Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require plenty of stimulation to avoid problems with their behavior. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or even start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics of all species of parrots and recognize human speech. The trade in pet animals and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over vegetables and fruits.
In captivity they are more likely to eat fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. They are also prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include a mix of pellets and fresh foods. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Some of the best options are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pakchoi, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Also native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage as they are rich in oxalic acid, which can block the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients to your diet, but should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, as well as minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should be the combination of fruits and veggies. It is recommended to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot is consuming excessive amounts of fruits, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced diet is an excellent way to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small quantities. It is recommended to weigh the bird every day to ensure that any changes can be easily observed and be rectified. It is also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will help to avoid dehydration and bacteria-related infections. It is also important to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area because it will spoil and can cause health issues for your parrot.
Training
Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it might take them days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviours like feather-picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It's important to avoid bonding too strongly, as a parrot who becomes too attached to a person may become territorial and aggressive towards others. This can be dangerous for children, the elderly or those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, all in the household should spend time every day playing with the parrot and interacting with it in various ways. This will make the bird more at ease being touched by members of the family and lessen the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
A parrot that is bonded to one person is likely to start biting and pecking visitors or family members when they try to pet or touch it. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that each family member take turns rubbing the bird before putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it calms down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers are a source of blood supply, and can bleeding when they are touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather becomes exposed and bleeds, it should be removed immediately and replaced by a new one.
In addition to petting, family members should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. They should also be taught to teach the bird to label items, such as food or toys. This will help the bird to learn to speak and will also allow it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present.
Health
The African grey parrot is one of the smartest animals in the world. However, it could get bored and turn to destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their mind. It also requires a large deal of mental stimulation to prevent self-mutilation excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots are expensive pets to own. The initial costs are high, and they require constant new toys which are destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections and can be costly to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime that includes games or puzzles, as well as lessons. To stay healthy and strong, they need to be active for hours every day and out of their cage. Their cage should be big enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It must be safe, clean and made from nontoxic materials. It should have many different kinds of perches that have different heights and textures and be able to change between them. They also need an roost, typically a wooden post that is tall or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water available and this should be changed daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and other vegetables and should limit their treats to 10% of their diet. They should be offered various seeds and nuts as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up around 75% of a diet.
Most disease problems in parrots are caused by long-term dietary imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, poor plumage quality, or poor breeding performance. More severe changes could appear as distinct disease entities. A lot of these can be avoided by regular check-ups from an avian vet, and proper diet management.
You can also learn how to care for yourself.
Charming African Grey Parrot For Sale greys require mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it can become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather-picking. It is crucial to conduct routine veterinary exams as well as fecal screening and vaccinations done to ensure that your pet stays healthy.
African greys are monogamous and form a dedicated pair bond which incubate eggs for up to 30 days and caring for the infants until they are about 10 weeks of age. They are able to fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent avian species. They live for a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a beloved pet in the world.
They are extremely adaptive and are able to adapt to different environments. However, they prefer a natural environment with lots of trees and perches. They are able to utilize their feet with two faces facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans use their hands. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible which fits over the lower. This allows them to crack open nuts, seeds and wood.
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% and be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent excessive pickiness. They should also be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should always be available, and cages should be cleaned regularly. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey and Timneh parrots and their habitats, but their population is declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Luckily, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the most protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Learn more about these amazing birds in our parrot Encyclopedia!