Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, like toddlers, are prone to becoming bored quickly and require mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They may become destructive or cry if they don't receive enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics among all parrot species and can understand human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys are different from the other large psittacine species. They are omnivores, however, they prefer seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. It is also essential to monitor the quality and quantity of their food intakes since they are prone to excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% of a parrot's daily diet.
Ideal diets should consist of pellets, seeds and freshly prepared meals. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. Some of the best choices are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pak choi, sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are both beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage as they are high in oxalic acid. This can block the absorption of calcium in the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however, they should be consumed in moderation because of their high fat content. They are a source of protein, healthy fats and some minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should consist of an assortment of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot consumes too many berries, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is essential to monitor the bird's weight and provide new food items in small amounts. It is recommended to weigh the bird on a daily basis to ensure that any changes can be observed and quickly corrected. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infections. Unfinished food in the cage or play area may spoil and cause health problems for your bird.
Training
Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it might take them days or even weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that has been trained well can also do simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep a bird's brain engaged and keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.
It's crucial to prevent over-bonding because a parrot who becomes too attached to one may become territorial and aggressive towards others. This could be harmful for children, the elderly or those who suffer from allergies. To prevent this from happening, all in the household should spend time each day playing with the parrot and engaging with it in different ways. This will allow the bird to become more comfortable when loved by all members of family members and reduce the likelihood that it will 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 prevent this from happening the entire family should take turns petting the bird before putting it in its cage. If a parrot is displaying aggression, it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it is calmed down.
During the petting sessions be aware of the areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply, and could be bleed if touched. If a blood or pinfeather feather is exposed, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a new feather.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be instructed to teach the bird to identify objects, such as food or toys. This will help the bird to learn to speak, and it will also enable it to communicate with other family members without needing to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can get bored and engage in destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other methods to stimulate its mind. It also needs a great amount of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, feather-picking and loud screams. Parrots can be expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high and they require constant new toys that are quickly destroyed. They can also be susceptible to infections that can be costly to treat.
These highly social birds require lots of interaction with human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime that includes games or puzzles, as well as lessons. They also require hours of exercise and out-of-cage time every day to build strength and stay healthy. The cage should be large enough for them to move freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and made from nontoxic materials. It should have many different kinds of perches that have different dimensions and heights and be able to change them. They also need a roost, usually a wooden post that is tall or a concrete perch at the corner of the cage.
Parrots must have access to clean water throughout the day and must be replenished regularly. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and other vegetables and should limit their treats to 10 percent of their diet. They should be provided with an array of seeds and nuts as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up approximately 75% of a diet.
The majority of parrot disease issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities will show up as slow growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance, while more marked changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these can be prevented by regular checks with an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.
You can also learn how to care for yourself.
African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention to be happy. If a bird is bored, it can become depressed and show negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to get routine veterinary examinations including fecal testing, vaccinations and feces.
African greys are monogamous and form dedicated pair bonds that incubate eggs for 21 to 30 days and caring for the infants until they reach 10 weeks of age. They can fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They live long and often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets across the world.
They are highly adaptive and are able to 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 facing back on each foot and two facing forward on each foot, exactly like humans do. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible which fits over the lower. This helps them crack open nuts, seeds and wood.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not constitute more than 5% and be supplemented by high-quality pellets or crumbles to prevent the possibility of picking. They should also be provided with an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should always be available, and cages must be cleaned regularly. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their populations are declining due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also receive the highest level protection under CITES. Learn more about these fascinating birds in our parrot Encyclopedia!