African Grey carrying diseases?

HopperVal · Oct 24, 2010

For work my hubby delivers oxygen to the elderly and a couple days ago he went to a womans house who happened to have a Sun Conure. He talked with her about parrots for a bit and mentioned that when we got our own house we were going to get an African Grey to which the lady said that they carried more diseases than most other parrots. My hubby was concerned about it and asked me and I told him that I had never heard of it.

So, is there any truth to what the woman said? Do AG's carry more diseases than other domestic companion parrots?

Bobby34231 · Oct 24, 2010

I might be totaly wrong, but I'll go out on a limb here, I would imagine that since this lady was recieving oxygen that she probably has a respiratory problem, since African Greys give off quite a bit of feather dust or dander, it is often said that they exacerbate respiratory conditions and therfore it is recomended that persons with these afflictions dont have prolonged exposure to' birds such as greys, cockatoos or cockatiels, as for being more of a carrier of diseases than other parrots I would have to say no, at least not in captivity

SharonC · Oct 24, 2010

I'm out on the same limb, but I think Greys are more prone to calcium deficiencies. Maybe she'd only encountered Greys who were not taken care of properly.

antoinette · Oct 24, 2010

I agree with Bobby, that African Grey's give off quite a bit of feather dust or dander.

Great link below pertaining to diseases in birds

PSITTACOSIS DISEASE - Pet Birds, Pet Parrots, Exotic Birds

HopperVal · Oct 24, 2010

Thanks everyone! I had never heard of it before but thought Id check just in case. I asked my hubby and she was referring to the bird itself being sick and carrying diseases, not transmitting diseases to humans.

African Grey carrying diseases?

HopperVal

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antoinette

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Who has more than one bird ???

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