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Psittacus erithacus timneh · CITES Appendix I Captive-Bred · Midland, TX
Elad — Male Timneh African Grey For Sale ($1,600, was $2,200 · Hand-Raised & DNA-Sexed)
- Sex Male (DNA-sexed)
- Age 6 months
- Variant Timneh African Grey
- Price $1,600
- Talking Developing
- Status Available
Ships nationwide · $185 airport · $350 home
Ask About Elad
Elad — our hand-raised male Timneh African Grey, 6 months, in our Midland, TX home.
At a glance
Elad at a glance — Male Timneh African Grey for Sale Snapshot
Elad is a hand-raised male Timneh African Grey (Psittacus erithacus timneh), 6 months old, now $1,600 — reduced from a $2,200 Timneh starting price. He is DNA-sexed, CITES Appendix I documented, captive-bred in the USA at our USDA AWA licensed aviary, and ships nationwide ($185 airport / $350 home).
- Variant
- Timneh African Grey
- Sex
- Male (DNA-sexed)
- Age
- 6 months
- Price
- $1,600 · was $2,200 · $200 deposit
- Talking
- Early talker / developing
- Documentation
- DNA · CITES · health cert
The short version
Is Elad the right African Grey for me?
Lab-confirmed male — no guesswork. His DNA sex certificate travels home with him.
Young enough to shape his routine, old enough to show a real personality. He is curious, confident, and busy.
Now $1,600 — reduced from a $2,200 Timneh starting price. Covers a hand-raised, fully documented Timneh; a $200 deposit reserves him.
Psittacus erithacus timneh — the smaller, darker grey with a maroon tail and horn-coloured beak, bred in our Midland, TX family aviary since 2014.
Full Appendix I captive-bred documentation — the paperwork that proves Elad is legal to own and transfer.
DNA cert · AAV health cert · hatch cert + band · CITES docs · weaning guidance. No chasing paperwork after.
Airport Pickup $185 or Home Delivery $350. IATA LAR-coded via Delta, United, and American.
Energetic forager, toy-shredder, problem-solver. Thrives with daily interaction and a full household.
What is Elad like to live with as a Timneh?
Elad is a busy, confident male Timneh African Grey who is happiest with a job to do and a household around him. If your home hums with activity, he is built for it. We have watched him grow from a clumsy chick into a young bird who treats an empty afternoon as a problem to solve, and he rewards an engaged family with a big, expressive personality.
Here at C.A.Gs we hand-raised Elad ourselves, in our Midland, Texas home, so what we tell you about him comes from feeding him every day rather than from a sales sheet. One thing we noticed early: he works a foraging toy methodically, twisting and testing a knot until it gives, then looking up to check whether anyone caught the win. That drive is the whole personality. Give him stimulation and company and he gives it straight back.
At 6 months he is curious about everything and still forming his sense of the world. Timneh greys are famously bright — the species, Psittacus erithacus timneh, sits among the most studied talking parrots in the world, and the World Parrot Trust's grey parrot profile ↗ covers their cognition in depth. He suits an active owner or household ready to keep an energetic bird busy and involved.
How does Elad settle into a new home?
His first 30 days at home tend to follow a pattern we have seen across our greys. Week one he watches more than he plays, learning the rhythm of your house. By week two he starts claiming a favourite perch and testing which sounds get a reaction. By the end of the month, in a home that shows up for him daily, he is asking to come out and beginning the soft babble that comes before real words.
Is Elad a good fit for a household with kids?
He does well with older children who understand that a bird is not a toy. He reads energy quickly — a calm, curious kid who offers a finger consistently is exactly the kind of relationship he builds on. Chaotic or grabbing handling is another matter. We are honest about that.
Do male Timneh African Greys talk early?
Short answer: Timneh African Greys of either sex are among the most capable talking parrots alive, and Timnehs are reputed to start talking earlier than Congos — sometimes around 6–12 months. Sex is not a reliable predictor: individual motivation and daily interaction shape vocabulary far more than whether the bird is male or female.
Where is Elad being raised right now?
At 6 months, Elad is in the developing stage. His vocal learning is just beginning. We hear the soft contact calls and exploratory sounds a young grey makes before real mimicry clicks — that process happens over the coming months. Watch the playing video above to hear him as he is now: active, interactive, and already engaged with whoever holds the camera.
