Congo African Grey or Yellow Naped

maillet

Member
Sep 22, 2012
97
3
Hello Everyone,

So I am looking at potentially obtaining another bird within the next couple of months. I have had years of experience with an Eclectus and while I do still love them. It is the diet requirements which causes problems as I can not always be at home to ensure fresh foods are rotated on active basis.

At the moment I am looking at either a Congo African Grey for their higher intelligence/associations (debateable) and lower noise level, versus Yellow Napped Amazon for their brighter colors and high intelligence and activity.

My Concerns:
1. Noise Level - At the moment I live in a home with wide background but I do live with another individual (and likely would at new home when I do move). I understand Greys CAN live in an apartment while Amazons NOT?

2. Feather Composure - I have experience with Eclectus so oil based bird, I know that African Grey's have feather dander so I have asked on other forum how bad this is, but what do you say it is like to touch an Amazon?

3. Behaviors - I understand that Amazons are a fair bit more "active", but about as touchy as a Grey. What do you all consider are greatest benefits and drawbacks of the typical Amazon disposure and more active lifestyle?

4. Intelligence - I am not concerned about purely talking ability. If they do learn to talk then wonderful and I know both breeds can do so well in tone that is clear. In terms of figuring out puzzles, or learning trick or to maybe identify things such as red & blue have you noticed any noteworthy fact?

In terms of training and attention I am not too concerned. My last bird was very well socialized and knew over 150 Words at 2-Years. He could also associate colors and answer appropriate questions, which is above average to say the least for an Eclectus parrot who tend to be "aloof".

Thoughts?
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
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San Antonio, TX
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
1. Noise level - Upper end of the scale. Not cockatoo loud or macaw loud, but on the scale of 1-10 about a 6. They get worked into a state at certain times of the day. Then they quiet down.

2. That depends on whether or not he's hunched over and pinning... :eek: If he's hunched over and pinning touching an amazon can be quite painful. :D They have soft feathers, and they are not dander birds...

3. Active depends on the bird. Some are perch potatoes. They are independent like a CAG. They can be cuddle birds. They can be psycho birds during breeding season. Depends on the bird and how he is raised. They are very clownish. A CAG is punch line funny, where a mac or a zon is more slapstick... if that makes sense. They're just goofy.

4. My RFA adores puzzles. There isn't a knot in the world she cannot figure out how to untie... the more complex you make it, the more she gets into it.
My lilac crowned? NOT! IS IT FOOD?! NO?! THEN WHY ON EARTH WOULD I CARE?! :D

From what you are describing in terms of training, I think you're probably looking for a CAG. None of my zons have had the patience for the day in, day out kind of training you are describing. They lose interest faster.



I've had both. That's my foster nape. Also a big 'un.
 
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labell

New member
Feb 17, 2014
1,988
5
East
The only thing I will add is yes I know how difficult and time consuming it is to feed eclectus believe me! :eek: However my amazons get most if not all of the same types of food daily. I personally don't think it is any less important for amazons or a grey for that matter to get fresh fruits and veggies daily. I would never feed any bird a diet of just seeds and pellets.
 

PanZon

New member
May 9, 2014
53
1
Tucson
Parrots
Military Macaw
my 'zon is the quietest bird i have. while she talks up a storm and will whistle, she does not scream or call. she is active in her cage or playstand, she likes to swing from one foot and does what we call "crazy head", which is her rapidly moving her head in a figure 8 pattern while also slightly fluttering her wings.
She does not like to be pet, she likes to just sit and observe. to be included in whats going on, but not actively part of it.
 
OP
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maillet

Member
Sep 22, 2012
97
3
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It is more that Eclectus require fresh foods given at set schedules. I work retail so my schedule changed, and sometimes can be long hours. A species of parrot which can be given pellets in say morning and knowing they would chip away at it during day with fruits and veggies given when I know I will be home (say OFF or Closing) simply works better than being bound to give fresh food say every 9am and 5pm.
 

getwozzy

New member
Feb 26, 2013
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Oregon
Working retail, how many hours are you at work vs home? Will this other person living with you take part in caring for your new bird? What kind of things would your birds diet include?
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
I believe most everyone has covered the oblivious replies to your questions.I would add the difference between CAG and Amazon is the zons are much more independent and adapt better than CAG to changes. ( you see many more "plucked" CAGs than zons) BTW you did ask this in the amazon section of the forum, I think you know the answer.
 
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maillet

Member
Sep 22, 2012
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Working retail, how many hours are you at work vs home? Will this other person living with you take part in caring for your new bird? What kind of things would your birds diet include?

