The 10 Scariest Things About Caring For An Grey Parrot
From Shiapedia
Caring For an African Grey Parrot
Similar to toddlers, African grey parrots can become bored quickly and require lots of mental stimulation to prevent behavior problems. If they aren't stimulated, they could become destructive or start screaming.
Highly intelligent, they are arguably the best mimics among all species of parrots and comprehend human speech. The trade in pets and destruction of habitats are the biggest threats to them.
Feeding
The diet requirements of African greys differ from other large psittacines. They are omnivorous, but they prefer seeds over fruit and other vegetables.
In captivity, they are more likely to eat fruit and leafy greens than seeds. It is also important to check the quality and quantity of their diets as they are susceptible to overweight and calcium deficiencies. Pellets or complete crumbles are suggested to comprise 75% of a bird's daily diet.
Ideally your diet should include a mixture of pellets and fresh foods. A good ratio is 60% pellets, 10 percent seeds and 30 percent fresh food. Silverbeet, spinach, and kale are among the best choices. Also native plants and spurgeoning grasses such as dandelion leaves sweetcorn and endive are good choices. However, you should avoid cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower as they are rich in oxalic acids, which could hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
Nuts are rich in 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 the diet should be made up of a mixture of fruits and vegetables. It's best to avoid avocado because it is toxic to Psittacines. Other foods that are toxic include chocolate, coffee, alcohol and raw potatoes. If a parrot eats excessive amounts of fruits, they may develop yeast-related problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
A balanced diet is the best method to keep your African grey parrot healthy and content. It is crucial to keep track of the bird's weight, and introduce new food in small amounts. Weighing the bird every day will allow you to quickly observe any changes and then correct them. Offering the bird regularly water is also a good idea. This will prevent dehydration and bacteria-related infections. It is also essential to remove any uneaten food from the cage or play area as it will spoil and could lead to health problems for your pet.
Training
Parrots are able to quickly learn to speak. However, it might take them a few days or weeks to repeat back the words they hear. A parrot that is trained properly can also perform simple tricks and respond to signals. These activities keep the bird's brain active and keep them from becoming bored. The boredom of birds can trigger unwelcome behavior like feather picking and destructive chewing. These issues require intervention from a professional.
It is essential to avoid over-bonding, as a parrot that becomes too attached to one can become territorial and agressive toward others. This can be very risky for children, elderly people or those suffering from allergies. To prevent this from happening, all members of the household should spend some time every day playing with and engaging with the bird in different ways. This will allow the bird to feel more comfortable being loved by all members of the family and decrease the likelihood that it will develop over protective behavior.
A parrot that is attached to one person is likely to start biting and pecking visitors or family members when they try to pet or touch it. To avoid this it is recommended that each family member be able to alternate petting the bird before placing it in its cage. If a parrot displays aggression, it should be put back in its cage and not handled for a while.
Be aware of "pinfeathers" or "blood feathers" during petting sessions. These feathers contain a blood supply and may bleed when they are brushed against. If a blood feather or pinfeather is found to be exposed, it must be removed immediately and replaced with another one.
Family members should also be taught how to greet and say goodbye to the bird. The bird should be taught how to identify food items or toys. This will help train the bird to speak, and will also enable it to communicate with family members without being physically close to them.
Health
The African grey parrot is one of most intelligent in the world. However, it can get bored and resort to destructive behaviors if not provided with enough toys or ways to exercise their mind. It also requires a lot of mental stimulation in order to avoid self-mutilation and feather picks as well as excessive screams. Parrots aren't cheap pets to acquire The initial costs are high and they need constant new toys that can be destroyed quickly, as well as food. They are also susceptible to infections that can be expensive to treat.
These birds are extremely social and require lots of interaction with humans, which includes hours of playing games, solving puzzles and learning lessons. To stay healthy and strong they must be active for hours every day and being outside of their cage. Their cage should be big enough to allow them to spread their wings and move from perch to perch. It should be made of non-toxic, non-toxic substances and clean. It should come with a variety of kinds of perches that have different sizes and textures, so that they can change them. A roost is also needed and is typically an iron or wood perch in the corner of the cage.
Parrots should have access to water that is fresh at all times and it must be replenished every day. They should be fed buying an african grey parrot assortment of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruits, with treats limited to no more than about 10% of their diet. They should be offered a wide range of nuts and seeds, as well. Around 75% of their diet should consist of high-quality pellets or crumbles.
Most disease problems in parrots are the result of a long-term dietary imbalance. Minor issues can result in poor growth, bad plumage quality or breeding performance. More severe changes could be a sign of specific disease entities. A lot of these can be prevented by regular checks by an avian vet and the proper management of diet.
Care
Like all birds, African greys require lots of attention and mental stimulation to be happy. If a bird is bored, it could display negative behaviors, such as aggression, self-mutilation or feather grabbing. To keep your pet healthy, it is important to regularly undergo veterinary exams, fecal testing and vaccinations.
african grey parrot baby for sale greys are monogamous and form exclusive pair bonds that incubate eggs for 21 to 30 days, and caring for an grey parrot for the young until they fledge at about 10 weeks of age. They fly and are among the most intelligent species of birds. They can live for a long time, and often outlive their owners, making them a sought-after pet across the globe.
They are highly 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, just like humans do. Their short beaks feature a mandible that is curved and can be easily positioned over the lower one to help them crack open nuts and seeds, and their powerful grip can cut through bark and wood.
In the wild, African grays will eat dark leafy greens, fruits, seeds and nuts as part of a balanced diet. But, seeds should make only five percent of the diet total and should be supplemented by high-quality formulated pellets and crumbles that reduce the emergence of pickiness. Also, they should be offered an assortment of fresh vegetables, fruits, and cooked beans and lentils. Water that is fresh and clean should always be available, and cage cleaning is required daily. If the diet is not adequate, supplements like calcium or vitamin D may be required.
The World Parrot Trust is working hard to protect Grey and timneh african grey parrot Parrots as well as their habitats. However, their populations are declining 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!