Hear a grown C.A.Gs grey actually talking
You do not have to take our word for what Elad is growing toward. This is Maxy, an adult hand-raised Congo African Grey from the same flock and the same Midland, TX home, talking on camera — the clearest proof of the vocabulary a well-socialised Congo develops.
What shapes a Timneh's eventual vocabulary?
The single biggest factor is daily conversation in his home environment. Greys learn by listening and repeating what gets a real reaction — your name, your kitchen sounds, the things you say at the same time every day. A bird in a quiet house with minimal human contact will talk less than one at the centre of a busy family routine. Sex has almost nothing to do with it.
How does Timneh talking compare to a Congo's?
Timnehs tend to start talking earlier — sometimes as young as 4–6 months — while Congos tend to develop larger and more dramatic vocabularies over time. Our Congo vs Timneh comparison covers this side-by-side in detail if you are weighing the two.
Can I encourage Elad to start talking sooner?
Not by drilling. Repetition without genuine social context rarely sticks. The greys that develop the fastest are the ones whose owners talk with them, not at them — narrating what they are doing, responding when the bird makes sounds, treating the conversation as two-way.
How soon might Elad say his first word?
Timnehs are reputed to begin mimicking household sounds and short words a little earlier than Congos — often between 6 and 12 months — with clearer speech firming up through the first year. Elad is 6 months old, so he is right in that window.
Why is Elad priced at $1,600 when listings show "$600" Timnehs?
What the $600 price cuts, point for point
- ✗ No DNA certificate. Elad has a lab-confirmed sex cert. The $600 bird has a guess.
- ✗ No CITES documentation. African Greys are Appendix I. Elad has the full captive-bred paperwork. The cheap bird has none.
- ✗ No avian-vet exam. Elad travels with an AAV health certificate. The $600 seller skips the exam because it costs them money.
- ✗ No breeder you can verify. Elad comes from a USDA AWA licensed aviary you can look up. The $600 seller vanishes when the deposit clears.
A documented, hand-raised Timneh cannot honestly be produced for $600. Elad has been reduced from a $2,200 Timneh starting price to $1,600 — that is a genuine saving on a documented bird, not a bargain-bin "$600 Timneh". When you see that figure, you are looking at a bird missing everything above — or a listing with no real bird behind it at all. The gap is not markup. It is paperwork, health, and accountability.
Why does Elad's paperwork still matter decades from now?
African Greys are CITES Appendix I. A captive-bred bird is legal to own and transfer domestically only when the paperwork backs it up. A grey with no CITES record and no closed leg band is a grey you cannot prove anything about — not its origin, not its sex, not whether it is healthy. Elad can be proven, on paper, top to bottom.
The hidden cost of a bargain Timneh
It is the breeder you cannot find in year two. A real aviary answers the phone. Knowing how to avoid bird scams mostly comes down to one habit: insist on documentation and a verifiable breeder, and walk away when either is missing. For the full picture of what a real grey actually costs, the math behind $1,600 is open for you to read.
Is Elad's $1,600 price negotiable?
No. Our prices reflect the real cost of raising a documented, hand-reared bird properly. We would rather be transparent about that than discount Elad and cut something you would not see until later.
What does Elad's $200 deposit actually secure?
It removes Elad from the listing and holds him exclusively for you while you arrange travel and any final questions. The balance is due before he ships. No one else can claim him once your deposit is confirmed.
Does the deposit come off the $1,600?
Yes. The $200 is not an extra fee — it comes straight off Elad's $1,600 price, leaving a $1,400 balance due before he travels.
What documentation comes with Elad?
Every grey we sell ships with a full documentation set, and Elad is no exception. We never ask a buyer to take our word for it — he goes home with the same paperwork standard we hold every C.A.Gs bird to. Here is exactly what travels with him.
DNA-sexing certificate (male confirmed)
Lab-confirmed that Elad is male, so there is no guesswork. The certificate names the bird, the collection date, and the confirming lab. Our DNA-tested greys page explains why lab sexing matters before you commit to a 40–60 year bird.
AAV avian-vet health certificate
Issued before Elad travels by a vet following Association of Avian Veterinarians ↗ standards. The certificate documents his physical exam, his condition at time of travel, and the issuing vet's credentials.
Hatch certificate + closed leg band
His traceable identity as a captive-bred bird. The closed band can only be applied when the chick is a few days old — it is the first and most tamper-resistant proof of captive origin.
