Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can become bored easily and require mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They may become destructive or shout if they don't get enough stimulation.
They are extremely intelligent and can mimic human speech. The pet trade and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, but prefer seeds over fruit and other vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume seeds and fruit. It is also important to check the quality and quantity of their diets since they are susceptible to excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to comprise 75% or a parrot's daily diet.
Ideal diets should comprise pellets, seeds and freshly prepared food items. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. Some of the best options are spinach, kale silverbeets, pak choi broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Also native plants and sprouting grasses like dandelion leaves, sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation because of their high fat content. They are high in protein, healthy fats and minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should consist of a mixture of fruits and veggies. It's best to avoid avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird consumes too many berries, they could suffer from yeast problems in their gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. baby african grey parrot is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small amounts. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to quickly detect any changes and correct them. It's also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will prevent dehydration and bacteria-related infections. It is also essential to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area since it will spoil and could cause health issues for your pet.
Training
Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it might take them days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. The effects of boredom can be detrimental to behavior like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It is important to stop the bonding process early, because if a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it could become territorial and aggressive towards other people. This could be extremely dangerous for children, elderly people or those suffering from allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in the family should spend time every day playing with the parrot and interacting with it in a variety of ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being handled by members of the family and lessen the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.
If a parrot is in a relationship with a single person, it may bite and peck at family members or guests who try to pet or handle it. To prevent this from happening family members should take turns in petting the bird or putting it into its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression then it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a period of time.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply and may bleed when they are touched. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be immediately clipped and replaced with a new feather.
In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. They should also be taught to teach the bird to identify items, like toys or food items. This will make it easier to train the bird to speak and will also enable it to communicate with family members without being physically close to them.
Health
The African grey parrot is considered to be one of the smartest animals in the world. However, it can get bored and resort to destructive behaviors if they are not provided with enough toys or methods to exercise their minds. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation and feather picks as well as excessive screaming. Parrots are expensive pets to have. The initial costs are expensive, and they need constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They can also be susceptible to infections that can be expensive to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime that includes games and puzzles as well as lessons. They also need hours of exercise and out-of-cage time every day to build up strength and remain healthy. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be constructed from non-toxic, non-toxic substances and clean. It should include a variety of types of perches with varying heights and textures, so that they can change them. They also need an roost, typically a wooden post that is tall or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and this should be changed daily. They should be fed a variety dark leafy greens and other vegetables and should limit their treats to 10 percent of their diet. You should also provide different nuts and seeds. High-quality, formulated pellets or granules should make up about 75% of the food.
Most disease problems in parrots are the result of long-term diet imbalances. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, bad plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will be a sign of specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.
You can also learn how to take care of yourself.
Like any other bird, African greys require lots of focus and stimulation to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it will become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather-picking. To keep your pet healthy it is essential to have regular veterinary examinations, fecal testing and vaccinations.
African greys are monogamous. They form exclusive pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days. They care for the young until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They can live a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a popular pet worldwide.
They are highly adaptive and can adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches. They can even utilize their feet with two faces facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to aid in balance and perch, much as humans do with their hands. Their short beaks have a mandible that is curved and fits neatly over the lower to assist in breaking open nuts and seeds, and their strong grip could tear through bark and wood.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not constitute more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid pickiness. Also they should be served with various fresh vegetables, fruits as well as cooked lentils and beans. Fresh water should be available, and cage cleaning is essential on a regular basis. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected by 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 incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!