Expense

by Blue Valentine
(North Carolina, USA)

Would it be really expensive to own an African Grey (Timneh)? With all the toys, cages, vet care, and food?

Answer:

Hello,

Owning a pet bird can be very expensive. And with larger parrots (such as African Greys), it is guaranteed. African Greys alone cost between $600-$2000 to purchase. You can get an idea about the cost of a cage and various supplies for an African Grey from this list and the links within:

/parrot-supplies-large.html

We have two similar sized parrots and they each go through about 5 pounds of dry food (pellets and seeds) as well as several pounds of fresh food (fruits and vegetables) per month. They also each destroy a $20 toy within a week.

Their annual avian vet visit (hopefully you have one near you) costs $75 each and any procedures or medications required beyond that can range from $25 to a couple hundred for less serious cases.

If this sounds doable for you, go for it! Owning a parrot is no easy or inexpensive undertaking (they require a lot of time and money), but it can be very rewarding. 🙂

God bless,

Michelle Jay