Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can become bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to avoid problems with their behavior. If they don't get enough stimulation, they could become destructive or even start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are the most accurate mimics of all species of parrots. They can comprehend human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely than not to consume fruits and seeds. It is also crucial to observe the quality and quantity of their food intakes since they are at risk of overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should comprise 75% of a bird's diet and it is recommended that they be procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally the diet should comprise a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. african blue parrot for sale is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. Some of the best options are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pakchoi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Native plants and spouting grasses like dandelion greens, okra and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower since they are high in levels of oxalic acids which hinder calcium absorption by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however, they should be consumed in moderation due to their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of the diet should be made up of a mix of fruits and vegetables. Avocado is toxic to psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot is consuming excessive amounts of 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 important to watch the bird's weight, and to provide new food items in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to observe any changes and then correct them. It is also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infection. Unfinished food in the cage or play area may ruin the food and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it might take them days or even weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's brain stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviours like feather-picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It is crucial to stop bonding in the bud in the event that a parrot becomes completely attached to one person in a family it can become territorial and threatening to others. This could be dangerous for children and the elderly, as well as those who suffer from allergies. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that all members of the household should spend time each day with the bird in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being loved by the family and lessen the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
When a parrot is bonded with a single person, it will peck and bite at family members or guests who attempt to handle or pet it. To avoid this, family members should each take turns rubbing the bird or placing it in its cage. If a parrot is displaying aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it is calmed down.
During pet-loving sessions be aware of the areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply, and can bleed when touched. If a bloody feather or pinfeather is found to be exposed to the elements, it should be removed immediately and replaced by another one.
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 items, like toys or food items. This will help train the bird to speak and will also enable it to communicate with family members without being physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can get bored and resort to destructive behavior in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its mind. It also needs a great amount of mental stimulation in order to avoid self mutilation, feather-picking and loud screams. Parrots can be costly pets to own. The initial costs are expensive, and they require constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They can also be susceptible to infections, which could be costly to treat.
These highly social birds need plenty of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. To remain strong and healthy they should be active for hours every day and being outside of their cage. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It must be safe, clean and made of non-toxic materials. It should include a variety of types of perches with varying dimensions and heights, so that they can switch between them. They also require the roost, which is usually an elevated wooden post or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water and this should be refilled daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy vegetables and dark greens and should limit their treats to 10% of their diet. They should be offered a wide range of nuts and seeds, as well. Around 75% of their food should consist of high-quality pellets or granules.
Most disease problems in parrots are caused by long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as poor growth and development, low quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more severe changes can manifest as specific disease entities. A lot of these can be prevented by regular checks from an avian vet and proper diet management.
You can also learn how to care for yourself.
African greys need mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it will be depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather-picking. To ensure that your pet is healthy it is vital to regularly undergo veterinary exams as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous pairs and incubate eggs for 21-30 days. They care for their babies until they reach around 10 weeks old. They fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They live for a long time and are often able to outlive their owners, making them a sought-after pet across the globe.
They are extremely adaptable and can easily adjust to many different environments, but they prefer a natural environment with lots of perches and trees to explore. timneh african grey parrot can even use their feet - two facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help to balance and perch, just like humans use their hands. Their beaks are short and have an upper mandible with a curvature that is a perfect fit over the lower mandible to help them crack open nuts and seeds, 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 comprise more than 5% of the total and be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent the possibility of picking. They should also be provided with an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water should be available and cage maintenance is essential every day. Supplements such as vitamin D and calcium may be necessary if the diet is not nutritionally balanced.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing 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 highest level of protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!