CITES captive-bred (Appendix I, USA) documentation
African Greys are CITES Appendix I. Captive-bred birds are legal to own and transfer domestically with the right paperwork, which Elad has. Our CITES documentation page explains what each form covers.
Weaning status + feeding guidance
Elad leaves us only once he is eating independently on his own schedule — African Greys typically wean between 12 and 16 weeks. We include his current diet, feeding routine, and the transition guidance your vet will want.
Elad is also covered by our African Grey health guarantee, which travels home with him alongside the documents.
How can I verify Elad's documents myself?
You do not have to take any of it on trust. Our USDA AWA license number is public and searchable on the federal portal, the DNA certificate names the testing lab so you can contact them directly, and your own avian vet can confirm the AAV health certificate at Elad's first wellness visit.
Keep Elad's papers for his whole life
Store the originals somewhere safe. You will want the CITES and hatch paperwork for any future vet records, for travel between states, and to prove captive-bred origin decades from now — these papers are what separate a documented grey from an unprovable one.
Source: CITES Appendix I captive-bred provisions (USFWS)
Captive-bred African Greys are legal to own and transfer domestically with proper documentation under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service CITES guidance ↗. Elad's paperwork meets that standard.
What's included when you reserve Elad?
Price & reservation
- Elad (male, 6 months) $1,600
- Deposit to reserve $200
- Airport Pickup (IATA, LAR) $185
- Home Delivery (door-to-door) $350
Ships nationwide · $185 airport · $350 home · Delta / United / American
A $200 deposit reserves Elad and pauses his listing for you. The balance is due before he travels.
What comes home with Elad
- ✔ DNA sex certificate
- ✔ Avian-vet (AAV) health certificate
- ✔ Hatch certificate + closed leg band
- ✔ CITES captive-bred documentation
- ✔ Weaning & feeding guidance
- ✔ Health guarantee + post-arrival support
Compare Our Available Greys
How does Elad compare to our other available greys?
We have four individually different birds available right now. Elad is not the only option — here is how they stack up, so you can find the one that actually fits your home. Our Congo vs Timneh comparison goes deeper on the species differences if you are still weighing the two variants.
| Trait | Elad Male Timneh · 6 mo | Amie Female Congo · 3 mo | Bery Female Congo · 1 yr | Evie Female Timneh · 6 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,600 | $2,500 | $1,700 | $1,500 |
| Variant | Timneh | Congo | Congo | Timneh |
| Sex | Male | Female | Female | Female |
| Temperament | Energetic, bold | Social, curious | Gentle, settled | Calm, steady |
| Talking | Early talker | Developing | Starting words | Starting words |
| Ships nation. | $185 airport / $350 home | $185 / $350 | $185 / $350 | $185 / $350 |
| CITES status | Appendix I, captive-bred | Appendix I, captive-bred | Appendix I, captive-bred | Appendix I, captive-bred |
| Best for | Interactive home | Family or couple | First-time owner | Calmer household |
Is Elad a healthy Timneh? Our health standard
Elad goes through a set of pre-placement health checks that every bird from our aviary clears before he is listed for sale. We are a USDA Animal Welfare Act licensed facility — the federal licensing standard for animal dealers and breeders — which means our health and housing practices are subject to inspection.
What health checks has Elad had?
- ✔ PBFD & Polyomavirus PCR screening — PBFD (Psittacine Beak & Feather Disease) ↗ and Avian Polyomavirus are the two viral conditions a serious grey buyer should ask about, so we PCR-test every C.A.Gs bird, Elad included, and keep the records. Our African Grey care guide explains what those screens protect against and how we manage flock health day to day.
- ✔ Pre-placement avian-vet exam — a physical exam by a veterinarian following Association of Avian Veterinarians ↗ standards, with a written health certificate issued before travel.
- ✔ Weight and condition assessment — we track his weight from hatch and check it again at pre-placement. A healthy chick gains consistently.
- ✔ Weaning verification — Elad does not ship until he is independently feeding on a varied diet. A weaned bird is meaningfully more stable than one rushed off formula.
What does Elad's health guarantee cover?
The health guarantee travels with Elad and covers the specific terms and timeframes our aviary stands behind. We lay it all out plainly on our African Grey health guarantee page — read it before you reserve, not after.
Why don't you arrange an aviary vet visit for me first?
