Wanting to get a Congo

Hello! My first post on these forums and wanting to get a Congo.

First, how much attention would they need? I have a job where I work 8 hours a day. Sometimes, I would work 12 hour shifts during the year. I would not want to get a Congo and not be able to be there for it.

Second, any special diets they would need and how much would I be spending a month on food?

Third, Would they be able to go outside and fly around and still come back to me? I wouldn't want my bird to fly away from me forever. With this in mind, I am from North Dakota where there is snow is on the ground about 6 months out of the year and wouldn't want to keep them isolated if it is required for them to fly around outside.

Thanks everyone!

Welcome to the forums...there's enough grey owners on here that you should get most if not all of any questions you might have.....

First, how much attention would they need? I have a job where I work 8 hours a day. Sometimes, I would work 12 hour shifts during the year. I would not want to get a Congo and not be able to be there for it.

Although I've never owned a grey, greys, like virtually all other parrots, will, as a specie, normally acclimate themselves to the house's comings and goings.....the only difference you might face, is where you have spoiled a bird to expect attention that won't be forthcoming because you're not there, so, while you will be teaching your new feathered friend what is acceptable behavior and what is not, you will be learning how to read your feathered friend's body language, so that you don't, unintentionally provoke some unacceptable behavior.....

Second, any special diets they would need and how much would I be spending a month on food?

Accepting specialty items like clothes that they'll not need and where you live (price considerations)...as long as your bird is healthy, probably the only added expense might be from more fresh foods you'll be buying and off course toys, but you can usually temper that expense by learning to make your own...

Third, Would they be able to go outside and fly around and still come back to me? I wouldn't want my bird to fly away from me forever. With this in mind, I am from North Dakota where there is snow is on the ground about 6 months out of the year and wouldn't want to keep them isolated if it is required for them to fly around outside.

Not unless you trained your new feathered friend in independent flight and recall training...after...you have thoroughly established a rapport with your new feathered friend.....not really something you will be doing right away, unless your work is animal training.....

I'm sure others will jump in & offer further information on this.....

Good luck.....

Hi Whitey, I am one of the people who believe that you can acclimate a bird to your full time job lifestyle, you just have to realize that the time you once considered your personal time after work now becomes your bird's time, kind of like with a kid. You can't forget them like some other pets, they are too intelligent to ignore all day and be happy. So think of it as acquiring a toddler--you have to start putting its needs above your wants in order to make this "single parronting" work. Also, in the beginning you need to teach the bird how to play independently and make sure you provide an endless supply of interesting toys to keep it occupied or risk it becoming neurotic--greys are so darn smart they need tons of things to stimulate their minds.

Feeding cost is the least of your worries. There are many other "invisible" costs that are more. Expect to be paying at least the price of the bird every year in food, vet bills, cage materials, perches, toys, cleaning supplies, bird boarding when you have vacations, and playstands. Birds love to destroy stuff so their toys don't last forever plus you need to rotate them often to stimulate their minds and stave off boredom which can lead to things like screaming and plucking. You might also want pet insurance. I would budget a thousand dollars a year minimum to keep a grey happy. All the toys add up fast and the annual exotic pet vet checkup ain't cheap.

I would not suggest outdoor free flight to anyone. Even the most well trained birds sometimes fly off. I like to use the example of Michael "The Parrot Wizard." He has been on the Letterman show with his trained birds yet one day Truman decided to just fly away during outdoor flight time and was gone for over 48 hours before they found him miles away. He now swears he will never take his birds out without their Aviator harnesses again--but that is one way you can fly your bird outside. You can have it fly in a harness.

Article:

Truman Lost for 48 Hours