Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. buy a grey parrot could become destructive or scream if they don't get enough mental stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics among all parrot species and can recognize human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they prefer seeds over vegetables and fruits.
In captivity they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy vegetables than seeds. They are also prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for pet owners to check the quality of their diets. 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 foods. A good ratio would be 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Kale, spinach and silverbeet are among the top choices. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are good choices. However, avoid cruciferous veggies such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are high in oxalic acids, which can hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients, but they should be eaten in moderation due to their high fat content. They are high in proteins, healthy fats and minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should comprise the combination of fruits and veggies. It's best to avoid avocado since it can be toxic to the psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. Similarly, if a parrot consumes too many berries, they may suffer from yeast-related issues in their digestive tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is important to watch the bird's weight and offer new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will enable you to swiftly identify any changes and rectify them. Regularly offering the bird water is also a good idea. This will prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. It is also important to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area as it will spoil and could cause health issues for your parrot.
Training
Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it could take them days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot who has been trained well can also do simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep a bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.
It's crucial to prevent over-bonding, as a parrot that is too attached to a person can become territorial and aggressive toward others. This can be dangerous for children as well as the elderly or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in the household should spend time each day playing with the parrot and engaging with it in various ways. This will help the bird feel more comfortable being touched by everyone in a family and reduce the chance that it will develop a protective behavior.
When a parrot is bonded to a single person, it will peck and bite at family members or guests who try to touch or pet it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns petting the bird or placing it into its cage. If a bird is showing aggression, it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it is calmed down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers are a source of blood supply and may bleed when they are brushed against. If a bloody feather pinfeather is exposed and bleeds, it should be clipped immediately and replaced by another one.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should also be taught to label toys or food. This will allow you to train the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members without being physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored and resort to destructive behavior in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its brain. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation and feather picks as well as excessive screaming. Parrots can be expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high and they need constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections, which could be costly to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime involving games or puzzles, as well as lessons. To stay strong and healthy they should be active for hours every day and being outside of their cage. The cage should be big enough to allow them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be made of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include various perches with different heights and textures to allow birds to move between them. They also need the roost, which is usually a wooden post that is tall or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
Parrots should have access to clean water at all times, and it must be replenished regularly. They should be provided with various dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to not more than 10% of the diet. They should be provided with an array of nuts and seeds, as well. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up approximately 75% of a diet.
The majority of parrot disease issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as poor growth and development, low quality plumage or breeding performance, while more severe changes will manifest as distinct disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided by regular check-ups by an avian vet and appropriate diet management.
You can also read about how to take care of yourself.
African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored it will be depressed and exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather picking. It is crucial to conduct routine veterinary exams including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces done to ensure that your pet stays healthy.
African greys are monogamous and form dedicated pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days, and caring for the infants until they reach 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They live for a long time and are often able to outlive their owners, making them a sought-after pet across the globe.
They are highly adaptable and can easily adjust to a variety of environments However, they prefer a natural setting with plenty of trees and perches to explore. They are able to use their feet - two facing back and two facing front on each foot - to help to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that fits neatly over the lower to aid in cracking open nuts and seeds, and their powerful grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits nuts and seeds as part of a balanced diet. But, seeds should make less than five percent of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that prevent pickinginess. Additionally they should be served with various fresh vegetables, fruits as well as cooked lentils and beans. Fresh water must always be accessible, and cages should be cleaned regularly. If the diet isn't adequate, supplements like vitamin D or calcium may be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their populations are decreasing due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the highest level of protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Discover more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!