We encourage every new owner to schedule an independent avian vet visit within the first 72 hours of Elad arriving home. That appointment protects you, validates the health certificate, and gives your vet a baseline. We can recommend what to look for and what to bring.
A note on Timneh testing claims
We only tell you what we have documented. If your vet recommends additional diagnostic testing beyond the AAV health certificate, that is a conversation between you and your vet — and we support it.
Source: AAV pre-travel exam standard
Elad's health certificate follows Association of Avian Veterinarians ↗ exam standards and is issued before he travels — documenting his condition at the moment he leaves us, not weeks earlier.
Who are Elad's parents?
Elad's parents are Levi and Rily, our bonded Timneh African Grey breeding pair here in Midland, Texas — and Elad is a full sibling of Evie, the female Timneh from the same clutch. We have run this family aviary since 2014 under a USDA Animal Welfare Act license, and we hand-fed Elad ourselves from the start rather than parent-pulling him late. Because Levi and Rily live with us, we can tell you what Elad's father and mother are actually like — from daily observation over years, not a paper trail handed to us by a third party.
Father · 7 years
Levi
Talkative, cuddly and tame — a confident male who loves company and steps up readily. Levi passes Elad his easy sociability and that talkative streak Timnehs are known for.
Mother · 6 years
Rily
A people-loving hen who counts easily and stays busy — bright and quick. Rily is where Elad gets his curiosity and that sharp, problem-solving Timneh mind.
What "raised from our own Timneh flock" means in practice
It means we manage the pairing, we know the breeding history, and we can describe Levi and Rily because we work with them every day. Knowing both parents tells you something a reseller never can: the temperament Elad is likely to grow into. A Timneh raised by a talkative, people-loving pair in a hands-on home tends to carry that same even, sociable temperament forward — and that is exactly what we see developing in Elad.
Can I learn more about Elad's pairing before I commit?
Yes. We are happy to share more about Levi and Rily, Elad's clutch, and anything else you want to verify before you put a deposit down. Elad's full sibling Evie is available from the same pairing, and our available greys hub gathers every bird in one place.
What should you weigh before buying a Timneh African Grey?
Most bird listings skip this part. We don't. An honest fit-screening question now saves a difficult conversation in year three.
Before you decide: an honest Timneh checklist
40–60 year lifespan
A healthy Timneh African Grey can outlive a mortgage. Elad could still be greeting your kitchen in 2070. Are you prepared for a companion that may need someone to care for him after you?
Daily interaction — not optional
Elad will need real engagement every day. A grey left alone ten hours consistently will develop stress behaviours. This is not a low-effort pet.
Noise and feather dust
Timnehs are vocal — not a background presence. The fine powder-down they produce is real and requires good air filtration. People with bird-dander sensitivities should verify tolerance first.
The total annual cost
The purchase price is a fraction of the lifetime spend. Ongoing costs include a varied diet, avian vet visits, enrichment, and cage. Our full cost breakdown maps it all out.
After you have worked through the checklist
If you reached this point nodding along — if the commitment is real and the fit is right — that is the conversation we want to have. The AVMA's pet-bird selection guidance ↗ is blunt about the lifelong nature of parrot ownership, and we agree with every word of it.
We screen gently. We would rather Elad go to the home that genuinely fits him than to the first one to ask.
A 50-year decision
A Timneh African Grey is one of the longest commitments in the pet world. Work through this list honestly before you reserve Elad — we would rather you be sure now than rehome him later.
What is life with a Timneh African Grey like over the decades?
Timneh (left of the two greys) runs smaller and darker than a Congo, with a maroon — not scarlet — tail.
The picture most Timneh listings leave out
Elad is six months old, so he's past the wobbly-baby stage and into the curious one. He's a Timneh, which in our hands means a slightly more independent, less dramatic bird than a Congo — he'll forage, problem-solve, and test a new perch before he asks for a scratch. Talking usually trickles in over his first year rather than arriving on day one. The cob he grows into at five years, and again at fifteen, is a more confident, more vocal version of this youngster, because a well-handled Timneh keeps deepening for decades. What you put in this first year, he carries the rest of his long life.
What the good years with Elad look like
A well-integrated Timneh in a stable home develops into something that genuinely surprises people who have not owned one. He anticipates your schedule. He marks seasons — Christmas wrapping paper gets a comment, a suitcase gets a worried sound, your morning coffee routine gets narrated. That is what 40–60 years of companionship looks like when it is working.
