Caring For an African Grey Parrot

African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can become bored easily and need mental stimulation to avoid behavioral problems. They can be destructive or shout if they don't get enough stimulation.

They are extremely intelligent and can mimic human speech. The pet trade and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.

Feeding

The dietary requirements of African greys differ from those of other large psittacines. While they are omnivores in the wild, they prefer seeds over fruits and vegetables.

In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy vegetables than seeds. They are also susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies therefore it is crucial for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet.

Ideal diets should comprise a mixture of pellets and freshly prepared foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10% seeds and 30% fresh food. The best choices are spinach, kale, silverbeet, pakchoi, sweetcorn, carrots, broccoli and more. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra can also be beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cabbage and cauliflower, as they contain high levels of oxalic acids which may hinder calcium absorption in the body.

Nuts are rich in nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation due to their high fat content. They are high in proteins, healthy fats and minerals and vitamins.

The rest of your diet should comprise the combination of vegetables and fruits. It is best to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to the psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include alcohol, chocolate, raw potatoes and coffee. In the same way, if a parrot consumes too many berries, they could be suffering from yeast issues in their gastrointestinal tract.

A balanced diet is a great option to keep an african grey parrots for adoption grey parrot content and healthy. It is important to watch the bird's weight and provide new food items in small quantities. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to identify any changes and rectify them. It's also a good idea to offer the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infection. Unfinished food in the cage or in the play area may spoil and cause health problems for your bird.

Training

Parrots are easily taught to speak. However, it may take them a few days or weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is trained well can also perform simple tricks and respond to cues. These activities keep a bird's mind engaged and keep them from becoming bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behaviors like feather picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.

It is essential to avoid over-bonding as a pet that is too attached to a person can become territorial and agressive towards other animals. This can be dangerous for children and the elderly, as well as those with allergies. To prevent this from happening, everyone in a household must spend time each day playing with the bird and playing with it in a variety of ways. This will make the bird more comfortable with being handled by members of the family and reduce the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.

A parrot that is attached to a single person will usually start biting and pecking visitors or family members when they try to pet or touch it. To prevent this from happening the entire family should take turns petting 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 calms down.

During the petting sessions be aware of the areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply, and could bleed when they are touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather is exposed, it must be removed immediately and replaced with a new one.

In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. They should also be taught to teach the bird to identify items, like food or toys. This will make it easier to train the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.

Health

The African grey parrot is one of the smartest animals in the world. However, it is prone to get bored and resort to destructive behavior if it is not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their minds. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots aren't cheap pets to own - the initial costs are expensive and they require constant new toys that will be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also prone to infections, and are costly to treat.

These highly social birds require a lot of interaction with humans, such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. They also require a lot of exercise and free time every day to build strength and remain healthy. The cage should be large enough to allow them to move freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed from nontoxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include a variety of kinds of perches that have different heights and textures in order to change them. A roost is also needed, which is usually made of concrete or a wooden perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.

The parrots should have fresh water available and this should be refilled daily. They should be fed various dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, with treats limited to a maximum of 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to offer a variety of nuts and seeds. High-quality, formulated pellets or granules should comprise around 75% of a diet.

The majority of parrot disease issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities can manifest as poor growth, poor plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More severe changes could manifest themselves as specific diseases. Many of these are preventable with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and proper diet management.

Care

African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention to be content. If a bird is bored, it can display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. It is important to have routine veterinary exams, fecal screening and vaccinations performed to ensure that your pet is healthy.

african grey parrot eggs for sale greys are monogamous. They form dedicated pair bonds which incubate eggs for up to 30 days, and caring for an grey parrot for the infants until they fledge at about 10 weeks old. They are able to fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They have long lives and often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets worldwide.

They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural habitat with lots of trees and perches. They can also use their feet that are facing backwards and two facing forward on each foot - to help to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their short beaks have a curved upper mandible that is a perfect fit over the lower mandible to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts and their powerful grip can cut through bark and wood.

In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits, seeds and dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not comprise more than 5% of the total and be supplemented by high-quality crumbles or pellets to avoid pickiness. They should also be provided with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should always be available, and cage cleaning is essential on a regular basis. If the diet is not complete, supplements such as calcium or caring for an grey parrot vitamin D could be required.

The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh parrots and their habitats, however, their populations are in decline due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Fortunately, 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). Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!