Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require plenty of stimulation to prevent behavior problems. Without it, they may become destructive or start screaming.
They are highly intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. The pet trade and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they prefer seeds to fruit and vegetables.
In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to consume seeds and fruit. They are also prone to obesity and calcium deficiencies therefore it is crucial for pet owners to check the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles should constitute 75% of a parrot's diet and it is recommended that they be purchased from reputable brands such as Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideal diets should comprise a mixture of pellets and freshly prepared food items. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. Kale, spinach and silverbeet are among the top options. Native plants and spouting grasses such as dandelion-like greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. However, avoid cruciferous veggies such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are rich in oxalic acids, which can block the absorption of calcium into the body.
see page are rich in nutrients, but they should be consumed 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 be made up of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is harmful to the psittacines. Other common toxic food includes chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they can suffer from yeast problems in their digestive tract.
A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight and introduce new food in small amounts. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to identify any changes and rectify them. It's also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water regularly. This will prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. Food that is not consumed in the cage or in the play area can spoil and cause health problems for your bird.
Training
Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it may take them days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain active 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 the intervention of a professional.
It is important to stop the bonding process early in the event that a parrot becomes a devoted member of the family, it may become territorial and aggressive to others. This can be very dangerous for elderly people, children or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening, all in a household should spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in a variety of ways. This will help the bird become more comfortable when loved by all members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
A bird that is tied to one person is likely to begin pecking and biting at other family members or visitors when they try to pet or touch it. To avoid this, family members should each take turns in petting the bird or putting it into its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression, 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 are a source of blood supply, and can cause bleeding if brushed against. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed and bleeds, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a new one.
In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should be taught to label toys or food. This will make it easier to teach the bird to speak and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.
Health
The African grey parrot is one of most intelligent in the world. However, it can become bored and engage in destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or methods to exercise their mind. It also requires a amount of mental stimulation in order to prevent self-mutilation excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots aren't cheap pets to have - the initial costs are high and they require constant new toys that will be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections, and are expensive to treat.
These birds are extremely social and require a lot of interaction humans, including hours spent playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. To remain strong and healthy they should be active for hours every day and out of their cage. The cage should be big enough to allow them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should have many different kinds of perches that have different heights and textures, so that they can switch between them. They also require an roost, typically a wooden post that is tall or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and this should be refilled daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to a maximum of 10% of their diet. They should be served various nuts and seeds, as well. About 75% of their diet should be made up of high-quality pellets or granules.
The majority of parrot health issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, poor plumage quality or breeding performance. More severe changes could be a sign of specific disease-related entities. A lot of these can be avoided by regular check-ups from an avian vet, and appropriate diet management.
Care
Like all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation to be happy. If a bird is bored, it will be depressed and exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather-picking. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to have regular veterinary examinations including fecal testing, vaccinations and feces.
African greys form monogamous couples and incubate eggs for 21-30 days. They take care of their young until they are approximately 10 weeks old. They can fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They can live a long time and often outlive their owners, which makes them a sought-after pet across the globe.
They are extremely adaptable and can be adapted to different environments, but they prefer a natural setting with lots of perches and trees to explore. They are able to use their feet with two faces facing back and two facing front on each foot - to aid in perch and balance, just as humans do with their hands. Their short beaks feature a mandible that is curved and is a perfect fit over the lower one to aid in cracking open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leaves, greens, seeds and nuts as part of healthy diet. Seeds should not make up more than 5% of the total and be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid excessive pickiness. They should also be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water must always be accessible, and cages should be cleaned every day. Supplements such as vitamin D and calcium could be necessary if the diet is not nutritionally complete.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are declining due to illegal trade. 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 fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!