Caring For An Grey Parrot For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can become bored quickly and require mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. Without it, they may become destructive or start screaming.
They are extremely intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. The trade in pet animals and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. They are omnivores but prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy vegetables than seeds. It is also important to observe the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to make up 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. The best choices are spinach, kale, silverbeets, pak choi broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Native plants and spouting grasses 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 acid, which could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients, but they should be consumed in moderation because of their high fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals.
The rest of the diet should consist of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is harmful to psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, chocolate, coffee and raw potatoes. If a parrot is consuming excessive amounts of berries, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot healthy and happy. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight, and introduce new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to identify any changes and rectify them. Giving the bird water regularly is an excellent idea too. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infection. It is also important to remove any food that is not eaten from the cage or play area as it can spoil and cause health issues for your pet.
Training
Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it might take them days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that has been trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep a bird's brain engaged and keep them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It's important to nip over bonding in the bud, because if a parrot becomes a devoted member of a family, it may become territorial and threatening to other people. This could be harmful for children, the elderly or those 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 various ways. This will allow the bird feel more comfortable being touched by everyone in a family and reduce the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
A parrot that is bonded to a single person will usually start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening the entire family should take turns petting the bird and putting it in its cage. If a parrot displays aggression and is threatening to harm another bird, it should be placed back in its cage and not handled for a few minutes.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers have a blood supply, and can cause bleeding when brushed against. If a bloody feather or pinfeather becomes exposed to the elements, it should be clipped immediately and replaced by an entirely new one.
In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught how to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. They should also be taught to teach the bird to label items, such as food or toys. This will allow the bird to develop the ability to speak, and will allow it to communicate with family members without needing to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots around the world, it is bored quickly and engage in destructive behavior in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its mind. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation in order to avoid self mutilation, feather-picking and loud screams. Parrots can be costly pets to have. The initial costs are expensive, and they need constant new toys that are quickly destroyed. They also are susceptible to infections and are expensive to treat.
These birds are extremely social and require a lot of interaction humans, such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. To stay healthy and strong they should spend hours each day exercising and out of their cage. The cage should be big enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should be equipped with various perches with different heights and styles so that the birds can change between them. A roost is likewise required and is typically an iron or wood perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and it should be changed every day. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and vegetables and treats should be limited to 10% of their diet. They should be offered various nuts and seeds as well. Around 75% of their food should consist of high-quality pellets or granules.
The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, bad quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more marked changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these are preventable through regular check-ups by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.
You can also learn how to take care of yourself.
Like any other bird, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be happy. If a bird is bored, it may display negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or even feather picking. It is essential to conduct regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces done to ensure that your pet is healthy.
African greys are monogamous and form exclusive pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days, and caring for the young until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They can fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They live long and can often outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world.
They are highly adaptable and will adjust well to different environments However, they prefer a natural habitat with plenty of perches and trees to explore. They are able to use their feet - two facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just like humans use their hands. Their beaks are short and have a mandible that is curved and is a perfect fit over the lower one to aid in cracking open seeds and nuts, and their powerful grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. However, seeds should make up no more than 5% of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that avoid the emergence of pickiness. They should also be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables as well as cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water should be available and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet is not adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D may be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as 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 incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!