The bridge: what makes the difference
The greys we hear about decades later that are still thriving share one thing: consistent daily engagement with people who committed to the relationship as a long-term one. Not intensive training, not elaborate setups. Consistency. A grey who trusts his household develops a resilience that makes him adaptable even when life changes around him.
Read our full African Grey parrot guide for the practical day-to-day picture — diet, enrichment, sleep, and what to expect decade by decade.
What C.A.Gs families say
Reviews — families who brought home a C.A.Gs grey
These are real buyers who found us the same way you did — searching for a documented, legitimate African Grey breeder they could actually trust.
Lawrence Brunner
Fullerton, CA · Congo African Grey
"I'd been burned by a deposit scam before, so I asked C.A.Gs for everything — their license number, the CITES paperwork, a live video call. They sent it all without hesitating. My Congo landed at LAX calm and healthy with his whole documentation packet in the carrier. Worth every dollar."
Verified C.A.Gs buyer
Sandra Soliz
Rome, GA · Congo African Grey
"What sold me was how well they actually knew their birds. Teri answered every question for weeks before I committed, then checked in after he arrived in Georgia to make sure he was settling. He's DNA-sexed, fully documented, and already saying his first words. A real breeder, not a flipper."
Verified C.A.Gs buyer
Ida Brim
Nashville, TN · Congo African Grey
"From the first email to home delivery here in Nashville, everything was exactly as promised. My grey arrived hand-raised, weaned, and confident — with his health certificate and CITES documents in hand. He bonded with our family in days. I tell everyone looking for an African Grey to start with C.A.Gs."
Verified C.A.Gs buyer
Not ready to reserve Elad yet?
Every family above started exactly where you are. Join our list and be first to hear when our next hand-raised Congo or Timneh clutch is ready to place — before it's listed publicly.
How do you tame and train a young Timneh like Elad?
Training an African Grey is less about commands and more about building trust. Elad is 6 months old — exactly the right stage to start the patient, positive-reinforcement approach that produces a well-adjusted grey for life. Our full guide to taming an African Grey covers every stage, but here is the core method we use with every bird from our aviary.
Training Elad — the step-up foundation
- 1
Sit with him first — no pressure
Spend the first few days simply being near his cage. Talk quietly. Let him decide whether to approach the bars. Forced interaction at this stage creates wariness that takes weeks to undo.
- 2
Introduce the "step up" cue
Present your finger or forearm firmly below his chest and say "step up" once. A confident, still arm is the cue. Wavering or retreating teaches him not to trust it.
- 3
Reward the try, not just the result
When he steps up, reward immediately — a small treat, quiet praise, or a foraging toy. Greys connect cause and effect faster than most birds. The reward has to follow the behaviour within one second to register.
- 4
Keep training sessions short
Five minutes twice a day beats one long session. Greys remember their last experience most — end while he is still engaged, not after he has lost interest.
- 5
Bring the whole household in
We socialize Elad with multiple people specifically so he does not become a one-person bird. Repeat the step-up with everyone in the home in the first weeks — that is the investment that pays off for 40 years.
What you should never do with a young Timneh
Do not force contact, do not punish vocalisation, and do not use spray bottles as deterrents. Any negative physical experience at this stage can produce fear-based biting that takes months to unpick. When Elad says no — retreating, raising his hackles, narrowing his eyes — that is information, not defiance. Read it and give him space.
One honest caveat: Elad's first week sets the tone
A Timneh settles faster when you under-do the welcome. The first few days, give him a quiet room, a routine he can predict, and food and water within reach — then back off. Let Elad come to you. The bond you build at his pace is the one that holds for decades.
What do C.A.Gs feed a Timneh African Grey like Elad?
Short answer: A formulated pellet base (40–50% of diet), supplemented with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and limited fruit. We send Elad home eating the exact diet he is on now to avoid digestive stress during the transition.
The four pellet brands we trust
Here at C.A.Gs we have fed and evaluated many formulations across the flock. The four brands we confidently recommend — and have used in our own aviary — are Harrison's Bird Foods, Roudybush Daily Maintenance, TOP's Parrot Food, and ZuPreem Natural. All four are nutritionally complete and avoid the artificial dyes that can irritate sensitive greys. Our African Grey diet guide and best food for African Greys both lay out the full ingredient comparison and conversion tips if you want to go deeper.
