Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need plenty of stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. They may become destructive or shout if they don't get enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics among all parrot species and can recognize human speech. They face threats from 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 to eat fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. It is also essential to check the quality and quantity of their diets 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 procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally your diet should include a mix of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10% seeds and 30% fresh food. Silverbeet, spinach, and kale are some of the best options. Sprouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra can also be beneficial. However, you should avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are high in oxalic acid. This can block the absorption of calcium in the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients, but they should be consumed in moderation because of their high fat content. They are rich in proteins, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should be made up of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is toxic to Psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, alcohol and coffee and raw potatoes. In the same way, if a parrot eats too many berries they could suffer from yeast-related issues in their digestive tract.
A balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight and introduce new foods in small amounts. Doing a daily weigh-in will allow you to quickly detect any changes and correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infection. It is also important to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area because it will spoil and could lead to health problems for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it may take them a few days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to signals and perform simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather picking or destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.
african grey parrot baby for sale is important to stop bonding in the bud in the event that a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it could become territorial and aggressive to others. This could be extremely dangerous for elderly people, children or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening, all members of the household should spend some time each day with the parrot in various ways. This will allow the bird to become more comfortable when touched by everyone in a family and reduce the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.
If a parrot is in a relationship to a single person, it may bite and peck at other family members or guests who attempt to pet or handle it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns in petting the bird or putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for some time and not handled until it has calmed down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply and can bleed if brushed against. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed to the elements, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a new one.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be taught to teach the bird how to label items, such as food or toys. This will make it easier to train the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.
Health
The African grey parrot is considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. However, it is prone to get bored and resort to destructive behavior if it is not provided with enough toys or opportunities to exercise their minds. It also requires a large deal of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots aren't cheap pets to own as the initial costs are costly and they require a constant supply of toys that can be destroyed quickly, plus food. They are also susceptible to infections and are expensive to treat.
These highly social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. They also require hours of exercise and free time every day to build up strength and stay healthy. The cage should be big enough for them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be clean, safe and made from nontoxic materials. It should include several perches with different heights and textures to allow birds to move between them. A roost is likewise required and is typically made of concrete or a wooden perch at the corner of the cage.
The parrots should have clean water available and this should be changed daily. They should be fed various dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and should be restricted to a maximum of 10% of the diet. It is also recommended to provide various nuts and seeds. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise about 75% of the diet.
The majority of parrot disease issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as poor growth and development, low quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more severe changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.
Care
African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored it will become depressed and exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation and feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to regularly undergo veterinary exams as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous pairs and incubate eggs for 21-30 days. They care for their children until they reach about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent birds. 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 many different environments. However they prefer a natural setting with plenty of trees and perches. They can also utilize their feet that are facing backwards and two facing front on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that can be easily positioned over the lower to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts and their powerful grip can cut through bark and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits nuts and seeds as part of a balanced diet. However, seeds should make less than 5percent of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that prevent pickinginess. Additionally it is recommended to provide an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked lentils and beans. Fresh water should always be accessible, and cages should be cleaned every day. If the diet isn't sufficient, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D may be required.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard Grey and Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, but their populations are declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. 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!