It is a new position but I would imagine somewhere in the 37.5 to 48 Hour a week range given the season and other circumstances. When I am not at work, I am at home outside of the odd social gathering once a month, which easily could occur at my home most of the time or away days off.

Food - No idea. This would depend largely once I have determined a breed to go with. A species which can live off of Pellets and Nuts primarily, and is not a glutton (namely I can leave food in dishes to be picked at) is the ideal but it is not an absolute. Eclectus were simply far too demanding.
 

Angel3

New member
Aug 15, 2014
11
0
Southen California
Parrots
Yellow Naped. Soon I'll have an African Grey. I also have three parakeets.
YNA differs in terms of loudness and talking ability. My first YNA is a female and she squawks very loud early in the morning and at around 5 PM, but quite through out the day and she is fairly playful, and talks a lot by age 3. My second YNA is a male and he also squawks early in the morning until he sees me in the kitchen. He squawks again around 5 PM, not as loud as the female though. Because he knows I get mad when he squawks, the moment he sees me, instead of squawking, he repeatedly says "hello" in a very low tone, almost a whisper and he continues whispering "hello" until I come out of the patio near his cage then he says "what ya doing?", then laughs that sound like my next door neighbor. He also talks a lot but not as much as my female zon. He is very playful and likes a lot of toys. He can not be bothered when he has brand new toys. My third YNA is also a male. He is louder than my second zon but not as loud as the female. He also squawks in the morning and again in the afternoon around the same time as the other two. He hates seeing me leave, so he insanely squawks as loud as he can until my car drives away. I know this because my husband told me that the squawking stops as soon as I close the garage door. He is less than 2 years old, so he is still a baby. He only knows a few words, but tonight, he added "night" "night"...a breakthrough.:D. BTW, my female zon is much moodier than the two male. She sometimes attacks me for no reason at all. One day she was very friendly, so I had her on my finger and when I asked for a kiss (which normally gives me a gentle beak nudge when she is in a good mood), she bit me on my chin and needed stiches. This happened twice already, so no more asking for a kiss even if she tries and being very friendly. Her mood changes unexpectedly compared to the two males. The two males have not attempted to bite me. They do nibble very gently on my fingers.
 
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PanZon

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May 9, 2014
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Tucson
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Military Macaw
I dont know of any parrot that should live on just pellet and nuts. it doesnt satisfy whats needed for them to be healthy, proper feathered and happy birds. even adding vita-drops, its not the same. i would also suggest water bottle training as opposed to water bowl, because being gone that long, if you have a soup maker like me, they will have nasty water all day. a suggestion, worth exactly .02 cents, feed the fresh veggies/fruits in the morning, prepare it the night before, wake up, feed them, shower/get ready for work, then remove the fresh food and let them snack on pellets during the day. then at night maybe another small serving of fresh, depending how much they eat. it doesnt have to be exactly the same time everyday, just not 16 hours. i believe in the mindset of no certain routine cause then they dont freak out if its not met.
 
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MikeyTN

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Feb 1, 2011
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Antioch, TN
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"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
I used to work 60+ hrs a week so I only hear excuses of this and that. If I can provide for my birds of what they need so can you! Otherwise birds aren't really for you! Think it over!!!!!!
 

Allee

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Oct 27, 2013
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U2-Poppy(Poppy lives with her new mommy, Misty now) CAG-Jack, YNA, Bingo, Budgie-Piper, Cockatiel-Sweet Pea Quakers-Harry, Sammy, Wilson ***Zeke (quaker) Twinkle (budgie) forever in our hearts
Maillet, it seems you have a very long list of requirements for a future parrot, but a very short list of things you are willing to provide to keep your future parrot healthy and happy. I can only wonder why things didn't work out with your Ekkie. IMHO you are heading for the same problems with any new bird. A diet of pellets and seed is not sufficient for CAG's or Amazons or any other parrot species that I'm aware of.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I used to work 60+ hrs a week so I only hear excuses of this and that. If I can provide for my birds of what they need so can you! Otherwise birds aren't really for you! Think it over!!!!!!

So did I, and I had 11 birds at the time...
 

Phlox

New member
Jun 16, 2014
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I work 45+ and have a 3 year old and a husband and a household full of other animals and a 2nd job as an artist...and I manage too :)

My BFA is really quiet unless I get her going (discovered she loves it when I whistle and dance for her...I'm the amazon entertainment center apparently) but pellets and nuts aren't enough. During the day, she get's birdy bread or chop, dried fruits and veggies, dried peppers and greens (I think she mostly plays with them, but we'll get there) and then pellets and some seeds. I spend a lot of time making very well balanced food for her and my other birds. There's no easy parrot and no bird you can guarantee will be quiet all the time. If they are quiet ALL the time, I'd be worried they were sick!
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
I used to work 60+ hrs a week so I only hear excuses of this and that. If I can provide for my birds of what they need so can you! Otherwise birds aren't really for you! Think it over!!!!!!

