Instructions
Talk to your parrot whenever you can. African Grays are known for their ability to speak. Take advantage of this and talk to your bird, training him to say phrases and words and to sing songs. There's no limit to what they can do; they are limited only by what you teach them.
Play with your parrot as much as you can. African Grays need mental stimulation. The people in your household are part of your parrot's flock and he will become attached to you. Playing with him whenever you can builds a stronger bond with your bird and gives him the interaction he needs.
Give your parrot a variety of toys. You can also make toys for your parrot from things you have around the house. Give him cardboard boxes and popsicle sticks to chew on. Keep a good number of toys in a box and rotate three or four in his cage every few weeks or so. The idea is to keep your bird entertained with enough toys to prevent him from being bored when you're away.
Allow your parrot to play outside his cage. African Grays love perching on the shoulders of their humans. Many cages are equipped with a top play area but if yours is not, you can make or buy a play area for your bird. It's also a good idea to buy a perch for your parrot when he is out of the cage. He needs about three hours out of the cage and at least 45 minutes of direct interaction with you per day.
Keep your parrot's cage in a part of the house where he can watch the activity going on. He doesn't need to be in the center of things, but locating him along a wall or in a corner is perfect.
How to Keep an African Grey From Being Bored
African Grays are intelligent birds with life spans ranging up to 40 years. Keeping one of these birds as a pet is a big commitment but a very fulfilling one, as these birds are entertaining and loyal. With intelligence comes the ability to become uninterested in things, so you'll need to make sure your bird isn't bored. There are many ways to keep your parrot stimulated so boredom will never become a problem.