“They stay closely in tune with their human companions and give a sense of intimacy or special closeness to the relationship. They seem also to have a keen sense of humor and frequently make their owners laugh. The most frequently encountered problems have to do with their tendency to be more sensitive to adverse rearing conditions, as well as any lack of stability in their first 18 months. In my personal experience, a more confident grey is allowed to wean at his own pace and is able to develop good flight skills as a fledgling, before having his wings gradually trimmed back. Once he has gone into his new home, a sense of stability is necessary. For example, it is best if the new owners do not go on vacation for the first 18 months, and even then the grey must be prepared gradually for the initial absence."

Pamela Clark, IAABC Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant

“They respond well to positive reinforcement. They are intelligent and learn very quickly. The reputation for being phobic or nervous is a big misconception when it comes to timneh African greys and is more of a product of how we raise them. For me in particular, often when a timneh African grey is allowed to fly, it tends to be more confident because they learn that when they don’t like something they can fly away from it.”

Barbara Heidenreich, Animal trainer and behavior consultant – Good Bird Inc.