Since it's illegal to sell African gray parrots captured from the wild, available birds are usually bred in captivity. Fortunately, these smart, talkative parrots are generally easy to breed, as long as they've got a proper nest box in the cage. Shy breeding pairs spend nearly all of their time in the nest box if people are around.
Creating the Nest Box
African gray parrots require deep nesting boxes. Avian veterinarian Dr. Susan Clubb's website recommends using a vertical, horizontal box with dimensions of 18-by-18-by-24-inches. A second choice could be an L-shaped box with similar dimensions. While such nest boxes are available for purchase, if you decide to build a nest box for your birds, make sure to use nontoxic and untreated woods.
Nest Box Placement
Your African gray breeding pair require a large cage. The minimum size should be 4-by-4-by-4-foot, or 3-by-3-by-6-foot. Provide at least two perches of natural woods for the birds. Mount the nest box as high in the cage as possible. You don't need to place bedding materials in the nest box. Females lay between two and five eggs per clutch.
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Writer Bio
Jane Meggitt has been a writer for more than 20 years. In addition to reporting for a major newspaper chain, she has been published in "Horse News," "Suburban Classic," "Hoof Beats," "Equine Journal" and other publications. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from New York University and an Associate of Arts from the American Academy of Dramatics Arts, New York City.
