Help! Looking to get an African Grey

[Ozone429]

Hi! I am looking to get an African Grey Congo baby/young for myself. Looking to find a reputable person/breeder to obtain my bird without paying a ridiculous price. I feel like most of the listings and responses I have seen or gotten are scams. Any info/help will be much appreciated

I am located in MA

 

[SilverSage]

If you are getting scams it's probably because you aren't looking in a realistic price range. What is your budget? Have you looked at local rescues?


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[Tami2]

It doesn’t work like that at least in my area. I was on a waiting list to get my Grey. They also range from $1800 to $2200 by me. What is your price range?

 

[LordTriggs]

yes price range will have a great impact on whether you're getting scams or not, most scammers will aim low price to get cash out of people, others go ridiculously high. Also remember you're buying one of the headliners of the parrot show so scammers will post them up more than other birds to prey on desire and excitement.

Always ask for a picture with something unique going on. Whenever I have asked in the past I ask for a banana to be in the picture (causes me great entertainment) and of course never pay money before you see the parrot. Most will ask for a deposit on the bird before meeting then the second your money is transferred the breeder disappears.

Make sure you only ever use something like paypal as then you have a legal back up if it is a scam. If you transfer from your bank account the banks will say you willingly gave money meaning that money is gone.

 

[bigfellasdad]

My CAG was $0.00, with cage and toys and lots of advice. She's now 13yrs of age and an absolute sweetheart. Have you looked into rehome/rescue options? A bird out there may be in need of help/love

 

[bigfellasdad]

To add, I was just about to pull the trigger on a hand reared baby CAG when I asked the lady I got Enzo from if she knew the 'breeder', she immediately told me it looked like a scam, and upon reflection it did but i was blinded by the need for a new companion. This is when she offered Enzo who was a rehome as she was a member of a rehome charity.

 

[Bryce]

Ask around, someone you know may have one they don't really want anymore or can't give the attention it deserves. Also, parrot rescues can give you a bird nearly free.

These will usually be adult birds, but - are you sure you need a baby? Adult birds can already be known talkers, have a known good adult personality, etc.

 

[itzjbean]

Most CAG's will be around $1600-$2000 from what I've seen. This is a very common price for a larger species like this and if you want a quality, hand-fed baby that is the price. They also need a large cage ($200-700 roughly), toys ($50 a month) and food (expect $20-40 a month). They are expensive to buy and expensive to own. Be sure to do your research and make sure you have a lot of money saved up as they are not cheap to keep!

 

[Bryce]

You can get a talking healthy adult CAG for $500-1000 cage included from a private seller, or less than $100 cage included if you adopt one from my local parrot rehoming agency. (I can't speak for yours.) You really pay a premium for the parrot being a baby. They are only babies briefly, then they are adults for 40-50 years...

 

[Tsali]

I agree, if you are going to purchase a baby African Grey, expect to pay a premium price. For Tsali, his cage (which I purchased used and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected), starter amounts of food, toys, etc, I had over $2,500 invested. Worth every penny to deal with good breeders who are there for you when you need help.

Seems like when fly in $$ flys out.

 

[DRB]

If money is an issue then the only option is rescue rehome, otherwise with all due respect don't even bother getting a Grey. Or any parrot for that matter. If money is a concern to just acquire the bird than chances are money will be an issue for maintaining proper accomocations, necessary healthy environment and diet and enough toys and entertainment to keep the parrot active and happy.

Don't take this as condescending or mean, but a big reason a lot of parrots need rescued/rehomed in the first place is b/c the owners didn't anticipate and prepare for the financial responsibility of owning a parrot. Before the end of the first day my CAG was home I had $2200 invested in her.

 

[greytness]

I know a reputable breeder, but he charges $2200 for babies. I believe he has one female baby left. He's the head bird keeper for the San Diego zoo and he's into free flight training for his macaws. Please let me know if it's okay to list his info here. Otherwise, please p.m. me for his information.

He ships, too.

 

[Ozone429]

If you are getting scams it's probably because you aren't looking in a realistic price range. What is your budget? Have you looked at local rescues?


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I am looking to spend up to $2000 for a grey Congo baby. I am also interested in a re-home/rescue. The issue is that I have a limited mobility outside of my home and cannot visit places multiple times.

 

[Ozone429]

I am looking to spend up to $2000 for a grey Congo baby. I am also interested in a re-home/rescue. The issue is that I have a limited mobility outside of my home and cannot visit places multiple times.

 

[Ozone429]

If money is an issue then the only option is rescue rehome, otherwise with all due respect don't even bother getting a Grey. Or any parrot for that matter. If money is a concern to just acquire the bird than chances are money will be an issue for maintaining proper accomocations, necessary healthy environment and diet and enough toys and entertainment to keep the parrot active and happy.

Don't take this as condescending or mean, but a big reason a lot of parrots need rescued/rehomed in the first place is b/c the owners didn't anticipate and prepare for the financial responsibility of owning a parrot. Before the end of the first day my CAG was home I had $2200 invested in her.

I agree with you. I was looking to spend around $2000 for a baby, money is not really an issue, but I do not want to get ripped off. I guess I'm just not sure what a proper amount would be to pay for a baby. I am willing to do a rescue or re-home as well. I work at home and can spend plenty of time with a parrot. I just want to give a bird a happy home!

 

[Bryce]

Well, for $2k you can get a young adult parrot with many decades of life yet, plus a cage, food, and toys, and still have plenty of money left over for vet bills and other parrot expenses. Personally, I'd go with that, especially if you can take your time and be choosy, and get one that is already meeting your specific expectations for a parrot. (Do you want a bird that likes to be petted? Talks? Whistles? Does tricks? Is relatively quiet? etc.) That being said, I suppose one can probably get a baby for $2k shopping around, though; my local bird shop sells grey babies for $2200 which is pretty close.