Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, like toddlers, are prone to becoming bored quickly and require mental stimulation to prevent behavioral issues. Without it, they may be destructive or start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are the most accurate mimics of all parrot species and can understand human speech. The trade in pets and destruction of habitats are the primary threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are different from the other psittacine species. While they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also essential to observe the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should make up 75% of a bird's diet and it is recommended that they be sourced from quality brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally the diet should comprise pellets as well as fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are some of the best choices. Native plants and spouting grasses such as dandelion-like greens, endive and okra can also be beneficial. Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower because they contain high levels of oxalic acids, which may hinder calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts are a nutrient-dense addition to the diet, but they should be consumed sparingly due to their fat content. casco parrot for sale are high in protein, healthy fats and minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should consist of the combination of fruits and veggies. Avocado is poisonous to psittacines. Other common toxic food includes alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot eats too many fruits, they could develop yeast 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 introduce new foods in small quantities. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to detect any changes and correct them. It's also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water regularly. This will help 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 can lead to health problems for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are extremely intelligent and can easily learn to speak, though it may require days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to signals and perform simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. The effects of boredom can be detrimental to behavior like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It is important to stop bonding in the bud in the event that a parrot becomes a devoted member of a family, it may become territorial and aggressive to other members of the family. This can be very dangerous for people with disabilities, children or those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in the household should spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in a variety of ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being handled by members of the family and reduce the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
When a parrot is bonded to a single person it will peck and bite at other family members or guests who attempt to pet or handle it. To prevent this from happening the entire family should take turns rubbing the bird and putting it in its cage. If a bird is showing aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for some time and not handled until it has calmed down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply, and could bleed when touched. If a bloody feather or pinfeather is found to be exposed, it must be clipped immediately and replaced with another one.
In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught to identify food items and toys. This will allow you to train the bird to speak and will also allow 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 in the world, it is bored quickly and engage in destructive behavior in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its brain. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots can be expensive pets to own. The initial costs are high, and they need constant new toys which are destroyed quickly. They also are susceptible to infections and are expensive to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime that includes games, puzzles and lessons. To remain strong and healthy they should exercise for hours a day and out of their cage. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be constructed from non-toxic, non-toxic substances and clean. It should come with a variety of kinds of perches, with different heights and textures, so that they can switch between them. A roost is likewise required typically a wooden post or concrete perch at the corner of the cage.
Parrots should have access to water that is fresh at all times, and it must be replenished every day. They should be fed a variety dark leafy greens and other vegetables and treats should be limited to 10 percent of their diet. It is also recommended to offer a variety of seeds and nuts. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up around 75% of a diet.
The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of long-term food inconsistencies. Minor irregularities will show up as poor growth and development, bad quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more severe changes will manifest as distinct diseases. Many of these issues can be prevented by regular checks by an avian vet and proper diet management.
Care
African greys require mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it will become depressed and show negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation and feather picking. casco parrot for sale is essential to conduct regular veterinary exams, fecal screening and vaccinations carried out to ensure 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 reach 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They have long lifespans and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets worldwide.
They are highly adaptable and will adjust well to a variety of environments, but they prefer a natural environment with plenty of perches and trees to explore. They are able to use their feet - two facing back and two facing front on each foot - to help balance and perch, much as humans use their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that is a perfect fit over the lower to aid in cracking open seeds and nuts and their powerful grip can tear through bark and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits seeds and nuts as a part of healthy diet. Seeds should not make up more than 5% and be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent pickiness. They should also be offered a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked beans and legumes. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cages should be cleaned regularly. Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D may be required if the diet is not nutritionally balanced.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard Grey and Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, but their populations are declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. They are, however, protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest protection under CITES. Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!