What else is on Elad's daily menu?
- ✔ Fresh vegetables daily — leafy greens (kale, chard, romaine), carrot, broccoli florets, and bell pepper. Variety matters more than quantity.
- ✔ Limited fruit — apple, papaya, mango in small pieces. High sugar, so keep it occasional and use it for training rewards rather than a meal component.
- ✔ Calcium support + UV-B light — Greys are specifically prone to hypocalcemia. We raise our birds with full-spectrum UV-B lighting and vitamin D3 supplementation so they can actually absorb the calcium in their diet.
- ✗ Never — avocado, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, onion, or anything high in salt. All are toxic to parrots and some are fatal in small amounts.
Real Photos — No Stock Images
Elad's photo & video gallery
Every image below is Elad himself — taken in our Midland, TX aviary. What you see is what ships to you.
How do you buy Elad, step by step?
We built the reservation process to be clear at every step — no surprises, no pressure, no money moving until you are certain. Here is exactly how it works.
- 1
Reach out through our contact form
Use the inquiry form below or on our contact page. Tell us you are interested in Elad. We reply within 24 hours with fresh dated photos and answer any questions you have before a single dollar moves.
- 2
A $200 deposit reserves him
Once you are ready, a $200 deposit holds Elad for you and pauses his listing. No one else can claim him after your deposit is confirmed. The deposit is applied to the $1,600 total — it is not a separate fee.
- 3
Balance due before he travels
The remaining balance is due before Elad is shipped. We confirm the travel date with you first and schedule around what works for your household — not a one-size-fits-all calendar.
- 4
Arrange shipping — airport or home
Choose Airport Pickup ($185) — Elad travels in an IATA LAR-compliant live-animal carrier on Delta, United, or American to your nearest major hub — or Home Delivery ($350) door-to-door. An Avian Flight Nanny who carries him in-cabin is also available, quoted per route.
- 5
Elad arrives fully documented
He lands with his full documentation set in hand: DNA sex certificate, AAV avian-vet health certificate, hatch certificate + closed band, CITES captive-bred paperwork, and weaning + feeding guidance. We stay reachable for any post-arrival questions — the relationship does not end when the carrier opens.
Is Elad's deposit refundable?
Yes — the $200 deposit is refundable any time before Elad ships. If circumstances change on your end, reach out and we work it out directly.
Where do C.A.Gs deliver Timneh African Greys?
Nationwide shipping — two tiers
$185
Airport Pickup
IATA LAR live-animal cargo to your nearest major airport. Delta, United, or American.
$350
Home Delivery
Door-to-door delivery. Elad arrives at your address, calm and ready to settle in.
We ship Elad to all 50 states. He travels in an IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) ↗ approved carrier with an AAV avian-vet health certificate dated within 10 days of travel. Hub airports we regularly use include Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas (DFW), and Atlanta (ATL) — but reach out and we will confirm your nearest hub.
What is an avian flight nanny?
A Flight Nanny is a professional courier who carries Elad in-cabin rather than as cargo — he is never in the hold, never alone in a dark luggage bay. This option is available from Midland, TX to most major airports and is quoted per route (typically from about $750). Ask us when you inquire.
Do you ship a Timneh to my state?
Yes — all 50 states. We have placed greys with families in New York, Ohio, Arizona, Illinois, Oregon, and across the country. If you do not see your state listed on our site, just ask — we ship everywhere.
Elad ships in an IATA LAR-approved carrier · $185 airport · $350 home
Straight answers
Elad — frequently asked questions
Six questions that come up every time we talk to a buyer interested in Elad — answered plainly.
Is Elad DNA-sexed and documented?
Yes. Elad goes home with his DNA sex certificate confirming he is male, his avian-vet health certificate, his hatch certificate with closed leg-band number, and his CITES captive-bred documentation. Here at C.A.Gs, every grey is captive-bred in the USA and leaves with the full paperwork set.
How old is Elad and what is his temperament?
Elad is 6 months old. We hand-raised him ourselves, and he has grown into an energetic, playful young grey who thrives on activity and does beautifully with a lively household. He is a confident bird who loves toys, foraging, and an engaged family around him.
How much is Elad and how do I reserve him?
Elad is $1,600. A $200 deposit reserves him and pauses his listing for you. The balance is due before he travels. Reach out through our contact form and we reply within 24 hours.
Can Elad be shipped to me?
