ASSINIBOIA — Brandy Ermel isn’t just winging it anymore. The pet owner who cares for an African grey bird (parrot family) became an exotic bird owner in January 2025. The pet’s name is Coco and she is 12 years old, turning 13 in April. Ermel also cares for her mom’s bird, Alex, while they are south for the winter.
Grey parrots are notorious for mimicking noises heard in their environment and using them tirelessly. They are highly intelligent birds.
Ermel tells the Assiniboia Times, “I got her from a couple who were doing a favour for someone else and took her in. They owned a pet store and wanted to improve her health and well-being before they found her a suitable home.”
Ermel said the bird had been locked in a small cage for many years with only a rope to play with.
“Being locked up so long she developed anxiety and pulls out her feathers and bites her nails. She has come a long way in the eight months the couple had her before she came to me. She has settled in great and growing lots of pin feathers back.”
Feather plucking is a common symptom seen among distressed African grey parrots, affecting a number of captive birds of this species.
Ermel knows Coco’s habits and knows her favourite snacks and treats are almonds, pistachios, walnuts and non-shelled peanuts.
The birds Ermel cares for can also talk.
Ermel said Coco has an extensive list of phrases she can say such as: Coco wants a cookie (meaning a treat), Coco want water, Coco boco (her nickname), Coco night night (when she’s ready for bed), and even makes kissing sounds.
Ermel said the bird also likes to dance, loves to whistle and bawk like a chicken, providing non-stop entertainment and pet-owner interaction.
“Coco prefers men. She will let you pet her but when she wants my husband to hold her, she says, ‘Step up.’”
Another bird in Ermel’s care is Alex, which became part of the Mihalicz family also in January 2025. Alex is a remarkable 31 years old.
Alex also communicates with his people, said Ermel. “He will repeat, ‘Are you ready for bed,’ and if you ignore him, he will repeat it until you shut his light off in his cage and cover him up. Once this is done, he says, ‘Good night, Alex, see you in the morning.’”
Alex also has a lengthy list of vocabulary he can say such as “Here kitty kitty,” “Good boy Alex” and “What you doing big boy.”
Every morning Alex gets a half piece of 12-grain toast. He loves to walk around Ermel’s house and explore, and he enjoys shredding boxes. He also cannot fly, as he was abused by a previous owner, resulting in one wing being broken and never fixed.
Ermel says African grey birds can live anywhere from 40 to 60 years in captivity and up to 80 years with proper care.
“Birds have to trust you to be affectionate. It took my mom and myself three months before Alex let us pet him. These kinds of pets are a huge commitment as they can demand lots of your time and you need to be very patient with them.”
Ermel acknowledges these kinds of birds don’t just love you right away. They need time and lots of patience. Owning an African grey is not for everyone.
Cages are cleaned every day, along with fresh water and food provided daily, and the birds are misted for a bath three times a week.
Sometimes Alex and Coco speak sporadically, sometimes in response to someone speaking to them.
Owning an African grey bird offers the benefit of a highly intelligent, interactive companion known for exceptional talking abilities, often learning hundreds of words and mimicking sounds. These long-lived and often humorous birds can form deep, affectionate bonds, acting as engaging, long-term companions with lifespans often exceeding 50 years.
