10 Top Facebook Pages Of All-Time About Caring For An Grey Parrot
Caring For african grey parrot birds for sale
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. If they don't get enough stimulation, they could become destructive or even start screaming.
They are extremely intelligent and can mimic human speech. The trade in pet animals and destruction of habitats are the primary threats to them.
Feeding
The dietary needs of African greys are slightly different from the other large psittacine species. They are omnivores but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity they are more likely to consume fruit and leafy greens than seeds. They also are prone to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to keep an eye on the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally, the diet should contain a mixture of pellets and fresh food. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30% fresh foods. The best choices are spinach, kale, silverbeet, pak choi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Also native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaves endive and sweetcorn are beneficial. Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage, as they contain high levels of oxalic acids which hinder calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however they should be consumed in moderation due to their high fat content. They provide protein as well as healthy fats, and a few minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should be an assortment of vegetables and fruits. It is best to stay clear of avocado as it is toxic to Psittacines. Other common toxic food includes chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. If a parrot eats too many fruits, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is important to monitor the bird's weight and to introduce new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to identify any changes and rectify them. Regularly offering the bird water is also a good idea. This will stop dehydration and bacterial infection. Food that is not eaten in the cage or in the play area could be spoiled and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to easily learn to speak, though it might take days or weeks to repeat back words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's mind stimulated and stop them from getting bored. In the event of boredom, it can lead to undesirable behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It is crucial to stop the bonding process early in the event that a parrot becomes a devoted member of a family, it may become territorial and aggressive towards other people. This can be dangerous for children, the elderly or those who suffer from allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend time every day with the parrot in different ways. This will make the bird more at ease being handled by members of the family and reduce the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
When a bird is bonded to a single person, it will peck and bite at other family members or guests who attempt to handle or pet it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns in petting the bird or placing it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior, it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a few minutes.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers are a source of blood supply, and could be bleed if touched. If a blood feather is exposed, it should be immediately clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.
In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. They should also be instructed to teach the bird to label items, such as food or toys. This will help train the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.
Health
The African grey parrot is considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the world. However, it could get bored and turn to destructive behaviors if they are not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their minds. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation and feather picks as well as excessive screams. Parrots aren't cheap to have as the initial costs are costly and they require constant new toys that are destroyed quickly, as well as food. They can also be prone to infections, which can be expensive to treat.
These highly social birds require a lot of interaction with humans, including hours spent playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. They also require hours of exercise and out-of-cage time each day to build strength and stay healthy. Their cage must be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It must be safe, clean and made of non-toxic materials. It should have various perches with different heights and styles so that birds can change between them. They also need a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or an elevated concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and it should be changed every day. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and vegetables and treats should be limited to 10 percent of their diet. They should be offered a wide range of seeds and nuts as well. High-quality, formulated pellets or granules should constitute about 75% of the food.
The majority of parrot health problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can manifest as slow growth and development, low quality plumage or breeding performance, while more severe changes can manifest as specific diseases. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks by an avian veterinarian and appropriate diet management.
Care
African greys require mental stimulation and plenty of attention in order to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it can exhibit negative behaviors such as aggression, self-mutilation, or feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health it is vital to get routine veterinary examinations as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous couples and lay eggs for 21 to 30 days. They care for their young until they are about 10 weeks old. They fly and are among the most intelligent birds. They have long lifespans and often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets worldwide.
They are extremely adaptable and can easily adjust to a variety of environments, but they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches to explore. They can also use their feet - two facing back and two facing forward 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 which fits over the lower. This helps them break open seeds, nuts and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits seeds and nuts as part of a balanced diet. However, seeds should only make only 5% of the total diet and should be supplemented with high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that reduce pickinginess. 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 required daily. Supplements like calcium and vitamin D may be necessary if the diet is not nutritionally complete.
The World Parrot Trust is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal trade. They are, however, protected under the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also enjoy the highest level protection under CITES. Learn more about these incredible parrots in our parrot dictionary!