Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can get bored quickly and require mental stimulation to avoid behavior problems. Without it, they may be destructive or start screaming.
They are extremely intelligent and can mimic human speech. They face threats from the pet trade and habitat loss.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they prefer seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume seeds and fruit. They are also prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include pellets as well as fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh food. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are some of the best options. Also, native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. However, you should avoid cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage as they are high in oxalic acid. This can hinder the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however they should be eaten 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 made up of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to the psittacines. Other common toxic food includes alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot is consuming too many berries, they may develop yeast-related problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will enable you to swiftly detect any changes and correct them. It's also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water regularly. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. It is also essential to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area since it can spoil and cause health issues for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and can easily learn to speak, though it may take days or even weeks to repeat back words they hear. A parrot that is trained well can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and stop them from getting bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.
It's crucial to prevent over-bonding as a pet that becomes too attached to a person can become territorial and aggressive towards others. This could be extremely dangerous for people with disabilities, children or those suffering from allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in the family should spend time each day playing with the parrot and interacting with it in various ways. This will make the bird more comfortable with being loved by the family and lessen the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
A bird that is tied to a single person will usually start biting and pecking visitors or family members when they try to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening family members should take turns rubbing the bird or putting it into its cage. If a bird is showing aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for some 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 could bleeding when they are touched. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be immediately clipped and replaced with a new feather.
In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to identify food items and toys. This will make it easier to train 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 among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it is bored easily and will resort to destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other ways to exercise its brain. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks and excessive screams. baby african grey parrot are not inexpensive pets to acquire as the initial costs are expensive and they need constant new toys that are destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections and are costly to treat.
These highly social birds require plenty of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games and puzzles as well as lessons. They also require a lot of exercise and time out of cage every day to build up strength and remain healthy. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It must be safe, clean and made from nontoxic materials. It should include a variety of kinds of perches that have different heights and textures and be able to switch between them. They also require an roost, typically a wooden post that is tall or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have clean water and this should be changed daily. They should be fed a variety dark leafy greens and vegetables and should limit their treats to 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to offer a variety of nuts and seeds. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute approximately 75% of the diet.
Most disease problems in parrots are the result of long-term diet imbalances. Minor problems will manifest as slow growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance, while more marked changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these are preventable with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian, and correct diet management.
Care
African greys require mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored it can become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation and feather-picking. It is essential to conduct regular veterinary examinations, fecal screening and vaccinations done to ensure that your pet stays healthy.
African greys are monogamous. They form exclusive pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days. They care for the babies until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are one of the most intelligent species of avian. They have long lives and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets across the world.
They are highly adaptable and can be adapted to a variety of environments However, they prefer a natural habitat with plenty of perches and trees to explore. 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 beaks are short and have an upper mandible that fits over the lower. This helps them break open seeds, nuts and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds and nuts as a part of a balanced diet. Seeds should not constitute more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid pickiness. Additionally, they should be offered various fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked beans and lentils. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available and cage maintenance is essential on a regular basis. Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D may be necessary if your diet is not nutritionally complete.
The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are declining due to illegal trade. Fortunately, 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!