Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can become bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to avoid problems with their behavior. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics of all species of parrots. They can recognize human speech. The trade in pets and destruction of habitats are the primary threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are different from the other psittacine species. They are omnivores, but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely than not to eat seeds and fruit. It is also important to monitor the quality and quantity of their diets since they are at risk of obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include pellets as well as fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10% seeds and 30% fresh food. Some of the best options are spinach, kale silverbeets, pak choi sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. The spouting grasses and native plants such as dandelion-like greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are rich in oxalic acid, which can block the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a nutrient-dense addition to a diet, but they should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They provide protein, healthy fats and some vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should be made up of a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Avocado is toxic to the psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include alcohol, chocolate, raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot eats excessive amounts of berries, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and happy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small amounts. It is a good idea to weigh the bird daily so that any changes can be spotted and swiftly rectified. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infection. Food that is not eaten in the cage or in the play area may be spoiled and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it may take them a few days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's mind engaged and keep them from becoming bored. The effects of boredom can be detrimental to behavior, such as feather picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It's important to nip over bonding in the bud in the event that a parrot becomes a devoted person in a family it may become territorial and aggressive to other people. This can be very risky for children, elderly people or those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in the family should spend time each day playing with the parrot and engaging with it in a variety of ways. This will make the bird more at ease being touched by members of the family and decrease the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behaviour.
When a parrot is bonded with a single person, it may bite and peck at family members or guests who try to handle or pet it. To avoid this the entire family should take turns rubbing the bird before placing it in its cage. If a parrot displays aggressive behavior, it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a while.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply and may be bleed if touched. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed, it must be removed immediately and replaced by another one.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. charmingafricangreyparrotforsale should also be instructed to teach the bird to label items, such as toys or food items. This will help teach the bird to speak and will also allow it to communicate with family members without being physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored easily and will use destructive behaviors in the absence of toys or other opportunities to stimulate its mind. It also requires a large deal of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, feather picking and excessive screaming. Parrots can be costly pets to have. The initial costs are high and they need constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They are also prone to infections and can be costly to treat.
These highly social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime with games, puzzles and lessons. They also require hours of exercise and out-of-cage time every day to build strength and remain healthy. The cage should be big enough for them to move freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should be equipped with several perches with different sizes and textures so that the birds can switch between them. A roost is also needed, which is usually an iron or wood perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water available and this should be refilled daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and other vegetables and treats should be limited to 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to offer different nuts and seeds. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise around 75% of a diet.
The majority of parrot-related diseases are the result of a long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, low quality plumage or breeding performance while more marked changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian, and correct diet management.
You can also read about how to take care of yourself.
African greys require mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be happy. If a bird is bored, it could exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health, it is important to regularly undergo veterinary exams as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous pairs and lay eggs for 21 to 30 days. They tend to their babies until they reach approximately 10 weeks old. They can fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They live long and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world.
They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However, they prefer a natural habitat with lots of trees and perches. They can even use their feet with two faces facing back and two facing front on each foot - to help balance and perch, much as humans use their hands. Their short beaks have an upper mandible with a curvature that is a perfect fit over the lower mandible to help them crack open nuts and seeds, and their strong grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits, seeds and dark leafy greens as a part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent excessive pickiness. They should also be provided with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water should be available and cage cleaning is essential every day. Supplements like calcium and vitamin D may be necessary if the diet isn't nutritionally complete.
The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are declining due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest protection under CITES. Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!