Growth Stages of the African Grey

The African grey is a type of parrot that makes a popular pet in many households. African grey parrots are intelligent birds that go through many different growth stages as they age. Not only do they experience physical growth stages, but they experience stages of emotional growth as well, according to "The Parrot Breeder's Answer Book."

  1. Baby Stage

    • African grey parrots lay eggs in groups up to four at a time, and both parents are responsible for caring for the chicks. Once the eggs hatch, the babies will spend between two and three months relying completely on their parents for food and care. The parents will continue to feed the young African grey parrots until they reach approximately 4 months of age. At this point they are old enough to venture out on their own but will also still rely heavily on mom and dad for basic care. Four months of age is when the babies begin to learn how to feed themselves.

    Rejection of Maturity

    • In comparison to other species of parrot, the African grey species is slow to mature. Young African grey parrots in the wild naturally stay within family groups for as long as a year. These parrots are genetically programmed to require this amount of time for maturing, according to "Baby Parrot Development Stages" by Rebecca Sweat. Even in captivity, this species of parrot is still in its baby stage for the first year and can sometimes be difficult to properly feed and wean. Some baby African grey parrots can reject maturity all together, preferring to be hand-fed than to learn how to eat on their own.

    Behavioral Maturity

    • In terms of intelligence and behavior, African grey parrots are on the faster end of the curve in comparison to other species. African grey parrot babies typically learn how to vocalize faster than other parrot species. An African grey parrot can begin vocalization while still feathering and can begin to mimic human sounds soon after. Some African grey parrots, according to the "Parrot Breeder's Answer Book," can learn to vocalize before they even know how to perch.

    Adulthood

    • For an African grey parrot, adulthood comes later in comparison to other parrot species. While an Amazon parrot may be fully independent by 6 months of age, it can take an African grey a year or longer to feel confident in its independence. Many captive-bred and captive-raised African grey parrots still prefer to be hand-fed and cared for at 1 year of age.