17 Reasons Why You Should Be Ignoring Caring For An Grey Parrot
Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, just like toddlers, can become bored easily and need mental stimulation to prevent behavioral problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could be destructive or start screaming.
They are highly intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. The trade in pets and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
learn more of African greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also crucial to check the quality and quantity of their food intakes since they are prone to excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% or a parrot'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. Some of the best choices are spinach, kale, silverbeet, pakchoi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. Also native plants and sprouting grasses such as dandelion leaf, sweetcorn and endive are good choices. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower because they are rich in oxalic acid. This could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts provide a lot of nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation because of their high fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, as well as minerals and vitamins.
The rest of the diet should consist of a mixture of fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to stay clear of avocado as it is toxic to the psittacines. Other common toxic food includes alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they could suffer from yeast problems in their digestive tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is essential to monitor the bird's weight and to provide new food items in small amounts. It is beneficial to weigh the bird daily so that any changes could be spotted and swiftly rectified. It is also a good idea to provide the bird with fresh water on a regular basis. This will help prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. Food that is not consumed in the cage or play area can be spoiled and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to easily learn to speak, although they might take days or weeks to repeat back words they hear. A parrot who has been trained well can also do simple tricks and respond to signals. 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 problems require professional intervention.
It's important to nip over the bonding process early, because if a parrot becomes totally attached to a single person in a family it may become territorial and aggressive to other people. This could be dangerous for children as well as the elderly or people who suffer from allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend some time each day playing and interacting with the parrot in different ways. This will allow the bird to become more comfortable with being loved by all members of family members and reduce the possibility that it could develop over protective behavior.
A bird that is tied to a single person will usually start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they attempt to pet or touch it. To prevent this from happening, family members should each take turns rubbing the bird or putting it into its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggression then it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a period of time.
During the petting sessions, be aware of areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers have a blood supply and can bleed if brushed against. If a blood or pinfeather feather is found to be exposed, it must be promptly clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.
In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught how to say hello and goodbye to the parrot. They should also be instructed to teach the bird to label items, such as toys or food items. This will help the bird to learn to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members without needing to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots around the world, it can get bored quickly and engage in destructive behavior 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 prevent self-mutilation excessive screaming and feather picking. Parrots are expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high and they require constant new toys that are quickly destroyed. They are also susceptible to infections and can be costly to treat.
These highly social birds require a lot of interaction humans, such as 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. 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 include several perches with different heights and textures to allow birds to change between them. A roost is likewise required, which is usually a wooden post or concrete perch at the corner of the cage.
The parrots should have fresh water available and it should be changed every day. They should be fed an assortment of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and should be restricted to not more than 10% of their diet. It is also recommended to provide a variety of nuts and seeds. High-quality, formulated pellets or granules should comprise around 75% of the diet.
The majority of parrot disease problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor irregularities will show up as slow growth and development, bad quality plumage or breeding performance, while more significant changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be avoided by regular check-ups by an avian vet and the proper management of diet.
Care
African greys need mental stimulation and plenty of attention to be happy. If a parrot is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or even feather picking. To keep your pet healthy it is essential to regularly undergo veterinary exams including fecal testing, vaccinations and feces.
African greys form monogamous pairs and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They tend to their young until they are around 10 weeks old. They can fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent species of avian. They can live a long time and often outlive their owners, making them a sought-after pet across the globe.
They are extremely adaptable and can adapt to many different environments. However, they prefer a natural setting with lots of trees and perches. They can also use their feet with two faces facing back and two facing front on each foot - to aid in to balance and perch, just like humans use their hands. Their beaks, which are short, are curved and have an upper mandible that can be placed over the lower. This allows them to break open seeds, nuts and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leaves, greens, nuts and seeds as part of a balanced diet. Seeds should not make up more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented with high-quality crumbles or pellets to prevent the possibility of picking. Additionally, they should be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables and cooked beans and lentils. Fresh water must always be accessible, and cages should be cleaned daily. If the diet is not adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D may be required.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to safeguard Grey and Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, but their populations are declining due to illegal trade and captive breeding. Fortunately, they are protected by the Endangered Species Act in the United States as well as the Wild Bird Conservation Act. They also receive the highest protection under CITES. Learn more about these fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!