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- Roys — Male Congo African Grey
Psittacus erithacus · CITES Appendix I Captive-Bred · Midland, TX
Roys — Male Congo African Grey For Sale ($2,300, Hand-Raised & DNA-Sexed)
- Sex Male (DNA-sexed)
- Age 4 months
- Variant Congo African Grey
- Price $2,300
- Talking Developing
- Status Available
Ships nationwide · $185 airport · $350 home
Ask About RoysClick to watch Roys at play — click again to pause.
At a glance
Roys at a glance — Male Congo African Grey for Sale Snapshot
Roys is a hand-raised male Congo African Grey (Psittacus erithacus), 4 months old, priced at $2,300. He is DNA-sexed, CITES-documented, captive-bred in the USA at our USDA AWA licensed aviary, and ships nationwide ($185 airport / $350 home).
- Variant
- Congo African Grey
- Sex
- Male (DNA-sexed)
- Age
- 4 months
- Price
- $2,300 · $200 deposit
- Talking
- Developing
- Documentation
- DNA · CITES · health cert
The short version
Is Roys 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.
Covers a hand-raised, fully documented Congo. A $200 deposit reserves him immediately.
Psittacus erithacus — the large scarlet-tailed Congo, bred in our Midland, TX family aviary since 2014.
Full Appendix I captive-bred documentation — the paperwork that proves Roys 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 Roys like to live with?
Roys is a busy, confident male Congo 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 Roys 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 4 months he is curious about everything and still forming his sense of the world. Congo greys are famously bright — the species, Psittacus erithacus, 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 Roys settle in at first?
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 Roys good with children?
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.
Does a male Congo African Grey talk well?
Short answer: Congo African Greys of either sex are among the most capable talking parrots alive. 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 Roys right now?
At 4 months, Roys 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 Congo actually talking
You do not have to take our word for what Roys 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 Congo'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 Congo talking compare to Timneh?
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 speed up when Roys starts talking?
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 long until Roys says his first word?
Most Congos begin mimicking household sounds and short words between 6 and 12 months, with clearer speech firming up through the first year. Roys is 4 months old, so he is right at the start of that window.
Why does Roys cost $2,300 when I see "$850" greys?
What the $850 price cuts, point for point
- ✗ No DNA certificate. Roys has a lab-confirmed sex cert. The $850 bird has a guess.
- ✗ No CITES documentation. African Greys are Appendix I. Roys has the full captive-bred paperwork. The cheap bird has none.
- ✗ No avian-vet exam. Roys travels with an AAV health certificate. The $850 seller skips the exam because it costs them money.
- ✗ No breeder you can verify. Roys comes from a USDA AWA licensed aviary you can look up. The $850 seller vanishes when the deposit clears.
A documented, hand-raised Congo cannot honestly be produced for $850. 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 the paperwork matter 40 years 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. Roys can be proven, on paper, top to bottom.
The most expensive part of a cheap bird
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 $2,300 is open for you to read.
Is $2,300 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 Roys and cut something you would not see until later.
What does a $200 deposit actually do?
It removes Roys 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.
Is my deposit applied to the $2,300?
Yes. The $200 is not an extra fee — it comes straight off Roys's $2,300 price, leaving a $2,100 balance due before he travels.
What documentation comes with Roys?
Every grey we sell ships with a full documentation set, and Roys 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 Roys 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 Roys 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 Roys has. Our CITES documentation page explains what each form covers.
Weaning status + feeding guidance
Roys 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.
Roys is also covered by our African Grey health guarantee, which travels home with him alongside the documents.
How do I verify Roys's paperwork 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 Roys's first wellness visit.
Keep these documents 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 ↗. Roys's paperwork meets that standard.
What's included when you reserve Roys?
Price & reservation
- Roys (male, 4 months) $2,300
- 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 Roys and pauses his listing for you. The balance is due before he travels.
What's included
- ✔ 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 Roys compare to our other available greys?
We have four individually different birds available right now. Roys 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 | Roys Male Congo · 4 mo | Amie Female Congo · 3 mo | Bery Female Congo · 1 yr | Evie Female Timneh · 6 mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,300 | $2,500 | $1,700 | $1,500 |
| Variant | Congo | Congo | Congo | Timneh |
| Sex | Male | Female | Female | Female |
| Temperament | Energetic, bold | Social, curious | Gentle, settled | Calm, steady |
| Talking | Developing | 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 | Active / busy home | Family or couple | First-time owner | Calmer household |
Is Roys a healthy bird? Our health standard
Roys 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 does Roys receive?
- ✔ 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, Roys 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 — Roys 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 our health guarantee cover?
The health guarantee travels with Roys 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 no aviary vet visit for me first?
We encourage every new owner to schedule an independent avian vet visit within the first 72 hours of Roys 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 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
Roys'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 Roys's parents?
Roys's parents are James and Lois, a bonded Congo African Grey breeding pair from our own flock in Midland, Texas. We have run this family aviary since 2014 under a USDA Animal Welfare Act license, and Roys was hand-fed by us from the start rather than parent-pulled late. Because James and Lois live with us, we can tell you what Roys's mother and father are actually like — from daily observation over years, not a paper trail handed over by a third party.
