Caring For an African Grey Parrot

African grey parrots, much like toddlers, can become bored quickly and require mental stimulation to prevent behavioral problems. They may become destructive or scream if they don't get enough stimulation.

Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics of all species of parrots. They can recognize human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.

Feeding

The diet requirements of african blue parrot for sale greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, however, they prefer seeds over fruits and other vegetables.

In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to eat seeds and fruit. It is also essential to monitor the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to comprise 75% of a parrot's daily diet.

Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh food. Some of the best options are spinach, kale silverbeet, pak choi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. 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 acids, which may hinder calcium absorption in the body.

Nuts are a rich source of nutrients to your diet, but they should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They are rich in proteins, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals.

The rest of your diet should consist of a mix of vegetables and fruits. It's best to avoid avocado as it is toxic to the psittacines. Other common toxic foods include chocolate, alcohol and raw potatoes and coffee. If a parrot eats too many fruits, 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 content. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight, and to introduce new foods in small quantities. It is recommended to weigh the bird on a daily basis so that any changes could be spotted and swiftly rectified. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will stop the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. Food that is not consumed in the cage or play area could spoil and cause health problems for your bird.

Training

Parrots are highly intelligent and are able to speak, although they might take days or weeks to repeat 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, such as feather picking or destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.

It's important to nip over bonding in the bud, because if a parrot becomes completely attached to one member of a family, it could become territorial and aggressive to others. This could be harmful for children as well as the elderly or people who suffer from allergies. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that all members of the household should spend time every day playing with and engaging with the parrot in various ways. This will allow the bird to become more comfortable when touched by everyone in the family and decrease the likelihood that it will develop an overprotective behavior.

A parrot that is attached to one person is likely to start biting and pecking other family members or visitors when they try to pet it or even touch it. To avoid this, family members should each take turns petting the bird or 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 has calmed down.

During petting sessions be aware of the areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers have a blood supply, and could be bleed if they are touched. If a blood feather is found to be exposed, it must be immediately clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.

In addition to petting, members of the family should be taught to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to label toys or food. This will help teach the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members without being physically near them.

Health

While the African grey is one of the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can become bored easily and will use destructive behaviors when it is not provided with enough toys or other ways to exercise its mind. It also requires a large amount of mental stimulation to avoid self mutilation, excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots aren't cheap to have as 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, which could be expensive to treat.

These highly social birds need lots of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime with games or puzzles, as well as lessons. They also need hours of exercise and out-of-cage time each day to build strength and stay healthy. The cage should be large enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be made of non-toxic, non-toxic substances and clean. It should include several perches with different heights and textures so that the birds can move between them. A roost is likewise required and is typically a wooden post or concrete perch in the corner of the cage.

Parrots need access to water that is fresh throughout the day and is recommended to replenish it regularly. They should be provided with various dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and treats should be limited to not more than 10% of the diet. Also, you should offer different nuts and seeds. About 75% of their food should be made up of high-quality pellets or granules.

The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of a long-term dietary imbalance. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, bad plumage quality or breeding performance. More marked changes will be a sign of specific disease entities. Many of these can be avoided by regular check-ups by an avian vet and proper diet management.

Care

Like any other bird, african grey parrots for adoption greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be content. If a parrot is bored, it may display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation, or even feather picking. It is crucial to conduct regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces carried out to ensure your pet stays healthy.

African greys are monogamous and form dedicated pair bonds that incubate eggs for 21 to 30 days and Caring for an grey parrot for the young until they reach 10 weeks of age. They fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They have long lives and often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets worldwide.

They are extremely adaptable and can be adapted to a variety of environments, but they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches to explore. They are able to use their feet that are facing backwards and two facing front on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks are short and have an upper mandible with a curvature that is a perfect fit over the lower to help them crack open seeds and nuts and their powerful grip can rip through wood and bark.

In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds and nuts as part of an optimum diet. However, seeds should make less than 5% of the total diet and should be supplemented with high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that avoid the emergence of pickiness. Also it is recommended to provide a variety fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked lentils and beans. Fresh water should always be available and cage maintenance is essential on a regular basis. Supplements such as vitamin D and calcium could be necessary if the diet is not nutritionally complete.

The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh parrots and their habitats, but 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!