Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can get bored easily and require mental stimulation to prevent behavioral issues. If they aren't stimulated, they could be destructive or start screaming.
They are highly intelligent and can imitate human speech. They are threatened by the trade in pet animals and habitat loss.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, but they prefer seeds over fruit and other vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy vegetables than seeds. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity therefore it is crucial for owners to keep an eye on the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideal diets should consist of a mixture of pellets and freshly prepared food items. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. The best choices are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pakchoi, sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. Also, native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage, as they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which hinder calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however, they should be consumed in moderation due to their fat content. They are high in protein, healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should be a mixture of vegetables and fruits. It's best to avoid avocado as it is toxic to psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and coffee and raw potatoes. Similarly, if a parrot consumes too many berries, they can suffer from yeast problems in their gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and introduce new foods in small quantities. It is a good idea to weigh the bird on a daily basis to ensure that any changes can be easily observed and corrected. Giving the bird water regularly is an excellent idea too. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infections. Food that is not consumed in the cage or play area may ruin the food and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and can easily learn to speak, though it may take days or even weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It is crucial to stop the signs of bonding early, because if a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of the family, it could become territorial and aggressive to other members of the family. This can be very risky for children, elderly people or those suffering from allergies. To prevent this from happening, all members of the household should spend time every day playing with and engaging with the bird in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being loved by the family and decrease the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.
A bird that is tied to one person will typically start biting and pecking visitors or family members when they try to pet or touch it. To avoid this it is recommended that each family member be able to alternate petting the bird before placing it in its cage. If a bird is showing aggression, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it is calmed down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers are a source of blood supply, and can be bleed if touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather is found to be exposed and bleeds, it should be clipped immediately and replaced by an entirely new one.
In alex the african grey parrot to a petting session, family members should be taught how to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. They should also be instructed to teach the bird to label items, such as food or toys. This will help teach the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored and engage in destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other ways to stimulate its mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks and excessive screaming. Parrots are not inexpensive pets to have The initial costs are high and they need constant new toys that can be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections that can be costly to treat.
These birds are extremely social and require lots of interaction with humans, such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. To stay strong and healthy they must spend hours each day exercising and escaping their cage. The cage should be large enough for them to move freely and spread their wings. It must be safe, clean and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should include a variety of perches, with different sizes and textures so that the birds can move between them. They also require an roost, typically an elevated wooden post or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have clean water and this should be changed daily. They should be provided with a variety of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to a maximum of 10% of their diet. Also, you should offer various seeds and nuts. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise approximately 75% of a diet.
The majority of parrot disease problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, bad plumage quality, or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will manifest themselves as specific disease-related entities. Many of these issues can be prevented by regular checks by an avian vet and the proper management of diet.
You can also read about how to take care of yourself.
African greys require mental stimulation and lots of attention to be happy. If a parrot is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation, or even feather picking. It is important to have regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces performed to ensure that your pet stays healthy.
African greys form monogamous pairs and incubate eggs for 21-30 days. They tend to their children until they reach about 10 weeks old. They can fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They have long lives and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world.
They are highly adaptive and are able to adapt to different environments. However, they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches. They can also utilize their feet with two faces facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help perch and balance, just as humans use their hands. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible that can be placed over the lower. This helps them crack open nuts, seeds and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leaves, greens, seeds and nuts as a part of an optimum diet. But, seeds should make less than 5% of the total diet and should be supplemented with high-quality formulated pellets and crumbles that prevent pickiness. Also it is recommended to provide an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked beans and lentils. Fresh water should always be available and cage maintenance is required daily. Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D may be necessary if the diet isn't nutritionally complete.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing 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 highest level of protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Learn more about these amazing birds in our parrot dictionary!