African Grey Parrot Food, Diet, Behavior, and Complete Care Guide

Hi and welcome to Parrots Cuisine! 🦜 Last time I shared a full blog about Sun Conure parrots and how playful and colorful they are. Today, I’m talking about a very different type of parrot, the African Grey.

I’m not a professional. I’m just someone who truly loves animals and has been raising parrots for over 10 years. Whatever I’ve learned has come from observing my birds, taking care of them and sometimes learning the hard way through mistakes.

I only write about parrot food, because I believe that the best care starts with the best food. 💚

African Grey parrots are smart, emotional, and deeply connected to their humans. In this blog, I’ll be sharing everything about their food, care, behavior, and my personal experience, so if you’re thinking of getting one, you’ll be a little more prepared.

My experience with raising African Grey parrots at home

I always had a deep love for parrots, but African Grey parrots were my dream. In December 2021, I finally got my first African Grey. It was a female, gifted by my father who noticed my passion. Funny thing is, I never officially gave her a name. I simply call her “grey talking parrot” or "grey waly toty" whenever I talk about her. Strangely, none of us in the house ever called her by a name, even though I often tell others she’s named Mini.

From the very beginning, she was extremely clever. What surprised us was that she could copy entire conversations, using our exact voices and tone. If my mom said something once, the parrot would remember and repeat it later in her exact voice. She could even mimic motorbike horns, door knocks, and many other daily sounds. We never had to teach her anything. She simply listened and repeated. That’s when we realized how smart African Grey parrots really are.

She was also very playful. She loved playing with my hand but would bite if annoyed. At first, I was scared of her bites, but slowly we became friends. However, she was a picky eater. If she didn’t like something, she wouldn’t even touch it. This was new for us, because other parrots in our house, especially Indian Ringnecks, were not this moody.

Seeing how special she was, my father decided to get her a partner. About two months later, we got another African Grey. But sadly, that parrot was injured when he arrived. His wings were bleeding. We don’t know exactly what happened, but maybe a shopkeeper had trimmed his feathers very harshly or he got hurt in a fight.

Let me explain something here. Some bird sellers cut a parrot’s wings from the root so they can’t fly at all. This is extremely cruel. A parrot’s beauty and freedom lie in its ability to fly. I’m not against trimming, especially if the bird is flying dangerously indoors. But people must be careful. Wings have layers. Only the third layer is responsible for flying. If you cut all layers, the parrot looks ugly and cannot even balance properly.

Anyway, we treated that parrot with care and called him Chhota, because he was small and young. I never pick fancy names. I just go with whatever comes to my mind first. We also had a neighbor who kept many animals and birds. One day my father saw another parrot at their house named Sheru. He was so funny and even danced. My father liked him and brought him home too. Now we had three African Grey parrots.

We bought a double-portion cage. Sheru, whom I call Cheel because he always stares like an eagle, lived upstairs, mini downstairs and Chhota got his own cage with a swing. He loves swingingit’s his favorite thing. I even set up a special section on our rooftop for all my parrots and hens. These three are still in the house downstairs, while the rest live upstairs.

African Grey parrot diet and nutrition guide for beginners

When I brought home my first african grey parrot food was the first thing I studied. These parrots are very picky and intelligent eaters. My Mini loved soft food at first, like boiled rice, lentils, and egg, especially when she was unwell.

Now I feed all my African Greys twice or even four times a day depending on the weather and their mood. Their routine includes a clean homemade seed mix (you can read my full seed mix blog here) and seasonal fruits and vegetables like watermelon, carrots, or apple slices.

Multivitamins are a must. Even a healthy meal may miss some minerals. A few drops in water help balance the african grey parrot food intake every day.

Want a vet-backed guide? Visit VCA Animal Hospitals.

Safe and unsafe foods every African Grey owner should know

Over time I’ve learned which african grey parrot food is safe and which can be risky. Watermelon, apple, cooked beans, grapes, and carrots are safe favorites in my home. But not everything is okay for them.

Never give avocado, onion, garlic, chocolate, caffeine, or alcohol. These are toxic foods for African Grey parrots and can lead to serious health issues. I learned this the hard way and I still regret that mistake.

Wash fruits properly and avoid anything moldy. They have a sensitive digestive system. For a full safe/unsafe list, see Northern Parrots feeding guide.

How I take care of my African Grey parrot every day

Daily african grey parrot food and care is a habit now. In the morning I give them fresh food and talk to them. Especially Mini, she waits until I massage her head before eating. That’s our little ritual.

I keep their cage outside on the rooftop during the day. At night I bring them in. I clean their cage every Sunday, but if they’ve had juicy fruits like watermelon, I clean it again the same day.

I also wash their bowls every day. Just like we don’t eat from dirty dishes, they shouldn’t either. You can read more on healthy snacks in my blog Top 5 Natural Treats You Should Know.

Are African Grey parrots really the smartest pet birds

Out of all the parrots I’ve kept, African Greys are the most intelligent. And not just intelligent, they are shockingly smart. My Mini doesn’t just copy words, she repeats them in the same tone and voice as the original person. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if it's her or a human speaking.

She has copied phone ringtones, knocking sounds, motorbike horns, and even the crying of my cousin’s baby. It’s amazing but also something to be careful about. These parrots remember what they hear, even if it’s something bad. Once, Mini picked up a bad word, but luckily forgot it later.