Yes — Elad ships nationwide. Airport Pickup is $185, where you collect him at your nearest major airport via IATA-compliant live-animal cargo (IATA code LAR) on Delta, United, or American. Home Delivery is door-to-door for $350. An Avian Flight Nanny who carries him in-cabin is available too, quoted per route from about $750.
Do male Timneh African Greys talk early?
Timneh African Greys of either sex are among the most capable talking parrots, and Timnehs are reputed to start talking earlier than Congos — sometimes around 6–12 months. Sex is not a reliable predictor of how much an individual will say. Elad is developing at 6 months; what shapes his eventual vocabulary most is daily interaction in the home, not whether he is male.
Why is Elad priced at $1,600 when listings show $600 Timnehs?
A $600 'Timneh' is the price of a bird with no verifiable paperwork — no DNA certificate, no CITES documentation, no avian-vet health check, and often no breeder you can actually hold accountable. Elad is $1,600 — reduced from a $2,200 Timneh starting price — because that figure covers hand-rearing, his full documentation set, and a USDA AWA licensed aviary standing behind him. A documented hand-raised Timneh honestly cannot be produced for $600.
Have a question that isn't here? Ask us directly — we reply within 24 hours and are happy to answer anything before you decide.
Care Guides & Resources
Timneh care guides for Elad's new family
Still doing your homework on Elad? These are the same guides we send every new C.A.Gs family — written from raising greys ourselves, not rewritten from somewhere else.
The Complete African Grey Care Guide
Diet, enrichment, sleep, and what to expect decade by decade.
Read the guide →
What to Feed an African Grey
The pellet base, fresh foods, and the calcium/UV-B greys specifically need.
Read the guide →
How African Greys Learn to Talk
Vocabulary, timeline, and how to help Elad find his voice.
Read the guide →
How to Tame & Bond With Your Grey
The patient, positive step-up method we use on every bird.
Read the guide →
What an African Grey Really Costs
The full breakdown behind a documented grey's price — and lifetime spend.
Read the guide →
How to Avoid African Grey Scams
The documentation and breeder checks that separate real birds from bait listings.
Read the guide →Why buy Elad from C.A.Gs instead of a marketplace?
Here is the honest side-by-side. Marketplace listings for African Greys can run to $4,500 or more — and even at that price, you are often buying from an anonymous seller whose information disappears the moment the payment clears. The evidence below is not an attack on any platform; it is what the structure of that kind of listing cannot give you.
Buying from C.A.Gs
- ✔ USDA AWA license you can verify independently at the federal portal
- ✔ Real physical location in Midland, TX — no PO box, no anonymous address
- ✔ Full CITES Appendix I captive-bred paperwork included
- ✔ DNA sex certificate from a named, verifiable lab
- ✔ AAV avian-vet health certificate — bird examined before travel
- ✔ Teri answers follow-up questions for as long as it takes, after the bird is home
Anonymous marketplace listing
- ✗ Seller identity often unverifiable — no license number, no address
- ✗ CITES documentation may be missing, photocopied, or falsified
- ✗ DNA sexing unconfirmed — "we think it's a male" is not a certificate
- ✗ No post-sale support — the seller is unreachable in week two
- ✗ Price advantage (if any) comes from cuts you cannot see until the bird is sick
The benefit we offer is not a different product — it is accountability. We are the same breeders Mark & Teri Benjamin, the same address in Midland, TX, the same USDA license number — findable before you pay, reachable after the bird lands. That is the proof behind the price.
What about price — why doesn't C.A.Gs list Elad at $4,500?
We price our birds to reflect the real cost of raising them properly, not what the market can bear. $1,600 for Elad covers hand-rearing, full documentation, and the aviary infrastructure that produced him. Our full price breakdown shows exactly where that figure comes from. We would rather be the breeder you tell people about than the one who extracted maximum margin from a 40-year decision.
He is available right now
Ready to bring Elad home?
Fill in the form below and we will reply within 24 hours with fresh dated photos of Elad and answers to anything you want to know. No pressure, no commitment — just a conversation. A $200 deposit locks him in whenever you are ready.
Ships nationwide · $185 airport · $350 home
Elad is one of several hand-raised greys currently available at C.A.Gs. Visit our homepage to meet all available African Greys →
Or browse our full available birds hub to compare Elad with Amie, Bery, Evie, Elad, and the Jins & Jeni pair.