Five People You Need To Know In The Caring For An Grey Parrot Industry
Caring For an African Grey Parrot
African grey parrots, like toddlers, are prone to becoming bored quickly and require mental stimulation to avoid behavioral problems. They can be destructive or even cry if they don't receive enough mental stimulation.
They are extremely intelligent and can imitate human speech. The pet trade and habitat destruction are the main threats to them.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys are different from the other large psittacine species. While they are omnivorous in the wild, they are more attracted to seeds over fruits and vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to consume fruits and leafy greens rather than seeds. They are also susceptible to calcium deficiencies and obesity so it is important for owners to monitor the quality of their diets. Pellets or complete crumbles are recommended to make up 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio would be 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. The best choices are spinach, kale silverbeet, pakchoi, broccoli, carrots and sweetcorn. The spouting grasses and native plants like dandelion greens, endive and okra can also be beneficial. Avoid cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and cabbage, because they contain high levels of oxalic acids which can prevent calcium absorption in the body.
Nuts are an excellent source of nutrients to the diet, but they should be eaten sparingly due to their fat content. They are rich in protein, healthy fats, and minerals and vitamins.
The rest of your diet should be a mixture of vegetables and fruits. Avocado is poisonous to psittacines. Other food items that are toxic include alcohol, coffee, chocolate and raw potatoes. If a parrot consumes too many fruits, they may develop yeast problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
A well-balanced diet is a great way to keep an African grey parrot content and healthy. It is essential to keep an eye on the bird's weight and introduce new food in small amounts. It is recommended to weigh the bird every day so that any changes could be observed and quickly corrected. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will help prevent dehydration and bacterial infections. Food that is not eaten in the cage or play area could ruin the food and cause health issues for your bird.
Training
Parrots can easily learn how to speak. However, it may take them a few days or weeks to repeat the 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. Boredom can cause undesirable behaviors like feather-picking or destructive chewing. These problems require professional intervention.
It is important to stop the signs of bonding early, because if a parrot becomes totally attached to a single member of a family, it may become territorial and threatening to others. This could be extremely dangerous for children, elderly people or those suffering from allergies. To avoid this everyone in the household should spend time every day playing with and engaging with the parrot in various ways. This will make the bird more comfortable being handled by members of the family and decrease the chance that it will develop an overprotective behaviour.
When a parrot is bonded to a single person it may bite and scratch at other family members or guests who attempt to touch or pet it. To avoid this the entire family should be able to alternate petting the bird before placing it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for a short time and not handled until it has calmed down.
During pet-loving sessions be aware of the areas that are considered "blood feathers" or "pinfeathers." These feathers contain a blood supply, and can bleed when touched. If a pinfeather or blood feather is found to be exposed, it must be promptly clipped and replaced with a fresh feather.
Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be instructed to teach the bird how to identify objects, such as toys or food items. This will make it easier for the bird to learn to speak and it will also enable 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 become bored quickly and use destructive behaviors in the absence of toys or other ways 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 can be costly pets to have. The initial costs are expensive, and they require constant new toys that are quickly destroyed. They are also prone to infections and are costly to treat.
These social birds require a lot of interaction humans, such as hours spent playing games, solving puzzles, and learning lessons. They also need hours of exercise and free time every day to build strength and stay healthy. The cage should be big enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It should be constructed of non-toxic, non-toxic materials and clean. It should include several perches with different sizes and textures so that birds can change between them. They also need a roost, usually a tall wooden post or a 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 a variety of dark leafy vegetables and dark greens and treats should be limited to 10 percent of their diet. Also, you should offer different nuts and seeds. About 75% of their diet should be made up of high-quality pellets or granules.
The majority of parrot-related issues are caused by a long-term nutritional imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as poor growth and development, poor quality plumage, or breeding performance. However, more significant changes will manifest as specific disease entities. Many of these issues can be prevented by regular checks from an avian vet, and proper diet management.
Care
Like all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation in order to be content. If a parrot is bored it can become depressed and may exhibit negative behaviors like aggression, self-mutilation or feather picking. To ensure your pet's health it is vital to have regular veterinary examinations, fecal testing and vaccinations.
African greys form monogamous couples and incubate eggs for 21-30 days. They care for their young until they are approximately 10 weeks old. They can fly, and are one of the most intelligent avian species. They live long and can often outlive their human owners, making them popular pets worldwide.
They are extremely adaptable and are able to adapt to different environments. However they prefer a natural habitat with lots of trees and perches. They can also use their feet - two facing back and two facing forward on each foot - to aid in perch and balance, just as humans do with their hands. Their beaks are short and have a curved upper mandible that is a perfect fit over the lower one to assist in breaking open seeds and nuts and their strong grip can tear through bark and wood.
In the wild, African greys will eat nuts, fruits seeds, dark leafy greens as a 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. Also, they should be offered an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables as well as cooked beans and lentils. Fresh water should 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 is working tirelessly to protect Grey & Timneh Parrots and their habitats. However, buy a grey parrot are declining due to illegal trade. 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 fascinating birds in our parrot dictionary!