Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can get bored easily and require mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. If they don't get enough stimulation, they could be destructive or start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics among all species of parrots. They can recognize human speech. The pet trade and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are a little different from other large psittacine species. They are omnivores but they prefer seeds over fruit and other vegetables.
In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to eat fruits and seeds. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity therefore it is crucial for owners to keep an eye on the quality of their diets. 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.
Ideal diets should consist of pellets, seeds and freshly prepared foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10% seeds and 30% fresh food. Kale, spinach and silverbeet are some of the best options. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are both 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 great source of nutrients however, they should be eaten 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 be the combination of vegetables and fruits. It is best to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and coffee and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they may suffer from yeast-related issues in their digestive tract.
A well-balanced diet is an excellent way to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is important to watch the bird's weight, and to offer new foods in small amounts. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to observe any changes and then correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will help to avoid dehydration and bacteria-related infections. Food that is not eaten 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 weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that has been trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep a bird's mind active and stop them from becoming bored. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather picking or destructive chewing. These problems require the intervention of a professional.
It's important to avoid bonding too strongly as a pet that becomes too attached to a person can become territorial and aggressive towards other animals. This could be extremely dangerous for children, elderly people or those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, all members of the household should spend time every day playing with and engaging with the bird in different ways. This will allow the bird become more comfortable with being touched by all members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
If a parrot is in a relationship to a single person it may bite and scratch at family members or guests who attempt to touch or pet it. To avoid this family members should take turns rubbing the bird or putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression, it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it calms down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply and may bleed when they are they are brushed against. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be removed immediately and replaced with a fresh feather.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should be taught to identify food items and toys. This will help the bird to learn to speak and it will also enable it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can get bored easily and will resort to destructive behavior when it is not provided with enough toys or other opportunities to stimulate its mind. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks and excessive screaming. Parrots are expensive pets to own. The initial costs are high, and they require a constant supply of toys that are quickly destroyed. They can also be susceptible to infections, which could be expensive to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. To remain strong and healthy they should spend hours each day exercising and being outside of their cage. Their cage should be big enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It should be constructed of nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should come with a variety of types of perches with varying sizes and textures and be able to change between them. They also need a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
Parrots need access to water that is fresh at all times and it is recommended to replenish it every day. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of their diet. You should also provide different nuts and seeds. High-quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up approximately 75% of the diet.
The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities will show up as poor growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance while more significant changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided through regular check-ups by an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.
You can also learn how to take care of yourself.
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 may exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather-picking. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to have regular veterinary examinations, fecal testing and vaccinations.
African greys are monogamous and form exclusive pair bonds, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days and caring for the babies until they reach 10 weeks of age. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They live long and are often able to outlive their human owners, making them popular pets across the world.
They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to different environments. However jako parrot for sale prefer a natural habitat with plenty 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 as humans do. Their beaks, which are short, are curved 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, nuts and seeds as part of an optimum diet. Seeds should not constitute more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid the possibility of picking. Also, they should be offered an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked lentils and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cages should be cleaned every day. If the diet isn't adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D could be required.
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. Fortunately, they are protected under 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. Find out more about these incredible birds in our parrot Encyclopedia!