Father · 9 years
James
Calm and outgoing — a confident, steady male who loves people and steps up readily. James passes Roys his social ease and that signature Congo composure.
Mother · 7 years
Lois
Tame and playful — a sweet, people-loving hen who steps up happily and stays busy. Lois is where Roys gets his curiosity and that bright, problem-solving drive.
What does "from our own flock" mean, practically?
It means we manage the pairing, we know the breeding history, and we can describe James and Lois because we work with them every day. Knowing both parents tells you something a reseller never can: the temperament Roys is likely to grow into. A grey raised by a calm, social pair in a hands-on home tends to carry that same even temperament forward — and that is exactly what we see developing in Roys.
Can I learn more about the pairing before I commit?
Yes. We are happy to share more about James and Lois, Roys's clutch, and anything else you want to verify before you put a deposit down. To see the rest of the nursery and Roys's available siblings, our available greys hub gathers every bird in one place.
What should you decide before buying an 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: the honest checklist
40–60 year lifespan
A healthy Congo African Grey can outlive a mortgage. Roys 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
Roys 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
Congos 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 work through the list honestly
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 Roys go to the home that genuinely fits him than to the first one to ask.
Foraging and exploring are daily requirements, not occasional treats
What's it like to own an African Grey long-term?
A Congo grey at his best — bonded, engaged, confident
The before picture most listings skip
Here at C.A.Gs we won't pretend a four-month-old Congo arrives doing party tricks. What Roys does right now is lean into a shoulder, work a foot-toy for a solid stretch, and watch the whole room before he warms to anyone. The talking comes later. Who he is at four months is not who he'll be at five years, and different again at fifteen — a Congo's personality deepens with handling, it doesn't flatten. Give him that first year and you'll know a far more opinionated bird than the quiet watcher you bring home.
What the good years actually look like
A well-integrated Congo 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 Roys 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 train an African Grey like Roys?
Training an African Grey is less about commands and more about building trust. Roys is 4 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 Roys — the step-up method
- 1
Sit with him — 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 moment, not the outcome
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 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
Involve the whole household
We socialize Roys 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 never to do with a young grey
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 Roys says no — retreating, raising his hackles, narrowing his eyes — that is information, not defiance. Read it and give him space.
From our aviary: the first week sets the tone
The calmest long-term greys we've raised belong to owners who did almost nothing the first few days. Quiet room, predictable routine, food and water in reach, patience. Let Roys come to you on his own clock. The bond you build slowly is the one that holds for decades.
What do C.A.Gs recommend feeding African Greys?
Short answer: A formulated pellet base (40–50% of diet), supplemented with fresh vegetables, leafy greens, and limited fruit. We send Roys home eating the exact diet he is on now to avoid digestive stress during the transition.
The four pellet brands we stand behind
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 does Roys eat?
- ✔ 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.
Roys at mealtime — watch how a confident, hand-raised grey interacts with his food
Real Photos — No Stock Images
Roys's photo & video gallery
Every image below is Roys himself — taken in our Midland, TX aviary. What you see is what ships to you.
Click to play — Roys at mealtime. No autoplay, no sound until you press play.
How do you buy Roys? 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 Roys. 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 Roys for you and pauses his listing. No one else can claim him after your deposit is confirmed. The deposit is applied to the $2,300 total — it is not a separate fee.
- 3
Balance due before travel
The remaining balance is due before Roys 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) — Roys 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
Roys arrives 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 the deposit refundable?
Yes — the $200 deposit is refundable any time before Roys ships. If circumstances change on your end, reach out and we work it out directly.
Where do C.A.Gs deliver 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. Roys arrives at your address, calm and ready to settle in.
We ship Roys 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 Roys 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 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.
Roys ships in an IATA LAR-approved carrier · $185 airport · $350 home
Straight answers
Roys — frequently asked questions
Six questions that come up every time we talk to a buyer interested in Roys — answered plainly.
Is Roys DNA-sexed and documented?
Yes. Roys 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 Roys and what is his temperament?
Roys is 4 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 Roys and how do I reserve him?
Roys is $2,300. 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 Roys be shipped to me?
Yes — Roys 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 Congo greys talk well?
Congo African Greys of either sex are among the most capable talking parrots, and sex is not a reliable predictor of how much an individual will say. Roys is at the developing stage at 4 months. What shapes his eventual vocabulary most is daily interaction in the home, not whether he is male.
Why is Roys $2,300 when I've seen greys for $850?
An $850 'Congo' 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. Roys is $2,300 because that figure covers hand-rearing, his full documentation set, and a USDA AWA licensed aviary standing behind him. A documented hand-raised Congo honestly cannot be produced for $850.
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
African Grey care guides for Roys's new family
Still doing your homework on Roys? 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 Roys 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 from C.A.Gs instead of a marketplace?
Here is the honest side-by-side. Marketplace listings for African Greys can run to $8,500 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 charge $8,500?
We price our birds to reflect the real cost of raising them properly, not what the market can bear. $2,300 for Roys 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 Roys home?
Fill in the form below and we will reply within 24 hours with fresh dated photos of Roys 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
Roys 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 Roys with Amie, Bery, Evie, Elad, and the Jins & Jeni pair.