Few birds get fairly the identical response because the African Gray parrot. They’re massive and exquisite birds that may be taught many tips, however massive birds additionally include a big price. From the price of the chicken to all of the provides they want, these pets might be surprisingly costly. Not solely is the upfront price one thing to pay attention to, however there are additionally expensive month-to-month bills you’ll must think about. It’s quite a bit to maintain monitor of, which is why we got here up with this information that breaks down all the pieces you could learn about how a lot it prices to buy and take care of an African gray parrot.
As a common reply, you would possibly count on to pay $250-$5,000 to amass this chicken, plus spend $115–$265 per thirty days in upkeep. Let’s take a look at the small print.
There’s no escaping it; bringing dwelling a brand new chicken is kind of costly. However when you’re seemingly already considering of one-time bills like the price of the chicken itself, the price of their provides might be fairly the expense too.
Whereas discovering an African gray parrot without cost is extraordinarily unusual, it’s not completely exceptional. The commonest approach is to search out somebody you recognize who’s rehoming their African gray parrot, however as soon as in a blue moon, you’ll discover somebody rehoming their chicken on a social media web page or one thing related.
If in case you have a pet rescue close to you, it may be probably the most reasonably priced methods to get an African gray parrot, however you’ll typically wind up with an older parrot, and typically they’ll include well being points.
Not solely that however discovering a real African gray parrot at a rescue could be a problem. Nonetheless, it’s value testing because you’ll be rescuing a parrot in want, plus it may well prevent a bundle!
Breeder
By far the commonest option to get an African gray parrot is to discover a breeder. The price of an African gray parrot from a breeder can range relying on the chicken’s pedigree and the breeder’s high quality. When purchasing from a breeder, get a well being assure and do your analysis earlier than spending your cash.
Preliminary Setup and Provides
Whereas the preliminary price of an African gray parrot can create fairly the sticker shock, the identical factor is true for his or her provides. Spearheading this price is the worth of their chicken cage as a result of African gray parrots require numerous area. Anticipate to spend not less than $800 in case you get them a brand new cage.
You possibly can hold prices down a bit by searching for used provides or solely getting them the naked minimal, however earlier than lengthy, you’ll discover you’re spending increasingly cash in your feathered good friend!
Record of African Gray Parrot Care Provides and Prices
| Chicken Cage | $800–$1,200 |
| Perches | $50–$100 |
| Chicken Home/Tent | $10–$20 |
| Toys | $50–$100 |
| Meals/Water Bowls | $10–$25 |
| Provider | $75–$100 |
How A lot Does an African Gray Parrot Price Per Month?
Even after you drop the cash to get your African gray parrot and all the required provides, you’re not performed spending cash on them simply but. That’s as a result of there are recurring bills that come up every month, and when you have some management over how a lot you spend month-to-month, it’s nonetheless going so as to add up over the course of their life.
You might want to know what to anticipate if you deliver them dwelling, which is why we highlighted every expense and the way a lot you may count on to spend.
Well being Care
Regardless of how nicely you deal with your parrot, you could count on that, each infrequently, there shall be some bills that have an effect on their well being care. There’ll seemingly be months the place you don’t must spend something, however when these bills do often come up, they will rapidly add up. Due to this, it’s greatest to place some cash apart every month. That approach, when these massive bills do come up, you have already got the cash since it’s budgeted for.
Meals
Whereas the African gray parrot is a big chicken, they nonetheless weigh lower than a pound. Due to this, they don’t eat an excessive amount of, and even with many high-quality diets, you don’t need to spend greater than $25 a month to feed them.
Nonetheless, if you wish to feed them a premium eating regimen and get them quite a lot of treats, you may nonetheless obtain this by spending lower than $40 a month.
Grooming
Most months you don’t must put something again for grooming, however if you do must pay for grooming, you may count on to spend between $40 and $50 for a single go to in case you rent anyone. Since African gray parrots must go to a groomer two to 3 instances a 12 months, placing just a little bit apart every month can utterly cowl these bills when it’s time to maintain their nails and beak trimmed. Nonetheless, these are additionally issues you are able to do by yourself without cost in case you have the data.
