers, in severe cases they can pluck themselves almost entirely bald. The longer a parrot plucks the harder it is to break them of it. There are several causes of feather plucking, which include both behavioral and medical reasons. If your Grey starts to pluck it is critical that you consult your veterinarian before the plucking reaches severe levels.

Breeding and Propagation:

Relative Breeding Ease:   Relatively Easy