Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, much like toddlers, are prone to becoming bored easily and need mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. They can be destructive or even cry if they don't receive enough stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are the most accurate mimics of all parrot species and can understand human speech. They are at risk from the trade in pets and habitat loss.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys are a little different from the other psittacine species. Although they are omnivores in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also essential to check the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles should constitute 75% of a bird's diet and it is recommended that they be purchased from reputable brands such as Harrisons, Murphy's or Vetafarm.
Ideally your diet should include a mixture of pellets and fresh food. A good ratio would be 60% pellets, 10% seed and 30% fresh foods. Some of the best options are kale, spinach, silverbeet, pak choi, sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra can also be beneficial. However, you should avoid cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acid, which could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients to your diet, but should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in proteins, healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should be made up of a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Avocado is poisonous to the psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot consumes excessive amounts of fruits, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced diet is a great way to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight, and introduce new foods in small amounts. It is a good idea to weigh the bird on a daily basis to ensure that any changes can be easily observed and corrected. It's also a great idea to give the bird fresh water on a regular basis. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. It is also essential to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area because it will spoil and could lead to health problems for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are highly intelligent and are able to speak, however it might take days or weeks to repeat words they hear. A highly-trained parrot can also respond to signals and perform simple tricks. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and keep them from becoming bored. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It is important to stop the signs of bonding early as if a bird becomes completely attached to one member of the family, it could become territorial and aggressive to other people. This could be extremely dangerous for people with disabilities, children or those with allergies. To avoid this, all members of the household should spend some time each day with the parrot in different ways. This will allow the bird become more comfortable with being touched by everyone in a family and reduce the possibility that it could develop a protective behavior.
A parrot that is attached to one person will typically 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, family members should each take turns rubbing the bird or putting it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression, it should be returned to its cage for some time and not handled until it is calmed down.
During the petting sessions Be aware of areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers have a blood supply, and can cause bleeding if they are brushed against. If a pinfeather or blood feather is exposed, it should be promptly clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.
Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be instructed to teach the bird how to identify items, like toys or food items. This will help the bird to learn to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with other family members without having to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can become bored easily and will use destructive behaviors in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its brain. It also requires lots of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots aren't cheap to acquire - the initial costs are expensive and they require constant new toys that are destroyed quickly, plus food. They are also prone to infections and can be costly to treat.
These social birds require lots of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime that includes games and puzzles as well as lessons. To stay strong and healthy, they need to be active for hours every day and escaping their cage. The cage should be big enough to allow them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be clean, safe and made of non-toxic materials. It should have many different kinds of perches that have different heights and textures and be able to switch between them. A roost is likewise required and is typically a wooden post or concrete perch that is placed at the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water available and it should be changed every day. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens, fruits and vegetables and treats should be limited to not more than 10% of their diet. Also, site should provide a variety of seeds and nuts. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should comprise approximately 75% of the diet.
The majority of parrot-related diseases are the result of long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, low quality plumage or breeding performance while more significant changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided by regular checks with an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.
Care
African greys need mental stimulation and lots of attention in order to be content. If a parrot is bored, it may display negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or even feather picking. To keep your pet healthy it is vital to regularly undergo veterinary exams as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys are monogamous and form dedicated pair bonds, incubating eggs for 21 to 30 days, and caring for the babies until they reach 10 weeks old. They can fly, and are one of the most intelligent species of avian. They live long and are often able to outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets around the world.
They are highly adaptive and can adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches. They can also utilize their feet - two facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to help perch and balance, just like humans use their hands. Their short beaks feature a mandible that is curved and can be easily positioned over the lower one to help them crack open nuts and seeds, and their strong 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 diet and should be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent excessive pickiness. They should also be provided with a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits as well as cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be accessible, and cages should be cleaned regularly. If the diet is not sufficient, supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their populations are decreasing due to illegal trade. Fortunately, they are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest level of protection under CITES. Find out more about these incredible birds in our parrot encyclopedia!