7 Simple Tricks To Totally Rocking Your Caring For An Grey Parrot
Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can be bored quickly and require plenty of stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. They can be destructive or even scream if they don't get enough stimulation.
They are highly 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 different from other large psittacine species. They are omnivores but they prefer seeds over fruit and vegetables.
In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to consume fruits and seeds. It is also important to check the quality and quantity of their diets as they are at risk of excess weight and calcium deficiency. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% or a parrot's daily diet.
Ideal diets should comprise pellets, seeds and freshly prepared food items. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh food. Some of the best options are spinach, kale silverbeet, pak choi, sweetcorn, carrots, and broccoli. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra are also beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage, since they are high in levels of oxalic acid, which can prevent calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients, but they should be eaten in moderation due to their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats as well as vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should consist of a mix of fruits and vegetables. It is best to stay clear of avocado since it can be toxic to psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include alcohol, chocolate, raw potatoes and coffee. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they could suffer from yeast-related issues in their gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced diet is a great option to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. african greys for adoption is crucial to keep an eye on the bird's weight, and to offer new foods in small quantities. Doing a daily weigh-in will allow you to observe any changes and then correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is an excellent idea too. This will prevent the onset of dehydration as well as bacterial infections. It is also important to take away any food items that are not consumed from the cage or play area as it will spoil and could lead to health problems for your pet.
Training
Parrots are extremely intelligent and are able to speak, although they may require days or weeks to repeat back words they hear. A parrot that has been trained well can also do simple tricks and respond to cues. These activities keep a bird's mind stimulated and prevent them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behaviours like feather-picking and destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It's crucial to prevent over-bonding as a pet that becomes too attached to a person can become territorial and aggressive towards others. This can be very risky for people with disabilities, children or those with allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend time each day playing with and engaging with the bird in different ways. This will allow the bird become more comfortable when touched by everyone in a family and reduce the chance that it will develop an overprotective behavior.
If a parrot is in a relationship to a single person it will peck and bite at family members or guests who attempt to pet or handle it. To avoid this, family members should each take turns petting the bird or placing it in its cage. If a parrot displays aggression, it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a few minutes.
During petting sessions Be aware of areas that are thought to be "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers contain a blood supply, and could be bleed if they are touched. If a blood or pinfeather feather is exposed, it should be promptly clipped and replaced with a new feather.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should be taught to identify food items and toys. This will allow you to teach the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members, without having to be physically close to them.
Health
While the African grey is among the most intelligent parrots in the world, it can get bored quickly and use destructive behaviors if not given enough toys or other opportunities to stimulate its mind. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation and feather picks as well as excessive screams. 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 also are susceptible to infections, and are costly to treat.
These highly social birds need lots of interaction with their humans, including hours of playtime involving games or puzzles, as well as lessons. To stay strong and healthy, they need to spend hours each day exercising and being outside of their cage. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It should be constructed from non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should have many different kinds of perches that have different dimensions and heights in order to change between them. They also need a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
The parrots must always have clean water available and this should be changed daily. They should be fed an assortment of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits and should be restricted to a maximum of 10% of their diet. They should be served a wide range of seeds and nuts as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute approximately 75% of the diet.
The majority of the problems with parrots are caused by long-term dietary imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as poor growth and development, bad quality plumage or breeding performance while more marked changes can manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these can be prevented by regular checks with an avian veterinarian, and correct diet management.
Care
As with all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be happy. If a parrot becomes bored, it will be depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation, or feather-picking. It is essential to conduct regular veterinary examinations including fecal screening, vaccinations and feces carried out to ensure your pet is healthy.
African greys form monogamous groups and lay eggs for 21 to 30 days. They take care of their children until they reach around 10 weeks old. They are able to 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, which makes them a popular pet worldwide.
They are extremely adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However they prefer a natural habitat 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, just as humans do. Their beaks are short and have an upper mandible that can be placed over the lower. This helps them break open seeds, nuts and wood.
In the wild, African greys will eat fruits, nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. Seeds should not make up more than 5% of the diet and should be supplemented with high-quality pellets or crumbles to prevent pickiness. They should also be served with an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, as well as cooked legumes and beans. Fresh water should be available and cage maintenance is essential every day. If the diet is not sufficient, supplements such as calcium or vitamin D could be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working hard to protect Grey and Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, their numbers are decreasing due to illegal trade. They are, however, protected by 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 fascinating birds in our parrot encyclopedia!