The 10 Scariest Things About Caring For An Grey Parrot
From Shiapedia
caring for an grey parrot For an baby african grey parrot Grey Parrot
Like toddlers, African grey parrots can get bored quickly and need lots of mental stimulation to avoid behavioral issues. They could be destructive or scream if they don't get enough mental stimulation.
Highly intelligent, they are the best mimics of all species of parrots. They can recognize human speech. They are at risk from the pet trade and habitat loss.
Feeding
The dietary requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivores but they prefer seeds over fruit and other vegetables.
In captivity in captivity, they are more likely than not to consume fruits and seeds. It is also essential to check the quality and quantity of their diets since they are susceptible to obesity and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to make up 75% of a parrot's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include a mix of pellets and fresh food. A good ratio would be 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh foods. Silverbeet, kale and spinach are some of the best options. The spouting grasses and native plants such as dandelion-like greens, endive and okra can also be beneficial. But, stay clear of cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they are high in oxalic acid, which can block the absorption of calcium by the body.
Nuts are a great source of nutrients however, they should be eaten in moderation due to their fat content. They are high in protein, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals.
The rest of your diet should be made up of a mix of fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to stay clear of avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other toxic foods that are commonly consumed include chocolate, alcohol and coffee and raw potatoes. Similar to parrots, if a bird eats too many berries they may suffer from yeast problems in their gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is an excellent way to keep an African grey parrot happy and healthy. It is essential to monitor the bird's weight, and to provide new food items in small amounts. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to detect any changes and correct them. Regularly offering the bird water is an excellent idea too. This will help prevent dehydration and infections caused by bacteria. It is also important to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area as it will spoil and can cause health issues for your parrot.
Training
Parrots are very intelligent creatures and are able to easily learn to speak, though it may take days or even weeks to repeat the words they hear. A parrot that is trained well can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the 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 the intervention of a professional.
It's important to nip over the bonding process early in the event that a parrot becomes totally attached to a single person in a family it may become territorial and threatening to other members of the family. This can be very dangerous for elderly people, children or people with allergies. To prevent this from happening it is recommended that all members of the household should spend some time every day playing and interacting with the parrot in various ways. This will help the bird become more comfortable when touched by all members of a family and reduce the possibility that it could develop an overprotective behavior.
A parrot that is bonded to one person will typically start biting and pecking at visitors or family members when they try to pet it or even touch it. To avoid this the entire family should take turns petting the bird before placing it in its cage. If a parrot exhibits aggressive behavior it should be returned to its cage for a period of time and not handled until it has calmed down.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during pet-loving sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply, and can bleed when touched. If a bloody feather pinfeather is exposed to the elements, it should be clipped immediately and replaced with another one.
Family members should also be taught to greet and say goodbye to the bird. They should also be taught to teach the bird to identify items, like food or toys. This will help teach the bird to speak, and will also allow it to communicate with family members without being physically near them.
Health
The African grey parrot is considered to be one of most intelligent in the world. However, it can get bored and turn to destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their mind. It also needs a great amount of mental stimulation to avoid self-mutilation, feather picking and excessive screaming. Parrots can be costly pets to own. The initial costs are high, and they require constant new toys that get destroyed quickly. They can also be susceptible to infections, which could be costly to treat.
These highly social birds require plenty of interaction with their human counterparts, which includes hours of playtime involving games, puzzles and lessons. To stay strong and healthy they should be active for hours every day and out of their cage. The cage should be big enough for them to move around freely and spread their wings. It must be clean, safe and constructed from non-toxic materials. It should include a variety of types of perches with varying dimensions and heights and be able to change between them. They also require a roost, usually an elevated wooden post or a concrete perch in the corner of the cage.
Parrots must have access to fresh water throughout the day and should be replaced regularly. They should be fed various dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to not more than 10% of the diet. They should be provided with a wide range of seeds and nuts as well. The best quality formulated pellets or crumble should constitute around 75% of the diet.
The majority of the problems with parrots are the result of long-term dietary imbalance. Minor problems will manifest as poor growth and development, poor quality plumage or breeding performance while more severe changes will manifest as specific diseases. Many of these can be prevented with regular well-checks from an avian vet, and the proper management of diet.
You can also read about how to take care of yourself.
Like all birds, baby african grey parrot greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation to be happy. If a parrot is bored, it can display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or even feather picking. It is crucial to conduct routine veterinary exams as well as fecal screening and vaccinations performed to ensure that your pet is healthy.
African greys form monogamous couples and incubate eggs for between 21 and 30 days. They take care of their babies until they reach around 10 weeks old. They are able to fly, and are one of the most intelligent species of avian. They live for a long time, and often outlive their owners, which makes them a popular pet worldwide.
They are highly adaptive and can adapt to many different environments. However, they prefer a natural habitat with lots 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 a mandible that is curved and fits neatly over the lower one to aid in cracking open seeds and nuts, and their strong grip can rip through wood and bark.
In the wild, baby african grey parrot greys will eat fruits, nuts, seeds and dark leafy greens as part of their balanced diet. But, seeds should make only 5percent of the total diet. They should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets or crumbles that avoid the emergence of pickiness. They should also be offered various fresh vegetables, fruits and cooked legumes and beans. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cages should be cleaned 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 as well as their habitats. However, their populations 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 protection under CITES. Discover more about these amazing parrots in our parrot dictionary!
