Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need 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 arguably the best mimics of all species of parrots and understand human speech. The pet trade and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are slightly different from other large psittacine species. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to consume fruits and seeds. It is also crucial to check the quality and quantity of their food intakes since they are susceptible to excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles should make up 75% of a parrot's diet, and it is recommended that they are sourced from quality brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally your diet should include pellets as well as fresh food. A good ratio would be 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are among the best options. Native plants and spouting grasses like dandelion greens, okra and okra can also be beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage as they are high in oxalic acid. This can hinder the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however they should be eaten in moderation due to their fat content. They provide protein as well as healthy fats, and a few vitamins and minerals.
The rest of the diet should consist of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is harmful to the psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot is consuming excessive amounts of berries, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and happy. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight and introduce new food in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to observe any changes and then correct them. It's also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water regularly. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. It is also important to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area because it can spoil and cause health issues for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it could take them a few days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to cues. 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 is crucial to stop bonding in the bud as if a bird becomes completely attached to one person in a family it can become territorial and aggressive towards others. This could be extremely dangerous for children, elderly people or people with allergies. To avoid this, everyone in a household must spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in a variety of ways. This will allow the bird feel more comfortable being loved by all members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop over protective behavior.
buying an african grey parrot that is bonded to a single person will usually begin pecking and biting at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet or touch it. To avoid this family members should take turns in petting the bird or placing it in its cage. If a parrot is displaying aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it calms down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers have a blood supply and may bleed when they are brushed against. If a blood feather or pinfeather is found to be exposed and bleeds, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a new one.
Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should be taught how to label toys or food. grey african parrot will allow you to teach the bird to speak and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can become bored quickly and resort to destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other ways to stimulate its mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots can be expensive pets to own. The initial costs are high and they require a constant supply of toys which are destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections, which can be expensive to treat.
These highly social birds require lots of interaction with human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime with games, puzzles and lessons. To stay healthy and strong they must be active for hours every day and escaping their cage. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be constructed from nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include a variety of kinds of perches, with different heights and textures, so that they can change between them. A roost is also needed and is typically made of concrete or a wooden perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.
The parrots should have clean water available and this should be changed daily. They should be provided with various dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and should be restricted to no more than about 10% of the diet. You should also offer various seeds and nuts. About 75% of their diet should be made up of high-quality crumbles or pellets.
The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor issues can result in poor growth, poor plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will manifest themselves as specific disease-related entities. Many of these can be prevented through regular check-ups by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.
You can also learn how to care for yourself.
Like all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be content. If a parrot is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather picking. It is important to have regular veterinary examinations as well as fecal screening and vaccinations done to ensure that your pet stays healthy.
African greys form monogamous couples and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They tend to their young until they are approximately 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They live long and can often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets across the world.
They are extremely adaptable and can easily adjust to many different environments however, they prefer a natural environment with lots of trees and perches to explore. They can even use their feet with two faces facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help perch and balance, just as humans do with their hands. Their short beaks have a mandible that is curved and can be easily positioned over the lower mandible to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can cut through bark 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 make up more than 5% and be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent excessive pickiness. They should also be served with a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits as well as cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available and cage cleaning is essential every day. If the diet is not adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working hard to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal trade. They are, however, protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also receive the highest level of protection under CITES. Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!