Congo Greys eventually become one person birds. There are exceptions and some become one person birds sooner than others. Some with constant work will tolerate other people usually reluctantly and others absolutely do not want to be handled by others and definitely not strangers. It does take constant work to get them to tolerate others just to hold them without biting them and some birds will never allow strangers near them. They prefer to just listen and observe strangers from a distance (distance is the key) and seldom talk in their presence although there are exceptions to even that.
Congo Greys can be difficult to raise and wean so that they can go to a new home and bond with someone else. There is a window in which they must go to the new home. If you miss that window it can be very difficult for the bird to easily adjust. It also takes a certain amount of understanding from the new owner.
Congos are NOT Cockatoos or Macaws. They are opinionated and highly intelligent. They want attention when they want it and when they don't want it they DO NOT want it! They are NOT a needy bird. They are independent. Great birds for the right situation and the right person. Screening new owners is really important for placing a baby Congo.
My Congo is MY Congo and doesn't like to be left out of the conversation when customers come to pick up babies. He will do his pity party act to get attention. He will say "Poor Cuddles" if customers do not acknowledge him when here. Some people he will puff at and others he is intrigued by. He judges everyone from a distance.
I find that a Congo or a Timneh is a great first parrot for the right person and the right situation. Someone who needs company such as a widow or widower, an empty nest Mom, a mature couple with no children in the house, a mature, secure single person, etc. Timnehs and Congos are similar but very different birds.
A Congo person is one who does not fall apart if rejected. Someone with confidence and secure with themselves and their situation. An insecure person will only make a Congo feel insecure and trigger plucking eventually. A nervous person won't work for a Congo.
I prefer the new owner is mature, owns their own home, has had children or experience with children, can be single but mature, not a teen in college, is a confident person, understands that a Grey will probably become a one person bird, understands that the first 2 years the Grey will be cuddly but can and will change and become very independent eventually and be willing to accept that. They must be committed to a long relationship both good and bad.
If you are newly wed and plan on having children please consider having children before committing to a baby bird. I prefer not to sell to young just married or young couples. Or young married couples who have no experience with raising children and may have a baby in the future. The baby comes, the baby gets all the attention and the bird gets blamed for every sneeze or for waking the baby or for being jealous and rightfully so, and eventually gets booted out of it's once happy home. It happens over and over and I make every attempt to keep my birds out of those situations. I want as permanent a home as I can find for my birds.
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