Hi I am possibly looking into getting a grey, amazon or too. So I was wondering how big of a cage a grey needs, and it will be alone for 6 hours during the day while were all busy. Also are they quiet enough for apartments? Also if I get say 2 birds, and they are in the same room will they not like me as much and only like each other?

An African Grey needs a cage no smaller than say, 32" wide, 28" deep and 60" high. Echo's (CAG) cage is 42" wide and 30" deep. It is a dome top, and I don't remember the measurments for that... Even if you weren't gone for 6 hours, they still need a large cage. Greys are very active and playful; they need enough room to flap their wings (famous thing here).

In general, greys are quiet... sometime. They can be very chattery and like other birds, can get loud. Because you asked if they made good apartment birds, here is what I say: they make much better apartment birds than a too or amazon! They are MUCH louder! All birds will make noise, greys are no exception. I love my Echo, and although he doesn't scream, he talks to himself and Harley (B&G) all day long.

I keep my B&G and Grey in the same room. Their cages are about a foot to two feet apart. Echo grooms Harley's tail and he and Harley can sit together. I don't think they would ever be a bonded pair, but it is awsome to see the two interact like they do. If they were different species, I would say their is a slim chance that they would bond. Even of the same species, if you handled them a lot individually and they had different cages, I don't think it would be a problem.

If you got 2 babies at the same time, they probably would bond onto eachother more, but I havn't had that experiance. I will wait to see what others have to say!

I live in an apartment with my grey, Ollie. We have had no noise complaints thus far. She definitely has her moments, as does any parrot, but overall she is fairly quiet. When she's making noise, she's usually talking.

Being alone for 6 hours at a time shouldn't be a problem. Of course you'll need to provide LOTS of toys to keep him/her entertained. Wood to chew on, shreddables, and interactive foraging toys.

I only have Ollie with me now, as Dakota lives with my parents, so I don't know first hand about parrot to parrot bonding. As long as they are caged separately, I don't think the chance of them bonding is overly high. One major thing you have to think about with 2 birds, is that they may never get along (or they may get along too well). If they can't be out of the cage at the same time, each bird's out of cage time is going to be split in half. You should definitely keep that in mind if you're considering 2 birds. A parrot should have at least an average of 3 hours of out of cage time a day. My grey is out for at least 6 hours a day, but only when I'm home to supervise because she is flighted.

You mentioned in another thread that you may leave your bird with your parents when you go to college. You really need to think about the best thing for the bird, in this instance. Will your parents keep up with interacting with the bird? What if the bird bonds only to you, and your parents are unable to get the bird out of its cage? Will it just stay caged without interaction the entire time you're in school? Also, how will you be able to leave the bird? I can't leave Ollie for more than 24 hours or I just go crazy. I can't imagine how she would feel if I suddenly left (like for school)- she would probably feel as if I deserted her. I am a junior in college right now, and I've had her for nearly 2 years. I am so glad I waited until I got college figured out a little bit, found an apartment, and just waited until my life was a bit more stable before getting her. I'm definitely not trying to talk you out of a parrot, as they are incredible, but it may be best to wait a few years until you have a stable environment to bring the bird home to.

I too keep my grey in an apartment and have never had any noise complaints. He only has one "beep" that would bother any neighbors but seems to has grown out of it as he ages (since I ignored him when he'd do it) which was a very shrill and high pitched EEEEEEP which he would especially make when he'd hear me using the microwave or sink (thinking it was dinner time)

He'll need a big cage and tons of toys, the more the better, and stimulating things to keep his brilliant brain busy while you are away or not interacting with him.

I'd think that two birds would be noisier, talking to eachother, and the only time I've ever heard of birds becoming less attached to owners is a bonded mating pair.

IMO & IME you should get the largest cage that your budget and space will allow (length, width, depth are the dimensions usually more important than heigth). If room in your apt. is at a premium, consider constructing your own cage and install up on the wall (close to the ceiling) where ya may have lots more available unused room - above the furniture which may be occupying all or most of the floor space.

Well...
I have to be the person to remind you that although Greys are quieter than many other parrots, that doesn't mean your's won't be loud!

My Grey, Tuki, is 1 year old and has an EAR SPLITTING, ANNOYING, HORRIBLE
locator call that can be heard down the street with all the doors and window closed!
He gave me a migraine last week!
The only reason I get away with it in my condo is because my upstairs neighbors are elderly and their hearing isn't very good.

I also agree with Camille -- stability is a must for these tempermental birds. Tuki developed this charming scream/call when we moved to a new house...and that's WITH me.

Oh true, right now I have a house and I will most liekly take the grye to collage if I stay in ontario because of the law, so I can take him/her anywhere. I am getting a cage that is 32x24x62.