Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need lots of mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. Without it, they may become destructive or start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics of all species of parrots and understand human speech. alex the african grey parrot face threats from the trade in pets and habitat loss.
Feeding
The dietary needs of African greys are slightly different from the other psittacine species. They are omnivores, but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. They also are prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for pet owners to check the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles should constitute 75% of a bird's diet, and it is recommended that they be procured from top brands like Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideal diets should include pellets as well as freshly prepared food items. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are among the best options. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra can also be beneficial. However, avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acid. This can block the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however they should be eaten in moderation due to their high fat content. They provide protein, healthy fats and some vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should consist of a mix of fruits and vegetables. Avocado is poisonous to Psittacines. Other common toxic food includes alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot eats excessive amounts of 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 happy. It is essential to monitor the bird's weight and to offer new foods in small amounts. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will enable you to swiftly detect any changes and correct them. Giving the bird water regularly is an excellent idea too. This will stop the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. It is also important to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area since it can spoil and lead to health problems for your pet.
Discover More Here are highly intelligent and are able to speak, though it may take days or even weeks to repeat back words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to cues and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviors like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These problems require the intervention of a professional.
It is crucial to stop bonding in the bud as if a bird 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 with allergies. To avoid this, all members of the household should spend some time every day playing with and engaging with the parrot in various ways. This will help the bird feel more comfortable being loved by all members of a family and reduce the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
A parrot that is attached to a single person will usually start biting and pecking at other family members or visitors when they attempt to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that each family member take turns petting the bird before placing it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior, it should be returned to its cage for some time and not handled until it has calmed down.
During the petting sessions Be aware of areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply and can bleed when they are brushed against. If a pinfeather or blood feather is found to be exposed, it must be removed immediately and replaced with a fresh feather.
In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. The bird should be taught to identify food items or toys. This will help teach the bird to speak and will also allow it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically near them.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots in the world, it is bored and use destructive behaviors if not given enough toys or other opportunities to exercise its mind. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots are not inexpensive pets to own as the initial costs are high and they require a constant supply of toys that can be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections that can be expensive to treat.
These highly social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours spent playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. They also need hours of exercise and out-of-cage time each day to build strength and remain healthy. Their cage should be big enough to allow them to spread their wings and move freely from perch to perch. It should be made of nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should have many different kinds of perches, with different dimensions and heights and be able to change between them. A roost is also required and is typically made of concrete or a wooden perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.
Parrots need access to fresh water throughout the day and must be replenished every day. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy vegetables and dark greens and treats should be limited to 10 percent of their diet. You should also offer various seeds and nuts. Around 75% of their food should be made up of high-quality pellets or crumbles.
The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of a long-term diet imbalances. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, poor plumage quality, or poor breeding performance. More significant changes may manifest themselves as specific diseases. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.
Care
As with all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be content. If a parrot is bored it can become depressed and exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation and feather grabbing. To keep your pet healthy, it is important to regularly undergo veterinary exams as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys are monogamous. They form exclusive pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days. They care for the young until they are about 10 weeks of age. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They can live for a long time and often outlive their owners, making them a popular pet worldwide.
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 faces back on each foot and two facing forward on each foot, just like humans do. Their beaks are short and have an upper mandible that fits over the lower. This makes it easier for them to crack open nuts, seeds and wood.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as a part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not make up more than 5% and be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid the possibility of picking. They should also be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water must always be available, and cages must be cleaned daily. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard Grey and Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, however, their populations are in decline due to illegal trade and captive breeding. 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 incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!