Medicines and Vet Visits
Most African gray parrots don’t require any month-to-month medicines, however there’s nothing to say they received’t develop well being issues sooner or later that require constant treatment. And when you’ll must take your parrot to the vet not less than for annual checkups, in case you’re already paying for pet insurance coverage, there may not be any extra expense for this.
Pet Insurance coverage
Not each pet insurance coverage firm will cowl birds, however Nationwide presents some wonderful pet insurance policy that do cowl African gray parrots. These plans can vary from $15 to $70 a month, relying on a number of components, so attain out to Nationwide to get a quote in your parrot.
Setting Upkeep
You already took care of most of the necessities, however the very last thing you’ll must account for when caring in your chicken is all the pieces you could sustain with their cage. Particularly, you’ll must put money into a low-cost cage liner and a few bedding with the intention to hold all the pieces sanitary.
These things don’t price a lot, however since you could substitute them often, it’ll nonetheless add as much as between $30 and $40 a month
| Cage Liners | $15/month |
| Bedding | $15/month |
Leisure
A part of the enjoyment of getting a parrot is watching them play with all several types of toys, however whereas many pets get a one-time toy price, that’s not the case with parrots. Not solely do they put on out and destroy toys by enjoying with them, however you could give them loads of toys to cycle by means of so that they don’t get bored.
It’s also possible to select to go along with a subscription field to maintain new toys coming every month, however typically these price considerably extra in comparison with going out and shopping for just a few toys every month.
Whole Month-to-month Price of Proudly owning an African Gray Parrot
Now that you recognize roughly how a lot you’ll must spend month-to-month to correctly take care of an African gray parrot, you may put in an correct line merchandise in your finances to make sure you may get them all the pieces they want. Whilst you would possibly have the ability to get away with spending rather less most months, the months that do go over can throw an enormous wrench in your plans in case you’re not placing sufficient cash apart forward of time.
Extra Prices to Issue In
Whereas we’ve already highlighted all of the typical prices of proudly owning an African gray parrot, there are nonetheless some occasional bills you’ll wish to not less than take into consideration earlier than getting one. For starters, African gray parrots are infamous for moving into issues and inflicting injury, and changing this stuff can range fairly a bit in price.
Moreover, each time you intend on heading out of city, you’ll must get anyone to observe them, and until you may have good friend or member of the family who’s prepared to do it, these prices can rapidly add up. It’s all issues you may simply deal with, however in case you’re not enthusiastic about it prematurely, they will come as surprising bills.
Proudly owning an African Gray Parrot on a Finances
In case you’re on a tighter finances and you have already got an African gray parrot, it doesn’t imply you could eliminate them. As a substitute, you’ll simply must get just a little artistic with how you take care of them. To begin, attempt to incorporate the meals you eat into their eating regimen along with their pelleted eating regimen. This might help hold their dietary prices down.
Subsequent, think about medical insurance. Whereas that is an extra month-to-month expense, it’s an anticipated month-to-month expense. It enables you to put it proper into your finances, and also you don’t have to fret about surprising prices.
Lastly, whereas your parrot wants new toys, nothing is saying you may’t make them your self! There are many nice parrot toy concepts on the market you may make, and this stuff can take that price to close zero.
Saving Cash on African Gray Parrot Care
In case you’re heading out of city and wish somebody to observe your African gray parrot, it may be fairly costly. The very best factor you are able to do is attempt to get somebody you recognize to observe them, or not less than put out a put up to see in case you can’t get a neighborhood teenager or somebody like that to observe them when you’re away. Nonetheless, be sure you do your due diligence and solely go away your pet with somebody you’re feeling you may belief. You’ll must put in just a little further work to show them all the pieces they should do, but it surely makes an enormous distinction to your checking account.
Now that you recognize just a little extra about how a lot these birds actually price, it’s time to take a tough take a look at your finances to see in case you can really afford one. You would possibly want to save lots of up for a bit to get all their provides, however when you do, it’s simple to see why these birds are so widespread.
African gray parrots are nice companions, however they’re additionally an enormous dedication since they will reside as much as 80 years in captivity. You’re getting a companion for all times, so hold this in thoughts earlier than you deliver one dwelling.