This is why I always say, keep their environment positive and respectful. You can read about Alex the Parrot, the most famous talking African Grey who shocked scientists with his intelligence. Truly, the african grey parrot food you give feeds both body and brain.

My African Grey’s cage setup, routine and comfort tips

The cage setup matters more than most people realize. My African Grey parrots live in a big, movable cage. During the day, I keep it outside on the terrace so they get fresh air and sunlight. At night, I bring it inside for safety.

I clean the cage every Sunday. But if I give juicy fruits like watermelon, I clean it again the same day to avoid ants and stickiness. Their food bowls are washed daily. It’s simple—if we don’t eat from dirty plates, neither should they.

I also include swings and perches. My smaller one loves to swing, while Mini prefers human company over toys. Even then, a clean, calm, and well-ventilated cage helps keep them happy. For more cleaning tips, visit this vet care blog. Clean space supports a better african grey parrot food routine too.

Best toys that keep African Grey parrots active and entertained

If you’re thinking of buying colorful plastic toys, think again. African Grey parrots have strong beaks and smart minds. Most of the time, my parrots ignore toys. They love playing with humans instead—especially Mini, who acts like a real child.

Still, I’ve tried metal bowls, strong ropes, and stainless-steel swings. The little one enjoys swinging a lot. But they usually get bored with toys easily, unless you keep rotating them. Always make sure anything inside their cage is safe to chew or play with.

They don’t just need toys—they need interaction. That’s their real entertainment. But a few engaging items are helpful too. You can read community suggestions on Reddit’s African Grey Care thread. Playtime is just as important as african grey parrot food in keeping them healthy.

Can African Grey parrots talk and what sounds they make

My Mini talks exactly like humans. She doesn’t just repeat words, she copies full conversations in our voice and tone. If someone in the house says something once, she remembers it and speaks it back in the same way. Sometimes, we can’t even tell if it’s her or a real person speaking.

She has copied motorbike horns, door knocking, mobile ringtones, and even my cousin’s crying baby. Once she even learned a bad word but forgot it later. That’s why we’re careful now. These parrots listen to everything.

If you want proof of how smart they are, you can read about Alex the Parrot who amazed scientists. That’s why african grey parrot food must support both the body and the brain.

How long African Grey parrots live and how to keep them healthy

African Greys can live up to 50 or even 60 years if you take good care of them. But they need the right cage setup, clean environment, sunlight, and proper african grey parrot food.

I feed them 2 to 4 times a day, clean their cage regularly, and give multivitamins in water. I also keep their cage in fresh air and bring them inside at night. This helps keep them active and healthy.

You can also check my What Do Parrots Eat blog or this African Grey Parrot Care Sheet to learn more.

How much it costs to own and care for an African Grey parrot

African Grey parrots are very expensive. When I bought mine, it cost over Rs. 80,000. In many places, it can go above Rs. 150,000. Their price depends on age, condition, and where you buy them from.

But food, cage, toys, supplements, and cleaning items are all part of the long-term cost. african grey parrot food itself needs to be good quality. So think before you decide to bring one home.

If you want a price example, you can check Taj Birds or ask trusted sellers in your city.

Signs of illness and health tips for African Grey parrots

Yes, Mini once fell sick. But let me tell you about my neighbors, they are very sweet. One of them is quite experienced, he doesn't call himself a vet but he knows a lot about birds. When Mini got sick after drinking dirty water, he was the one who helped us.

She has had many incidents — once her neck got stuck in the cage door, another time her tongue got injured in a fight with Cheel. But Alhamdulillah, she’s fine now. That man gave her medicine and tips which actually saved her life.

So if you’re a beginner and not sure what to do, please ask someone experienced around you before experimenting. You don’t want to pay for your inexperience with your pet’s life. Giving proper african grey parrot food is not enough, you must also keep their health in check.

Here’s a helpful care sheet: African Grey Parrot Care Sheet.

Things you should know before getting an African Grey parrot

Let me say this clearly, one thing you must keep in mind is that the gender of African Grey parrots can only be confirmed through DNA testing. You can guess by looking at some physical traits, but it’s never 100% correct.

Most shopkeepers will say “this is male” or “this is female” to sell the parrot. But unless they give you a gender certificate, they are most likely lying. Don’t believe them. Either ask for proof or get DNA testing done later.

That’s why african grey parrot food and toys are not enough, knowing your bird’s gender matters for health and breeding too. Read more tips in Parrot Behavior Help.

Mistakes I made when I was new to African Greys

All the mistakes I made with African Greys is that I’ve already shared in my blog about what do parrots eat. Please don’t repeat those if you’re new.

I didn’t understand how important sunlight, a clean cage, and a big enough space was. I gave oily seeds, used plastic bowls, and even missed multivitamins sometimes. And the biggest mistake — I trusted sellers blindly without asking about gender or health records.

I lost birds because of those errors. I still regret them. Please, don’t just focus on african grey parrot food, take care of everything. Read that blog and learn from my journey before starting yours.

Still confused or need help? I’m just one email away

If you’re new to african grey parrot food or care and still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m not a vet or expert — just someone who has raised parrots for over 10 years and made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Sometimes we just need someone who’s been through it. If you feel stuck, need advice, or want to share your own story, I would love to hear from you. Your experience might help someone else too.

You can email me at writersdesk81@gmail.com anytime.

Thanks for reading 💚 and I hope this blog helped you in some small way.