5 Laws Anybody Working In Caring For An Grey Parrot Should Be Aware Of
Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need lots of mental stimulation to avoid problems with their behavior. They may become destructive or cry if they don't receive enough stimulation.
They are highly intelligent and are able to mimic human speech. They are threatened by the trade in pets and habitat loss.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys are slightly different from the other large psittacine species. While 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 at risk of overweight and calcium deficiencies. 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 meals. A good proportion is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are some of the best choices. Sprouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, okra and okra are also beneficial. However, avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage as they are rich in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a nutrient-dense addition to a diet, but should be fed sparingly because of their fat content. They provide protein, healthy fats, as well as minerals and vitamins.
The rest of the diet should be made up of a mix of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. If a parrot consumes too many berries, they may develop yeast issues in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best way to keep your African grey parrot healthy and happy. It is important to watch the bird's weight and offer new foods in small quantities. The bird's weight is measured every day. This will allow you to quickly observe any changes and then correct them. It's also a great idea to give the bird fresh water regularly. This will prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. Unfinished food in the cage or in the play area could ruin the food and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots are extremely intelligent and are able to speak, though it might take days or weeks to repeat back words they hear. A parrot that is well-trained can respond to cues and do simple tricks. These activities keep a bird's brain active and stop them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behaviors such as feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require the intervention of a professional.
It is important to stop bonding in the bud as if a bird becomes a devoted member of 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 blue african grey parrot is recommended that all members of the household should spend time every day playing and interacting with the bird in different ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being loved by the family and reduce the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.
A parrot that is attached to one person is likely to begin pecking and biting at other family members or visitors when they attempt to pet it or even touch it. To prevent this from happening family members should take turns rubbing the bird or placing it into its cage. If a parrot displays aggression and is threatening to harm another bird, it should be placed back in its cage and not handled for a period of time.
During pet-loving sessions be aware of the areas that are referred to as "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers are a source of blood supply, and can bleeding when touched. If a blood or pinfeather feather is found to be exposed, it must be removed immediately and replaced with a new feather.
In addition to a petting session, family members should be taught to say goodbye and hello to the parrot. The bird should be taught how to identify food items or toys. This will help the bird to learn to speak and will allow it to communicate with other family members without needing to be physically present.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it is bored quickly and use destructive behaviors in the absence of toys or other opportunities to exercise its mind. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picks, and excessive screaming. Parrots are expensive pets to have. The initial costs are high and they require a constant supply of toys which are destroyed quickly. They are also susceptible to infections, which could be costly to treat.
These social birds require plenty of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games or puzzles, as well as lessons. They also require a lot of exercise and free time every day to build strength and stay healthy. The cage should be big enough to allow them to move freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should be equipped with several perches with different heights and styles so that the birds can move between them. They also need the roost, which is usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots should always have fresh water available and this should be refilled daily. They should be fed a variety of dark leafy greens and other vegetables and should limit their treats to 10 percent of their diet. They should be offered a wide range of nuts and seeds, as well. About 75% of their food should consist of high-quality pellets or granules.
The majority of parrot-related problems are caused by long-term nutritional imbalance. Small irregularities can be manifested as poor growth, bad plumage quality or poor breeding performance. More marked changes will manifest themselves as specific disease-related entities. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks from an avian vet and the proper management of diet.
Care
African greys require mental stimulation and plenty of attention in order to be content. If a parrot becomes bored, it will become depressed and exhibit negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. To ensure your pet's health it is essential to get routine veterinary examinations as well as fecal tests and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous couples and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They take care of their young until they are about 10 weeks old. They can fly, and are considered to be one of the most intelligent species of avian. They live long and often outlive their human owners, which makes them popular pets around the world.
They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural environment with plenty of trees and perches. They can use their feet to balance and perch, with two faces back on each foot, and two facing forward on each foot, exactly as humans do. Their beaks are short and have a mandible that is curved and is a perfect fit over the lower one to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip could rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leaves, greens, nuts and seeds as part of healthy diet. However, seeds should only make less than 5% of the total diet and should be supplemented by high-quality, formulated pellets or crumbles that reduce pickiness. They should also be served with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cooked beans and legumes. Fresh water should always be available and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet isn't sufficient, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust works tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh parrots as well as their habitats, however, their population is declining 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 most protection under CITES (International Trade in Species Controlled). Find out more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!