How quiet is quiet?

I have been researching and researching till I'm blue in the face so I can make the right decision about which parrot is right for me. I always come back to the African Grey. Still can't decide between the TAG or CAG but that is a different problem. Generally speaking are greys quiet? Meaning they don't screech like conures or scream like cockatoos? Now I know they pick up whats going on in the household like noises and such and will repeat those noises and you might have to work with them to correct that behavior if you don't like those noises. Personally, having been around birds, I like the chatter, constant talking, love the singing, even don't mind the beep beeping, but the screech screeching drives me insane. I do have a pretty quiet household so I'm not expecting anything overly strange, but who knows.

Pepper has been shockingly quiet. I pet-sat some cockatiels and they made noise frequently, but it was a low volume and pleasant tone. Pepper, however, is much quieter than the 'tiels were. I doubt if we lived above somebody in an apartment that they'd be able to tell we HAD a bird at all-my kids are much noisier! Pepper has her beeps and chirps-they are loud, but not louder than a microwave alarm. She also doesn't do them very often. She's been starting to a bit more now that she is more comfortable here. She says Hello and she's working on a few other words. So with Pepper-no screeching or screaming. She does cluck like a chicken when she's very uncomfortable but that's only been twice since we've had her.

I've heard that greys that live with other birds can pick up on their noises-so if a grey had lived with a 'too or macaw for a long time maybe they could do it? But I think overall the grey is more likely to talk than screech.

As for Timneh vs. Congo-there are a lot of similarities! We got a Timneh because we heard they do better with kids and change and fewer chances of plucking problems. We picked this bird specifically (she was a rehome) because her personality sounded perfect for us and she was used to having kids around. But honestly a Congo with the same experience with kids probably wouldn't be too much different. So probably the best way to determine which one for you is to go out and meet some!

My greys don't screech, but one of them learned the microwave beep and just about drove my former husband to the mad-house making the noise. I worked with her and she almost never makes the sound anymore. But, I think she liked to razz my former husband--he would get upset and say "Shiloh, QUIET!". So, she would beep for a while and then say "Shiloh, QUIET!". Other than that, she just talks.

This is good to know. I remember having cockatiels, one used to sing the Andy Griffith theme, always cracked me up. The chirps, beeps and talking reminds me of having the tv on multiple channels at once, lol.

As far as the CAG vs TAG. I have been talking with a breeder (since I have to be on a waiting list, poo) and since I would be getting a baby and raising the grey, would I be right in assuming the personality differences are only going to be what you make them? Or even if both were hand raised would the CAG still be more prone to plucking and the TAG still be more laid back?

Well, some of it is your socializing, and some of it is bird personality. I've heard of TAGS hand raised in families like Pepper was who have totally different personalities! One thing to consider is this article regarding Congos vs. Timnehs-they do behave differently in the wild, particularly with how they are weaned and their maturity timing. So if you can find a Congo breeder who is sensitive to that and your bird gets lots of attention and a proper diet, you probably won't have plucking issues!
Congos vs. Timnehs in weaning and development: Congo and Timnehs, Is There A Difference?
Here's a great site on greys in general: About African Grey Parrots ~ Grey's World's Version
This website has excellent parrot articles, and here's one on Timnehs vs. Congos: https://companionparrotonline.com/Timneh_shim.html

My Congo that I re-homed back in April is not loud at all. He does the microwave beep thing too but it seems to be that whatever you respond to is what they will repeat. We ignored that sound and he hasnt done it in months. Honestly I don't know if anyone would even know we have a bird if they didnt see him. He does imitate me alot though meaning, my best friend thought I was talking to him and I wasnt even in the house. I thought it was hilarious. But I would say no .... not noisy at all.

I dont have a CAG och TAG, I have a DYHA. I have worked a lot to decrease the screaming and with good result. What I am saying is that the noiselevel also depend on how we socialize oure perrots, what is alowed and what is not. It takes a lot of time but it is possible.

How quiet is quiet? Hmmmmm Remember that old song [In the Jungle the Quiet Jungle.] that person never heard the jungle the only time the jungle is quiet is when a big cat is near on the prowl. Ever wonder why there was only one Survivor Africa ?and who can forget the one where the howler monkeys never shut up. compared to that birds aren't so bad.

in my experience, they are very quiet. BUT.. i'm only talking about their own 'screaming'
sounds. for me, i haven't seen any that do that. they are very vocal though. Klaus can
whistle and stuff for hours without stopping when he's alone. if you can get a grey to
make sounds that you like, it'll be pleasant. it's not like how a cockatoo screams for
attention.

Jasper does alot of chattering right now. Several times a day he will entertain himself with sounds and things he knows so far and what sounds like practice making words. I have a conure also who likes to whistle like the squeak of a cabinet door in the kitchen. I'm not sure if this is where Jasper picked it up and made it his own, but it's true they do that. They will repeat sounds at their volume. We are trying to work on this ear piercing whistle/shriek he's doing right now. I don't mind getting loud and wound up now and then but that hurts my ears!

Jasper is also young so I can't say what older birds might do. As others have said, alot depends on the bird too. There are some days where I think Jasper might not make a good apartment bird but most of the time he's not too bad.

My CAG does not screech or get very loud at all. He does the mimicking around the house noises but nothing that is that annoying. He loves to go around yelling his name though. He never really picked up on the Pi in Picasso so the runs around yelling Casso all the time...lol

Oh I find that so cute. I'm not really worried, just wanted to be sure they didn't sound like that high pitch screech of the sun conure where you're left with ringing ears, lol. Now I'm on the waiting list with a good breeder. Now their birds have to lay the eggs and I get to wait...*sigh* By the time I get the birdie it will have so many toys it won't know what to do.

kitkat135 said:

Oh I find that so cute. I'm not really worried, just wanted to be sure they didn't sound like that high pitch screech of the sun conure where you're left with ringing ears, lol. Now I'm on the waiting list with a good breeder. Now their birds have to lay the eggs and I get to wait...*sigh* By the time I get the birdie it will have so many toys it won't know what to do.

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That is good though. They need a lot of toys to keep them busy and its good to have lots to rotate through so they don't get bored with them.

And offer fresh natural wood perches (approved wood types of course) as well as greys seem to like to chew on them. I have had the pleasure of a sun conures lovely ear piercing screech, but it doesnt compare to a Jenday to me of which I have also had the pleasure of. Our neighbor has BOTH. Her house is not the quietest of places when someone new comes in the door.

I have a TAG and he isnt loud at all with screaming. He never really screams. he just does his sound effects. Its super cute! Im not sure about CAG but they are about the same noise level i believe. They are just larger. I love my TAG and my Green cheeked conure. I would recomend a TAG anyday to someone! Green cheeks are great to but all the ones ive met bite A LOT! But it doesnt bother me. My TAG is super sweet and loving. They are amazing and i wish you the best! In my opinion i believe you should get a TAG because they arent loud( most arent loud but every bird is different), they are sweet and are smaller then CAGs. Also I am more comfortable with a timneh then a congo. If you are large bird experienced then this wont matter for you. Wish you the best! You will have the best time of your life with your new companion! Parrots are just amazing!

My TAG picked up the sound of the cockatiel contact call and did it ALL THE TIME. It was grating on the ears. She was LOUD and screamed for attention - most likely my fault as I'm sure I enforced it without realizing.

People have told me that Amazons are much louder than greys, but so far our amazon has been very, very quiet. I think it just depends on the individual and what they're exposed to.