African grey parrot housing myths

A myth that I have seen floating around many bird forums for a long time has been the idea that African grey parrots should be kept in smaller cages due to them being 'phobic' of larger spaces. This is not the case. There are reasons why people believe this and there are also ways to prevent this 'phobia' from developing all together. African grey parrots deserve just as much space as any other species would

Where did this myth begin? 

People noticed that their birds seemed very uncomfortable in their cages. They would be restless or simply wouldn't move at all. They seemed scared of their own cage. Odd, because most birds love their cages and recognise them as their own homes. Nobody came up with a logical explanation for this fear and suddenly the mass idea that African grey parrots need smaller housing popped up all over the place and everybody believed it 

So where does this 'phobia' come from?

You have to go right back to the start to figure this one out. Baby greys are naturally clumsy birds (adult birds aren't too elegant either!) and while learning to climb around their cage they do fall off the bars or slip off perches as they haven't perfected their balance yet. The bottom of a cage usually has either a tray or a grill and then a tray. You try to imagine this. You're learning to ride a bike and you lose control. You fall off. It's scary! You've cut yourself and you feel very put off. You might to want to ride the bike for a long time. Now imagine being a baby bird, falling from some height, on to a hard surface. That does sound horrible! They associate the pain and fear with being in the cage and poof! there's your fear

Alex, Abigail's Congo African grey parrot
Photo from ~ www.facebook.com/BeesFlock

Preventing this fear is so simple. Breeders who are hand raising should be putting something soft, like towels or cushions on the bottom of the cage so should they fall they won't injure themselves. If you're weaning a baby yourself then this also applies to you. You're going to want to have something to wash and something to wear, so to speak. Make sure it is always available to keep landings nice and soft 

I will make a separate post on this issue, but I will just say this now. I hate 'baby clips'. I do not agree with clipping a fledglings wings. Not only will having some nice big flights allow your bird to learn to balance better, it will also allow them to learn to fly! So please, do not clip your babies 

If African grey parrots really were phobic of living in large spaces, then how on earth would wild greys exist? Would they hunker down in a tree all day? Of course not! They'd be foraging, flying and living their lives 

Congo African grey parrot enjoying aviary life