Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. They may become destructive or scream if they don't get enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics among all parrot species and can comprehend human speech. They face threats from the trade in pet animals and habitat loss.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are a little different from the other large psittacine species. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they prefer seeds over vegetables and fruits.
In captivity they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also essential to monitor the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to make up 75% or a parrot's daily diet.
Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh food. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. The best choices are kale, spinach, silverbeets, pak choi sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaf, endive and sweetcorn are beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage, as they contain high levels of oxalic acid, which hinder calcium absorption by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients, but they should be consumed in moderation due to their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats and some vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should comprise an assortment of fruits and veggies. Avocado is harmful to psittacines. Other food items that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird consumes too many berries, they can suffer from yeast problems in their gastrointestinal tract.
congo african grey parrot balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot healthy and happy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small quantities. Weighing the bird every day will enable you to swiftly observe any changes and then correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will help prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. Unfinished food in the cage or play area may spoil and cause health problems for your bird.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to speak, though it may take days or even weeks to repeat words they hear. A well-trained parrot will also respond to signals and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's brain active and prevent them from becoming bored. The effects of boredom can be detrimental to behavior like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It's important to nip over the signs of bonding early as if a bird becomes totally attached to a single member of the family, it may become territorial and threatening to others. This could be harmful for children and the elderly, as well as those who suffer from allergies. To avoid this it is recommended that all members of the household should spend time every day playing and interacting with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable with being loved by the family and lessen the chance that it will develop an overprotective behaviour.
When a bird is bonded to a single person it may bite and peck at other family members or guests who try to pet or handle it. To prevent this from happening the entire family should be able to alternate petting the bird and putting it in its cage. If a parrot is displaying aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it calms down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers are a source of blood supply and may be bleed if they are touched. If a blood or pinfeather 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. They should also be instructed to teach the bird how to label items, such as toys or food items. This will allow the bird to learn to speak and will allow it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots around the world, it is bored easily and will engage in destructive behavior in the absence of toys or other ways to stimulate its mind. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation in order to prevent self-mutilation feather picking and excessive screaming. Parrots aren't cheap pets to own The initial costs are high and they need constant new toys that can be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections, and are expensive to treat.
These social birds require lots of interaction with humans, including hours of playtime that includes games and puzzles as well as lessons. To remain strong and healthy they should be active for hours every day and escaping their cage. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It should be clean, safe and made from nontoxic materials. It should include various perches with different sizes and textures so that the birds can change between them. A roost is likewise required typically a wooden post or concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and this should be changed daily. They should be fed an assortment of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to offer various nuts and seeds. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should make up around 75% of the food.
The majority of the problems with parrots are caused by long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, low quality plumage or breeding performance, while more severe changes will manifest as distinct diseases. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian vet and proper diet management.
Care
African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. To ensure that your pet is healthy it is essential 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, and caring for the babies until they are about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They can live for a long time and are often able to outlive their owners, making them a beloved pet in the world.
They are highly adaptable and will adjust well to many different environments however, they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches to explore. They can use their feet to balance and perch - with two faces back on each foot, and two facing forward on each foot, exactly like humans do. Their short beaks have a mandible that is curved and can be easily positioned over the lower to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts and their strong grip could cut through bark and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds and nuts as part of healthy diet. But, seeds should make less than five percent of the total diet. They should be supplemented with high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that prevent pickinginess. Also it is recommended to provide an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked lentils and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet isn't complete, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal trade. Luckily, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Wild Bird Conservation Act in the United States and receive the highest protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Find out more about these incredible birds in our parrot Encyclopedia!