How to Breed African Gray Parrots

Breeding African grey parrots can be a difficult task. It is difficult to determine the gender of the birds and the parrots are very selective when choosing a partner. However, breeding can happen if a compatible pair is found and the birds are comfortable in their environment. Make sure the birds feel safe by removing any threatening or loud noises, animals or children.

Things You'll Need

  • Parrot Cage
  • Male and Female Parrot
  • Nest Box
  • Light on a Timer
  • High Quality Parrot Diet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide the correct size cage for a pair African grey parrots to feel comfortable and secure. Mattie Sue Athan and Dianalee Deter recommend in their book The African Grey Parrot Handbook, that the cage be at least 4 feet long by 2 feet wide and 3 feet high.

    • 2

      Establish a male-female pair of African grey parrots. The birds should be taken to a vet to be surgically sexed since there are not many differences in appearance between genders. The vet will look at the bird internally to determine the bird's sexual organs.

    • 3

      Give the pair plenty of privacy. Remove them from loud rooms that are high foot traffic areas or have other loud pets or children wander through often.

    • 4

      Provide a nest box, typically called an "L" or "Z", high in the upper part of the cage for the birds to access.

    • 5

      Supplement the breeding birds' diet with vitamin E and calcium to keep them healthy.

    • 6

      Mimic the bird's natural light cycle by providing light on a 12 hour timer.

    • 7

      Stimulate breeding behavior in the birds by shortening the time they are exposed to light, imitating winter, and then every day start resetting the light to be longer and become a mock spring. Simulating rain by showering the bird more often or putting bedding in the nest box for the birds to remove will also stimulate breeding behavior.