Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need plenty of stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They can be destructive or cry if they don't receive enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics of all species of parrots. They can understand human speech. The trade in pet animals and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The dietary needs of African greys are a little different from the other large psittacine species. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also important to monitor the quality and quantity of their diets since they are susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should constitute 75% of a bird's diet, and it is recommended that they are procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally, the diet should contain a mix of pellets and fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. Some of 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. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage as they are rich in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium in the body.
Nuts are rich in nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation because of their high fat content. They are a source of protein, healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should consist of the combination of vegetables and fruits. It is recommended to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. Similar to parrots, if a bird consumes too many berries, they could suffer from yeast-related issues in their digestive tract.
A balanced diet is a great way to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight, and to introduce new foods in small quantities. It is recommended to weigh the bird every day to ensure that any changes can be spotted and swiftly corrected. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. It is also important to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area because it will spoil and could cause health issues for your pet.
Training
Parrots are extremely intelligent and are able to speak, although they may take days or even weeks to repeat words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's brain engaged and keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviours like feather-picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It is important to stop the signs of bonding early as if a bird becomes completely attached to one person in a family it can become territorial and aggressive to others. This can be dangerous for children as well as the elderly or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening, all in the household should spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in different ways. This will help the bird become more comfortable with being touched by everyone in the family and decrease the possibility that it could develop a protective behavior.
A bird that is tied to a single person will usually begin pecking and biting at other family members or visitors when they try to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns rubbing the bird or putting it into its cage. If a bird exhibits aggressive behavior then it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a while.
During pet-loving sessions, be aware of areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers contain a blood supply, and could bleed when they are touched. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a fresh feather.
In addition to petting, family members should be taught how to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to label toys or food. This will help the bird to learn to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present.
caring for an grey parrot
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can get bored easily and will resort to destructive behavior if not given enough toys or other ways to exercise its mind. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screams. Parrots are expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high, and they need constant new toys which are destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections and are costly to treat.
These social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime with games and puzzles as well as lessons. They also need hours of exercise and time out of cage every day to build up strength and stay healthy. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be made of nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should have many different types of perches with varying dimensions and heights in order to change them. They also require a roost, usually a wooden post that is tall or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water available and it should be changed every day. They should be offered a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables and treats should be limited to a maximum of 10% of their diet. Also, you should provide a variety of nuts and seeds. Around 75% of their diet should be made up of high-quality crumbles or pellets.
The majority of parrot disease issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, bad plumage quality or breeding performance. More significant changes may appear as distinct diseases. A lot of these can be prevented by regular checks by an avian vet and appropriate diet management.
You can also learn how to care for yourself.
Like all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be happy. If a bird is bored, it could display negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation or even feather picking. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to get routine veterinary examinations, fecal testing and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous pairs and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They take care of their children until they reach about 10 weeks old. They fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They have long lifespans and can often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets worldwide.
They are highly adaptive and can adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural environment with lots of trees and perches. They can use their feet to balance and perch, with two faces back on each foot and two facing forward on each foot, exactly like humans do. Their short beaks feature a curved upper mandible that is a perfect fit over the lower mandible to help them crack open seeds and nuts, and their powerful grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds and nuts as a part of an optimum diet. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented by high-quality pellets or crumbles to prevent the possibility of picking. Also it is recommended to provide various fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked lentils and beans. Fresh water must always be available, and cages should be cleaned daily. Supplements such as vitamin D and calcium could be necessary if your 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). Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!