So did I, and I had 11 birds at the time...

It was just this past year when I cut down to 48hrs but at the 60+hrs time I had 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 reef tanks, one freshwater tank, and 20 birds. Plus a house full of plants, doing remodeling on the house, cutting grass, built a shed and painted it myself, gardening, and cleaning. Try to top that! LoL.....I have insomnia so sometimes I'll be cleaning at 4 or 5 am. Then off to work at 9am all day.
 

antoinette

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Jul 6, 2009
13,114
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Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
Congo African Greys demand a lot of time and attention, otherwise plucking could become an issue.
They demand one on one quality time with their guardian.

A pelleted diet is the best way to go for your African Grey - including an assortment of fresh, wholesome, organic vegetables. As with any child, sometimes it can be a challenge to get them to eat their veggies so you might have to spend some time encouraging your African Grey Parrot to eat them. Some vegetables contain more nutrients needed for your bird than others.
 

thebirdnerd

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Dec 28, 2010
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Parrots
Whitefaced Pied Male Tiel- official greeter at the Rainbow Bridge, forever in our hearts,
Turquoise Mutation IRN,
Congo African Grey- please come home to us,
Blue mutation IRN
If you get the bird when it's young it will adapt to whatever schedule you are on. Just make sure you provide a roomy cage with toys that are rotated on a regular basis. Also, leaving the tv or radio on when you aren't home will help. My CAG loves cartoons, especially SpongeBob.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I used to work 60+ hrs a week so I only hear excuses of this and that. If I can provide for my birds of what they need so can you! Otherwise birds aren't really for you! Think it over!!!!!!

So did I, and I had 11 birds at the time...

It was just this past year when I cut down to 48hrs but at the 60+hrs time I had 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 reef tanks, one freshwater tank, and 20 birds. Plus a house full of plants, doing remodeling on the house, cutting grass, built a shed and painted it myself, gardening, and cleaning. Try to top that! LoL.....I have insomnia so sometimes I'll be cleaning at 4 or 5 am. Then off to work at 9am all day.

This isn't about one upmanship.

I had an ex-wife who spent me into bankruptcy...

There was a time when I worked 3 jobs for two years, only to end up bankrupt! Monday through Saturday I left the house at 6:30 a.m. and didn't get home until 10:30 pm. My easy days were sundays when I "only" worked from 11 to 5. (I had a toddler in the house who was the light of my life, and I never got to see her, because SHE continually wanted more stuff we couldn't afford.) Needless to say, I didn't have any anything at that time, because there was simply no opportunity to even live... Just get up, go back to work, give every cent you could get your hands on to someone else... end up with nothing.

I did that for almost three years. While doing my own Chapter 13, and ultimately, my own divorce, which my ex made me take all the way through trial... (I ended up having to try the case myself. I won.) It was a LIVING HELL!!!

I discovered parrots completely by accident, while trying to find ways to entertain my daughter when I was broke... THAT'S HOW I ENDED UP IN THE PARROT RESCUE. I STARTED OVER... THEY BROUGHT SOME JOY BACK INTO MY LIFE, AND I BUILT UP FROM THERE.

I still don't live high on the hog, but at least I only work one job now...

You do what you have to do to survive... and take care of those you love.
 

MikeyTN

New member
Feb 1, 2011
13,296
17
Antioch, TN
Parrots
"Willie"&"Lola"B&G Macaw,
"Dixie"LSC2, and "Nico" Scarlet Macaw.
I did 72-84 hrs weeks from 2001 to middle of 2013 as my ex left me with nothing and I had to work for everything I own now. I work as a dish washer and everything in a restaurant from 1990 to 1997. Go to school at 7am and then work til late like midnight then home work til 3 am then school next day.

So yea I understand you gotta do what you gotta do as I've been working often since 1990.
 

henpecked

Active member
Dec 12, 2010
4,858
Media
3
18
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
I think most of us have had it tough at some point. I'm reminded of that song "Every Rose Has it's Thorn" . There's a lot of give and take to make a good relationship work. I think the bird you have now is worth the effort. Things will change, both you and the bird will have to adapt. You can make it work if you want it to. Just my .02 worth.
 

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