Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, just like toddlers, are prone to becoming bored easily and need mental stimulation to avoid behavior problems. They can be destructive or scream if they don't get enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics among all species of parrots and comprehend human speech. They are threatened by the pet trade and habitat loss.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they prefer seeds over vegetables and fruits.
In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume seeds and fruit. It is also crucial to observe the quality and quantity of their diets as they are at risk of overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should make up 75% of a parrot's diet and it is recommended that they be procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. The best choices are spinach, kale silverbeet, pakchoi, sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. Sprouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage, because they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which may hinder calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however they should be consumed in moderation because of their high fat content. They are high in protein, healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of the diet should consist of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is toxic to psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include alcohol, chocolate, raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot is consuming too many fruits, 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 important to watch the bird's weight, and to introduce new foods in small amounts. It is recommended to weigh the bird on a daily basis to ensure that any changes can be easily observed and be rectified. Giving the bird water regularly is also a good idea. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infection. It is also essential to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area because it can spoil and lead to health problems for your pet.
Training
Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it could take them days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain stimulated and stop them from getting bored. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather picking or destructive chewing. These problems require the intervention of a professional.
It's important to avoid bonding too strongly as a pet that becomes too attached to one can become territorial and agressive toward others. This could be extremely dangerous for elderly people, children or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that all members of the household should spend some time every day playing and interacting with the parrot in different ways. This will allow the bird become more comfortable with being touched by everyone in a family and reduce the possibility that it could develop a protective behavior.
A bird that is tied to one person is likely to start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening family members should take turns rubbing the bird or putting it in its cage. If a bird is showing aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it is calmed down.
During petting sessions Be aware of areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply and may bleed if brushed against. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be promptly clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be taught to teach the bird to label items, such as food or toys. This will allow you to train the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can get bored and resort to destructive behavior if not given enough toys or other ways to exercise its brain. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots can be costly pets to have. The initial costs are high, and they require constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections, which could be expensive to treat.
These social birds require lots of interaction with human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime that includes games, puzzles and lessons. They also require a lot of exercise and time out of cage every day to build strength and remain healthy. The cage should be big enough to allow them to move around freely and spread their wings. It must be safe, clean and made from nontoxic materials. It should include a variety of kinds of perches that have different sizes and textures in order to switch between them. They also need the roost, which is usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch at the corner of the cage.
The parrots should have clean water and this should be changed daily. They should be offered a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to a maximum of 10% of the diet. buy a grey parrot should be provided with an array of nuts and seeds as well. About 75% of their diet should be made up of high-quality crumbles or pellets.
The majority of parrot-related issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, poor plumage quality, or poor breeding performance. More significant changes may manifest themselves as specific disease entities. A lot of these can be prevented by regular checks by an avian vet and proper diet management.
You can also read about how to take care of yourself.
African greys require mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored, it may exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather picking. It is important to have regular veterinary exams as well as fecal screening and vaccinations done to ensure that your pet is healthy.
African greys form monogamous couples and lay eggs for 21 to 30 days. They tend to their young until they are about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent species of avian. They can live a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a beloved pet in the world.
They are extremely adaptable and can adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches. They can also utilize their feet - two facing back and two facing front on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their short beaks feature an upper mandible with a curvature that can be easily positioned over the lower to assist in breaking open nuts and seeds, and their strong grip could rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African greys will eat fruits, nuts seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. However, seeds should make less than 5percent of the total diet and should be supplemented with high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that reduce pickiness. They should also be served with an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet is not adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their populations are declining 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. Learn more about these fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!