The Complete Guide to Breeding African Greys

African grey hens lay one egg every 2 to 3 days. Congo greys typically produce 3 to 5 eggs per clutch, while Timnehs usually lay 2 to 4. First-time hens often produce smaller clutches, sometimes only 1 to 2 eggs. The hen begins sitting after the first or second egg is laid. The male typically stands guard near the nest box and feeds the hen during incubation. Avoid disturbing the pair during egg laying — african greys are more likely to abandon eggs than most parrot species when stressed. Record each egg date in BirdTracks to calculate individual expected hatch dates.

African grey eggs can be candled at 8 to 12 days to check fertility. Because greys are nervous birds, minimize nest inspections — ideally, candle when the hen leaves the nest briefly to eat. Use a bright flashlight and handle eggs with extreme care. Fertile eggs will show a developed vascular network and embryo shadow. Infertile eggs appear uniformly light or show a free-floating yolk. Leave questionable eggs for a second candling 5 days later before removing them. Some breeders choose not to candle grey eggs at all, preferring to minimize disturbance and let the hen manage the clutch naturally.

African grey eggs have one of the longer incubation periods among commonly bred parrots at approximately 28 days (range of 26 to 30 days). Maintaining stable environmental conditions throughout this period is essential. Keep the breeding room at 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with 50 to 60 percent humidity. Temperature fluctuations and dry conditions are the leading causes of dead-in-shell embryos in african greys. Some breeders place a shallow water dish near the nest box to help maintain local humidity. The hen should have food and water very close to the nest box entrance so she does not need to leave the eggs for extended periods.

African grey chicks typically take 24 to 48 hours from first pip to full hatching. Do not intervene during this process unless you are certain a chick is stuck and in distress. Premature intervention causes more deaths than it prevents. Newly hatched grey chicks are small (12 to 16 grams for Congos), blind, and covered in sparse white down. The parents begin feeding within hours of hatching. Check chick crops daily to confirm feeding is occurring — the crop should be full and rounded after a feeding session. African grey parents are generally attentive feeders, but first-time parents may be inconsistent and require close monitoring.

African greys are notoriously selective about mates. A pair may coexist peacefully for years without ever breeding. If birds have been together for more than 2 years with no signs of breeding behavior (nest box exploration, mating attempts, regurgitative feeding), consider trying different pairings. Some greys that were extensively handled as pets may have imprinted on humans and show little interest in avian mates. Wild-caught birds or parent-raised birds often pair more readily than former pets.

African greys are the species most prone to feather plucking, both in themselves and on their chicks. Breeding adults that pluck themselves may still breed successfully, but they are often stressed and may produce fewer clutches. Parents that pluck their chicks need to have chicks pulled for hand feeding by 2 to 3 weeks. Some pairs consistently pluck chicks and should always have their babies pulled early. Environmental enrichment, reduced stress, and adequate nutrition can help reduce plucking in adults.

African greys are particularly susceptible to hypocalcemia (low blood calcium), which can lead to egg binding, seizures, and death. Breeding hens are at highest risk because egg production depletes calcium reserves rapidly. Prevention requires year-round calcium supplementation through cuttlebone, mineral blocks, calcium-rich vegetables, and liquid calcium supplements. If a hen shows signs of egg binding (straining, lethargy, sitting on the cage floor), provide heat and calcium immediately and seek emergency avian veterinary care. Do not attempt to manually extract a stuck egg — this almost always causes fatal internal injuries.

African grey chicks are among the slowest parrots to wean, often not fully independent until 12 to 14 weeks of age. Some individuals take even longer. Never force-wean a grey chick by cutting off formula — this can cause severe weight loss, stress, and behavioral problems that persist throughout the bird's life. Allow the chick to drop feedings naturally as it eats more solid food. Abundance weaning (offering a wide variety of foods alongside continued formula availability) produces the best-adjusted birds.